On January 11-12, 2014, over 20 women and men from the municipality of Huitan, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala took part in a second radio exchange with Radio Acodim Nampix of Ixtahuacán, Huehuetenango. The main goal of the exchange was to guide and motivate the committed community members of Huitan on how to get their radio project up and moving.
The “Consejo Mam”, a Mam community group from Huitan, were dreaming of starting up a community radio station for about two years now, but have not been able to get the project started. Their situation is unique in that they already had a concrete proposal written, explaining exactly what their community radio will do, how it will fit the profile of a community radio station, their goals, and obstacles. They see community radio as a necessary tool for Huitan, recognizing that their communities need their own radio to provide information, educational material, and cultural programming and to help mobilize community members, and make them aware of their rights, especially surrounding life threatening mining projects in the area. As Rubelio Mendez Lopez stated, “A community radio station would be a educational tool principally, focusing on the rescue of our culture."
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Arturo Pérez speaking about the necessity to start a community radio.
Community members note that Huitan has the highest level of malnutrition in the entire department of Quetzaltenango. Many referred to Huitan as the “forgotten municipality," mentioning that problems such as poverty, illiteracy, lack of employment opportunities, and emigration are rampant in the area. Their dream of having a community radio is one that the community members need to become a reality right now. “We need the radio to open as soon as possible. We already have members willing and ready to do the job, now we must organize ourselves," stated Arturo Pérez.
One of the main goals of the radio project is to inform citizens of their right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent regarding mining projects. Goldcorp, a Canadian mining company, that has numerous destructive mining projects on the go in Guatemala, has just received a license to mine one of the mountains surrounding Huitan. As Feliz Isac Lucas stated, “If they start mining that mountain, the whole municipality of Huitan will lose its water source, we will have no more water.” This community group has been spreading the word on this issue, but recognizes that a radio station would allow their message to reach an exponentially greater amount of people.
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The slightly deforested hill slightly to the left of the center is the one that Goldcorp has recieved a license to mine.
During Cultral Survival's visit in Huitan, community members created a plan for the ucoming months. Starting up a radio is a difficult task, especially in impoverished communities like Huitan. However, hearing the stories and ideas of others who have started their community radios from scratch helps to motivate as well as provide necessary information on what it takes to start a community radio station.
We hope to see progress in the municipality of Huitan in the next few months and will be accompanying the community members along the way.
