Art From the Frontlines of a Threatened Mountainside
In a follow up to “Coatepec: The Fight for the Cloud Forest”, a Forest Guardian in the movement defending life in the mountains of Coatepec describes the impact of art on their movement. The artists in question are children, and the young Earth Guardians are inspiring their community to rise up and protect their forests. The Coatepec mountainside (Veracruz, Mexico), the “water factory of the region,” is currently threatened by various corporate/political interests. As the cold winter mist keeps the mountainside’s inhabitants indoors, art is slowly shifting the environmental consciousness of the region.
The Present Dilemma
Since the last Weave News article about the Coatepec forests, the government brokered a deal with CIOAC (Central Independiente de Obreros Agrícolas y Campesinos” - The Independent Organization of Agricultural Laborers and Farmers), stating that they would move the squatters to an “unthreatened” zone. While people have been seen coming out of the mountain, the activists believe that CIAOC replaced the previous tenants with new squatters. The governor and the local municipality have still refused to meet with the mountain’s guardians and stewards.
17 farmers risk losing their lands, unable to pay the legal fees to defend their titles. While local activists are trying to fundraise and promote the products made by the mountain’s original inhabitants, everything has been drastically slowed down by COVID-19. Cases have risen exponentially in the area, and the government is threatening to impose a general quarantine. The local and national news media has turned its attention exclusively to COVID-19, leaving the future of the region's “water factory” in the dark. This has limited the ability of the activists to organize and implement ecotourism initiatives that would bring needed support for the movement.
Environmental Consciousness (By a Forest Guardian from Coatepec, Veracruz)
How do you create environmental consciousness? To make human beings self-aware, realize how their actions affect the world that surrounds them, it is necessary to first plant the seeds of change. From these fruits/seeds the trees will grow into a forest, a forest where our collective planetary consciousness will flourish.
When you look at the children who want to protect the environment, you can tell that there is something bigger afoot. The art they create and the stories they tell aren’t containable, for they are creating the future of planet Earth, our future.
Slowly, the world awakens and the people who aren’t aware what is happening to our planet rise from their slumber. They wake up to the world around them and realize what we have done to our Mother Earth. The art that children create catalyzes this process, sparking “tiny seeds of change” in all of us. The children (our inspirations) turn the people who have collaborated in environmental destruction, who have threatened the trees (the most valuable treasure of all), into the seeds of future forests.
These children are the Guardians of nature. When they share what they think about Mother Earth, about their future, they are communicating a vital message to us all.
Today I bring to you some of the art pieces the Guardians have created, with the hope that they will help us make the right choices and continue fighting for our planet.
This drawing was made by IIios (age 6). When asked what he wanted to convey through his art, Ilios responded:
“It feels very beautiful to be in the mountains. I like to camp, see the little birds, the crickets, and the plants. My parents brought me to plant trees so that they would make the mountain beautiful and be a home for lots of animals. I like to play in the water with my siblings and swim a little. Afterwards we lie under the sun and watch lots of birds pass by.”
In this drawing, Zoimu (age 5) tells us what she thinks about nature. These are her words:
“I like to play with the little plants and with my siblings in the water. I like to plant little trees with my family because I love the mountain. I like to be in the mountains.”
To conclude, Anixi (age 11) shares what she depicts in her drawing and how much she cares about Mother Earth:
“I love the mountains because the views are so beautiful and there are lots of animals, like the gorgeous birds. You can also plant lots of things. I also love to be in the mountains on rainy days because the air is fresh and cold, and after there is mist. Everything is very peaceful and beautiful when you are there.”