Trova Interviews Hammock Distributor about Mexico’s Drug War
June 25th, 2011
6/24/2011
Constantino runs a co-op in Merida, Mexico. He works with over 300 indigenous Mayan families selling their fair trade hammocks worldwide. Trova was one of his first clients. We took a few minutes of his time to ask him about how the drug war in Mexico has affected his business.
Where were you born and raised?
In Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
What was your family background?
Mi bisabuelo paterno llego de cuba y se caso en Mérida con una descendiente de españoles..mi lado materno son una cruza de español con indígenas.
Educational background?
Business degree
What is your current occupation?
Hammock seller
In your opinion, what has caused the war?
Wich war? The one in Libia? Middle east?…we don’t have a war…you mean the Drugs cartels?…we have isolated fights in the north of the country, between the drug cartels and with the federal police…even the center of Mexico the DF is very safe now…and the south is totally safe…if you say the word war in the south nobody is going to understand..we have a security problem in certain areas of this huge country..Because of the over demand of drugs in the USA we have gangs with lot of money and weapons coming from the united states..and if you gave all this money and power to a few…. just a few…of non educated and very poor people you have a problem..A security problem..(not a war)… witch I’m very confident is going to be control asap..and I know for fact is not what FOX and CNN said.
How has it affected your business?
In any way affect my business….tourism is growing every day…Cancun and surrounded were full of springbreakers last season
How do you feel about the war?
there is no war
What were your family or friends’ feelings?
Probably same as me
How has it affected the indigenous population?
Maybe some indegenas join the cartels in the north of Mexico…and they start forming music bands and playing “narcocorridos” wich is very similar to the the gangsta rap
In what ways did the war change your activities or habits?
none
Were you or others in your community treated differently because of your gender/ethnicity/race or other factors? This one in spanish
Si..en México es muy común que la gente te trate distinto por la manera en que te ves, hablas, o te vistes…pero a diferencia de otros lugares la clase indígena está muy integrada a la gente con descendencia española
If so, how did you or others react?
Yo tengo una buena relación con todas las clases sociales..Pero si hay racismo en México.
What were some of the first changes in your life after the war started?
None
Did you know anyone who was killed or wounded in the war?
No….normally is the same people involve in the drugs..
Is there anything else I should ask you?
Is there anything that you would like to add on this subject?
Americans need to stop doing drugs…
Categories: Mexico |
