Wednesday, May 9, 2012

In the spotlight: San Marcos

As some of you may know, the programs in San Marcos were recently featured in MCC's magazine A Common Place.  This was an exciting opportunity to highlight the positive things that are happening there; things many of you have played a role in shaping in either big or small ways.*  We encourage you to take the time to read the stories and reconnect to this part of the world as expressed in A Common Place Spring edition!

The issue of gold mining is something that is easily associated with San Marcos, and again, something that many of you have been able to learn about first hand during your visits here.  News reports of the conflict that exists around these types of mega-projects abound in both Guatemala and other parts of the world (see here and here).  I was recently given a book entitled "Damned Nations" which I would highly recommend reading if you are interested in digging even deeper into these issues; see here for an analysis of this book by Canadian author Samantha Nutt.

It is our hope that as participants in Connecting Peoples service learning experiences, you continue to stay connected to your experience here once you return home.  It is always encouraging to read reflections like this one from Enlace 2011 participant, Emma Nussli, which serves as a reminder of  the long-term impact of these types of experiences.  One of the CP program goals for this year is to put together an advocacy tool-kit that will provide you with concrete information and tips on how to advocate around the complicated issues you were exposed to while here; please stay tuned for more on that in the coming months.  Also, in our desire to support friends' projects, another way you could stay connected to Guatemala and San Marcos is to consider returning for a longer visit and possibly studying Spanish at El Migrante Spanish School, a new language school right in the heart of San Marcos.  And, for one final reflection on San Marcos and the work of MCCer Nate Howard, watch "Guatemala:  Assisting farmers, empowering communities".

MCC photo Melissa Engle
http://acommonplace.mcc.org/acp/2012/04_06/cover_story.html

*The recent University of Saskatchewan group was the very first group to spend a night in the tourist cabaña in La Vega del Volcan, something many of you have supported the construction of.  Pictures coming soon of this exciting moment in the La Vega co-op's history!  Likewise, the local tourism management board in Sibinal, San Marcos has started a campaign to attract more tourist to the area, promoting visits to La Vega and the projects there.  Their website is under construction but is yet another sign of the positive development happening in the area.  

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

christian louboutin outlet, prada handbags, air jordan pas cher, louis vuitton outlet, uggs on sale, nike free, chanel handbags, ugg boots, prada outlet, longchamp outlet, replica watches, nike air max, ugg boots, tory burch outlet, longchamp, louboutin pas cher, tiffany jewelry, ralph lauren pas cher, gucci outlet, air max, louis vuitton outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, nike air max, nike outlet, louis vuitton, longchamp outlet, jordan shoes, oakley sunglasses, burberry, oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, cheap oakley sunglasses, replica watches, louboutin, longchamp pas cher, ray ban sunglasses, nike free, michael kors, tiffany and co, louboutin outlet, ray ban sunglasses, nike roshe run, louis vuitton, oakley sunglasses, kate spade outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, louboutin shoes, sac longchamp, louis vuitton, oakley sunglasses

Anonymous said...

nike roshe, ray ban pas cher, michael kors outlet, north face, ralph lauren uk, timberland, burberry outlet online, mulberry, true religion outlet, lacoste pas cher, michael kors, kate spade handbags, true religion jeans, nike free run uk, air force, tn pas cher, new balance pas cher, nike blazer, michael kors outlet, vanessa bruno, sac guess, oakley pas cher, coach purses, coach outlet, ray ban uk, nike air max, michael kors outlet, vans pas cher, lululemon, michael kors, hollister pas cher, hogan, converse pas cher, hollister, true religion jeans, abercrombie and fitch, coach outlet, ugg boots, true religion jeans, replica handbags, nike air max, michael kors, michael kors, burberry, nike air max, north face, michael kors outlet, hermes, michael kors outlet, ugg boots

Anonymous said...

vans, mcm handbags, asics running shoes, ferragamo shoes, iphone cases, lululemon, timberland boots, longchamp, converse, mont blanc, abercrombie and fitch, gucci, chi flat iron, converse outlet, nike roshe, ralph lauren, oakley, soccer jerseys, north face outlet, p90x workout, baseball bats, nike air max, reebok shoes, nike trainers, bottega veneta, valentino shoes, birkin bag, instyler, beats by dre, herve leger, giuseppe zanotti, jimmy choo shoes, nike huarache, nike air max, soccer shoes, babyliss, nfl jerseys, hollister, louboutin, hollister, north face outlet, ghd, vans shoes, hollister, wedding dresses, celine handbags, mac cosmetics, new balance, insanity workout, ray ban

Anonymous said...

replica watches, canada goose outlet, doudoune canada goose, pandora charms, moncler, canada goose, marc jacobs, montre pas cher, links of london, louis vuitton, swarovski, ugg boots uk, toms shoes, thomas sabo, moncler, canada goose, louis vuitton, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, supra shoes, pandora charms, lancel, hollister, moncler, juicy couture outlet, bottes ugg, louis vuitton, coach outlet, canada goose uk, pandora jewelry, canada goose, moncler, karen millen, moncler outlet, wedding dresses, canada goose outlet, sac louis vuitton pas cher, barbour jackets, ugg pas cher, canada goose, barbour, moncler, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, swarovski crystal, moncler, juicy couture outlet, moncler, louis vuitton, pandora jewelry

Unknown said...

www0716

mulberry bags
coach canada
uggs
canada goose outlet
nike shoes
ugg outlet
coach outlet online
ray ban sunglasses
oakley sunglasses
kate spade outlet