Elva Narcia is the founder of glifoscomunicaciones.org, one of LAB’s partners in Mexico. The article was translated from Spanish by Nick Caistor
The Tren Maya is a top priority for Mexico’s new president Andres Manuel López Obrador. The 1500 kilometre line aims to link five states in the poor south-east to boost tourism and local industry, but has immediately become controversial over fears that it will damage the region’s archaeological treasures and great natural riches. Whilst businessmen are competing to win lucrative construction contracts, social and indigenous groups, academics, and environmentalists have raised their voices to oppose the megaproject. Saccharine and beyond-bland publicity video for the Tren Maya project. It’s worth reading the comments below the YouTube post. The Tren Maya is intended to offer cargo and tourist passenger traffic and connect the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo. These are the heartlands of Mayan culture, and contain ecological reserves such as Calakmul and Sian Ka’an, as well as famous archaeological centres such as Palenque, Chichen-Itzá and Tulúm that attract thousands of visitor every year. This promotional video, published apparently by the presidency of AMLO, is no better. It describes itself as ‘a message addressed to young people of up to 90’. According to Pesident López Obrador, the train will mainly use existing lines built in the last century, which will be rehabilitated. ‘No land will be expropriated, no small properties, no farm co-operatives. And 50,000 hectares of fruit trees will be planted,’ he told reporters.
The Tren Maya is a top priority for Mexico’s new president Andres Manuel López Obrador. The 1500 kilometre line aims to link five states in the poor south-east to boost tourism and local industry, but has immediately become controversial over fears that it will damage the region’s archaeological treasures and great natural riches. Whilst businessmen are competing to win lucrative construction contracts, social and indigenous groups, academics, and environmentalists have raised their voices to oppose the megaproject. Saccharine and beyond-bland publicity video for the Tren Maya project. It’s worth reading the comments below the YouTube post. The Tren Maya is intended to offer cargo and tourist passenger traffic and connect the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo. These are the heartlands of Mayan culture, and contain ecological reserves such as Calakmul and Sian Ka’an, as well as famous archaeological centres such as Palenque, Chichen-Itzá and Tulúm that attract thousands of visitor every year. This promotional video, published apparently by the presidency of AMLO, is no better. It describes itself as ‘a message addressed to young people of up to 90’. According to Pesident López Obrador, the train will mainly use existing lines built in the last century, which will be rehabilitated. ‘No land will be expropriated, no small properties, no farm co-operatives. And 50,000 hectares of fruit trees will be planted,’ he told reporters.