LIFEPOINT Guatemala Introduction
-
Upload
carolyn-kleinert -
Category
Spiritual
-
view
208 -
download
0
description
Transcript of LIFEPOINT Guatemala Introduction
ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT GUATEMALA
And more!
Legends tell, of how the Quetzal got his bright, "blood red' chest, in 1524, when the Spanish conquistador, Pedro de Alvarado, fought in battle with the great Mayan Leader, Tecun Uman.
When the great Mayan warrior chief, was falling to his death, an emerald green male Quetzal, flew into the warrior's chest, to try to protect him, & when the protective Warrior Quetzal bird, regained his balance, it's chest was marked with the great Mayan Chief's crimson blood. To this day, it is the sign of great warriors.
• Guatemala currency named for the quetzal • Bird pictured on the flag
QUETZAL
GUATE BASICS Size- Slightly smaller than Tennessee Climate- tropical; hot & humid; cooler in lowlands Terrain- mostly mountains with narrow coastal
plains and rolling limestone plateau Resources- petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish
and hydropower Natural Hazards- volcanoes in mountains,
earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and tropical storms Volcan de Fuego, erupted Sept 12, 2012, as seen from
Antigua Guatemala Pacaya (elev. 2,552 m), erupted in May 2010 causing
an ashfall on Guatemala City
WEATHER March and April are the hottest and driest months. Rainy season- June to October is muggy and buggy With the rain, comes the mosquitoes:
* * bring rain gear and repellent ** It doesn’t rain all day during the rainy
season, but you can expect frequent showers October and November see the end of the
occasional rains and a return to cooler temperatures
In the highlands things get cool duringinvierno (November–March), especially at night.
Zacapa is @ elevation of ~400ft .. Expect low 60’s at night in December
ECONOMY GDP per capita is ½ average for
Latin America and Caribbean Agriculture is 13% of GDP and half of
labor force Exports include coffee, sugar, bananas
and vegetables Industries sugar, textiles and clothing,
metal, rubber, petroleum, furniture, tourism
In El Oasis many men are employed at melon farms owned by US companies
A BRIEF HISTORY The Mayan civilization flourished in
Guatemala & surrounding area during the first millennium A.D.
1534- indigenous Maya defeated by Spanish, led by Pedro de Alvarado; Guatemala becomes a Spanish colony After almost three centuries as a Spanish
colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821.
A BRIEF HISTORY The 20th century has been characterized by
dictators and jockeying for power. Many US fruit companies have land interests in
Guatemala, most notably the ‘United Fruit Company’
During the last half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments
36-year Civil War of guerrilla warfare (1960-1996). Characterized by frequent changes of power, and
deaths and disappearances of 200,000 people, known as ‘los desaparecidos’
Óscar Mejía, a particularly brutal dictator during 1980s
A BRIEF HISTORY Guatemalans continue to face high levels
of violence and weak and corrupt law enforcement institutions.
Sixty percent of the country lives in poverty, and the increasing levels of crime, gang violence and drug dealing show a society where inequality, racism and poverty dominate
LOS GUATEMALTECOS
Most populous country in Central America
Mestizo 60%, (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European
K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001 census)
Religion- Roman Catholic, Protestant and indigenous Mayan beliefs
LA FAMILIA GUATEMALTECA Average monthly income per family is
US $227 (1999)Almost 70% of the population lives on less
than US$2/day This is approximately 1/3 of the average
income in the rest of the Latin America Children frequently do not have much
schooling- often need to work to help sustain the family
Relationship ALWAYS take priority over tasks
Mi casa es su casa Machismo
RACISM
Race and power go hand in handRoots of racism all the way back to caste system
that characterized time of colonizationPeninsulares-> Criollos -> Indios -> NegrosMestizo = mixed
In all Latin America, there has only been 3 indigenous presidents, and never in Guatemala Mexico's Benito Juárez, Peru's Alejandro Toledo Bolivia's Evo Morales
POVERTY Richest 20% of population controls over 50%
of Guatemala’s overall consumption More than ½ of population is below
poverty line, with 13% in extreme poverty Poverty among indigenous groups (makes up
38% of the population) averages 73% and extreme poverty rises to 28%.
Nearly one-half of Guatemala's children under age five are chronically malnourished, one of the
highest malnutrition rates in the world
COMIDA DE GUATE Mayan staple foods like- Corn tortillas and Black
beans (frijoles) are eaten at nearly every meal. They are usually refried (volteados), mashed, or simply eaten whole (parados)
Chicken, turkey, and beef are normally accompanied by beans and rice (frijoles con arroz) or served in stews (caldos)
Pepián , a thick meat and vegetable stew, is a common dish in the area of Antigua
Seafood is common along the coasts Fresh fruits and vegetables, such
as yucca, carrots, plantains, celery, cucumbers
SOME PLACES AND EVENTS TO
KNOW ABOUT GUATEMALA
ANTIGUA
CHICHICASTENANGO MARKET
TIKAL
LAKEATITLAN
VOLCANO
There are many active volcanoes in Guatemala. This one – Volcán de Fuego (Fire
Volcano) erupted Sept. 12, 2012
SINKHOLE IN 2007
This sinkhole swallowed up a three-story building is said to have been more the result of poor planning
when creating pipelines rather than nature.
WORK CITED CIA World Factbook-
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gt.html
Timeline of History - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1215811.stm
Civil War Info- http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/guatemala704/history/timeline.html#
Weather- http://www.lonelyplanet.com/guatemala/weather
Family - http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu-projects/Global_Report/cities/guatemala.htm
A BRIEF HISTORY 1931- Jorge Ubico, pro-American dictator- gave special
rights to United Fruit Company; overthrown by civil revolt in 1944
1944- President Juan Arevalo introduces educational, social-democratic reforms- including redistributing of land to indigenous peasants. Reforms continued by President Arbenz.
1953- Guate gov’t took over 40% of United Fruit Company land- exacerbating US worries of communist expansion President Eisenhower approves covert supplying of
weapons to paramilitary groups opposing President Arbenz During the last half of the 20th century, it experienced
a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year guerrilla war (1960-1996).
A BRIEF HISTORY 1954- US- backed coup instates Colonel
Castillo and rescinds rights begun under previously elected official.
Civil War officially begins in 1960 Civil War is characterized by frequent
changes of power, and deaths and disappearances of 200,000 of people, known as ‘los desaparecidos’
Óscar Mejía, a particularly brutal dictator during 1980s
A BRIEF HISTORY 1996 – cease fire declared and peace talks
begin In January 2012, Guatemala assumed a
nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2012-13 term.
Guatemalans continue to face high levels of violence and weak and corrupt law enforcement institutions.
Sixty percent of the country lives in poverty, and the increasing levels of crime, gang violence and drug dealing show a society where inequality, racism and poverty dominate many peoples' lives.