Newsletter No 2

December 2000

Steve and Jude in Honduras

Since our last newsletter we have learnt a great deal more about Honduras, Tearfund and MOPAWI (the organisation we are being seconded to).  We have consequently devoted this newsletter to ‘background information’ which will hopefully provide a context for everything we write once we get to Honduras.

A brief history of Honduras

1502

Christopher Columbus reaches the north coast of Honduras.

Early 1500s

Spanish exploration and conquest results in disease and destruction of much of the indigenous population.

Early 1800s

The countries of Central America are briefly united in a confederation, the collapse of which leaves Honduras inadequately prepared to cope with the rigours of functioning as an independent, autonomous state.

1820s

Honduras enters a century of civil strife which leaves the country vulnerable to outside intervention.

1940s

Large companies move in to control banana producing lands in the north creating a classic ‘banana republic’.

1950s

In response to a growing labour movement the fruit companies begin to move out and nationalisation of the banana plantations leads to mismanagement, corruption and a concentration of wealth in the hands of a few individuals.

50s, 60s & 70s

Honduras receives large amounts of foreign aid as United States foreign policy places a high priority on maintaining political and economic influence in Central America.

1980s

Military activity in neighbouring countries and massive amounts of economic and military aid open up previously inaccessible areas of La Mosquitia to outside development with the potential for widespread environmental and cultural destruction.

1990s and beyond

Much of the infrastructure installed to handle the influx of   refugees into La Mosquitia during the 80s is dismantled and the amount of aid cut.  International attention turns to the need for conservation of remaining natural resources, the self-determination of indigenous peoples and the establishment of protected areas. 

La Mosquitia

The Mosquitia area of eastern Honduras is part of the Greater Mosquitia Ecosystem, one of the last great wilderness regions in Central America. 

This region contains a rainforested corridor recognised as a world-class conservation area with rich natural and cultural heritages.

It is the homeland for four indigenous peoples - Miskito, Tawahka, Pesch and Garífuna - who have maintained the forest cover through centuries of settlement.

The Miskito Indians are linguistically and culturally dominant throughout the region.  They have traditionally made their living by subsistence agriculture, fishing, hunting, gathering from the forest and occasional wage labour.

Main environmental threats:

·         Large-scale cattle ranching

·         Colonisation front of landless farmers

·         Logging operations

·         Petroleum & mineral exploration

Potentially leading to:

Deforestation, gradual loss of vegetation and wildlife, air and water contamination, soil depletion and nutrient loss.  This threatens the ecology of the region and hence the indigenous way of life.

We are being seconded by Tearfund to work with MOPAWI as Environmental Advisors. 

MOPAWI is a Honduran Christian development organisation established in 1985.  It recognises that change and development in La Mosquitia is inevitable and is working with local indigenous communities to try and ensure that when change occurs it is culturally, economically and environmentally sustainable.

Belén from the air

Belén

From July 2001 we will be living in Belén, a Miskito community of about 400 people on the north coast of the Rio Plátano Biosphere Reserve.  The village is on a thin strip of land between the Caribbean Sea to the north and a large, freshwater lagoon to the south. 

In addition to the boundaries of the sea and the lagoon, the airstrip - built in the late 1960s - is the orienting landmark of Belén.  Three buildings serve as social gathering spots: the church, the school and the ‘airline’ office, all located along the southern edge of the airstrip.

Thanks and new addresses

Beach in Belén

First of all, a HUGE thank you to all of you who have contributed to leaving presents, provided cars, organised work and church leaving events (the surprise party was amazing!) and promised to pray for us.  Your support and interest mean a great deal to us.  We would also like to thank Alan & Rose Robinson for spending time with us and telling us about life in La Mosquitia (and providing us with the photos in this newsletter), Jonathon & Katharine Watkins for taking photos, recording CDs and providing computer support, and our families for their support, love, encouragement and for doing so much for us over the last few months.

We leave the UK on 12 January for three months of Spanish study in Antigua, Guatemala, so from 12 January to 6 April our address will be:

c/o PLFM, Apartado 237, 03901 Antigua, Guatemala, Central America

We will then be visiting various projects in Honduras and elsewhere so from the end of March until further notice, please use the address below:

c/o MOPAWI, Residencial Tres Caminos, Apartado Postal 2175, Tegucigalpa, MDC, Honduras, Central America

Jude’s sister and brother-in-law – Ruth & Stephen Smith - have kindly agreed to coordinate the distribution of our newsletters whilst we are abroad.  Their email address is: ruthandstephen@ukonline.co.uk

If you move house, get a new email address or would like to be removed from the mailing list, please contact Ruth & Stephen.  Please also contact them if you would like to receive our monthly prayer bulletins.

Our email address is: s-j.collins@tearfund.org

We hope you had a good Christmas and wish you a very happy New Year