Guatemala Migrations

Summary: On October 13th, 2016, I attended a public lecture which was called Transnational Ruptures In A Time Of Impunity.This lecture was hosted at McMaster University. The lecture focused on Guatemala and their problems derived from mining, migration, and genocide. The lecture was ran byDr. Cathrine Nolin. Nolin, who is part of the UNBC, went on an educational missionary to Guatemala. Nolin is a social geographer who has won many prestigious education awards. She spoke about the history of Guatemala and how they were successful in their civil war. The plight of the civil war led them to have transnational and migrational problems. Nolin shared that Guatemala was rich with resources; thus, many big mining companies in the United States and
Canada facilitated in Guatemala. Civilians that worked in these mining companies gained power and corruption ensued. The workers have absolute power and they control the economy and politics. The Canadian mining company the Fenix Project, was settled in Guatemala and many unjust acts were being committed. Nolin also discussed how Guatemala was filled with structural violence. Many women were raped by men with power and also killed. Women in Guatemala would be raped because they needed to protect their husbands from gang members. Many of these gang members would work at the mining company. Nolin and her team went to Guatemala and they informed women. Nolin contacted her friend James Rodriguez to write an article about injustice in Guatemala. Nolin wrapped up her lecture with a short video showing the power of a corrupt gang member in Guatemala. She said that the genocide and corruption is still happening in Guatemala.
Living Life Across The Border: Nolin dedicated some of the lecture towards the migration factor in Guatemala.
The ‘guerrilla military’ in Guatemala forced many to migrate away from their country. Nolin said that 2% of Guatemalan immigrants are in the United States and 95% is in Canada. Nolin did some research and reached out to these immigrants. The refugees begin to lose their culture; however, many women gained professions in their new country. Emigration in Guatemala is extreme because of the oppressed conditions. The rate is high because of the instability of Guatemala and Central
America. How Does This Relate To Peace Studies: When I was listening to this lecture, I noticed that peace in Guatemala was not at its highest.
Nolin only focused on Transnational companies, especially Canada’s Fenix Project and she focused on the migration in Guatemala. Nolin spoke about the structural violence that took place in Guatemala. The power that the people had who were promoted in the mining factory was tremendous. The poor would ultimately suffer and no one would notice the suffering. The unbalanced power would lead to brutality but would be unnoticed. The mining security guards would abuse the poor and have fear over women and children. Nolin said the women would be gang raped by the elite workers from the Fenix company. This was unjust and Canada’s high court of law will get involved. The injustice because of this mining facility has created a chaotic community. The definition of Structural violence is a way of explaining social arrangements that put individuals and groups in harm’s way. The arrangements are structural because they are intertwined in the political and economic organization of our world; they are violent because they cause injury to people. Structural violence has been mentioned in my lectures and tutorials and I know that this violence is more communal base but ruptures peace. Structural violence is can usually go unnoticed in any society and in Guatemala it is truly
unnoticed.
Conclusion: My initial response after hearing this lecture was how inconsiderate transnational companies are. The company installed in Guatemala, the Fenix Company; their workers has abused many citizens surrounding them. The Guatemalans do not have a voice. Canada and the Fenix Project have to atone for their violations. Dr. Nolin studied and communicated with many Guatemalans. She has been distributing her findings and educating people across the country. Nolin also did her best to get the NewYork Times to post an article about this issue. Also, I’ve learned a lot about how the Guatemalan people are fearful about corrupt officials not doing anything about the injustice. In my opinion the Fenix Project should be disbanded and as a country we should sanction a program to help these women who were raped. Also for all the corrupt workers in the Fenix project to face trial for what they’ve done. Many lawsuits will be heard in Canadian courts and the lawsuit are against human rights atrocities.Guatemala is lacking peace because of the inhuman actions of the Fenix workers. The picture on the right is very important step for the women in Guatemala. Nolin talked to the women who were raped and ask if they could take a photo of them. This photo represents the unjust acts and that the women want a change. To conclude, Guatemala has had little to no peace because of gang violence and transnational corruption. The Guatemalan people want others to hear their cry and want some peace in their country. T