RiosMayas

Preserving Maya Watersheds

RIOSMAYAS AND GRUPO DE LOS CIEN:

A COALITION OF ENVIRONMENTALISTS, WRITERS, ARCHAEOLOGISTS, AND CITIZENS OPPOSED TO PLANNED DAMS ON THE USUMACINTA RIVER

Ríos Mayas is a loose affiliation of independent
conservationists, archaeologists, scientists, writers,
artists and citizens in Mexico, Guatemala, and the
United States, dedicated to the preservation of free-
flowing rivers and watershed management in the Maya
region of Mesoamerica. We propose
geographic and biological continuity, archaeological
preservation, low-impact tourism, and equal rights
and economic opportunity for local populations as our
primary objectives. These forces are necessary
to achieve a collective sense of place, a
corresponding sense of possibility, peaceful change,
and appropriate development in the region.

Rios Mayas es un afiliación de conservacionistas,
arqueologos, científicos, operadores de turísmo,
escritores y ciudadanos en Mèxico, Guatemala y los
Estados Unidos, dedicados a la preservación de
ríos libres y el manejo de las cuencas fluviales de la
region Maya en Mesoamerica. Reconocemos y
apoyamos la integridad geografica y continuadad
biologica de la region, la conservacion arqueologica,
y el dessarrollo de turismo de bajo impacto, derechos
iguales y oportunidad económica para estos
pobladores es nuestro objectivo primario. Estos
factores son indispensables para integrar un sentido
colectivo de entorno regional y una esperanza de
evolución pacificá en el apropiado desarollo de la región.

On Dec. 3, 2002, RiosMayas and Grupo de los Cien joined together in a press conference to announce a letter to President Vicente Fox of Mexico, opposing dams on the Usumacinta River

Over 200 people have signed on to the letter. More are joining.

Present at the event were (l to r) Betty Aridjis, Chris Shaw, Homero Aridjis, Dave Pentecost, Moises Morales, and Alonso Mendez.

Click on pictures for larger images

RiosMayas extends the warmest appreciation to Homero Aridjis and the Grupo de los Cien for their help in launching this campaign. The Grupo de los Cien was instrumental in preventing proposed dams in the past. Together we can create a binational reserve to protect the Usumacinta watershed in the future.

DOCUMENTS from the press conference

ONLINE RESOURCES