|
January 2000
Dear Friends,
Bob here: The Salvadoran oligarchy, perhaps now more firmly in
control of El Salvador than ever, under the banner of globalization,
blocked the Colima mill from milling organic sugar cane even as
preparations were under way at the mill. Owning the most powerful
banks, it has systematically repossessed the land parceled out
to cooperatives during the land reform. According to government
figures 97 percent of the land-reform cooperatives have fallen
into the hands of these powerful few. As these banks are the financial
machine that controls the nations primary export, sugar, our project
was victimized.
We are trying to recover from the disappointment, trying to keep
the co-ops from burning their organic cane and from going back
to the less-expensive chemical management, trying to explore possibilities
of milling the next harvest for organic sugar and strategizing
how to keep the co-ops afloat as the government increases pressure
on them to pay off the cost of their land at highly inflated values
that benefitted the original owners, the ancestors of the present
bank owners.
It all seems so hopeless without the understanding that in the
Creator's economy subtraction can result in gain, defeat in victory.
The weak are chosen to confound the strong, the meek to inherit
the earth. So we keep struggling and asking for your prayers.
And we keep dreaming. . . big!
Last week the Colima co-op and Alfalit had an important meeting.
We were all still stunned by the hard reality of the many jobs
lost at the mill amidst rumors the banks were going after the
mill owner's home and ranch, with reports from fishermen that
the fishing was difficult with the reservoir still so full, with
crop lands still flooded and with the unavailability of agricultural
credit.
At this meeting, the Colima co-op and Alfalit decided to work
more closely together to try to increase income from the land,
the teak plantation, the forest reserve and ecotourism, the hacienda
and its swimming pool. Three projects are underway this week.
The co-op will receive administrative training and share bookkeeping
with Alfalit. Alfalit will also seek low interest loans and will
explore the possibility of obtaining a grant or loan that would
make possible the organic sugar cane growers' union's eventual
purchase of the Colima mill for their own use.
Estamos en la buena lucha. Today we received the green light
to take as much sugar cane waste fiber as needed from the Colima
mill for cooking fuel production. The fuel log machine turned
out some nice logs today. We expect to move into daily production,
now that the Presbyterian Hunger Program has granted us funds
to purchase a hammermill that will make it possible for us to
utilize 100% of the raw material available.
We are busy with restoration work in three of the hacienda's
rooms in preparation for at least eight delegations coming here
this year. Bunk beds are being built, ceramic tile and new pipes
are being installed in the interior bathroom, the public restrooms
for the swimming pool are well underway, electrical work is underway,
a dormitory is being painted, and we are starting to look for
financial help to get the colonial kitchen remodeled.
Late bulletin by Julie: Bob broke a bone in his left arm on Thursday,
had surgery on it the same morning, spent the night at the hospital,
and Friday was out and on way to the beach, as we had planned,
with our visitors, son Damian and friend Meg MacLean! We had a
wonderful 20 hours at the beach, then took them directly to the
airport at noon today and sent them back to the cold and snowy
Northlands. It was a marvelous visit, in spite of the mishap.
Tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. we head back to the airport to receive a
delegation from the San Francisco State University Art Department,
who will visit Colima with a view to doing art projects up there
over a several-year period with local folks! Very exciting!
Our love to all, and thank you for your prayers.
Robert & Julie Dunsmore
|
