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In episode 2 of our new BBtv WORLD series, Xeni reports in from a K’iche Maya village in the Guatemalan highlands, and we step inside a traditional Mayan steam bath, or “tuj.”
This pueblo began as a settlement camp for”environmental refugees” — people who became displaced after mudslides and floods caused by Hurricane Mitch made their ancestral village unsafe. Survivors packed what belongings they could on their backs and walked miles to a bare patch of cold, windy mountaintop nicknamed “Alaska” for its extreme microclimate.
Nearly ten years after the disaster and the subsequent loss of their homes, these people are still struggling for survival. Their traditions are a source of strength, and today we experience one of them — a small brick hut filled with hot volcanic rocks, steam, and herb branches gathered from nearby mountains.
Related BBtv WORLD episodes:
- BBtv WORLD: Through the eyes of the pueblo. (Guatemala)
- BBtv debuts “BBtv World” series. Episode 1: El Molinero (Guatemala)
(image: Xeni Jardin)
Sponsorship note: The BBtv crew wishes to thank Microsoft for underwriting this episode, and generously supporting the launch of the “BBtv World” series. In this ongoing video series, we will be looking at the intersection of social causes & technology around the world from a number of perspectives. Through their new “i’m Initiative,” Microsoft shares a portion of the program’s advertising revenue with some of the world’s most important social causes when users email or IM with tools such as Windows Live™ Messenger and Windows Live Hotmail®. For more information, visit imtalkathon.com or im.live.com.