Guatemala is consistently ranked as one of the most vulnerable countries in the world when it comes to the affect of climate change. The Global Climate Risk Index consistently puts the nation in the top 10 of countries at an extremely high risk of exposure to extreme events. Increased rainfall during the wet season combined with extremely severe, lengthy […]
Guatemala in 2020 is a fascinating mix of influences, representative of its complex history. The largest economy in Central America, the country’s biggest economic driver is tourism. In the first of a series of special features, this blog covers the culture and etiquette of Guatemalan society. Jürg Widmer Probst Guatemala special feature: all about Guatemala culture and etiquette Nestled between […]
Guatemala has a long and fascinating history featuring many years of takeover and colonisation, civil war and regional differences. And of course, along with this kind of history comes a relatively complex religious picture. In this special feature, I’ll be looking at the religious composition of the country, and how this affects its culture. Jürg Widmer Probst Guatemala special feature: […]
Guatemalan coffee is one of the country’s major exports, making the region the ninth biggest exporter in the world. Here’s why coffee remains so important to the country, and how the industry developed. Jürg Widmer Probst Guatemala special feature: Guatemalan coffee and its history Annual exports worth up to $775 million make Guatemalan coffee the second biggest export from the […]
Guatemala in 2020 is a product of its rich, sometimes extremely difficult and always fascinating cultural heritage. And it’s the same for Guatemalan music. If you’re travelling around Guatemala right now, you’ll hear all kinds of music. American music from the 1980s and 1990s is popular on public transport, while Tejano and ranchera music is common in bars and restaurants. […]
This month’s Jürg Widmer Probst Guatemala blog moves away from the beauty and fascination of this country with a focus on COVID-19. Global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is actively helping the health system in Guatemala, according to the UK Government. British Ambassador Nick Whittingham says that the company is donating quick COVID-19 tests and personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies to the […]
Guatemala may be a relatively small country, but it’s home to 24 different Mayan ethnic groups. Among these groups are the Tz’utujil people and together with the Ladinos, Zinca, Garifunas and many more, they make up the indigenous Native American people of the country. Around 100,000 Tz’utujil (also sometimes spelled Sutujil, Tzutuhil or Tzutujil) live in a region surrounding Lake […]
Almost two-thirds of the population of Guatemala are indigenous people, but their achievements often get overlooked in historical canon. And for women from Guatemala the lack of recognition is even more significant. While there are some famous women from Guatemala, including Nobel prize winner Rigoberta Menchu, there are many more who have significantly changed history that you may not have […]
The centre of the Maya Empire’s was the tropical lowlands that make up today’s Guatemala. Its peak in terms of influence and power hit at around the 6th century AD. By 900AD most of the giant cities were abandoned. Mayan civilisation has left behind artwork, architecture and plenty of evidence showing their excellence in pottery, writing, maths, calendar making and […]
Guatemala’s rivers play a vital role in its landscape, culture and history, as well as fuelling the country’s economy from Mayan traders to modern tourism. Rivers also act as internal and external borders, playing a key role in the identity of the country and, crucially today, providing precious ecological niches for increasingly endangered wildlife. The origins of Guatemala’s rivers Guatemala’s […]
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