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Photo of the Day | Mayan Woman in Traditional Dress
Mayan Woman in Traditional Dress on Back Street
Most Mexican states either totally conquered or assimilated their aboriginal peoples, the indigenous of Chiapas, have not been conquered or assimilated. These ancient Mayan groups speak their own languages, maintain their own culture and to a large degree govern themselves autonomously. The relationship between the indigenous and the government is uneasy and on occasion has erupted into conflict like the the Zapatista conflict of 1994. Fighting has stopped but the issues remain. The indigenous are still poor and disenfranchised. The Mexican government remains frustrated in its desire to unite its population and unfortunately Chiapas suffers a loss of tourism because of a conflict that happened over fifteen years ago.
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Photo of the Day | Iglesia de Santo Domingo
Entrance to Santo Domingo Church in San Cristobal
The Santo Domingo church was built by Dominican Friars in 1546. The facade was beautifully restored in 2006. The church is considered one of the most richly ornamented representations of the colonial Baroque style in all of Latin America.
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Mixed Metaphors
I was raised in high-school-football-country. On Friday nights all over high-school-football-country the stands are filled with diehard fans and kids screaming, “We’re number one, we’re number one.” They don’t scream this based on the score board. They don’t scream this based on the record. They scream this because that is what they have always screamed; what they have been conditioned to scream. They wear the school colors. They chant what the cheerleaders direct them to chant and even if the team is getting its butt kicked on the field, loyalty demands that they still crow about being number one. If you stop cheering or even question why you are cheering the crowds can get ugly.
Over the past thirty years by almost every positive measure of success the United States has been in decline. Remarkably this began about the same time that cheerleading and ignoring the score board got to be confused with patriotism. We began wrapping ourselves in the team colors, pulling our shoulders back and, loudly and factlessly asserting that we are number one. Official policies have us consuming more, manufacturing less and educating less effectively but somehow doing anything other than following the things that hastened the decline meant you were unfaithful to the team. Somehow making shared sacrifices and shared investments in things that could return you to number one became unpatriotic. To continue the analogy, noticing that the popular quarterback was selfishly hogging the ball and causing the team to lose meant you were disloyal or envious.
I love my country the United States and I truly hope that this race to the bottom ends soon. I long for the day when it will again be accepted that dissent truly is the highest form of patriotism. When we recognize that flying the flag is an empty gesture if it is not backed with a loving but honest look at who we are and where we want to go together as a team; when we accept the reality that playing as a team served us well for most of our history; when we realize that being number one is okay but good sportsmanship counts even more; when we start putting predatory capitalists in jail instead of worshiping them; when we realize that a safety net and thoughtful regulation create a positive environment for small entrepreneurs; when we quit demonizing each other and work together for the team.
We know what it takes to fix things and it isn’t even more deficit creating tax cuts or pretending corporations are people. Why have we suddenly decided to play games and ignore reality or pretend it really doesn’t matter? We are still great! We just need to fix what is broken and start working together for everyone.
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Photo of the Day | Textiles at the Artisan Market
Textiles in San Cristobal Artisan Market
The Artisan Market in San Cristobal de las Casas offers an amazing mix of everything from Amber Jewelry to Zapatista Dolls. Most of the products are hand produced in the villages surrounding the city. The lively market is located on the grounds of the Santo Domingo Church and is laboriously set up everyday and taken down each night.
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Weekly Giving | Greenpeace Fund
For this week’s Consistent Giving I have chosen Greenpeace Fund. As you are no doubt aware Greenpeace is a high profile environmental organization that uses non-violent direct action to expose global environmental issues and to provide solutions which are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace has been instrumental in moving the environmental debate into the mainstream issue it is today.
Greenpeace is represented by two separate entities in the United States, Greenpeace, Inc. and Greenpeace Fund, Inc. While both organizations work on the same mission, they do so through different strategies. Greenpeace, Inc. is a campaigning and lobbying organization and is registered as a 501(c)(4) entity. Contributions to Greenpeace, Inc. are not tax deductible. Greenpeace Fund, Inc. is a grant making organization that provides funding for Greenpeace’s research, charitable and public education activities entities worldwide. Greenpeace Fund is registered as a 501(c)(3) entity and has limits on its ability to lobby.
I don’t agree with them on every issue but I am an admirer of their commitment and passion when it comes to environmental issues. I especially like their direct action campaigns and their speaking truth to power. Check out this video. It is amazing.
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Photo of the Day | Sunrise at Arches National Park
Sunrise at Arches National Park
I made this image early one morning in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. Arches is one of the the United States’ iconic National Parks and one of the most impressive I have visited. I had the place to myself on this beautiful morning.
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Weekly Giving | Freedom From Hunger
For this week’s Consistent Giving I have chosen “Freedom From Hunger.” Freedom from Hunger is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that brings innovative and sustainable solutions to the fight against chronic hunger and poverty. Freedom from Hunger combines health and education services and microfinance with to help very poor families safeguard their health, improve their incomes, and achieve lasting nutritional security. Throughout their history (they were established in 1946) their touchstones have been evidence of impact, scientific rigor and long term food security. They collaborate with a network of more than 112 local organizations in 17 countries throughout the developing world and are currently reaching 2.4 million people and benefiting a total of over 14 million!
I like Freedom From Hunger’s long term approach to food security. All too often charitable organizations enter a given area and recipients come to rely on the organization, neglecting their own enterprises. Freedom From Hunger requires that aid recipients participate in their own aid. Freedom From Hunger is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization and donations are tax deductible.
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Photo of the Day | Reflection of San Felipe de Neri Church
San Felipe de Neri Church
The skies were brilliant after a rain storm blew through “Old Town” Albuquerque on a seasonally cold winter’s day. The iconic San Felipe de Neri Church was magnificently reflected on puddles left behind on the brick courtyard.
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Weekly Giving | Heifer International
Heifer International fights poverty by providing long-term development solutions rather than short-term relief programs. The founder Dan West, summarizes this approach with the phrase “not a cup, but a cow.” Heifer provides sheep, rabbits, honeybees, pigs, llamas, water buffalo, chicks, ducks, goats, geese, bees and trees as well as heifers to families in need around the world. Additionally Heifer recipients receive months of training in how to care for their animal; sell the milk, eggs or other products at market; and restore the environment.
Additionally, recipients of are required to “Pass on the Gift”, meaning that every family or community that receives livestock from Heifer are required to donate one or more of their animal’s female offspring to another family in need. This approach makes recipients future donors and gives whole communities a stake in the success of the program.
I like Heifer International‘s approach to aid because it is sustainable and it requires recipients to participate in helping themselves. Their methods aren’t temporary relief, they obtain livestock in the region where it will be distributed and they closely examine their results. Heifer International is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization and donations are tax deductible.
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Photo of the Day | Three Amigos
Three Amigos
These three little guys just loved horsing around and following me as we checked out the school in the village in Nichnamtic, Chiapas, Mexico. They wanted to see every shot that I made on the little screen on the back of the camera. I think I had more fun on this day than they did. The paper in their hand is a sketch that they did. You can just feel the life, love and hope in these kids. Now that Escalera has completed six new classrooms in their village they have a little more hope of escaping the crushing poverty that they live in but there is always so much more to do.
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About Me
In 2011 Jonathan Look decided change his life and pursue adventures instead of comfort and possessions. His goal is to travel the world; one country at a time, one year at a time. To accomplish this he packed up what little he saw as necessities and headed out. His goal is to spend ten years discovering new places, meeting new people and taking the time to learn about them, their values and their place on this tiny planet.
He embraces the philosophy that says a person is the sum of their experiences and rejects the fraud of modern consumerism that makes people into slaves of their consumption. He doesn't intend to be modern day ascetic, just more mindful of his place in the world and to make decisions according to that new standard.
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San Cristobal, Chiapas
