Mamá Maquín
In the beginning of the 80’s, the Mayan indigenous peoples of Guatemala began to seek refuge in Mexico to flee the civil war and the massacres in their communities. Some years later, an organization was born following the meeting of 47 representatives of different women’s groups who were stationed in the Mexican refugee camps. The organization is called Mamá Maquín, in memory of Adelina Caal Maquín, an indigenous activist who fought for native property rights and was killed during a massacre in the village of Panzos in 1979.

written by Johanne Pelletier and Francis Murchison,
september 11st, 2004, Guatemala, Guatemala

 

Maya Pedal
The artisans of Maya Pedal have made themselves apostles of appropriate technology. This consists of an affordable technology that increases the human efficiency or energy for the fulfillment of a task without bringing about the impact of conventional technology upon our health or the environment. This technology is an alternative to technology that stems from the industrial revolution, machines that use fossil fuels.

written by Johanne Pelletier and Francis Murchison,
august 28th, 2004, San Andres Itzapa, Guatemala