In Guatemala, there are 3 private security guards for every police officer. Every bank, shopping centre, delivery truck and local official has security guards. I´ve often thought that it must be a really boring job as they always seem to end up doing something else at the same time... security guards in shopping centres become armed car park attendants, security guards in banks become armed doormen and so on and so on.
But a recent article in the paper here, also explained the training the security guards receive. According to the law, security guards should recieve 18 months of training in issues like human rights, the law, conflict resolution. However the average training recieved by security guards in registered companies is 3 days. (And that´s in the legal companies!) The training includes how to clean a gun, but few agencies give any training in how to use it safely or in how to diffuse difficult situations without violence. And there´s many incidences that demonstrate this lack of training - security guards who have shot (and sometimes killed) people by accident simply moving or dropping their gun. Another private security guard shot a carpark attendant when he simply asked for his ticket. Others are involved in criminal activity. There´s very little accountability for the licenced security agencies - let alone for the illegal ones.
That they exist at all is worrying in the first place. I guess it started from a lack of police presence in the face of growing violence, so local businesses sought out other means to 'guarantee' their safety. At the same time, there´s been a huge growth in the number of private shopping centres in Guatemala, (in the style of American Malls), of course each with their own security officers. For those who can afford it, shopping centres provide a ´privatised´ shopping experience as people increasingly see the truly public spaces, such as the street, as unsafe, and the official protectors of society (the police) as untrustworthy or simply absent. Unfortunately when normal upstanding citizens leave the public spaces, this does not make them safer - in many ways it´s an sign of defeat, giving up on any previous attempt to stand up for what is right in the face of violence and threats of violence. By leaving, the violence, and those who use it, win. Does it need to be explained that the rise of private security services has not diminished the violence in any way. In fact it has worsened.
In the face of a similar situation, neighbouring Honduras, has recently decided to assign the Army to support the police in their regular duties on the streets. They have reported that the initial affect has been positive. The Guatemalan President-elect, who is due to take office in January, is considering similar measures, but I´m not sure that they will be received in quite the same way. Honduras has never had a civil war, in contrast to Guatemala, where the army fought a 36 year war against guerillas in the highlands, and managed to massacre 200,000 indigenous people in the process. Understandably the army doesn´t enjoy a huge amount of respect from the general society.
Even so, the President-elect might follow in Honduras´ footsteps anyway. He is an ex army general after all! He´s also considering involving the army in the countries war on drug trafficking, following Mexico´s example. Many Mexican commentators, however, would site their Presidents decision to use the Army as the starting point of an increase in violence, rather than an diminishing of it.
So how is it that governments think that the presence of guns and 'state-sanctioned violence' will decrease the illegal variety, when so much evidence proves the opposite. Some governments have even managed to convince many of their own citizens that the strategy will work.... this time ... under this new government.
I think it was Einstein who said that only a fool continues to do the same thing, and expects a different result.
Of course, new governments in themselves, seem to be the other popular false hope; it will all be better with the next President. And in Guatemala (judging from the recent election process) it seems like Christians are the most susceptable to this over simplistic belief, particularly when a candidate is labelled 'Christian', regardless of their policies or plans or integrity. Many church leaders simply told their congregations to vote for the Christian candidate, without any mention of the need to weigh up and evaluate the policies, track record, and ability of each of the candidates.
For me, within a democratic systme, our responsibility as Christians is so much more than to simply vote for a Christian. What´s needed is for normal Christians to be involved in political processes at every level of society, bringing the values of Jesus into play in the public arena. The same is true for the church to confront the situation of violence. The church tends to be very good at avoidance (buying into those good old middle class values of 'getting on in life', ie moving out to the suburbs and leaving problems behind them), and in some cases even employ their own armed security guards at the church doors (don´t even get me started on what I think Jesus might make of that!). Instead the church needs to be teaching and training Christians to engage with their neighbours, to confront the real root issues of poverty and powerlessness in their community in order to bring about transformation in communities as well as in individuals.
Thank God that there are some who do.
Friday, 9 December 2011
Friday, 18 November 2011
Wedding times
On Saturday I went to a wedding of some friends. I knew it was an hours journey away, so I left with plenty of time. Unfortunately my bus decided to wait for half an hour in one of the towns on the way, so I was getting a bit worried that I was going to be late - but I figured that in Guatemala I would probably have half an hours grace. I got off the bus at the Restaurant Hacienda Real -- only to realise that the wedding was actually taking place in Restaurant Hacienda - a few kms further on. Now being 45 mins late, I was just about to get on the next bus coming past, when I noticed a car stopping and Wendy (the bride) getting out -- So maybe I wasn´t going to be too late after all! So I squeezed in the back seat with her family and flowers etc, and they gave me a lift. We drove round to the back of the Restaurant - where she joined her bridemaids getting changed in the toilets! And I needn´t have worried about lateness.... it was another hour before the wedding actually started. (And then people were still arriving half way through the service!). In the car I had said I thought I was going to be late. Wendy (who studied in the states for a couple of years) explained that in Guatemala it´s almost a tradition for the bride to keep the groom waiting -- "Don't they do that in England as well?" Yes I said, but only for about 5 minutes!
And it´s funny how sometimes you think that you´ve got a culture figured out - and then it surprises you again. Guatemalans like to make speeches -- it seems to me for even the most trivial of reasons. Birthday parties are not complete without every person making a speech (even if you don´t really know the person celebrating their birthday). Baby showers include a sermon and a few speeches. They hold graduation ceremonies for finishing secondary school, or primary school, or kindergarden (seriously!) and even for one day courses! So I figured there would be at least one speech at the wedding too - but no. Not even from the father of the bride. I keep learning.
Monday, 7 November 2011
Election Results
So the results are in! Yesterday was the run off elections for the Guatemalan Presidency. Talking with lots of friends over the last week or so, the consensus seemed to be that it boiled down to '2 candidates, no choice!' - ie that both candidates were so unappealing, that it was difficult even to decide which might be the lesser of two evils. I know a few friends who were planning to ruin their voting papers. In fact the official results say that 4% of those who voted did exactly that.
But at the end of the day, Otto Perez Molino, the ex Army General, has won with 54% of the vote and will become President on the 14th Jan. This has followed the pattern of recent years - of the candidate who comes second, will win in the following election 4 years later. (Which means that we might get Baldizon back in 4 years time, if things continue as they have done!)
Now everyone comes to think about the changes coming. This isn´t just about changes to political policy, but also to personel in almost every area of the public sector. New government, new everything. This is one of the challenges of a country which prohibits a second term - a lack of consistency in policy and personel.
Yet in neighbouring Nicaragua, they have also been voting. President Daniel Ortega, managed to change the constitutional rules a couple of years ago, allowing him to stand for a second term. According to early results from their election, he´s on course to win, and yet is also surrounded to accusations of fraud and election irregularities.
Perhaps it doesn´t matter what the rules are. Those that want power, and are willing to do almost anything to get it - usually do.
But at the end of the day, Otto Perez Molino, the ex Army General, has won with 54% of the vote and will become President on the 14th Jan. This has followed the pattern of recent years - of the candidate who comes second, will win in the following election 4 years later. (Which means that we might get Baldizon back in 4 years time, if things continue as they have done!)
Now everyone comes to think about the changes coming. This isn´t just about changes to political policy, but also to personel in almost every area of the public sector. New government, new everything. This is one of the challenges of a country which prohibits a second term - a lack of consistency in policy and personel.
Yet in neighbouring Nicaragua, they have also been voting. President Daniel Ortega, managed to change the constitutional rules a couple of years ago, allowing him to stand for a second term. According to early results from their election, he´s on course to win, and yet is also surrounded to accusations of fraud and election irregularities.
Perhaps it doesn´t matter what the rules are. Those that want power, and are willing to do almost anything to get it - usually do.
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Not fitting in.
Several times a week, I walk from my house to the other end of the town, where the Gym is (no comment!) On my way I always pass something on the road that makes me think, and that God has been 'pointing out to me' over the last few weeks - it´s a man hole cover. That´s probably not the most spiritual source of divine revelation, but then it´s probably more on my level!!
So what´s so special about the man hole cover, I hear you ask. Well, this one is situated half in the actual road and half on the pavement, which at that point is flat to the road. On the edge of the pavement, there´s the almost obligatory red line painted to indicate that parking is not permitted.
What has struck me about this man hole cover is that someone has obviously pulled it open at some stage since the red line was painted on, and then closed it again. But in closing it, they have left it in a position so that the line doesn´t connect with the line on the pavement on either side. In fact the red line across the man hole cover is more or less perpendicular (at right angles) to the line on the pavement either side of it. (I´ve been meaning to get a photo of it, but don´t usually have my camera with me, and would also look pretty stupid taking photos of the road!!!)
It fits perfectly and yet looks so out of place; it´s in exactly the right position but looks so wrong.
And I guess that´s a good way to understand where I am at the moment (and perhaps it´s an analogy of anyone involved in cross cultural mission). I have a sense that God has put me here, in exactly this position, in a perfect fit, and yet I don´t look right at all. I´m now doing something completely different to what I expected, and in human terms I may not ´look´right for the role but somehow it fits. I stand out as being the wrong way round or upside down or something even stranger than that!. There´s probably never going to be a time when I don´t stand out from the crowd and yet God has put me here, right at this time, doing things I didn´t expect to be doing, but for a purpose. I can be secure in His plans, and in His presence, no matter what I look like or how wierd or unexpected it feels.
So what´s so special about the man hole cover, I hear you ask. Well, this one is situated half in the actual road and half on the pavement, which at that point is flat to the road. On the edge of the pavement, there´s the almost obligatory red line painted to indicate that parking is not permitted.
What has struck me about this man hole cover is that someone has obviously pulled it open at some stage since the red line was painted on, and then closed it again. But in closing it, they have left it in a position so that the line doesn´t connect with the line on the pavement on either side. In fact the red line across the man hole cover is more or less perpendicular (at right angles) to the line on the pavement either side of it. (I´ve been meaning to get a photo of it, but don´t usually have my camera with me, and would also look pretty stupid taking photos of the road!!!)
It fits perfectly and yet looks so out of place; it´s in exactly the right position but looks so wrong.
And I guess that´s a good way to understand where I am at the moment (and perhaps it´s an analogy of anyone involved in cross cultural mission). I have a sense that God has put me here, in exactly this position, in a perfect fit, and yet I don´t look right at all. I´m now doing something completely different to what I expected, and in human terms I may not ´look´right for the role but somehow it fits. I stand out as being the wrong way round or upside down or something even stranger than that!. There´s probably never going to be a time when I don´t stand out from the crowd and yet God has put me here, right at this time, doing things I didn´t expect to be doing, but for a purpose. I can be secure in His plans, and in His presence, no matter what I look like or how wierd or unexpected it feels.
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
going to prison
Recently I´ve started to work in a prison for girls, and I´m really enjoying it. It´s good to get back to doing 'youthwork' - but it´s quite different from everything I´ve done before. The girls are between 14 and 17 years old, although some of them also have their babies or young children with them. Initially I was only allowed to preach - without any kind of participation or interaction from the girls. Now the Director has grown to trust me a bit (I think) and I´m allowed to do more interactive discussions which has been great.
But there´s strange limitations in working in a prison. The most obvious, is that I´m not allowed to use anything that the girls could take and use as a weapon.... so no pens and paper. But then there´s other limitations that aren´t so obvious. So far the girls have had a varied response to what I´ve done. Some have been very quiet and not given any sort of verbal response. Others can be quite talkative - and always want to answer the questions --- perhaps like any other group. But there is always lots of 'right answers'. Even when I make a big thing of explaining that I´m interested in their real opinions etc, somehow people always come to the perceived right answers really quickly.
Let me explain...... most of the time, I think there aren´t many 'right answers' - what I mean is that I think there is much more benefit in an honest discussion, with all the messy disagreements and inconsistent opinions, than in the tidy polished religious answers. Mostly I think that the answers that 'religion' gives, are inadequate - or answering completely irrelevant questions. For me, our real journey of faith is found in the struggling with issues and questions and the search for God in that - often he answers us with mystery and further questions rather than answers!
So anyway - back to the prison, I don´t know whether it is simply because of the guards who are lurking nearby that prevents the girls being honest, or a much bigger issue of religiousness here in Guatemala, where many people memorize huge chunks of the Bible - but can´t ever put it into their own words because they don´t actually understand what they´re memorising.
But it´s good. It´s a challenge for me to think of new ways to encourage the girls to open up, and to communicate with them something of God´s heart for them - not the neat and tidy answers - but the unconditional and uncontrolable love that he has for them. I keep praying.
But there´s strange limitations in working in a prison. The most obvious, is that I´m not allowed to use anything that the girls could take and use as a weapon.... so no pens and paper. But then there´s other limitations that aren´t so obvious. So far the girls have had a varied response to what I´ve done. Some have been very quiet and not given any sort of verbal response. Others can be quite talkative - and always want to answer the questions --- perhaps like any other group. But there is always lots of 'right answers'. Even when I make a big thing of explaining that I´m interested in their real opinions etc, somehow people always come to the perceived right answers really quickly.
Let me explain...... most of the time, I think there aren´t many 'right answers' - what I mean is that I think there is much more benefit in an honest discussion, with all the messy disagreements and inconsistent opinions, than in the tidy polished religious answers. Mostly I think that the answers that 'religion' gives, are inadequate - or answering completely irrelevant questions. For me, our real journey of faith is found in the struggling with issues and questions and the search for God in that - often he answers us with mystery and further questions rather than answers!
So anyway - back to the prison, I don´t know whether it is simply because of the guards who are lurking nearby that prevents the girls being honest, or a much bigger issue of religiousness here in Guatemala, where many people memorize huge chunks of the Bible - but can´t ever put it into their own words because they don´t actually understand what they´re memorising.
But it´s good. It´s a challenge for me to think of new ways to encourage the girls to open up, and to communicate with them something of God´s heart for them - not the neat and tidy answers - but the unconditional and uncontrolable love that he has for them. I keep praying.
Saturday, 15 October 2011
stepping up
In my job, I usually look after short term volunteers during their time here in Guatemala. But this time last year, we sent a Guatemalan Strider off to England, and he´s recently returned here. It´s been fascinating to see the experience from the other direction. What´s been really interesting has been to hear how he has changed through the experience
We met up to reflect on all that he´s experienced this last year. He explained that there were lots of things that he was worried about before he went, but he decided from the beginning that whatever he was asked to do in his placement, he would say yes... (and panic later)... and that´s how things went. As a result, he was able to step up into all sorts of new things, that he´d never done before and experience Gods faithfulness in it all.
His friends and family have also commented on how he has changed. His brother said ´he´s different ... but the same.´ It is a strange sense of being the same as before, but much more so - which somehow makes him different, almost like he has grown into who he always was - or at least had the potential to be. There´s something about being in a different culture with an attitude of service, that makes you step into more of what God has for you. In the process gifts and abilities are developed and a sense of vision and calling are sharpened. Of course that´s never the end of the story - God always has more for us to grow into but there´s few opportunities in life like it, where you can really put yourself on the line and step up.
And I love the fact that Latin Link is able to provide these sorts of opportunities.
We met up to reflect on all that he´s experienced this last year. He explained that there were lots of things that he was worried about before he went, but he decided from the beginning that whatever he was asked to do in his placement, he would say yes... (and panic later)... and that´s how things went. As a result, he was able to step up into all sorts of new things, that he´d never done before and experience Gods faithfulness in it all.
His friends and family have also commented on how he has changed. His brother said ´he´s different ... but the same.´ It is a strange sense of being the same as before, but much more so - which somehow makes him different, almost like he has grown into who he always was - or at least had the potential to be. There´s something about being in a different culture with an attitude of service, that makes you step into more of what God has for you. In the process gifts and abilities are developed and a sense of vision and calling are sharpened. Of course that´s never the end of the story - God always has more for us to grow into but there´s few opportunities in life like it, where you can really put yourself on the line and step up.
And I love the fact that Latin Link is able to provide these sorts of opportunities.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Stormy Weather!
You might have heard that it´s been raining a lot in Guatemala. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15283869) That´s true. It´s been raining almost continually for a day or two - and on and off for the previous 2 weeks. Really the rainy season should have finished about a month ago, but it keeps on. When you live in a well built house, it´s easy to think that it´s just rain, but the reality is that this can have a huge affect on people. In rural areas, whole villages can be washed away by a landslide. In Guatemala, where the infrastructure hasn´t fully recovered from Tropical Storm Agatha last June (2010), or even from Hurricane Stan, a few years previously, storms or even the ´tropical depression´ that we´re experiencing at the moment, has far reaching affects on people, communities and the economy. As the depression has now been downgraded to a ´low pressure´, the officials begin the counting.....15 dead.... 3588 affected..... 931 in temporary shelters..... it'll be a while before they work out the financial implications, but many of the agricultural regions, which supply the country with staples have been severely affected too.
It´s interested, that just yesterday I was in the Ezra Centre office, working on a project for them about climate change and the environment. I learned that Guatemala ranks in the top five countries in the world most affected by floods, hurricanes and earthquakes, with 40.8 percent of the population exposed to five or more threats simultaneously. And that doesn´t just affect rural areas. With so much uncertainty and risk involved in agriculture, there is a sustained internal migration to the cities, where satellite communities grow up too quickly for local authorities to provide basic services and ensure that homes are built safely and away from risk areas. This reality is echoed on the news reports at the moment, as several metropolitan areas are badly affected as well.
So we keep on counting, and praying .... more rain forecasted for the weekend.
It´s interested, that just yesterday I was in the Ezra Centre office, working on a project for them about climate change and the environment. I learned that Guatemala ranks in the top five countries in the world most affected by floods, hurricanes and earthquakes, with 40.8 percent of the population exposed to five or more threats simultaneously. And that doesn´t just affect rural areas. With so much uncertainty and risk involved in agriculture, there is a sustained internal migration to the cities, where satellite communities grow up too quickly for local authorities to provide basic services and ensure that homes are built safely and away from risk areas. This reality is echoed on the news reports at the moment, as several metropolitan areas are badly affected as well.
So we keep on counting, and praying .... more rain forecasted for the weekend.
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