Mr. Oscar Azmitia
Proyecto de Desarrollo Santiago-La Salle (PRODESSA)

Strengthening of Identities and Respect
for Cultural Diversity for Human Development

The Western Development Agenda and Local Cultures

     The market, globalization and homogenization are fundamental elements influencing the modern world and part of the current Western discourse or agenda.

     At this stage, it is impossible for any country or nation to remain on the sidelines of this colossal world process. Given that we cannot be left behind, we have to determine the qualities, basic elements and arguments that we can add to this process rather than waiting to be incorporated by it. Perhaps today, more than ever, our cultures and experiences must demonstrate their origin, identity, fluency, openness and anti-dogmatism.
In these extraordinary times of national and worldwide development, a few words uttered by our forefathers illustrate the openness, tolerance, discernment and reflection that we can use as instruments to consider alternatives, opinions and opportunities and to support the creation of a new world vision. They stated “we came to mother Earth to enrich and give meaning to our history, to expand the horizons of the perspective that our people and our kind have of the world.”

      We have the ability to create development that is far removed from the centralized, unilateral and linear form of development that we know and have experienced and that has yielded no positive results. We suggest restoring courage, discovering new possibilities and alternatives as well as incorporating the original knowledge of our people, the framework on which our ancestors built their personalities and ours, with their science, knowledge, philosophy, art and morals.

      It is a well-known fact that our people and cultures have always had their own perceptions of happiness, progress and human coexistence. Our Mayan ancestors fostered personality, sought the nature of all things, the sincerity of intentions and the extension of the boundaries of knowledge.
In addition to this ancient knowledge, ancient powers have also survived; however, the extraordinary development of modern science may have led us to believe our cultures are inferior to those of larger nations.

Rethinking development from the perspective of the poor

     There is an urgent need to rethink development from the cultural perspective of the poor.

     This perspective should be the basis for a more humanistic and environmental approach to development. We can participate in the globalization process without losing our roots and abandoning our world vision. If we fail to proceed in this manner, the radical negation of our identity will be a fatal price to pay.

     Our responsibility is to study and learn the science and technologies of other peoples and nations; however, in terms of philosophy and politics, our argument remains solid and valid.

     Today, more than ever, we should return to our origins, not in the pejorative sense of the word, but rather, we must return to the basis of our world vision, to spirituality, to the “I am you and you are me philosophy,” thereby avoiding the risk of pigeonholing our conscience. Our aim must be twofold — to return to our origins and yet to also continue making progress, creating new opportuntities and horizons.

    With these fundamental elements in mind, we are ready to discuss our form of development, our policy in respect of quality of life and social
justice. With these basic factors, we want to introduce a new form of development in the context of globalization.