Updates on Solar
Quetzaltenango is one of those towns where just about anything, and anyone, can be found. Serendipity is the unspoken law. Pure chance brought me here, sore and with a headache from the rapid altitude increase that I’d traveled since the Mexican border, and pure chance brought me into Whitman Direct Action.
The only destination that I had last Wednesday was Xela Teco, a local ecological technology organization where I planned to offer whatever skills I could. As it turned out, they were in need of some improvements in their solar hot water systems, and I just happened to work as a solar thermal system installer before going to college. I would soon find that my knowledge and past experience would bring me many more opportunities than just those found in a workshop.
On Thursday evening I briefly met Joe and Curt, the “biodiesel bros,” as I would soon know them, and a brief introduction was all we needed to discover a mutual interest in each other’s ideals. They needed someone to help design and build their solar biodiesel heating system, and I just plain wanted to get involved in as many interesting alternative energy projects as possible. Friday allowed us to get properly acquainted and to begin the long process of designing solar panels and ovens using only the cheapest and most locally available resources. MacGiver had an easier time.
These last few days I have spent just getting to know their project and really coming to appreciate the devotion and perseverance of those involved. It is obvious that they are up against some formidable challenges, but so far I’ve only seen them face each day with a good sense of relaxed humor and committed personal discipline. I would not say that their goals are impossible to reach, in fact far from it, but there is a lot of ground to cover before the dream can become reality. When you really think about it, though, dreaming about sustainable fuel and energy systems is much more grounding and realistic than believing that the current situation can and will last.
At the moment I am a bit torn in my personal direction. I only intended on staying in Xela (as Quetzaltenango is commonly known) for a week or so before continuing on my journey, but now I am starting to rethink my priorities. It is not very often that I find a group of intelligent, conscious youth out to really start some positive initiatives in a developing country. Not to mention the fact that my background fits into their mission like a missing puzzle piece. Who knows what will happen next, but for now I am truly excited to work with such amazing people, to enjoy the communal enthusiasm and cooperative spirit, and to offer my services to something that I actually believe to be both beneficial and feasibly useful. I’m not making any promises, but you can probably expect to hear from me again.
Hasta la proxima,
Tanner Welsh