Opening ceremony on Friday, April 22. Photo: Sofia Medeles.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- The first Earth Day commemoration in Ajijic which took place on April 22, 23 and 24 t was a success although participation was lower than the organizers hoped for.  The three-day event consisted of a series of conferences and other activities designed  to raise awareness about the  need to care  for the environment.

Between  150 to 200 people attended each day for a total of 500 and 600 people,  mostly adults although there  were also interested children.  

The first day began with an opening ceremony asking permission to the elements and deities to allow the participants to respectfully carry out the programmed activities. During the closing ceremony on the last day, a tribute and offering was made to Lake Chapala.

The conference speakers included activists who work to safeguard the integrity of both the lake and the mountains,  such as Manuel Villagómez Rodríguez, Luis Valdivia Ornelas, Raquel Gutiérrez Nájera and the  local resident Julio Carmona. There were also music and film presentations, and tables for information and sale of ecological products.

«I think the event was effective both in the professional and academic quality of the presenters, said Noris Binet, who added that, “ I think it was very ambitious to do it in three days since it demands  consistent participation by the  public.”

Binet explained that, “ There were three relevant focuses of the event: that battles of this type can and have been won, that Lake Chapala urgently needs to become a Ramsar site, that a mapping of endangered and reserved areas needs to be done  that clearly  defines where not to buy or build, something the Expats requested I a petition.  ( Lake Chapala is listed on the RAMSAR Information Service as RAMSAR  as  Ramsar Site no. 1973. For its extensive  wetlands).

Sihara Casillas Gaeta, another of the organizers, commented that this type of event helps people to learn about the type of land in which they live,  about the local aquifers, and to take stock of how corruption has contributed to the deterioration of natural water reservoirs, which helps  convince people to be more vigilant.

Jane Custer, who was in charge of translations at the event, said that she was very pleased to see the Mexican and foreign communities of Ajijic together in one place  acquiring knowledge to protect the Lake and the environment.

Noris stated that, in the coming years, she believes the event could improve in terms of local participation, involving  neighbors and  members of indigenous communities, talking about their problems related to environmental issues. She  plans to produce an official document summarizing the most important points of the event to be presented to government authorities, as well as the creation of a citizen and academic observatory to monitor and denounce environmental destruction.

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan