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Cherán Resistance
Cherán was constituted by 27,000 hectares which were greatly devastated,
leaving around 7,000 hectares.
20,000 hectares were devastated.
They didn't only ruin the forest, but also the fauna, the animals.
all that grows in our Purépecha town [native Mexican community]
They came to our lagoon, through all the main streets in town,
mocking us while passing by.
Not just that. They looted the shops, left and nobody stoped them.
Men and women feeling powerless, unable to shout at them, unable to stop them.
It was urgent, it was desperate,
But it couldn't be realized because we were divided.
Each one was a member of a different political party [ORGANIZATION]
Starting April 15th the women bravely confronted those loggers...
that came down from El Calvario [church], where the first confrontation took place,
where this fight started.
It happened in less than 2 hours. We all agreed and said 'That's it, no more'.
Some people protected, some confronted, some stopped the loggers,
some burned the vehicles,
some other bringing firecrackers to call the people, ringing the bells.
The day we decide to stop the loggers in our community,
It was an initiative of the women, We said 'that's it'.
We were worried because that is where our husbands get sustenance for us,
to feed our children. We thought 'that's enough, no more'
because we know that our children will need it; our fight is for them.
Since April 15th the people stated it clearly
The Municipal President has been overwhelmed
By law he's the president but we don't know of whom.
The one governing the people is the people themselves.
Among fellows, friends, unknown people, we decided...
... 'why not take from this bonfire to neighborhood 4, this for neighborhood 3...'
And that's how the bonfires started, in El Calvario [church] itself.
Since this all started our kids were very scared; still today when they here a thunder they hide.
They were really affected.
We saw the need for a surveillance brigade, people to look after us around the bonfires.
That's when the community patrol was born.
Our patrol is all voluntary. We have no salary, no uniform,
We have no shoes, jackets. You've seen it, we are dressed normally.
It's the need. We've never asked for uniforms.
We do it with whatever we have, and we do it by our own will.
I think we're doing well. We feel we're doing well.
We see the people here participating, our women, our kids,
occupying themselves in something constructive, closer.
We now don't see as much alcoholism or adiction.
We have overcome that by an 80-90%. That cheers us the parents up.
We have not received any resolution, neither from the municipality nor the state...
... nor the federation.
That's why our movement will continue. We are defending our forests, our nature,
where the lagoons that supply our Purépecha people exist.
Other than supplies or money, the diffusion you make about us to other countries...
that support us by congratulating us, saying 'keep going, we're with you',
I think that's more than enough for us,
to feel supported. That's the most valuable thing for us.
What else can I say...
Cherán Resistance Visit micheran.com