by Ruth Warner, Spanish language interpreter
A little snapshot for you:
When a small group of us went to San Miguel Ixtahuacan in San Marcos, we meet with a group of around twenty women and a few men to hear their testimonies about mining in the area. We gathered in a meeting hall belonging to the Catholic church. The church in San Marcos has been very vocal opposing mining, and we had just had breakfast with the local priest. We were greeted by marimba music, and a beautiful circle with candles ready to be lit on the floor, incense was burning. The priest and a nun joined in with the Mayan blessing and lighting of candles.
Then, we were invited to take song sheets and one woman played the guitar and led us in an unusual “hymn” which we wanted to share with you.
Upward and onward!
View photos from the visit here.
Was it You, who sent the miners?
They violate the womb of Mother Earth.
They take the gold, destroy the hills.
A gram of blood is worth more than a thousand kilos of gold.
CHORUS:
What is happening to my people?
And you, my God, where are you hiding?
We are paralyzed by fear.
My people are sold out and they don’t realize it.
Water is becoming scarce, it is the color of hell.
Polluted air rises to the sky.
We seek miracles – in the final hour,
Seeking to heal the sick and the mortal damage.
Poor people are easy to buy off.
Gifts silence suspicions and doubts.
The salaries are taken to the bars in town,
Leaving behind dark homes and my people divided.
You created a garden – not
a desert.
We want progress with respect for the environment.
The hunger for gold eats more and more earth.
And you, my God, must ask:
What are my people doing?