Agroecology and the Struggle for Food Sovereignty ... - Yale University

case study: tales from guatemala
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In 1996 the Peace Accords were signed, and the organizations we have today
were formed. There are several NGOs working [again] in San Martin, but it
has been hard for all of us to begin the work. San Martin is [again] a fertile
ground to do what we need to do, but it will depend on each one of us to
spread the work in our communities. I want to tell you about everything we
have experienced and everything that has yet to happen to us . . . I give thanks
to God that we live each day, and I prepare myself for tomorrow. When
morning breaks tomorrow, we can give thanks to God we are alive and live
that day. Our point of departure has to be our work, because this is what provides
us with everything, our food, our clothes, whatever we need. Today we
have the opportunity to be at the forefront of organizations that have the
desire, the harmony, and the hope in our pueblo who have suffered so much
and have always needed help. We are not poor because we are indigenous, we
are poor because we never had the opportunity to develop ourselves. Let’s
lend a hand, but let’s lend a hand to ourselves, and this way we will develop
ourselves one to one. I want to tell you that we also are in a great stage in
regards to our Mayan cosmos vision. We are in the era of reflection. After the
reflection we can see that development will come, because we will understand
each other. It is a bit difficult to understand why no one reads the
Popol Vuh. They say it was not written by a Guatemalan; nevertheless, it . . .
teaches us that everything has a moment and a space and a reason. For each
thing, you must look for the reason. And the reason here is that many organizations
are looking for justice. And when we find justice, peace will reign. We
will live in peace, and our economic situation will change.
yale school of forestry & environmental studies