greetings fellow heathens,

would just like to comment briefly on middle-class parented hippies (like moi) hanging out in third world countries. its disgusting really. they all introduce themselves w "i´m volunteering locally for six months" w an obv and firm belief they´re trodding the jhesos-path. the news (i could not reveal locally without being fed "my" stinkin dreadlocks) is: this alternative form of tourism impacts on a very limited segment of the populous only. cultural infl would feed back into dev world policy if it weren´t for the fact that returning hippies are rendered invisible to apparatus. i.e. this does not change anything except within hippies´ heads, and is this part of postmodernist consumerist culture really. never felt so lonely in my cynicism in my life..

local guatemalans are just ridiculously friendly. the christian mission, which is still on (do they never get enough?), does its bit in further entrenching suppression of indigenas- which comprise 60% of local pop which is highest in central am. they wear these beautifully coloured outfits and take pride in being naturales- would be interested in looking into socially conscious groups. international gradient of wealth more and more shocking considering u.s. proximity and influence (cultural and military). people are not aware of the necessary causal link, even up to neo-lib level. liberation pedagogy a la frere would be the way forward, not implementable due to:

gun culture direct result of 30-odd years of u.s.-sponsored civil war. the mil consumes 35%+ of gov budget, but has own capital base. paramil groups complement this. omnipresence indicative of suppression of pop, "the bigger the guns the more official they are", automatic weapons for anyone associated with the gov.. there are obv "anti-drug" squads as well.. Priv security, banks and even shops are protected by guards armed with sawn-off shotguns mostly. wouldnt like to be near-by if anything kicks off..

bit of an internet-cafe bubble, hope you get "some sort of" idea, bit overwhelmed by exposure following a month of white widow at home. will try to bake something proper for next time.

love,

Phil