One place we will definetly visit when we go back to Guatemala
is the Dump. Here are some facts about this huge place.
This is El Basurero (The Dump).This is the largest city dump in all of Latin America. It is over 24 football fields in size and has 1500 TONS of trash delivered 6 days a week. The stench of this place makes your eyes water, and the skies are swarming with vultures. It is literally too big for your eyes to take in at once. It's like trying to see all of the Grand Canyon with one gaze. Semi trucks on the other side look like tiny pencil dots. Your eyes strain to focus, to pick out objects among the mottled mosaic of garbage. As you stare you realize that it's all moving...those are the vultures scowering the ground. Then as you look through the vultures you begin to pick out people! There are 11 THOUSAND people who live here and make their living by picking through the trash trying to find anything they can recycle or sell. 6000 of them are children! It is so heart wrenching to see. The work is extremely dangerous. Recently, there was an avalanche of trash that buried 18 people alive...not to mention the toxic nature of what they're digging through.
I want my kids to see this so they can appreciate what we have
here in the U.S
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Dump in Guatemala
Posted by Mami Sue at 12:07 PM
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6 comments:
wow, that is so sad, I had no idea. Why don't they do more shows on tv like this 20/20 etc.. instead of more consumer new for spoiled american's. We are so spoiled here it is so humbling... It breaks my heart, yet 1'm not ready to give up anything either. May God change our hearts...
funny i should read this tonight, sue. greg, his parents, and i are heading there tomorrow - joel vandyke (the missionary that keith and monica have been in touch with during their mission trips) is picking us up in the morning and taking us to the school that keith and monica are involved with. then joel is going to be taking us to the dump. greg & i were in nicaragua's dump back in 2000, but it doesn't prepare you to seeing and experiencing it again. when do you guys plan on going back?
jolynn
It truly is heart-wrenching seeing this and knowing the conditions in which the people there are living. We have so much here, in comparison, and I pray that we will not only teach our children to appreciate what they have but to also develop giving hearts and extend love and aid to those in need.
Sue, Have you seen the doc. "Recycled Life"? If not....it's a must see. Really makes you appreciate your life. It also, as a mami, makes you wonder "what if" Thank you God for our boys home safe and sound!!
Michelle
Forgot my password...oops. I'm anonymous today.
http://www.amazon.com/Out-Dump-Photographs-Children-Guatemala/dp/068813923X
Sue, the above is a link to a book you can share with your kids now about this life of the Guatemalan people who call the dump their home. It is very, very sad. ~Kelly from the BB (Jonathan's mamÃ)
Wow, that breaks my heart! I've seen that Recycled Life movie and it is SO hard to watch. I hugged Bazzy very tight after watching that. :(
Maybe we can travel there together someday and do a Mommy Mission Trip!
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