Audio capsules
(The community voices originally recorded in Mayan territory belong to the participants in the Encounter. They were translated into English thanks to the collaborative work of Lalito, Xochitl, Violeta, Urpi, and Daniel)
Capsule 1. A Spiritual Bond with Mother Earth
The Movement in Defense of Life and Territory (Modevite) has been fighting for over a decade, operating across eleven municipalities and communities in Chiapas. Men and women from the Tseltal, Tsotsil, and Ch’oles peoples have consistently resisted different conflicts and megaprojects imposed by the state.
This movement advocates for peace through peaceful pilgrimages and articulates its opposition to the various issues afflicting the state of Chiapas. Its primary motivation is a profound dedication to defending its territory—the land they inhabit. Throughout history, they have sustained an unwavering connection and a spiritual bond with Mother Nature, which compels them to defend their heritage, culture, and territory.
Capsule 2. A Struggle to Preserve What Is Ours
The indigenous and peasant communities of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region have historically faced infrastructure projects that threaten their territories, inhabitants, and natural resources. Recently, the residents of San Pedro Comitancillo have formally denounced the environmental and social impacts associated with the development of a solar park, including rising air temperatures, land loss, and community displacement.
Capsule 3. Water Conservation and Preservation
This capsule provides an overview of the efforts undertaken by the Oaxaca Citizens and Community Water Observatory, which documents, reports, and proposes alternatives concerning water use, conservation, and environmental safeguarding. Furthermore, it accentuates the ongoing conflict surrounding the Paso Ancho-Margarita Maza de Juárez Dam, designed to supply water to the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, yet resulting insignificant environmental repercussions within the region.
Capsule 4. The Struggle Against Water grabbing in Northeastern Mexico
Over the years, northeastern Mexico has faced water challenges primarily because of its geography. A member of the Sí a la Vida collective describes a 25-year struggle in the Arroyo San Miguel region of Coahuila, where local residents are working to prevent water grabbing, as seven ejido communities rely on the same basin. The discussion also addresses the legal conflicts that have emerged during this ongoing fight for water.
Capsule 5. Weaving Resistances in Territories of Colombia
Colombia is not unfamiliar with the challenges associated with extractivism, as similar patterns of megaproject development and resource plundering are, to some extent, occurring there. A member of the Proceso de Comunidades Negras, Consejos Comunitarios, and Movimiento Ríos Vivos Colombia discusses how the extractivist model operating in Colombia is not so different from what is currently happening in certain regions of Mexico, especially regarding water issues, displacement, and the dispossession of territories.
Capsule 6. The Struggle of the Cabildo Taganga, Santa Marta, for the Fishermen on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast
The struggle centers on defending the rights and livelihoods of local artisanal fishermen, who face challenges such as the loss of traditional fishing areas and limited institutional support. The Cabildo, representing the indigenous community, aims to ensure the sustainability of fishing practices and to safeguard Taganga’s cultural heritage.