I’ve been stateside nearly seven months now after three years in Mexico (two coordinating the Casa de la Paz in Chiapas). And though the initial tidal waves of rage and despair have quieted somewhat, I can’t say that I’m any closer to embracing my new lifestyle.

By Lilia Lopez

On Monday May 8, police forces removed and detained dozens of protestors from the mayors’ offices in Bochil, and Escuintla, Chiapas. The community members originally took the government offices in protest against mayors Daniel Morales and Darinel Méndez whom they accused of corruption and inaction in the wake of Hurricane Stan, respectively.

Last week Hurricane Stan smashed into southern Mexico and Central American. It has received very little media coverage and was quickly eclipsed by crushing natural disasters in other parts of the world. This does not lessen the impact for the people whose homes, crops, roads and livelihoods have been destroyed. Relief is trickling in, but so much more is needed (See IMAP announcement, an organizational partner of the Peace House, gathering funds for the devastated communities around Lake Atitlan) . I spent last week trapped or traveling in the hurricane, through some of the most damaged areas. What follows is my account of how I escaped.

By Andrew Kurowski

The week of January 9 this year, the center for human rights in Tapachula, Fray Matias de Cordoba AC, organized five, three-person brigades to visit Tapachula and its surrounding areas which were most drastically affected by hurricane Stan more than three months ago on October 4. I, along with two other members of the Chiapas Peace House, had the opportunity to participate in these brigades, thanks to contacts that exist between the Peace House and Fray Matias.

By Chris Thomas

An analysis of the hurricane relief processes compares Hurricane Stan with Katrina.

This announcement is written by: Instituto Mesoamericana de Permacultura
San Lucas Tolimán, Departamento de Solola, Guatemala, Centro America.
502 55848111 - Ronaldo Lec 502 57868033 - Rebecca Cutter

Surely by now you are aware of the devastating effects hurricane Stan has caused the Central American region.  The Western and Central Highlands of Guatemala and the Pacific Coast were struck by relentless rains for five days, resulting in major landslides and the bursting of rivers, which swept away homes, roads, bridges and crops, leaving many communities without access to communication, basic supplies or medical attention.  

Written by Indigo J. Eriksen

Indigo is also a volunteer with BVS-GMP (Brethren Volunteer Service and Global Mission Partnerships). She spent 8 months in a small town in Guatemala, San Lucas Tolíman, where she worked with a US-based parish.

Article Written by Simon Walker

According to the Network of Civil and Non-Governmental Organizations for the Emergency in Chiapas, the state of emergency brought on by Hurricane Stan is not only far from improving, but in fact, it is getting worse.

Article by Simon Walker

Mudslides and flooding provoked by Hurricane Stan completely destroyed the tiny Zapatista community of Che Guevara earlier this month and buried a woman alive when a landslide overwhelmed one resident’s home.

Article by Michelle Akane Storey

The rains had already begun when we arrived in the crime, corruption, and prostitution-laden immigration-hot-bed-of-a-city, Tapachula, which sits by the coast on Mexico's southern border with Guatemala. We had travelled from San Cristóbal to connect with groups working on migration issues. Migration has been gaining increased intention, with the number of factors pushing people from off their homelands in Central America and Southern Mexico increasing. Migrants are compelled to risk long and diffuclt journeys in hopes of attaining an intangible “sueño americano” (American dream), or just an opportunity to survive, on the other side.