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 News from Around Banderas Bay | July 2006 
Citizens Protest Park Destruction
 Adriana Romero - PVNN
| | Lalo Quimixto Chacala and Javier Fabriz were among those that gathered on Wednesday to protest the destruction of Parque Lazaro Cardenas. | 
| | Javier Fabriz hopes his act of faith and concern will set an example for the other citizens to follow. |
Puerto Vallarta is a young city frenetically growing for the last 34 years, in which it has been subject to numerous transformations and growth. But one of the major public concerns has been the fact that our Municipal Authorities have played a principal role in the modernizing of this city.
Since 2005, we have witnessed the violent dislodging of Hidalgo Park, followed by Pitillal Plaza and Benito Juarez Park. So it is no surprise that today, after all this turmoil, that Lazaro Cardenas Park is next on the list.
Having spoken with several locals and even some foreigners, we all ask ourselves why common sense is not so common. Clearly speaking; What about civil conscience and ecological concerns and planning in our government's future projects?
It is sad to contemplate a Vallarta that is starting to look full of concrete and open "Minimalist" spaces, where the absence of trees are now huge voids. As a result, the temperature in our city increases drastically during the summer season every year.
Ironically, a brand new bunker-like parking lot with an ocean view now stands where Benito Juarez park used to be - just blocks away from the now jeopardized Lazaro Cardenas Park.
Fortunately, the Rio Cuale Island project was cancelled after the successful civil manifestation that took place almost three weeks ago and therefore, a very important Ecosystem of flora and fauna living on the Island, river and its surroundings has been protected.
We truly hope that Lazaro Cardenas Park will have the same happy ending. On Wednesday the 26th, a group of people gathered at the park to protect this area against the local authorities that plan to build another parking lot.
In knowing this, I decided to go and check the situation out. When I arrived, I found quite a gathering of outstanding characters speaking out for the defense of this particular public space.
Lalo Quimixto Chacala, disguised in a wrestlers or "luchador" mask in white and a cape with the image of Emiliano Zapata on his back, was getting ready to perform. He is a poet and performing street artist, who also happened to have studied Philosophy at the Universidad de Guadalajara.
Born in 1960 in Puerto Vallarta, he has dedicated 13 poems to his beloved town. Called "The Night that the Iguana Gave Birth," the piece was inspired by the film "The Night of the Iguana," which was directed by John Huston in 1964.
Chacala claims that this event marked Vallarta, creating a difference between the village that used to be Vallarta in those days and the Vallarta of today. Shot locally, this film gave international exposure to this controversial and paradisiac town.
Lalo made his point with emphasis, "With my work I plan to demonstrate how the people of Vallarta have lost their identity." With a big smile he adds, "We have gone from Huaraches to Nikes, from the hunting of cajos (crabs) in the rivers as a sport and a family gathering during weekends to just stopping by McDonalds."
I also spoke to a man I decided to call "The Tree Man," Javier Fabriz, who is determined to stay tied to one of these big beautiful old trees as long as it takes to make a clear demonstration of radical ecological conscience to the rest of our community.
He believes that in this act of faith and concern he will set an example for the other citizens to follow. We all must learn to fight for our rights and future he concludes. Javier was born in Mexico City, and is a long time resident of our town. He owns a shop of ecological handmade arts and crafts located in Villas Vallarta.
I also talked to a few foreigners that were passing by who showed a huge interest in what was going on. To my surprise some of them, even though they were enjoying their vacation, asked if they could get involved with this group's effort.
I would also like to strongly encourage any person interested in the future of Lazaro Cardenas Park to attend the public meetings, which will be held on Thursday evening and on Friday morning starting at 10:30 am. Hopefully together we can all make a difference when a difference is just what is needed in the name of beautiful Puerto Vallarta. |
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