The Mexican Government’s Negligence, Manifested as a Polluted and Powerless River

Keywords: environmental justice, Mexico, Latin America, River, pollution, procedural justice, self-determination
Abstract Type: Virtual Guided Poster Abstract

Abstract

The Santiago River or Rio Chignahuapan, the power of nine rivers in Nahuatl, is one of the most polluted rivers in Mexico that winds through the towns of El Salto and Juanacatlan in Guadalajara, Mexico. As El Salto grew into the industrial hub for Guadalajara, so did problems of pollution with little enforcement of environmental laws and corruption. The frothy foam and overpowering stench from waste and toxins disposed into the river permeates homes and residents’ bodies, leading to cancer and other health complications. The river can be seen as a case of environmental injustice, thus requiring acknowledgment of others’ experiences to understand the cultural significance of this case. With document analysis and interviews, the culture, knowledge, and histories of the people living in El Salto and Juanacatlán are used to recognize how pollution has affected the relationship between the river and local communities and how governments recognize and acknowledge different identities, like local Indigenous identities. Through this project, more is understood on how through self-determination, the people have taken back their power to achieve environmental justice and reveal if one day, the power of the nine rivers can be restored to the Santiago River.