Sticks and Stones in Calzontzin

Tomorrow we were leaving for Michoacán.

I had some doubts. Michoacán has for decades now, been a place where La Familia Michoacana and The Templar Knights' cartels operate, and ever since, the communities have no rest from bodies appearing in the middle of the roads or just dealing with their criminal activities. That issue plus migration has made an extraordinarily beautiful state, a lonely one. Tourists no longer travel there and in this vicious cycle, a once thriving economy of artisans with skilled hands who made guitars, cocuchas (big clay pots), embroidered textiles, wood alebrijes and clay devils are fading or their handcrafts are sold for nothing under desperate circumstances.



I know. It sounds somber account but I'm sad because we had to postpone the trip. We were told there is a high probability that some of the roads could get closed by some upheaval coming from teachers in the region. As far as I know, 300 policemen were ushered by teachers and communal workers. The state owes them 13 bonuses and they closed roads to manifest their discontent. 


Calzontzin is close to Uruapan, a city on our itinerary.

What makes me sad is that a lack of governance (where rulers value its citizens) has immediate repercussions in every scope of a country. We are the byproduct of crooked governors allied with crooked presidencies (in a Trumpian voice).

So until further notice, we won't be able to visit the communities. Unfortunately, they can't escape their situation, so what does that say about a strategy towards them? Will have to think about this thoroughly.

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