With a human chain, they protest against the Mayan Train

Environmental organizations carried out a human chain in Puerto Morelos in protest for environmental damage caused by works of the Mayan Train and because of the risk that the transfer of porphyrite stone imported from Cuba represents for the reef ecosystems.

Just over 200 members of NGOs such as Sélvame del Tren, Voces Unidas Puerto Morelos, La Selva Salva, Selva Maya SOS, sustainable Puerto Morelos, the Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA), Vote for Climate, among others, protested the destruction of cenotes, mangroves, reefs and the jungle, with a human chain along José María Morelos avenue, which is intended to be expanded to four lanes despite the fact that it is totally surrounded by mangroves, a protected species.

Aracely Domínguez, president of the Mayab Ecologist Group, assured that the Mayan Train works represent a setback of 40 years in terms of environmental protection and regretted that it is the authority itself that violates the law.

The president of the Mayab Ecologist Group recalled that the fight to defend nature has been going on for several decades in Quintana Roo, which is why several environmental groups in the state are considered “spearheads” in ecological regulations, regulations, and laws.

“We have done everything that could be done to have legal tools and defend our brother trees, grandmother ocean, all those beings who have the right to life and who, due to the different types of projects that have been carried out in the state has been declining little by little”, he commented.

Domínguez pointed out that a point has been reached in which the issue of national security made the laws lose their validity.

In this sense, he emphasized the need to demand that laws be promoted that not only provide legal certainty to citizens with the right to a healthy environment, to life and a dignified life, but also to those who come to invest their money in the Mexican southeast. .

“What is happening here is unprecedented, it is a real shame that it is the authority itself that breaks the law,” lamented the activist.

The speleologist Roberto Rojo, a member of Sélvame del Tren, denounced that more than 100 cenotes and caverns are already affected by the works carried out in section 5 of the Mayan Train.

“We have evidence of cenotes that are totally contaminated. Their souls will fall to see what is happening in the jungle, ”he added.

The protesters also expressed their concern about the risks represented by the transport of porphyrite stone, coming from Cuba, to be used as ballast in section 5 of the mega-project of Lopez Obrador for the Yucatan Peninsula.

The Melody ship, anchored in the area since March 1, has not been able to unload 20 thousand tons of porphyrite stone that will serve as ballast for the Mayan Train tracks, initially it was due to bad weather, but the disembarkation maneuvers were postponed again after the diver and underwater videographer, Alberto Friscione, documented damage in coral areas. (EFE)