August 26
 

			Mexico Slideshow 315K - Flash required

Mexico City, although steeped in ancient traditions and bursting with life, doesn't always get a good rap. But as soon as you enter the Zocalo, a microcosm of the country's chaotic and colorful mix of cultures and traditions, you realize you shouldn't believe all you hear.
 
Ancient fuses with modern: stalls selling Donald Duck clocks, traditional embroidery, and rugs proclaiming "God Bless America"; Aztec dancers in brilliant feather headdresses cleanse people's auras. Businessmen walk by barking into their cell phones. Salsa competes with Britney Spears and Shakira.
 
Mashed into this melting pot you will, of course, notice the three P's - poverty, pollution, and population.
 
But I discovered that not everyone accepts the status quo. I met many extraordinary individuals tackling these problems: eco-punks practicing "permaculture", struggling farmers of Michoacan and sea turtle crusaders. I encountered a desperate group of street kids - ravaged by drug abuse and destitution - who seemed impossible to reach out to. But I found educators who brave the streets daily helping these young people to get back their childhood. Each group opened my eyes to the harsh realities of Mexico, but filled me with hope.
 
I left Mexico exhilarated by the lively conversations, the generosity of everyone I met, and by the commitment of ordinary people wanting to change the world around them.
 

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