All images will be displayed permanently online for everyone to explore. Some of them will be selected for a book, “A Day In the World”, which will be published in October 2012, others will be shown in  exhibitions around the world. It was a fun project to participate in. My day began in hot and humid Chiapa de Corzo and finished in San Cristobal de las Casas in the cool rain. Geography greatly restricted my ability to photograph many of the things matter to me but I think given the restrictions I came up with some interesting images.

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Mayan Kids Taking a Break

Statistically American children have it easier than most other kids on the planet. Child labor laws protect them from work and they have one of the shortest school years on the planet. Unfortunately thirty years of declining personal wages and rampant materialism have resulted in over worked and over stressed parents who guiltily keep their children safe by providing them with indoor entertainment instead of supervision and family time. Video games, computers and the multiplex cinemas have become de facto babysitters. Fear created by mass media keeps the kids sequestered in their air conditioned environments and has robbed them of the freedom to go outside, get some exercise and explore their own neighborhoods. Government subsidized high fructose corn syrup and pre-packaged foods produced on factory farms keeps them full, fat and lethargic.

There isn’t a lot of childhood obesity among the indigenous of Mexico because there aren’t a lot of extra calories to be had. International purveyors of fast food and sugar highs are trying to exploit this market to the extent they can but in truth there isn’t really much money to be raided. These kids are poor; very poor. They are also raised to feel obligations to their families and are expected to pitch in. By necessity they know their surroundings. They are outside. They get exercise. I don’t see many of them complaining, whining or pitching fits. I don’t imagine there is a lot of medication necessary or available to control their moods. In fact it is pretty rare to see these kids in a bad mood. Unfortunately in many cases these their formal education suffers but they are street wise and knowledgeable about how at least their neighborhood works.

I am not an advocate of exploiting eight years olds by putting them to work in the mines [again] but it seems to me there may be some room for change. I am also not an advocate for living indigenous poor lifestyles but we need to start doing smarter things with our money and especially our time. If these kids can help the family and still be happy maybe there are some lessons to be learned. They don’t get many material things from their parents but most of them get that which is lacking in our materialistic society; time with family and their community.

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It is possible to mix and match your choice of additives but being a traditionalist I chose the “El Nacho” Paquete. Jalapeños, Yellow (canned ballpark style) “Cheese”, cucumbers and a little salsa are thrown over traditional flavored Doritos and served with a plastic fork and napkin. Total cost about $1.16 US.

Doritos are one of those things that have always fallen into the “guilty pleasure” category for me. They have tons of calories, tons of fat, preservatives, artificial dyes and little nutritional value. Doritos are contributors to the obesity epidemic, the bags are bad for the environment and, if you believe what you read on the Internet, can cause crazy dreams and delirium. Problem is that they taste so damn good. If I have one I can’t stop until I finish the bag. Having said that I don’t think I will be trying Doriantojos again. Doritos out of the bag are good enough / bad enough just the way they are. Adding more goop, calories and textures to something that is already bad for me is to me totally unnecessary. Especially when there are so many other good alternatives nearby.

Doriantojos

Doriantojo Condiments

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La Catedral de San Cristóbal

Dominating the central part of San Cristobal is La Catedral de San Cristóbal. Construction on the beautiful mustard colored church was begun in 1528 but wasn’t completed until almost 200 years later because of several natural disasters. Earthquakes in the 19^th century caused considerable damage, but the church was restored again in the early 20^th . The interior is gold-leaf and has five gilded altarpieces and features fine art paintings from the 18^th century.

The Cathedral’s first priest was Bartolomé de las Casas but he was only able to serve for a short time before he was forced to return to Spain, in part due to conflicts with Spanish colonial settlers, because of his pro- indigenous policies and activist religious stances. De las Casas spent 50 years of his life actively fighting slavery and the violent colonial abuse of indigenous peoples. In 1848 the then capital of the Mexican state of Chiapas, Ciudad de San Cristobal was renamed San Cristóbal de Las Casas, in honor of its first bishop.

It is great to sit in front of the church and just observe life in San Cristóbal.

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Lagunas de Montebello

Laguna de Montebello located in the magnificent Lagunas de Montebello National Park near the Guatemala border in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas is truly a wonder. Deep, clear, teal colored water offsets a ring of beautiful nature filled mountains. You can hire traditional Lacandon log boats to take you out to explore the small islands in the lake. A ride on these boats feels remarkably stable and is a peaceful way to spend an afternoon.

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Stone on Carpinteria State Beach

I have always been fascinated by the seashore. Where the ocean and the sea meet is to me a metaphor for life. Everything is dynamic yet peaceful. This scene existed for only a few seconds and then was washed away only to be replaced by another. In life if you are constantly distracted by what may be or what has passed you will miss the present. In truth, the present is often wonderful and actually all we have. There is no where else but the present so enjoy the moment; just be.

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It really isn’t very comforting to know that the hamburger we are about to consume was recently as sentient as our pampered family pets. As modern carnivores we have managed to almost completely depersonalize the consumption of our fellow animals. How convent is it to “believe” that somehow animal flesh comfortably finds itself onto Saran Wrapped Styrofoam trays neatly stacked, graded and labeled in refrigerated bins for us to mindlessly purchase?

Don’t misunderstand me; I enjoy the flesh of my fellow animals as much as anyone. The thought of being a vegetarian or a vegan for more than a few days strikes me as a bland denial of my omnivore heritage. We evolved incisors and canine teeth for reasons that go back far beyond human existence and to deny that would also be a deceit. However, shopping in the indigenous markets in San Cristobal de las Casas just reminds me that I need to be more enlightened and mindful of my place on the planet and take a few seconds to give thought to the creatures that I use for the nourishment of my body. On better days it even makes me consider ordering the vegetarian plate.

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Multnomah Falls, just east of Portland, Oregon, USA is beautiful display of the power of mother nature. The 611 foot tall cascade of frigid water is just a 5 minute walk from the parking lot off of I-84. Legend has it that Multnomah Falls was created to win the love of a young Native American princess who wanted a hidden place to bathe. The day I visited was cold and overcast but is made for some fun photography. There is also a nice restaurant and museum near the base of the falls. Throw in good friends and a warm beverage and Multnomah Falls is a great visit even on an inhospitable day.

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For its first 15 years, PSI worked mostly in family planning (hence the name Population Services International). PSI added malaria and safe water to its portfolio in the 1990s and tuberculosis in 2004. PSI has an uncommon focus on measurable health impact and attempts to measure its effect on disease and death much like a for-profit measures its profits. In 2009, PSI estimates that its programs directly prevented 177,000 HIV infections, four million unintended pregnancies, more than 300,000 deaths from malaria and diarrhea and almost 40 million malaria episodes.

I like PSI because they use research-based evidence to improve their effectiveness influencing the health-related behaviors of vulnerable populations, increasing socio-economic equity, increasing the health impact of interventions and improving intervention cost-effectiveness and efficiency in terms of cost per product or service delivered.  They measurable health impact on disease and death much like a for-profit companies measure profits. In 2009, PSI estimates that its programs directly prevented 177,000 HIV infections, four million unintended pregnancies, more than 300,000 deaths from malaria and diarrhea and almost 40 million malaria episodes.

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