Monarch Butterflies

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February 23, 2010

Dear Journey North Friends,
Many thanks for all up to now provided to me, my family, and my town. It has been difficult to write during the first days —all hurry, confusion, the army with us, volunteers—but now here is some news:

The Army Continues to Support Angangueo
At 8 o'clock every morning is the "attendance list pass" coordinated by the army. Every affected family is assigned from the brigades of men for the general clean up of the town. Around 1,500 men and women who live in town are also being employed to help complete this huge task. The army should be leaving town by Saturday at the latest, since their role and main labor is considered nearly done now. Our only remaining worry today is that it might take weeks before the river—now running alongside our house—can be taken back to its natural channel.

Schools Reopened This Week
Schools across the region reopened on Tuesday this week. Only the Colegio Corregidora, which my daughter is attending is now moving to Ocampo temporarily for some months, since the front part of it was damaged.

Time to Deliver Conservation Message
As I have heard from many people in town—and as I myself consider true—the irrational wood-cutting in our region has dramatically shown its consequences. It is a magnificient moment to continue our visits to the remaining schools in Ocampo and Angangueo and convey this message, taking a handful of symbolic butterflies (I have only 6 left in a notebook I rescued!!). I will have our children write a small note and drawing about their most very special worry, impression about what we are living now.

This has changed the life of so many families and children in our region. The importance of the presevation of the habitat of the Monarchs in our region is now connected to the people. If we don't protect the forest, we can see the serious consequences for ourselves.

María Estela Romero
Angangueo, Michoacan, February 23, 2010

P.S. Since mid-last week, I forgot to tell you, that some two to three Monarchs can be seen overflying downtown every day in Angangueo. The sky is blue but temperatures are ice-cold at night and early in the morning. Are the monarchs getting ready to leave?

People assemble in Angangueo's town square every morning to secure clean-up assistance from the army. (Enlarge)

Normally bustling with cars, trucks, busses, and foot traffic, Angangueo's main street remains blocked with refuse from the flood. (Enlarge)

Landslide along the road from Angangueo to the Chincua Sanctuary