Yucatan Appreciation Drive

I recently read an article on Yolisto that I felt should be passed along, I asked the two authors, Yolisto Khaki and Reg Deneau if they would allow me to pass this on to my loyal readers. Both graciously allowed me to reprint it. Please take the time to read this and take it to heart.

First from Khaki.............

This past week or so, many of us got an e-mail that was originally written by Reg Deneau, the Administrator of M.E.L.L. In that e-mail, he eloquently described the effect of lost tourism on the people of Yucatan and asked that we all pitch our extra money into anything we can think of that will help the local economy. That was when we thought the cruise ships would be back at the end of May or by June 20 at the very latest. Now - things have changed yet again.

The CDC has (evidently) decided that Mexico is now a safe nation to visit, as has its counterpart in Britain. This opens the way for cruise ships to dock here again - except... most of the cruise lines have already redirected tours and booked passengers, so only Carnival will be back this summer. Carnival will return to the Mayan Riviera on May 28 and then go on to Cozumel. Only after that will they return to their regular schedule. Norwegian says it won't be back until September and Holland America won't be back until October. This means that a living wage is not going to be in the near future for many Yucatecos and our participation in the economy will be all the more important.

Even though most of our local readers have probably gotten Reg's Ramblings in an e-mail, we are going to reprint it here with "Urgent" and "For the Foreseeable Future" added to his observations and recommendations.

Now this from Reg....

We are all very much aware of the recent health concerns in Mexico and the rest of the world in relation to H1N1, swine flu, Mexican flu…whatever the media and the World Health Organization would have us call it…
For the most part, we have all been fortunate, as has the Yucatan, in that none were incapacitated as a result, at least physically.
Once again, certain media in certain countries have used this opportunity in another attempt to bash Mexico and Mexicans in general. Whether it be the drug wars, unfortunate deaths of tourists, unsafe produce or impure water, kidnappings, murders, etc. out families and friends grow increasingly alarmed for our daily safety and well-being. Our own governments in Canada and the USA caution us and potential tourists about traveling anywhere in México. With one brush they paint Mexico as unsafe and unhealthy.
We have had friends return to Canada recently whose families have ‘quarantined’ them for a week in their own homes. A grandmother was told that she could not visit her grandchildren for at least ten days after her recent trip to México. There are likely many other such stories.
The ultimate result of all of this is that the Yucatan and Merida that many of us now call home is suffering greatly economically!
Hotels with no rooms booked and/or canceled reservations, restaurants not serving meals, stores not getting buyers, theaters and movie houses being shuttered, services not being utilized, archaeological sites not being visited, taxis and busses not been used, galleries and museums with no visitors, cannot afford to pay their staffs or remain open. Without those jobs, individuals and families will ultimately suffer from this downward spiral.
We all make our homes here at least part of the year. Many of us have incomes from the USA and Canada which may or may note be impacted by our respective economies. Yes, many have invested heavily and showed their commitment to the Yucatan and Mexico by purchasing and remodeling homes, demonstrating our faith in the area. We know that it is an incredible place in which to live!!!

Our adopted home and its people need our help in this hour…

Over the next 60 days, won’t you consider (if you are able) –

1. Spending a special night in a hotel or B and B with your significant other?
2. Going out for dinner at least once a week? Take some friends? Give the wait person 5 percent more tip than you normally do (where deserved).
3. Parking your car and using a taxi or a local bus to go to the market, stores, cinemas, etc.?
4. Visiting a gallery, museum or one of the wonderful archaeological sites? (even if you have been before).
5. Buying tickets to the theater, symphony, and movies or just supporting the many wonderful local music events which are free?
6. Making sure you say “Gracias” at least five times a day, as well as “Buenos Dias” to strangers on the street, accompanied by a smile?
7. Hiring a local person to do some job that you have been putting off? (Tip the street cleaners as they clean your street).
8. Donating used clothing, food, etc. to a local charity like Caritas or the Chicxulub Food Bank (If you have not worn it in two years, pass it along).
9. Giving that street person, red flag man, the folks who solicit money at traffic lights, etc. just a few pesos to help the less fortunate?(even if you have doubts about where the proceeds really go).
10. Inviting your Yucatan neighbors for lunch or dinner.
11. Buying your produce at the local market?
12. Eating pork? (properly cooked, of course).
13. Buying a piece of local art or handcraft made in the Yucatan?
14. Attending a Leones baseball game?
15. NOT buying imported items?
16. Buying an I Love Yucatan bumper sticker and putting it on your car. Show you care.

My friends, we can make a difference. Many of you already do some of these things in your own special way! Sometimes we need a little reminder. Our conscious efforts are urgently needed and will be greatly appreciated!

Finally, send ALL of your family and friends in the USA and Canada an email letting them know how inaccurate are some of those media reports which have been making their way north. We are safe, healthy and happy and proud to call the Yucatan and Mexico our home! Send a copy to your hometown newspaper..

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Feel free to pass it along to other members of the international community in Merida and the Yucatan.

Reg Deneau

Now my own personal observations from an expat who lives at the beach.....

The beach area has been hit exceptionally hard in the past year, the local people here make their living in only a few ways, they fish, they do construction work, they take in laundry and they have small restaurants and stores. First there was the red tide that hit us last summer, the fisherman were out of work for weeks, then the government imposed higher gasoline prices so when they were able to go out and fish the profits were significantly less, with the rise of the dollar, food prices have gone up, this isn't fair for the locals who only deal in peso's. If you are an expat recieving dollars it has been a good year, the dollar went up to nearly 15 to 1. But the local people are paying the price, they are hand to mouth. These people work for anywhere from $10 to $30 a day, and they haven't had steady work for a year. For any of you looking to do renovations, adding a pool, there are plenty of capable workers here at the beach who need your help desperately. They are willing to work for you and will do a good job, please give them the opportunity! There are no food stamp or welfare programs here, if you don't have work, you don't eat. Take a break and patronize your favorite restaurants, have an extra beer, every little bit helps.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, I know it is more serious than is normally my nature, but this is my community and I love it and I love the people here. Unfortunately I don't have a pension yet or Social Security yet which means that I work for peso's also. But, I can always find a few extra pesos to buy a little extra fruit at the market or an extra chicken to give to a family that needs it, please, whether you live here or are just visiting, show your appreciation for our local people, they are the reason that have this small piece of paradise!


My view of paradise, another beautiful sunset from my deck. Now you see what I ain't to proud to beg! Please do whatever you can do to help our local people!

Thanks, Chillin' in Chelem!