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Cultural diversity
Traditional Mayan philosophy is founded on the principles of ecology. However, community fragmentation and immediate economic obligations, which are the result of conflicting religious and political problems, have contributed to the loss of this valuable indigenous knowledge and environmental awareness is severely lacking within the wider Guatemalan public. Logging and burning of plastic are common activities, and the link between human activity-induced climate change and natural disasters such as hurricanes is not highlighted.
Guatemala’s ecological balance can only be restored if young people are educated on the importance of protecting their local ecosystems from environmental degradation. Down2Earth has worked with a number of educational institutions, ecological NGOs and indigenously owned community centres in the Solola highland region to find creative ways of raising awareness of ecology and habitat management, and promote cultural diversity in a region where land rights and traditional practices are under mounting threat from the pressures of international tourism. Down2Earth supports the work of Ascodimaya, a human rights organisation that has been campaigning for the last 40 years for equal rights to land and social politics. Ascodimaya works with the poorest Mayan families in Patzoon and Solola, through providing them with educational opportunities as well as counselling families with social problems, and educating adults and children about human rights and women's rights. |
