To Canada and Back

On Saturday morning I woke up early, after a great party on Friday night.  My sister had organized a "farewell gathering" for me that went late into the night.   I had a hot shower, dressed and finished packing.   My sister's friend Sarah had also spent the night. As she lives in Toronto, she offered to drive me to the airport.  Of course, we stopped at Tim Horton's along the way.  I opted for a toasted everything bagel with butter and a chocolate milk.  Sarah and I eventually found the drop off point for Lacsa -the official airline of Costa Rica (or rather Taca, another part of the same airline).  I checked my overweight luggage and paid the additional cost (interestingly much, much less than on Air Canada) and was off to security and then to browse the shops.

At all of the newstands in the airport, right beside the cash register is this week's edition of Maclean's magazine.  The story on the cover is "Can your pilot really fly your plane???"  I found this hilarious and at the second newsstand took a picture.  The person beside me said that she already had taken a picture...(At the moment I am having issues and my camera memory card isn't talking to my computer otherwise, I'd share the picture.)  Of course I bought some diet coke and I through in some Smartfood for good luck.  I also found another couple of books that I couldn't live without...

Then I boarded the plane and 5 hours later, I was in El Salvador.  The departure area (where you walk through when you arrive) is air conditioned.  The arrivals area with customs, immigration and baggage is all open.  When I hit that area I knew that I was in El Salvador.  The airport is near the ocean and as a result it is always very hot and humid.  The lines moved quickly and I was soon ready for pick-up.  The airport was packed.  There were lots of people everywhere.  I went to the "pick-up" area and being relatively "tall" in El Salvador I could stand on my tip toes and look for people I knew.  After about 10 minutes - Ana Ruth found me and told me Daysi was circling in the truck.  Daysi and Ana Ruth work in the area of youth training and development.  Interestingly they are the only women I have met in El Salvador who drive.  They had brought the pick-up from ADES where the back hatch doesn't open.  Looking at my suitcases they decided we needed help and an airport employee and a police officer made short work of hoisting them into the back of the truck.  We were off.

We decided that we wanted to stop for pupusas (the national food of El Salvador).  Daysi and Ana Ruth wanted to go to an area that overlooks the city of San Salvador.  It was a lovely view as we sat and ate our meal.   Of course, the suitcases had to moved from the back of the pick-up truck into the cab.  We managed to do that ourselves (gravity working in our favour).  On our way back, some men who work at the restaurant we were at came to help with suitcases.  They even found a piece of plastic to cover them because it looked like it might rain!

We were then off to Jenny and Jonathan's house.  Jonathan arrived just in time to help with suitcases.   He and Jenny's boyfriend Nelson even carried them up the stairs for me.    I pulled out Farmer's Market oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and mini cinnamon buns and everyone ate.  Cinnamon buns were a completely new food item for people here.

Saturday night was early for me as I was exhausted and Sunday was a very low key day as well.  Monday it was up at 4:45 am  to catch the bus to Guacotecti.   And the new week has begun...

It is amazing to me how a 5 hour flight can take me between two worlds.  In Canada, of course I love all of my friends and family.  It was awesome being able to have my 4 year old niece Rachel curl up on my lap and let me read her a story.  The creature comforts are nice.  I love hot showers and a eating a wide variety of foods.  On the other hand there is something lovely about the simplicity of my life in El Salvador and about how much more I feel connected to the planet and the environment.  There is a kindness and welcoming in the people here that I don't find often in Canada.

Thank you for all of your hospitality while I was in Niagara Falls and Waterloo.  Now I need to finish up my time here and then I will return to write the next chapter of my life in Canada.

Thanks to my friend Anneliese, I had the opportunity to meet with a reporter from the Kitchener Record while I was home.  I asked the photographer to capture my "skinny" side which I think he did...Here is the link to the story that appeared this past Saturday   http://www.therecord.com/living/faith/article/581126--there-life-is-just-difficult

I'm getting ready for vacation, but...

So only two more sleeps until I am in Canada!  I am counting really only one more sleep because tomorrow I leave Guacotecti and the ADES office to go back to San Salvador.  In my mind that is when the trip home begins.  I'll spend the night with Jonathan in San Salvador house as Jenny will still be in Guacotecti.   Then Friday morning Oscar (from ADES) will pick me up to take me to the airport.  My thoughts are focused a lot on seeing friends and family, speaking English and eating familiar food.  I am looking forward to being in a place where I understand the culture and the language. I am excited...

But...interesting and disheartening situations keep coming into my life.

This morning I was at meeting where I learned that in the community where "the girls" live (the two cuties that my boss is working hard to get medical care arranged for them) has a big problem.   Not only is their not water in people's homes, there is not enough water with on the ground or underground for this community.  People from ADES are working to try and solve this problem.   The ultimate obstacle, is that all of the land that the village is on is privately owned.  While I did not understand the reason, it is clear that the land owner will not permit the installation of the equipment that would collection and distribute of water.  It is unbelievable to me that water can be denied to a village because the land owner refuses the installation of the equipment.  I don't even think she is being asked to pay anything!

This afternoon I am travelling to another very small village.  This too is all on privately owned land.  In this area the biggest problem is with the school.  Currently the Ministry of Education pays for the teacher and basic supplies, but there is not a proper building.  The school is in an old adobe house, which is very inadequate.  There are also 6 grades with the one teacher.  Apparently the way it works here is the Ministry of Education will pay for a building but will not buy land.   In this case the landowner is willing to sell land for the school for about $3000.  In this very poor community this is an unfathomable amount of money.  Soto (one of my housemates and the head of the water and anti-mining team) has agreed to write a letter to invite people from the Ministry of Education to meet with people from the community to discuss the situation.  Today the community will be reviewing and signing the letter.

Given these realities, it is not surprising that people here do not view Capitalism and the free market as the way to improve their lives.

Finally, I learned yesterday that the Government of Canada through the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has invited the Attorney General of El Salvador to participate in a Panel Discussion on Crime and Impunity in Central America.  This is the man who refuses to order an investigation into the threats and deaths of the anti-mining activists here.   As a result whoever is arranging and paying for these crimes has complete impunity from the law.  I understand that protests are being planned both here in El Salvador and in Canada.

So while I am getting excited to see you all, the situations here continue to weigh on my mind.

I will be taking a break from Blogging during my vacation, but will catch up with everyone when I return to El Salvador.  My next blog will be Wednesday August 24th.  Thanks everyone for your support and thanks for reading.

My Top 10 List

Okay, so it is true, my Spanish is improving bit by bit.  However, just as often as I feel “accomplished” I am reminded how much yet have to learn!  Last week I learned that I am the only person in my agency who didn’t know how much I was I was talking about sex!  The expression I have been using for “I am hot” (in terms of temperature) actually means “I am hot and ready for sex!”  Also, the expression I have been using for “I like that person” actually means “I like” that person (have a strong physical attraction).  Apparently I can use that expression for “Mark Harmon” (actor on NCIS) because my attraction really is physical.   Apparently everyone giggles after I leave the room about me saying “I like” my colleagues at the office, both male and female! 

I have shared a lot with you about a lot of the challenges here.  There are many serious issues that the Salvadoreños/as face.  There have been lots of adjustments for me and sometimes it has been difficult.  All of that is true, but today I thought I would share with you my top 10 list of things I really like about living in El Salvador.

10.  The scenery - It is incredibly beautiful here.   Just about everywhere you look there are lush green trees and tropical flowers.   There are green mountains and volcanoes everywhere.  So even in my house in San Salvador I can walk out the front door and be looking at a beautiful green mountain.  At the moment corn is growing just about everywhere including up the sides of the volcanoes.  I am enjoying that corn growing season is the same as at home!  I have shared pictures of the beaches.  They are pristine and gorgeous.  The landscapes are magnificent. 

 9.  Pop Culture – The Spanish salsa music is fun, upbeat and full of energy.  At the same time 80’s music in English is very popular here.  Rarely a day goes by without me hearing Bryan Adams singing the theme from Robin Hood.  Early Madonna and Cyndi Lauper are also very popular.  At first it struck me as very odd that the only English I heard was music.  Now it just makes me smile that knowing all the words to ‘80’s songs makes me cool here, while it makes me a geek at home!  I also have to mention Coldplay -- their music is very popular here. 

Wednesday night at 8pm is my favourite TV program “Quien Quiere Ser Millonario?”  Who Wants to be a Millionaire – El Salvador edition.  On a good night, there will be a bunch of my housemates around and we will discuss and fight over the right answers.  We actually make a good team as I am pretty good with world geography and North American/European culture and history.  My housemates know the Central and South American history and culture.  A few weeks ago one of the big money questions was “What is the nationality of Justin Bieber?”  My housemates all knew the answer!!!

8.  The sun, the sky, the moon and the stars -  I love the bright sunshine and brilliant blue skies.  I don’t mind the temperature (most of the time).  In fact I am thrilled that my toes are warm.  They were always cold in Canada.  At night when the sky is clear the moon and stars are magnificent.  In Guacotecti (where I live during the week) there is very little light pollution and so the skies are alive with sparkling jewels.  It is a very special experience to wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and to open my bedroom door and look up at the stars on the way to the toilet.

7.  Being more “green” – While I have never felt very “environmental,”  I have to say I enjoy the thought that when there is no electricity in the morning, the only way that impacts our lives is that we can’t iron.  There is no hot water, the stove is propane, it is bright so we don’t need light and so it is not a big deal.   We also make a lot less garbage.  6 of us usually make 2-3 grocery store bags of garbage per week.  This includes one bag of used toilet paper.  In general, I use a lot less water and a lot less electricity.  I walk or take a bus.  Occasionally I ride in a pick-up but there is almost always at least 4 or 5 of us in the vehicle.  However, I am not completely virtuous, my “pepsi light” cans and bottles are going to the dump in Guaco because there is not a recycling program.

6.  Teaching English – I have to say this is one of the things that I do every week that makes me happy.  I feel useful and I have good interaction with people.  For the past few weeks I have started teaching a small class for children in my local village.  Last week they taught me a song in English…how cool is that!!!

5.  The Simplicity – My life went from living at a breakneck speed, particularly in December when I was getting ready to leave, to living a much slower, simpler life.  In the morning I can chose from 2-3 pairs of clean pants and 2-3 clean tops.  On my way to the office my “to do” list usually has 2-3 items on it.  Not like the several dozen items I used to in Canada.  Sometimes during the week I get to go to “Super Selectos” the grocery store in Sensuntepeque (the closest city).  We shop for supplies once every 1-2 weeks.  It depends on how many people have actually stayed at the house and how long it takes to the eat food there.   Otherwise, my weekday after work errand is to buy a diet Pepsi and more time on my phone at a very small store in my village.  That is generally the sum of my after work activities plus my once a week English class with the children.   As a result, my head is much quieter. I can’t remember ever being this quiet in my head.  

4. Plantains – I am in love with plantains!   Raw, baked, fried, deep fried, turned into the empenadas…I love them any way they come.  They are my favourite food in El Salvador.  Does anyone know, can I buy plantains in Canada?  Do the Caribbean or Latin American stores sell them????

3.  Spanish – I live my life in Spanish…how cool is that!  Yes it is true, this fact also causes me frustration, but on a good day, I think this is really an accomplishment.  I am at a point of communicative competence – my grammar and sentence structure are still rough, but people get the basic ideas I am trying to convey and usually they can make me understand their point.  It is far from a “real conversation” but is a lot higher level than I had a few months ago. 

2.  The resistance to mining-  I am thrilled that people here are not letting Canadian Companies walk all over them.  The whole situation saddens me on many levels, but I am inspired by all that people are doing to protect their environment, their land, their health and their water.  They are saying that not everything in this world is for sale.   

1.  My community – I feel very fortunate to be able to spend a bit of life accompanying this amazing group of people.  My ADES family is very special.  They have been very kind to me, but also they have challenged me and inspired me in numerous ways.    Heather (who spent a year at ADES about 5 years ago) told me that the people from ADES continue to be very special to her.  I can understand how this time with these people is both unforgettable and life changing.

While all of this is true, I am still missing all of you (of course).  Only 9 more sleeps until my Canadian vacation! 

Insiders and Outsiders

So something really interesting just happened.  I was talking with some colleagues who were sitting at a table for four, eating lunch.  Two of the people have a reasonably high level of English, the other two people are in my introductory English class.  A small joke was made in English.  I laughed heartily as did the person who made the joke and the other person who understands English.  The other two people looked at each other and said in Spanish “did you understand?”  They both said no.  In Spanish I said, “welcome to my world”.  Everyone laughed. 

For a moment, I was an “insider”.  That is a status that I have not enjoyed in my everyday life for a while now.  I no longer expect to understand all of the conversation at the dinner table or on the bus or on the radio.  I don’t expect to be a leader or to make many decisions.  Sometimes I still need help to understand things and to do things correctly.  

In Canada I never questioned my status as an insider.  I understood the language and the culture and if someone spoke in another language I expected that it would be translated for me.  When I travelled I expected that there would be people who spoke not just “some” English, but fluent English.   

Despite being on the outside, I am still someone who has enjoyed much privilege in her life and in many ways still does.  

Yesterday I became aware that my teammates were collecting money for a colleague who was sick.  I didn’t completely understand the conversation around this action.  In my head I drew the conclusion that made sense to me…we were collecting money for a gift.  I wondered about this as the collection well beyond my team and to the whole office.  I later asked one of my housemates what was going on.  She explained to me that my colleague and her brother are both sick.  One needs to see a specialist and one needs a special x-ray.  In total they need about $100 to pay for both and the family doesn’t have the money.  Having grown up with universal health care it still shocks me that people can’t get health care because they can’t pay for it.  I assumed that we were collecting money for an “extra” not a necessity.  A point of privilege. 

This weekend I went on a lovely trip to another part of El Salvador with two busloads of youth and their families and a few other staff.  We went to see an archaeological site and then went to a “huge” pool.  The pool was a standard “municipal” pool in Canada, but for here it was enormous.  There were signs all over to warn people that the water in the deep end was in fact, really deep.  I quickly changed into my bathing suit, dropped my stuff off with a friend who was not going in the pool and then jumped into the deep end.  I then looked around.  There was hardly anyone in the deep end.  Almost no one was wearing a bathing suit.  People swim in street clothes.  Most Salvadorenos/as don’t know how to swim.  In fact on the bus people were commenting on what a shame it was that so much of the pool was wasted with deep water that so few could use.   Another point of privilege…even in Canada most of the poor kids go the pool and many have at least a few swimming lessons. 

The "huge" pool.  Notice the palm trees at the sides.   This is the deep end and there is no one in it!

After almost 5 months, all my housemates were home at a reasonable hour and I was able to convince them to pose for a “nice” picture.  Finally, here is the group of people who I live with during the week:

From Left to Right:

Alex: He is married and has a son.  He is the head of the "local economy" team.  He is outgoing, fun and talks fast.  The day I understand Alex completely in a regular conversation, I will know that I understand Spanish! Alex has discovered that he likes peanut butter, but doesn't think that peanut butter toast is a complete breakfast all by itself.   He is a good cook and makes fried plantains that are my favourite food here.  

Jenny:  Jenny is my "host".  I live with her in both of my houses.  She is the head of administration which means she is in charge of finance, HR, physical plant and cars.  Jenny is smart and personable.  She knows everything about everything and everyone.  One day I thought I knew something that she didn't and it turned out someone had lied to me!  Occasionally we have overnight guests at our house.  They are usually young women from the office who have come to seek Jenny's counsel on family or relationship issues.   

Vinicio: Venicio is the young hottie of the house but he doesn't act like he knows it.  He is 22 and in great shape.  He has been incredibly kind to me and he has a very special place in my life here.   He is doing a joint project between ADES and another agency REDES (they like acronyms here as much as we do) that has something do with optimizing corn production.   I'm not sure that I'd understand it in English!   For a while he too was a bit of an outsider, despite speaking the language and the culture.  We bonded while he is was in his first few difficult weeks here.  

Vicenta:   She works with the women in the Co-operative that run a restaurant and give out micro-credit loans to small home based businesses.  Vincenta is the "mischievious" one of the group.  She is a lot of fun and enjoys playing cards.  However, you have to watch her because she likes to "bend" the rules a lot!  She lived for a while in the US and then studied for 5 years in Cuba.   She makes most of the suppers at our house.  Her beans are the best I have had.  We believe it is the Cuban influence.  

Soto:  Soto's first name is Oswaldo, but everyone just uses his last name - Soto.  He reminds me a lot of my Uncle Bruce.  He is devoted to his family, likes to have fun and is very wise.  Soto is the head of the team that works on water and mining issues.  Soto and Alex generally cook breakfast.  Soto makes baked plantains - very yummy.  He also loves futbol (soccer), coffee and tortillas.  

Note:  Jenny wanted me to explain that I am a very lucky woman here.  It is very rare to find men in El Salvador who cook and I have three in my weekday house -  Alex, Soto and Vinicio and Jonathan on weekends.  

Weekend at the Beach

As you have likely gathered, things have been intense here the past few weeks.  Thankfully things have settled down a bit although we are all still exercising more caution in terms of personal safety.  This weekend I had the opportunity to go the beach with people from work.  It was a lot of the same people who I went away with a few weekends ago and I had a great time. 

However, before I get to the beach, I want to share with you about a great thing that happened yesterday.  For a few weeks my boss Gilma has been insisting that I was going to do a presentation on  Stages of Change and Motivational Interviewing (two concepts that I use a lot in my work in Canada).  I have doubted my ability to communicate the concepts with enough depth and clarity to be helpful.  Every time I raised these concerns to Gilma she shrugged off my concerns. Despite my doubts, yesterday was the day for my presentation to my team and two members of another team.  There were a few times when I had to stop so that someone could translate “my Spanish” into actual “Spanish”, but in general people understood what I was trying to say.  They asked questions and seemed really interested in the ideas.  I’m actually feeling a bit proud of myself.

It is true that after five months here my Spanish is definitely better.  I have a higher level of communicative competence and more people are also getting used to the weird way I speak.  There is still a lot that I don't understand, but if it is important people can usually rephrase it in a way so that I can understand.  "My people" are figuring out my vocabulary and using it more often.  I have also come to accept that I am not going to be anywhere near to fluent anytime soon.  This has been a big adjustment in my head and it took some time.  Clearly my expectations were too high and I needed to let go of a goal that was not realistic.  Enough of this and back to the beach.

The Beach -- I was told that Vinicio (one of my weekday roommates) had arranged a "Ranchito" for us. A Ranchito is like a cottage at the beach, although they are really small (or sometimes huge) compounds.  Our Ranchito had a small building with two bedrooms (one for the guys, one for the gals) and bathroom in between.  There was another building with a kitchen, a large outdoor dining room, two pools (cement holding ponds with about 2-3 feet of water), three outdoor showers, 4 hammocks and a couple of other buildings we didn't use.  It was on the non-beach side of the road closest to the beach.

The Ranchito - The building on the back left is the bedrooms, the building in the middle is the kitchen and the dining room is on the right.  In front is one of the small pools.

We arrived a little after midnight on Friday night.  There had been several delays in getting there and it was several hours from Guacotecti where the office is.  Vinicio's Abuela (Grandmother) has the "Ranchito" next door so when we arrived we needed to go and meet her.  What an amazing women she is!  She came out wearing a nightgown and an apron.    At her Ranchito there are lots of palm trees and so there is always a supply of coconuts.  Vinicio picked up a machete and started hacking the top off of coconuts.  He handed a coconut to each person drank the "milk" from inside and then handed the coconut back to Vinicio, who very capably cut the coconuts in half so that we could eat the "meat" inside.  I was not very adept at scooping out the coconut and so Vinicio kindly came over and in about 10 seconds scooped it all out for me! It was after one before we went to sleep.

Morning came and everyone got up at 5am!!! I was bit shocked by this, but like I do here, I follow the crowd.  I was barely out of my sleeping bag when I realized that everyone was leaving for the beach.  I quickly put on a pair of shorts and grabbed my flip flops and was on my way too.  The beach at sunrise was worth getting up to see.  It was deserted and beautiful beyond words.  Unfortunately, I didn’t bring my camera. 

The day was full of activity...although I did manage to find a bit of time to have a quick siesta in a hammock.  While I truly thought I had not actually fallen asleep, the photos someone took with my camera would suggest otherwise!  We also went out and about and visited another beach.  As some of you know I always buy a "best beaches in the world" calendar for my office at work.  I like to look at the pictures during the blizzards of January.  I had to pinch myself because I was on a beach that easily could have been a part of one of my calendars.  This is not one of the most popular beaches and so there weren't very many people.  It was all such a wonderful experience.  

An incredible beach

The Group - Jaime, Digna, Nora, Vinicio, Jonathan and me.
Finally I have found a place where at 5'3" I am "average height"!

We then went to a lovely restaurant for lunch.  I found it interesting that many of the restaurants have swimming pools (much more like what I think of as a pool than the pools at the Ranchita).  At our restaurant, we opted to eat upstairs and have a fabulous view of the ocean, rather than poolside.  On my way out I noticed that it was mostly kids in the pool and parents sitting around eating and drinking beer.  Then it dawned on me, this is the ocean side version of McDonald's playland!!!

Lunch was a very relaxed and casual meal.  We ate, drank beer and chatted.  At one point people commented on what a perfect combination been and seafood soup is.  I commented that in Canada we generally think beer goes with pizza.  My friends here were horrified, they could not imagine anything so horrible!  I can’t comment on the pairing of beer with creamy seafood soup, complete with a whole lobster and huge shrimp, as beer does not do well in my stomach anytime.  However, the seafood soup was delicious. 

The day was packed with activities.  After much sun and surf people were tired and so the day ended a bit earlier than the day before.  I slept in the morning deciding to forgo a shower for a few more moments of sleep.  I was the last one out of my bed at 5:45am!  We packed up, said goodbye to “Abuela” and then were on our way.  The group decided to take the scenic route back to San Salvador.  We travelled along the coast through La Libertad.  This area is known for great beaches and surfing.  We stopped at a few lookouts and took pictures.  We ate breakfast at a beautiful beach, watching people surf.  The waves weren’t huge, but it was my first time to see surfing in person.  What a great weekend!

View from one of the lookouts.

Winter, Canada Day and Vacation

So it is winter in El Salvador.  This means that it is hot, rainy and the days are longer.  I would guess that every day is about 30 degrees Celsius.  As it rains just about every day, their is a lot more humidity right now and that is what can feel very uncomfortable.    It cools slightly at night and while I may go to sleep with only a sheet covering me, usually before morning I am looking for my light blanket.   The Salvadorenos/as are experts at knowing how to stay out of the sun and there are a lot of fans around.  There is some air conditioning in big stores and at the mall but it is not common.   In general everyone just copes with the temperature because it is always more or less the same.  However, having said that this weekend I was in my hoody for the first time.  It was raining, breezy, damp and felt a bit cool.  Fortunately that temperature was short lived!

The rain has been a new phenomenon for me.  There are occasional long, gentle rains rains, but usually the storms are short (about 20-30 minutes) but very, very intense.  Everything here is designed for drainage.  Everything slopes.  In Guacotecti, where I spend the week, mud is a particularly huge issue.  The soil is red clay (think PEI) and so is tracked everywhere when it is wet.  People here have a way of scraping their shoes before going inside so as to limit the amount of muck they take with them.  I marvel at the footwear choices of women here, who stay upright and keep their pretty shoes clean.  I sometimes struggle not to fall and I am often in running shoes! 

On Friday, it is Canada Day.  I have to admit, I am sucker for this holiday.  I love the annual yard sale that my Church holds.  I love wearing red and white and matching maple leaf earrings.   I love watching the concert and fireworks from Parliament Hill.  I love celebrating being Canadian.  This year I will celebrating much more quietly.  My new tradition is to share little chocolates with my colleagues on Canadian Holidays.  They all know that Friday is a "chocolate day".  I won't be handing out the pins and pencils with maple leafs that I brought.  Here the Canadian Maple Leaf is a symbol of the company that my friends and colleagues believe is trying to destroy their community.

However, I will be celebrating being Canadian.  I know that I can share my new knowledge and experiences with you and not risk being hurt or killed.  I know that I can call upon my government to do better.  So my friends and family, over the next several months I will be asking you to join me in doing a few such things.  Today, I am asking you to write or send an e-mail to The Hon. Diane Ablonczy -Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas).  In that communication I would like you to ask her to request that the Canadian Government ask the Government of El Salvador to fully investigate the death of Juan Francisco Duran Ayala and the other murdered anti-mining activists as well as all of the threats and intimidation.  As Canadians I believe that it is very important that we know whether what many Salvadorians suspect is correct -  that employees of a Canadian Company have acted illegally in violation of Salvadorian and International Law.  If in fact they have not, this is also important information.  Our reputation as Canadians is being deeply damaged.  The truth needs to be discovered and so appropriate actions can be taken.  The only way we will ever know who is responsible for what is happening here is if there is full and thorough investigation.   For more information please visit the United Church website, Urgent Action section -   http://www.united-church.ca/communications/news/general/110623


This week the body of Juan Francisco Duran Ayala was exhumed and reburied in a cemetery near to his family home.  Thanks to a strong campaign here, his parents at least have the small comfort of knowing what happened to their son.  Today is the second anniversary of the killing of Marcelo Rivera, the first environmental activist who was murdered here.  The Salvadorians deserve to know who is organizing this campaign of terror and we as Canadians can help make this happen.  Please do.


Finally, I wanted to let you know that I will be coming home for a 3 week vacation in August.  I'll be moving around from Niagara Falls to Waterloo.  I hope to catch up with many of you then!


  

Juan Francisco Duran Ayala

Today I want to tell you about a young man named Juan Francisco Duran Ayala.  Juan Francisco attended University in San Salvador.  Apparently he was very gifted in the area of languages and was in his fourth and final year.  He was an active participant in his community and like many other people here he was opposed to mining.   On June 2nd he spent time putting up posters in his community that called on the Salvadorian Government to pass a law prohibiting mining.  It has been reported that the Mayor of his town ordered his staff and members of the Police to both remove the signs and to intimidate the person putting them up.   Mayors here have a lot more power both legitimately and illegitimately than do their counterparts in Canada.  It is widely believed the Mayors of several of the Municipios in the department of Cabanas are corrupt.

On June 3rd, I participated in the Green March  (this is the topic of two earlier blogs), which was event that  demanded the Salvadorian government pass a law prohibiting gold mining.  I really enjoyed being a part of this event.  It was amazing  to feel a part of something that was so democratic.  Participating, or this case, observing a demonstration is not something that I have done a lot of in Canada.  There was something so invigorating about joining with so many in an event that felt so much bigger than me.   The energy was palpable.  While the seriousness of the event was not lost on anyone, it was nevertheless a very enjoyable event.

I don't know if Francisco was part of the march.  It certainly was a cause that he believed in.    That day he   left his home for classes at the University.  That was the last time that he was seen alive.  10 days later his family was asked to identify a body.   Juan Francisco had been shot in the face and so it took the systems here a while to connect the body with Juan Francisco.   It is believed that he is the 4th person from Cabanas to be murdered as a result of his participation in the anti-mining campaign.

Everything about this is unbelievable and outrageous from a Canadian perspective.  It is incredible to think that this young man likely died because he hung up posters and was part of a group working for a sustainable environment in El Salvador.  The "resistencia" to "mineria metalica" (metal mining) holds workshops, puts up posters and holds demonstrations.  There is nothing "radical" or "subversive" in these actions.  They are a group of people who are deeply and passionately committed to created a sustainable future for their country.
It is unimaginable that these types of actions get people killed here.

There are many, many questions that will likely never be answered.  There are a number of issues that suggest that Juan Francisco was not the victim of a random crime.  In one of the other deaths people were arrested and convicted, in the others there has been no arrests.  With the murders, threats and intimidation it seems like too much is happening for it to be anything but an organized campaign.  Despite calls from both inside and outside of the country the PNC (Polica National Civil) and the El Salvadorian government have been unwilling to thoroughly investigate these matters and work toward finding the organizers of these crimes.  While an active campaign continues to have the authorities investigate this whole string of horrendous crimes, no one is anticipating that anything will be any different in this case.

This weekend there is a memorial event to remember the death of Marcelo Riveras who was murdered on June 28, 2009.  Marcelo was the first anti-mining activist to be murdered here.  His brother Miguel works at ADES and continues with the work that he and his brother used to do together.  The memorial event is being held at the tomb of Archbishop Oscar Romero.  I believe that it is very fitting that one martyr is remembered at the tomb of another.  Both Marcelo and Archbishop Romero stood up for the poor people in El Salvador. Both challenged power structures and both were assassinated because of their work.

 I believe as Canadians we all bear some responsibility for this situation.  In the middle of all of this social upheaval sits Pacific Rim, a Canadian mining company.  Company executives continue to deny any involvement.  There is no process for Canadian authorities to investigate the behaviour of  Canadian companies abroad.   We will likely never know for sure what role if any, that this company played directly or indirectly in the murder of Juan Francisco Duran Ayala.

I would strongly encourage you to check out the web site of Mining Watch Canada (www.miningwatch.ca) to learn more about the impact of Canadian mining companies around the world.   It is outrageous that many Canadian mining companies do not follow the laws of the countries they are in, International Law and are named in very serious human rights abuses.  We as taxpayers subsidize their work around the world despite the havoc they are causing.  It is appalling and ridiculous.  I am ashamed that I didn't know more about this until recently.

For more information about the death of Juan Francisco Duran Alaya, you can also view the press release by Mining Watch Canada and others.
http://www.miningwatch.ca/en/murder-el-salvador-calls-canadian-mining-interests-question


Thanks to another Missionary friend...I shamelessly lifted this from her blog.  I liked it a lot.