Earth Day in Mexico? Nada.

I think Earth Day happened last week. I'm not really sure. In the states, there was always enough publicity that I knew when Earth Day would be and was challenged to make changes in my life to be kinder to the Earth. Here, I never heard a word.

I've never traveled to Africa or Haiti, but my guess is that people living in these areas, like those living in Mexico, place very little importance on matters of pollution. The exceptions are tourist areas like Cancun and even neighboring San Cristobal. In the US, there are smog reports, fines for littering, and even pooper-scooper requirements when you walk your dog! In the US there are also readily available trash cans, garbage collection, recycling efforts, and street sweepers that come along during the night --- all of which cost municipalities money. There are also consumer activists groups, neighborhood beautification projects, and Earth Day PSAs.

At this moment, I cannot look across the horizon and see beautiful mountains that I know lie all around me. It is not because of low-lying clouds, nightfall or even fog. It's smoke. Smoke from burning grass, garbage, corn fields and who knows what else....as far as you can see in every direction. As the wind blows, it blows smoke and ash into our home. I don't like it. Now granted, this is one of two times of year during which subsistence farmers are clearing their land in preparation for a new corn crop. Burning is worse during these two times of year. But beyond that, the visible garbage that is strewn here and there is unavoidable. I read somewhere that there are 6 types of pollution: air, water, land, noise, radioactive and thermal pollution. Now I sincerely doubt that there's radioactive pollution, and I don't even know what thermal pollution is (but it probably has something to do with global warming). But here in Ocosingo, there's enough air, water, land and noise pollution to last me a lifetime. It's one of the things that's been hard to adjust to since living here.

So why is there pollution? Some might say it's a lack of education. Partly true. Some might say it's that they just don't care. Probably also partly true. Some might also say that it's because "it's what they're used to." Probably also partly true. In fact, all those things probably do contribute, but I think it's more than that.

I believe that people here, just most people in the US, prefer things to be clean. Here's the irony. About 1/3 of the available shelf space in the "grocery stores" here is dedicated to household and personal cleaning products. People's homes and shops are clean. People wash clothes by hand and mop their homes every day. So the difference is just like so many other things here.....the definition of responsibility. "Where does mine stop and yours begin? Who is responsible for the "environment" that I do not own? I don't know, but it's not me! If I'm a farmer, I prioritize my farming over the air because I need to burn in order to plant, in order to harvest, in order to live. "

Churches here do a beautiful job of ministering within their own congregations. People keep their homes clean but never think twice about the air, water, land or noise pollution that they create unless if affects those in their own homes. The Spanish here would argue that the indigenous do not have the same standards of cleanliness but I think the indigenous too take pride in their homes (noting that they probably have more dirt and smoke to fight). We strive to honor the culture and to not get preachy. If I had heard even one word about Earth Day activities, I would have been the first to volunteer. But there wasn't a word. My friend, Julie Alexander, is a missionary living in Brazil. Promoting environmentalism and organic farming is a big part of their ministry. I am ashamed that I didn't start something to recognize Earth Day here in Ocosingo.

Please join with us in prayer for the people of this and other developing countries. Pray for their part of the Earth. Pray for those of us trying to honor the culture without being holier-than-thou about how we all need to do a better job taking care of the Earth and the community around us. Pray that we and they avoid the trap of saying, "that's not my responsibility, so it's not my problem." Taking care of God's creation is a responsibility that we all share, one day at a time.