Yucatan News: Backyard Patios & Ballet
Death of an Expat in Playa del Carmen
We are sad to report that retired Vancouver police officer Lynn Earle was killed in a robbery of her home in Playa del Carmen. She had lived in Playa del Carmen for more than a decade and was an active volunteer in all of the animal welfare and rescue organizations in the area. She had a great heart for helping and, according to best friend Lisa Edwards, “She would do absolutely anything to help a friend in need, an animal in need or a stranger in need.” Lynn will be missed by family, friends and animal lovers in Playa del Carmen. Our condolences to them all.
The Whale Sharks are Back!
The annual migration of the world’s largest fish has begun. The Tiburón ballena, sometimes up to 30 feet long, are harmless to humans and provide visitors with an astounding experience, whether they get in the water and swim with the whale sharks or just stand on the boat and watch. If you decide to take a whale shark tour from Cancun, please remember that this is all about the whales, which means that there are rules, such as wearing only biodegradable sunscreen. If you do decide to take a tour, please make sure that the company you choose is a member of the International Ecotourism Society. One of our newest advertisers, Whale Shark Daddy, is an eco-friendly tour operator and runs tours from both Cancun and Isla Holbox.
Summer of Scientific Research for 300 Students
The Verano de la investigación científica de la Península Jaguar 2013 run by UADY (the Autonomous University of Yucatan) began June 17 and runs until August 9. After that, students will continue to analyze their work and present their findings in October. During the eight-week program, the students will work with established researchers both on the peninsula and in other countries. This helps to strengthen the number of students from Yucatan, Quintana Roo and Campeche who eventually graduate in one or more of the sciences. This annual program has space for 300 students, but this year’s applications ran almost double that. There can be no surprise in the fact that Yucatan produces some of the finest young scientific minds in the world when the state and universities work this hard to provide students with these opportunities.
A World Without Child Labor
Never think that the concept of building a world without child labor is simply a lofty notion among people in the developed world. This is a concept that is sweeping the world, and it begins with developing awareness among the children themselves. In honor of the Prevención del Trabajo Infantil, the local DIF in Tizimin held a contest among school children to produce a drawing and slogan that supports the end of child labor worldwide. A total of 78 children submitted drawings. First place went to María José Villaseñor, a sixth grade student at from Justo Sierra Mendez Primary School. Her drawing was entitled “A World Without Child Labor.” Congratulations to Maria, to her parents and to her teachers, all for a job very well done!
Classical Ballet in Yucatan
This past week, the Hunucma 2013 Third Meeting of the Intermunicipal Dance met in Merida to show off their quite exceptional skills. This event is organized by the Escuela de Danza “Yol Izma,” which is directed Xenia Irene García Bojorquez. Participating groups included: Escuela Maraia, Estudio de Danza Danzario, Estudio de Danza de Celestún, Técnicas del Arte Estudio de Danza, Leo Dance, ABC Danza, Escuela de Danza Coppelia and the Companía Estatal de Danza. It seems to us as if anyone who loves classical ballet, or has a child who wants to dance, surely should be living in Yucatan! We had no idea there were so many accomplished ballet companies here, or that so many young people are in training as classical ballet dancers. Congratulations to everyone who participated in this event, for your hard work and for raising awareness that classical ballet is alive and growing in Yucatan.
Education: Nine Million Pesos to the Southside of Merida
What could you do with $9 million pesos? The current administration is betting it all on education and, when this latest round of projects is finished, the educational infrastructure on the south side of Merida will include: 14 lecture halls, a library, a computer workshop, two modules of servicio y sanitarios. There will also be: a new multipurpose stadium, an administrative office, a guard house, a winery and a septic tank. This is all in addition to the technological advancements already going into schools throughout the state. The intellectual capital has always been here. Now there will be the support necessary to develop it. There has never been a better time to be a student in Yucatan. Our best wishes to them all for a brighter future than any of us could have dreamed.
Update: Backyard Program
Over the past year or two, we have watched as a Backyard Program has distributed baby chickens and seeds to residents in outlying towns throughout the state. The aim was to not only provide families with a means of feeding themselves, but to give them enough to sell and increase the income of families. Since then, we have seen successful farmers’ markets spring up all across the state. Now, it is time for the state to provide replacement citrus trees (naranja dulce, limón and mandarina) to growers and they are including trees for 7,000 individual families. And this program doesn’t stop there. Beginning this fall, there will be classes held on raising livestock. It looks as if food self-sufficiency is not far away in Yucatan. Considering the success of the local farmers’ markets, it looks as if Yucatan will be a true Garden of Eden in very short order.
Health Centers and Hospitals Get Internet Resources
This week, the Governor of Yucatan signed an agreement with "Para Los Médicos México" that makes it possible for 135 health centers and eight public hospitals to exchange information, conduct consultations, and obtain access to a specialized medical dictionary, all online. This is one more step in the giant leaps forward that health care in Yucatan has taken over the past decade. It is expected that both quality and cost of care will be improved with this move, and that physicians will be able to provide quality care for more Yucatecos than ever before.
Campeche: The Little Wonder and Her Steel Horse
When Karen Verónica Pérez Hernández’ grandfather gave her a “steel horse” as a preschooler, no one could have guessed that she would ride it to glory almost from that moment on. This little girl, now only eight years old, is bringing home the wins at the rate of about two a month! She has completely taken over the motocross bike bought for her older brother and is making history with it. She just won the Tercera Fecha Nacional de Motocross en Tlaxco and is being called the Queen of Motocross. We don’t know what it is about Campeche, but that state has a habit of producing athletes with a passion for speed – and usually on two wheels. Our congratulations to Karen Verónica Pérez Hernández. We hope to see her race in Yucatan soon.
New Animal Rescue Shelter in Tizimin
Animal activist and Verde Ecologista Party candidate Doris Canul Chan has started an animal rescue and shelter in Tizimin on land donated by her husband. Sadly, she reports that at least three of every five animals they pick up are unable to survive due to severe injuries and/or health problems, but the remainder are fed and cared for with the help of a volunteer veterinarian. The shelter has a Facebook page called “El mejor amigo del hombre” (man's best friend) where people can make arrangements to donate to this worthy cause. The donations they need most, right now, include anything they can use to construct kennels.
