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Monarch Butterfly Update: February 17, 1998 Today's Report Includes: Blake School Students' Field Reports from Mexico The Women of Los Remedios Ejido Farming in the Ejido Los Remedios Photo Essay: Wood and Life in the Los Remedios Community Greetings from Angangueo Student Luis Fernando Romero Principal Monarch Over-wintering Sites in Mexico About Today's Report As a follow-up to last week's news about logging in the monarch over-wintering region, we take a closer look today at the lives of the people who live in this part of Mexico. Then, beginning next Tuesday, monarch biologist Dr. Bill Calvert will send weekly reports from Mexico about monarch biology at the over-wintering sites. Throughout the season, consider how monarch conservation in Mexico is affected by the social, economic and political issues of the region. Blake School Students' Field Reports from Mexico For the third year, Blake School Spanish teacher Jon Dicus has led a group of high school students to the monarch over-wintering sites in Mexico. Through Jon's efforts his students have had an experience of a lifetime. What's more, their work has helped to bridge a communication gap between people of Mexico, Canada and the U.S surrounding issues of monarch conservation. Through their work, many have come to understand more about the complexities of monarch conservation. And, through the many friendships that have formed, people have learned to better understand one another. We congratulate Jon for the inspiring example of teaching and learning he has provided. What is an Ejido? An ejido is a community whose land was granted to them by a government decree in the years after the Mexican revolution of 1911. Land owned by an ejido is own jointly by its members. Much of the land in and around the monarch sanctuaries is in ejido ownership. The Women of Los Remedios Ejido By Hilary and Spencer, Blake School "In Los Remedios, women carry many responsibilities, many of which can be draining and strenuous. As we approached Carmen's house, we encountered two roosters, a chicken, and two scrawny cows. We crossed under the barbed wire clothes line and the cocks and chickens scurried around the large outdoor bread oven. The dust settled as we entered. "Each morning, Carmen gets up at 6:00 am to start the fire and make tortillas. Her family consumes seventy tortillas a day! Every three days, Carmen must go to the corn grinder for her tortilla dough. At the mill, the ladies combine their corn so as to save electricity. Electricity has only been available for the past 7 years. "Carmen had two stoves, for she needed to use wood for cooking as well as propane gas since gas is too expensive to use on a regular basis. With her children she collects firewood from the hills, carrying it back in bundles on their backs. She needs to be thrifty with her family's income; Carmen can only spend 30 pesos a week on her 8 member family. Their farm grows mostly corn and beans, which are the staples for her family. All other food products must be bought at the market (lentils, rice, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, fruit, etc.). In a good week, her family would be able to eat meat with two meals. Link to Blake Students' full report. Challenge Question #4 "If Carmen's family spends 30 pesos per week, how many dollars do they spend? Since there are 8 people in the family, how many dollars is this per person per week?" (To respond to this Challenge Question, please follow the instructions at the end of this report. You may give your answer in U.S. or Canadian dollars.) For current exchange rates, search the WWW "Exchange Rates". For example see: The Universal Currency Converter Farming in the Ejido Los Remedios By Lindsey Thompson, Blake School "Our group had an opportunity to visit a rural community near Angangueo known as Los Remedios. I have never been in a community before where farming is the only means of income. It was incredible to see how tied to the land the people are. Genado told us that there is only one harvest the entire year. Their main crop is corn. They also plant oats, barley and grasses for the animals. They used to plant wheat but it is too costly and they no longer plant it. They prepare the fields in February and plant the crops in March or April, depending on the elevation of the fields. "Even the short distance between fields along the sloping community makes for a difference in microclimate. The upper fields are prone to frosts and cannot be irrigated, while the lower fields usually do not get frost and can be irrigated. This year there was a frost and much of the corn crop was destroyed. Genado expressed much frustration with this loss. It was amazing to see how dependent on the weather they are. "There is irrigation, but it is very limited, so watering is a difficult task. With the crops they grow, some is kept for seed for the next year and if there is any leftover, they sell it. Most of their crop is to feed their families and even then the crop rarely lasts until the next harvest. When asked if he could change one thing, Genado said he would like to be able to plant new crops. He said he tried to plant apples and plums but they didn't work. There was not enough water. Interestingly, when we asked about what he would change in his life, we used the word 'cambiar'. He immediately responded that he would not change his land to go elsewhere. Again, the strong emphasis on land and one's connection to it. "To be in a true Mexican farming community is something that many people will never have a chance to experience. We saw the true Mexico, not the sunny beaches and resorts." Photo Essay: Wood and Life in the Los Remedios Community By photographer John Ratzloff "My assignment was to look for ways people use wood in their daily lives. These pictures reflect what I saw. 'Are the people are poor?', I was asked again and again. What do you mean by 'poor', I asked them? Poor in spirit, certainly not. Poor in health, I don't think so. I saw people who were living lightly on the land, close to nature, rather than people who were poor." Link to Photo Essay Challenge Question # 5 After viewing John Ratzloff's photos how would you answer these questions? Challenge Question # 5 "In how many ways do the people of Los Remedios use wood? Give examples of the daily activities you see which involve wood. What do you like best about these snapshots of life in Mexico?" (To respond to this Challenge Question, please follow the instructions at the end of this report.) Greetings From Student Luis Fernando Romero Once again this year, 13 year old Luis Fernando Romero will send weekly reports to you from his hometown of Angangueo. Fernando's family has a small store in town, as well as a small hotel. Four of the 9 monarch sanctuaries surround this small town. How does living near the monarchs affect Fernando's community? Try This! Read through Luis Fernando's message and see how much Spanish you can understand. Find someone in your school or community who can speak Spanish and help with translation. Alternatively, visit this WWW site which does translation online. Link to Online Translation 2/8/98 Hola amigos de Journey North, Con este mensaje empiezo nuevamente el contacto con todos ustedes. Da igual forma la informacion sobre las mariposas monarcas, el pueblo de Angangueo y todo lo relacionado con el mismo. Este fin de semana pasado el turismo empezo nuevamente a llegar aqui a Angangueo muchos autobuses, camiones y carros. Los hoteles practicamente son insuficientes los restaurantes tambien lo son y el transporte al santuario ha mejorado y crecido un poco. Respecto a las mariposas monarcas en dias pasados acabo de ir al santuario al Sierra Chincua y observer que las mariposas han bajado mucho a la barranca poilo que es de suponerse que la temperatura ambiental ha bajado tambien mucho. Bueno eso es todo dequiramos en contacto. Luis Fernando Romero 2/15/98 Con este es el segundo mensaje que les envia en esta les gupano platicar sobre la afluencia de turismo en Angangueo esta fin de semana pasado hubo muchos turistas mexicanos y extrangeros que vinieron no solo a ver la mariposa sino tambien hubo algunas personas que vinieron a divertirse al pueblo tal es el caso de una familia que nos toco recibir en nuestro pequeno hotel. Pero sigua habian bastantes que vienen a las mariposas segun he oido comentarios de la gente en el santuario de "Sierra Chinchua: y el Rosario las mariposas monarcas han balado bastante a la barranca. En dias pasados como el sabado hizo un clima demasiado nublado con mucho aire y algunas llovionas, tal cosa no favoracio a los turistas ni a las mariposas, pero el domingo amanecio un clima muy bonito con mucho sol y unas pocas corrientes de aire pero en si el dia estuvo muy bonito. Bueno ese es todo Luis Fernando Romero How to Respond to Journey North Monarch Challenge Question # 4 1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-monarch@learner.org 2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question # 4 3. In the body of the message, give your answer to this question: Challenge Question # 4 "If Carmen's family spends 30 pesos per week, how many dollars do they spend? Since there are 8 people in the family, how many dollars is this per person per week?" How to Respond to Journey North Monarch Challenge Question # 5 1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-monarch@learner.org 2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question # 5 3. In the body of the message, give your answer to this question: Challenge Question # 5 "In how many ways do the people of Los Remedios use wood? Give examples of the daily activities you see which involve wood. What do you like best about these snapshots of life in Mexico?" The Next Monarch Butterfly Migration Update Will be Posted on February 24, 1998. Copyright 1998 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.