I was fortunate to attend an evening of youth activism. Members of the Kickapoo Guatemala Accompaniment Project welcomed youth activist Alex Escobar Prado to speak. Alex represents youth in Guatemala in association with NISGUA, who are nonviolently educating and resisting the ongoing extraction of resources from their lands.
In straightforward and humble strength, Alex told us the stories of his community. He shared with us the importance of youth taking action to ensure a future of clean water, good air, and healthy, productive lands. He emphasized the importance of honoring the martyrs who have been killed, protecting their communities’ right to self-governance, and their homelands from profiteering and resource extraction.
He spoke softly but passionately about the need for peaceful and nonviolent approaches towards change. And told of the assassination of his 16 year-old activist colleague, Topacio Reynoso, holding her in the highest regard.
He spoke to us as a human being. He spoke to us in hopes that we could awaken to the urgency of now. He spoke to us with wisdom born of deep reflection and of commitment to life and land.
He told us with great confidence that he knew there are people the world over supporting their efforts. And as I thanked him after he spoke I assured him that he was heard.
I will never forget his sincerity or his sense of purpose. He is grounded in a history and culture of human beings resiliently refusing globalized development and extreme extraction. He represents the tide that is turning. Where people and land are more important than profit. Yes, Alex, people are waking up to the fact that we must respect one another’s right to live without corruption of land and water and without fear of militarized police.
Perhaps it is time more of us awaken to this transformation. To recognize the harm caused by our insistence on using fossil fuel energy and other resources. To stand in solidarity with people around the world who are saying, “Enough.” To take one more step towards this end. It is worth it.
You can listen to Alex on his tour of the US
You can also follow NISGUA on Facebook.
This blog aired on “Consider This”, Nov 9, on WDRT 91.9 FM community Radio
let kindness win 