The Mesoamerican hydroelectric corridor against hydraulic heritage of the indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America

Abstract

Water, earth and living beings, including humans, share a common home, make an original network woven by interactions between each of them. Against this weave that allows life, megaprojects of a group of countries and companies are raising. We will reflect on one of them, the energy integration project in North America, designed as a transnational “energy business” which purpose is to plunder the Mesoamerican territory. One component is the Hydropower Mesoamerican Corridor which purpose is the exploitation of regional watersheds: 108 in southeastern Mexico and 135 in Central America, the latter account for 19% of regional water systems and 10.7% of the planetary, support of 10 % of known life forms. In this region live 55 Mayan peoples, 45 million people, 50% below the poverty line; 70% of poor or indigent rural people; for them, these hydroelectric mean evictions, destruction of jungles and forests. They resist facing governments that give territory to transnational enclaves, at the expense of the right to live, before any political system. In this situation, what is the duty of philosophy? What is its commitment with all those involved in the search for a dignified life, of a good living? This article is the product of a literature and documentary review, it proposes to reflect on these questions, it is the result of collective reflection developed within the Knowledge of Society and Cultural Diversity Seminar, from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, led by Dr. León Olivé Morett.