The organic farming school of Maní, “U Yit’s Ka’an” (which means “mist falling from the sky”), held a Maya ceremony on Thursday August 9th, to mark the inauguration of its first rural laboratory (laboratorio campesino), which will be named after one of the promoters of this institution, the Maya professor Bernardo Xiu Uc.
In the presence of representatives of different national organizations, from El Salvador and Guatemala, in addition to schools such as the Autonomous University of Chapingo and the Autonomous University of Yucatan (Uady), the Catholic priest Atilano Ceballos Loeza, director of the institution, led the Maya offering in honor to the work of Xiu Uc.
Each of the participants had the opportunity to talk about the performance of the honoree. Members of the Xiu Uc family gave him a painting in gratitude to his more than 20 years of organic farming work in the area.
The day included a tasting of Maya dishes and drinks. Xiu Uc thanked the attendance of his family, school teachers, students and guests.
“I thank you for your belief in organic farming, because we are increasingly threatened by contamination and pollution; there are many people sick with cancer. A few days ago I lost my younger sister to cancer and I always think that this is due to the excessive use of agrochemicals in the products we buy in the markets and supermarkets”. Xiu Uc said.
“This is a very sad situation, because people in Yucatán and around the world don’t seem to be aware of the seriousness of this issue, and there are hundreds or even thousands of women exposed, washing their clothes with agrochemical contaminated water, and that is another reason why there are so much people sick with cancer,” continued Xiu Uc in his message.
“I have many memories of my work at this school and I am very happy to see my friends, classmates and students. We must keep in mind that we are all students, I am a teacher, but I was also taught, I learned a lot from the UADY and Chapingo teachers and students. I learned a lot about animal handling from all of you. Thank you all”.
After tasting the balché drink, nance, papaya and other fruits desserts, the attendees toured the campus facilities.
At the end of the event, Veracruz priests said they will return to Yucatán to take part of this great Maya knowledge to their home state.
TYT Newsroom with information from yucatan.com.mx
