By Juan Jose Consejo | Project Leader
I recently met don Pedro, our community partner of the Permaculture Demonstration Center at San Andrés Huayapam. He was heading home after the milpa harvest
–Has been a good year, like the old times–– he told me. He should know, has worked his land most of his long life. He recently celebrated his 84th birthday with his huge family, a kind of highly respected godfather in his community.
As part of our project, don Pedro is nowadays one of the biggest organic tomato producers in the central Valleys of Oaxaca. He once told me that he became organic many years ago, because they were so poor that they could not afford synthetic fertilizers.
–I also noticed that plants became lazy with chemicals– he explains. Don Pedro hardly finished elementary school, but has filled every important position in his town, including Major (Presidente Municipal), and I have always considered him my teacher in agriculture and ecology.
We often discuss climate change issues, and he is always eager lo learn. I wanted him to know about the good news: Our project had been selected for the 2021-22 cohort in the GG´ Climate Action Fund. As an old zapotec indian, don Pedro is not very expressive, but I could tell from the spark in his eyes that the news excited him. Eager to know more, he listened very attentively that there is a group of five initiatives that include coral reef protection in Malaysia, community partnerships in central America´s tropical forests, creating forests for food in Kenya, and protecting indigenous knowledge in Peru.
While talking to don Pedro, I became aware of something I expressed later in one of our cohort meetings: I do not know what I like the most about this climate action group: what we have in common or what makes us different. I also came out with a phrase I would love to share with you and the rest of our planet:
In face of global warming
Future will be green and spiritual,
founded on the underdogs and the native peoples,
guided by women.
Or it will not be
And of course, I would like to thank you all for being part of this effort!
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