MOGC and Jesus

Jesus Leon Santos, an indigenous farmer in Oaxaca works closely with Phil Dahl-Bredine, a lay missioner there. He gave a presentation at the UN during the meeting of the Commission for Sustainable Development. I introduced Jesus at the event and made me think about all we have done to get Jesus’ message out key people and organizations in the U.S. His message is that the indigenous peoples of the world have a lot to offer in showing ways to change our societies to be more sustainable and equitable. That we can not continue in our current ways, for if we do, we will destroy all of creation. He then shows the specific ways that his organization has renewed their lands and opted out of industrialized agriculture.

In September 2005, we set up a speaking tour for Jesus and another Mexican farmer that focused especially on the effects of NAFTA on their communities. They spoke to agriculture students in 4 land grant colleges in the Midwest, as well as with farmers’ organizations in the area. Then they spoke at the University of Pennsylvania and to members of Congress.

A year or so later, I was able to visit the area where Jesus and Phil live and see the amazing improvements they have made on the lands there through planting trees and digging contour ditches that maintain the rain waters and replenish dried up water sources. It was amazing to see forests with dark black dirt many feet deep in areas that are so dry and rocky. In just 20 years, they were able to really change their local ecology.

With that experience, I was a very positive reference for Jesus to the Goldman Award, which he ended up winning for ecological excellence in North America. In April, we set up a briefing for Jesus and Phil to speak to Congressional staffers and local NGOs. We also set up meetings with staffers for the three presidential candidates. Finally, we asked Jesus to speak at a side event during the UN’s Commission on Sustainable Development. His presentation was very well attended and received by an almost full room. He was able to do an interview with a magazine out of Japan that was present at his talk.

All of this, I think, is a good example of how the OGC is able to help get important messages from important international partners out to a fairly large and influential group of people, organizations and institutions.