HOW TO WORK TOGETHER FOR LAKE ATITLAN?

From a discussion on Facebook in the open group AMSCLAE:


https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMSCLAE/181121465276992

This is the best explanation of why and how we need to work together: When I am attacked, my immediate reaction is to STRIKE BACK and in a BIG WAY. That's why I don't work with groups. I can't stand it. But here is a situation where we all NEED TO and I WANT TO work for the good of Lake Atitlan, so perhaps I will be able to learn the skills needed to do so. Here is what was written to me that changed EVERYTHING, in just a few words:

Acción Guatemala 11:24am Dec 13, 2011 

Catherine Todd ... please don´t go just because of one person. if Maximo wants to be nice and make better translations, he should do it himself and we will all be grateful. If he can´t, then there might be another solution... we should all have a little patience. We are a community of many languages and we really need to share information"

God works in mysterious ways. Ever since I decided to do the LakeAtitlanDirectory.com which is simple, free online database listing all the community groups and services around Lake Atitlan, I have been subject to the most incredible rudeness and attacks by a few individuals. It's been enough for me to seriously consider shutting down the whole thing. But then I see something like what Acción Guatemala writes, and I see the problems when people can't or won't work together for the common good, and I realize that I have contributed to conflict myself by my immediate gut reaction of striking back, so I will give it another try.

I hope I can learn new skills at this late stage. If not, I will continue to work from the sidelines and provide what is necessary and remain in my small cloistered monastery where I do find peace. But the whole wide world is awaiting outside in all it's conflict and cacophony and I can't hide away here forever. It's time to save Lake Atitlan and that will take concerted effort of everyone working together.

The problems with Lake Atitlan are but a serious SYMPTOM of the lack of care that everyone who lives here has shown for the environment, whether it is by ignorance, or impotence, or incompetence; or ego, graft, corruption and greed. Many of us, like myself, don't know what to do and we are trying to find out. I hope everyone will help towards a common goal for the common good. It should be easy but it's not. I will never know why.

Dear God please show us The Way.

"The winds of grace blow all the time; all we need do is set our sails."

1er Simposio sobre Cianobacterias, cianotoxinas, el agua y la salud

(Click here to open English version)

1er Simposio sobre 

Cianobacterias, cianotoxinas, el agua y la salud

El evento se llevará a cabo en el auditorium de la Universidad Landivar, edificio H, Vista Hermosa III, Campus Central, zona 16. Estacionamiento no. 5, costará Q5.00 todo el día.

Universidad Rafael Landívar
Vista Hermosa III
Campus Central Zona 16
Guatemala City
Tel (+502) 2426-2626 (Extension: 2960 for Auditorium)
(Edificio H, Auditurium)


La inscripción al evento puede hacerse anticipadamente en AGISA, 0 calle 15-46 zona 15, Colonia El Maestro tel. 23693703 de 8 a 13 horas, o depositando su inversión en la cuenta 49-0017051-1, del BAM, a nombre de AGISA. El valor de la inversión es la siguiente:
· Antes del 20 de septiembre, profesionales Q300.00, Q150.00 estudiantes universitarios de pregrado de últimos años con
carné. Extranjeros US$50.00.
· Después del 20 de septiembre, la cuota será, respectivamente, de Q400, Q200 y US$60.00.
· El día del event o, la inversión será de: Q500, Q250 y US$75.00.
· Incluye almuerzos, coffee breaks, libro de resúmenes y diploma de participación.

AUDIENCIA
La actividad está dirigida a tomadores de decisión de diversos sectores y a:
* Usuarios de agua (industria, agricultura, ganadería, pesca, acuacultura, y biodiversidad)
* Autoridades del MARN, MSPAS, MAGA, INFOM, Municipalidades y Congreso de la República
* Encargados de calidad de empresas de agua privadas y municipales
* Laboratorios de salud y ambiente
* Ingenieros sanitarios, ambientales, y químicos, biólogos, agrónomos, veterinarios y zootecnistas, acuacultores, y profesiones afines
* Catedráticos, estudiantes e investigadores de carreras ambientales, recursos hídricos, salud pública
* ONGs que trabajan en gestión integrada del recurso hídrico

Si el clima lo permite, el jueves 30 de septiembre, los organizadores planear ir a Panajachel con algunos de los expertos internacionales. Estarán en el Porta Hotel del Lago esa tarde para dar un resumen sobre la actividad en Guatemala city, y contestar preguntas que la gente puede tener sobre cianobacterias, cianotoxinas, el agua y la salud.

1st Symposium on Cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins, water and health

1st Symposium on Cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins, water and health


Universidad Rafael Landívar
Vista Hermosa III
Campus Central Zona 16
Guatemala City
Tel (+502) 2426-2626 (Extension: 2960 for Auditorium)
(Edificio H, Auditurium)


The 3-day event will be held in the auditorium of:

University Landivar
Building H, Vista Hermosa III, Central Campus, Zone 16. 
Parking can be done at No. 5 / costs Q5.00 per day.

Date: 27th, 28th and 29th of September 2010

Registration for the event can be done at AGISA

0 Calle 15-46 Zone 15, Colonia El Maestro

tel. 23693703 (from 08:00 to 13:00 hours), or by depositing you contribution in to account 49-0017051-1, BAM, on behalf of Agisa. 

The contribution value is:
° Before September 20, professional Q300.00 or Q150.00 for recent university  students that can show their inscription card. Foreigners: U.S. $ 50.00.
• After September 20, the fee will be, respectively, Q400, Q200 and $ 60.00.
• On the day of the event the fee is: Q500, Q250 and $ 75.00.
This includes lunch, coffee breaks, information book and a certificate of participation.

Symposium

The activity is aimed at decision makers in various sectors and:
* Water users (industry, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, aquaculture, and biodiversity)
* Authorities MARN, MSPAS, MAGA, INFOM, Municipalities and Congress
* Responsible for quality of private water companies and municipal water
* Health and Environment ‘Laboratories’
* Sanitary engineers, environmental, chemists and biologists, agronomists, veterinarians and animal scientists and other related professions.
* Professors, students and researchers in environmental careers, water resources and public health.
* NGOs working in Integrated Water Resource Management

If the weather permits, on Thursday, September 30th, organizers plan to come to Panajachel with some of the international experts and will be at the Porta Hotel del Lago that afternoon to give an overview of the activities held in Guatemala city, and answer questions people may have on cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins, water and health.

The Symposium will be in Spanish.

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