Cont. from front page,

In the state of Guanajuato, the water commission, CEAG, is making an effort to promote the conservation and careful use of this precious natural resource through a school program called “Sumérgete y Cuida A-GUAnajuato” (Submerge Yourself and Take Care of Water in Guanajuato). Most of the municipalities in the state now take part in this program. Locally, SAPASMA (Water and Sewage System of San Miguel de Allende) is responsible for providing water to the city and educating the public about smart water usage. 

SAPASMA and the culture of water

According to Alfonso Sautto, head of SAPASMA, the utility does not depend on the local government for funding, but rather earns its revenue from the water bills paid by residents and businesses. In addition to providing potable water, SAPASMA is also in charge of promoting a culture of wise water usage among the populace. 

Javier Molina, head of SAPASMA’s Culture of Water Department for the last three years, said that this “culture of water” has been promoted among children in the fifth grade for the last 12 years in San Miguel. Spearheaded by the Water Commission, the program is presented at this grade level because it meshes well with the educational resources available in fifth-grade classrooms. Molina noted that last year 98 percent of San Miguel schools, both private and public, offered instruction in water conservation. In the remaining 2 percent, another ecological program, PEASMA, had already been instituted and the curriculum did not allow time for both courses of study. The PEASMA program is offered at all elementary grade levels, and Molina would like to expand CEAG’s program in a similar fashion; recently, kindergarten teachers have begun instilling principles of smart water usage in their young students. 

Molina said that the “Sumérgete y Cuida A-GUAnajuato” program has been expanded in the last two months to include training for teachers and parents. “We train teachers so that they can teach their students themselves, and we teach parents so that they can practice water conservation at home.” 

According to information supplied by CEAG, more than 209 teachers received training courses in this state between 2005 and 2006. CEAG has created a printed guide that focuses on water resources and problems within Guanajuato and provides suggested activities to reinforce the importance of careful water usage and conservation. 

Thirst for knowledge

“With the help of Mr. Molina from SAPASMA, we have tried to make children conscious of the need to conserve water,” said Leticia Gutiérrez Tinoco, principal of the María Montessori kindergarten. “His program is very shocking; he makes us see what life would be like without water.” Gutiérrez added that all of her teachers took a course with Molina to learn how to effectively teach young children about water conservation. 

Anita Pérez, a teacher at the Montessori school, commented that children at that age absorb everything and do what their teachers say. “They take home with them all that they hear and see at school.  

That is why it is very important to teach them to be careful with water. And besides, they are the future,” she said. Gutiérrez said that currently several parents are taking the course with Javier Molina.

Tips for conserving water

Reducing shower time from ten to five minutes can save between 20,000 and 70,000 liters of water a year, and turning off the tap while soaping up can save 55,000 liters. 

A running faucet empties out about 12 liters of water per minute; turn off the faucet while shaving, washing your hands or brushing your teeth. 

Repair leaky pipes and faucets in kitchens and bathrooms; you will save around 170 liters of water a month. 

Use a bucket instead of a hose to wash vehicles or sidewalks. 

Collect rainwater and use it to water your plants. 

Do sanmiguelenses take care of water?

Atención San Miguel asked some locals what do they do at home to take care of their water consumption:

Juana, housewife: No, I really do nothing to reduce the amount of water we consume at home.

Roberto, taxi driver: I used to wash my car with the hose. Now, I do it with a bucket. 

José, car washer: I use only one bucket per car wash.

Adriana, housewife: I place a bucket to catch water while we take a shower. My husband and children also do this. 

Antonio, carpenter: We really do nothing at home to take care of water, but we should.

Mildred, retired: I try to collect some rain water and I use it to irrigate my plants or for the WC.

Alejandro, student: I personally do nothing special for taking care of water, but I know it is important.

León, all the fun of the fair… and more
By Gabriela Blanco

León Fair
Fri, Jan 11 thru Tues Feb 5
Daily events
More info at www.ferialeon.org 

The biggest events in the state of Guanajuato are undoubtedly the Cervantino festival in October and the state fair in León in January. The annual trade fair is far more than business expositions, cattle exhibits and industrial presentations but also includes an impressive variety of entertainment for all ages. Events will be held at the 24 hectare fairgrounds as well as different locations around the city.

A variety of entertainment is programmed for the 25 day fair. Ice skating shows, clowns and circus performances including Cirque Fantastic from Canada, traditional dance as well as the Los Voladores de Papantla, puppet shows, mariachi, bullfighting and of course fireworks. Highlights for the family will be the special presentation of performing dolphin and seals at the “Delfinario,” while events at the “Cortijo” arena provide shows for fans of the charro (Mexican cowboy arts) and las luchas (masked wrestling). A live parade is scheduled daily at 8pm.

The Gastronomic hall offers a wide variety of dishes from around the country as well as from fine local restaurants.

Livestock displays show the finest animals in the region as well as the cutest baby animals at children’s farm. The fair offers commercial spaces for more than 1300 exhibitors with displays of the best handicrafts in the state as well as displays from local leather and footwear producers.

On Sunday, January 20 a parade commemorates the founding of the city of León. Along the main street, Boulevard Adolfo Lopez Mateos to the fairgrounds, decorated and themed floats with nearly 400 people tour the city. Joining them are school bands, musical groups, cheerleaders, dancers and theater performances. The queen of the city and her princesses lead the parade.

The Fair began in 1876, to celebrate the founding of León. The first festival included an exhibition of agriculture, industry and fine arts in the Town Hall, as well as a parade of floats that passed through the main streets of the city. The festival became the State fair 45 years ago.

To see the complete schedule go to www.ferialeon.org. 

Mexico Round-up
Compiled by Gabriela Blanco

To keep our readers in San Miguel informed of recent developments across Mexico, we’ve compiled an overview of lead stories from national newspapers.


Mangroves are not just a group of trees

(El Universal) The safety of Mexican mangroves and investment in their protection is a matter of national security, scientists and environmental organizations have said. 

Mangroves are a complex ecosystem, but with some basic needs. They can’t grow any place, just in the Cancun area, and they need some special natural conditions, such as humidity (that’s why there are none in the desert). Conservation is important, because the ecosystem is vital to coastal stability, as protection from erosion and hurricanes. Mangrove forests cover 25 percent of Caribbean coasts. Unfortunately, mangroves are endangered by pollution and deforestation.

Mangroves provide shelter and food for many important species. It is no coincidence that in Quintana Roo, mangroves and coral are together, because the ecosystems are connected. If we want to continue to promote tourism in this region, protection and restoration of mangroves should be a national priority. 

Mexico has lost more than 75 percent of its mangroves in the past 24 years, according to the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales. Rafael Elvira, in his October appearance before the Committee on Comisión de Medio Ambiente and Recursos Naturales of the Cámara the Diputados, said there are 650,000 hectares of wetlands in this country.

Farewell on the dividing line of Tijuana

(La Jornada) Mexicali, BC, January 3. US authorities tightened border controls to expel Mexican students enrolled in public schools in California, announced Paul Arnaud, consul of Mexico in Calexico. The official called on Baja parents to enroll their children in Mexican schools to avoid incidents with the implementation of the California law, which stipulates that only persons residing in the US can enter public schools.

The US government hired staff, mostly of Mexican origin, to photograph students who cross the border daily to attend public schools in the Imperial region, bordering Mexicali. This pattern photo is sent to school districts for administrators to identify children and adolescents and proceed with their deportation. 

Arnaud emphasized the importance of parental alertness to not put their children at risk and register them in Mexican schools, where there is an excellent public education.

More severe sentences against sexual violence
Compiled by Barbara Erickson

The Mexican Senate proposed reforms of the Federal Penal Code to punish those who commit sexual violation with prison sentences of up to 20 years. Mexican congressman Humberto Andrade Quezada said the current Federal Penal Code establishes sentences from eight to 14 years.

He specified that sexual violations are increasing, especially against women and young girls, and more severe punishments might act as a deterrent. Quezada said there was a request to elevate the punishment from four years to seven for excess aggressiveness against adolescents.

He demanded that state congresses and institutions revise their judicial framework to promote longer sentences and guarantee respect and integrity for women in Mexico. Mexican human rights and nongovernmental organizations regard violence against women as a social disease, affecting more than nine million Mexican women.

Forty-six percent of Mexican women have been victims of harassment, or emotional, financial, physical or sexual abuse, according to a poll by the National Women’s Institute (INMUJER).

“The poll by our specialists revealed the existence of domestic violence in seven of each 10 Mexican homes,” said Patricia Espinosa, president of INMUJER. 

San Miguel Walk 2008 

The San Miguel Walk is a 10-mile walk to bring awareness to the cause of ending the deadly cycle of domestic violence. Money raised by the walk funds the Violence Prevention Program at CASA (Centro Para los Adolescentes de San Miguel de Allende), a local nonprofit that has been serving the poor, particularly adolescents, rural women and their families, through health, social service, education and environmental outreach programs since 1981. To learn more, visit www.casa.org.mx. 

This year’s walk on Thursday January 24, is the fifth walk in conjunction with the centuries-old pilgrimage to petition the Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos for her blessings and help. San Miguel Walkers only make part of the journey with the pilgrims.

Walkers pledge US$100 to participate. All donations are fully tax deductible in Mexico, the US and Canada. To find out more, visit www.sanmiguelwalk.com  or call Shelley at 044 (415) 114-8648. Sign up at La Conexión, Aldama 3.