Posted by La Hora
Report Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Andrea Orozco
aorozco@lahora.com.gt
In view of the many earthquakes that have occurred in the world and the many deaths as the balance remaining after a crash, cold weather, drought or flood, it is interesting to note how the knowledge of a people, which often is singled out and discriminated against, can help prevent disasters.
Nature warns us
The ancestors of the Maya people may well be used for this, because, as mentioned Oxlaj Cirilo Pérez, ambassador of the indigenous peoples, it contains a "wealth of knowledge" and ways to prevent situations.
"There are signs in the sky, blood, body, and there we realize if a person is going to die, to live, if you have an illness or other problem," said the Indian ambassador. Clouds sighted
Mayan wisdom can help establish the degree of danger that exists for the population according to the weather. "A level time there are many things to say, gentlemen beware because it will come an earthquake, "said Perez.
regard, the ambassador said some of the ways that people can anticipate the bad weather:" When the clouds are united and suddenly split into two or three is a sign that an earthquake will happen, if the clouds are formed in the east and have long lines, means that there will be lots of air, if they form in the west, with those lines is because there will be a lot of air but on the other hand, if the clouds are like stones, some large, others small, warns that there will be lots of rain and hail, "announces the expert.
For Moreover, the signs in the sky, moon and stars are also crucial to know the time when a disaster will happen. Thus, the Mayan ambassador indicated that it may announce the presence of certain diseases that can cause death in elderly people or children. Adaptation
services
To make this ancient knowledge is sought to health services provided to the indigenous population to adapt to the Mayan culture and worldview. So says Dr. Donato Carney, who now works in a unit of the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance pursues this end.
Among the objectives to be is to meet the health centers and adapt to the culture of the people, their language, how to deliver a baby, have it up and that women keep their clothes and hot tea to drink after birth.
The aim is also to make a recognition of the health practices of indigenous peoples and provide inputs to perform, including plants and other instruments as part of disaster prevention.
"should value the ancient knowledge you have, dreams, body movements, signs the air and clouds, and animals are all part of the health of indigenous peoples," says the doctor.
But while all that wisdom is not yet incorporated into the services but only adapt, it has raised an inclusive health system to follow the logic of indigenous peoples.
To tell the doctor, there is political will and support for the unit to develop, as they have made personal awareness campaigns, and the resistance that is seen is due to the same kind of health system design.
Good prevention practices
But to avoid disaster is not only to observe the signals, but make sure that the environment is not damaged, therefore, as indicated Isabel Tum, of the Women and Local Economic Development, it is important to recognize the good practices that indigenous people have made about nature.
"That knowledge, transferred from generation to generation, have not been assessed, from the time they have cared for the environment and have made all these practices are preventing natural disasters," said the interviewee.
However, Tum, has noticed a reluctance to learn from this example because of interests, mainly economic, as it seeks to enrich themselves through the exploitation of nature reserves or other means forgetting the effects this causes.
For the respondent is important also that this culture and knowledge can be taught well in universities and learning centers.
The role of indigenous women
While the indigenous people is not taken into account on several issues, most Mayan women are discriminated against, therefore, according to Rita Cassisi of the United Nations Organization for Women working in a program of disaster prevention and transmission of knowledge.
This work has been conducted through maps and recognition of the environment, which can establish the sites of the greatest danger, or that contain more resources within a community.
However, in order to gain an understanding as described above, it is necessary to "leave behind a desk, and know the field, it indicates the Mayan ambassador, stating that, to teach to recognize these signals is necessary look to the horizon and for a moment be part of nature.
signals
sky clouds together that are split into two or three from one moment to another, is a sign that an earthquake will occur. Clouds that form in the east and have long lines, means that there will be very windy. Clouds that form in the west and have long lines, a sign of little wind. Clouds are like stones, some large and some small, warn that there will be plenty of rain and hail.
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