Talk by Guatemalan Indigenous Activist on Reforestation

From the greater contexts of environmental justice, climate change, and
indigenous sovereignty, you are invited to join Guatemalan community
activist Jorge Armando Lopez Pocol for a multimedia event at La Pena. The event will highlight Jorge Armando's work with
Chico Mendes Reforestation Project in his home, Pachaj, a Maya K’iche’
village in Guatemala.

Chico Mendes Project began in 1998 as an idea conceived by Jorge Armando
and two friends who had become disillusioned with the politics of their
local government and created a new environmental initiative with a focus
on the reforestation of nearby community lands. It began with a small
tree nursery near Jorge Armando's home in Pachaj —an area highly
impacted by heavy logging, mining, agriculture and the deforestation
done during the Civil War of the 1980s. Later the project was renamed
the "Chico Mendes Reforestation Project" in honor of the famous
environmental activist who was murdered while defending the Amazonian
rain forest. In addition to continuously working to carefully reforest
the mountains of his community, the Project partners with approximately
400 students from the local middle school to teach environmental
awareness through nature walks, tree planting activities, and plant
care. The project also hosts international volunteers and a Spanish
language immersion school.

Please join Jorge Armando to learn about Chico Mendes Reforestation
Project and also the environmental crisis in Central America created by
civil war, international free trade agreements, and continued social
repression. This presentation is a part of a speaking tour that will
serve to garner financial support for the project through donations and
honorariums, outreach to potential Spanish language school students and
volunteers, and awareness building.

The presentation will be given in Spanish with English interpretation.

5-15$ sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds.