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The briefing at the Mexican Embassy on April 20, 2009

by John Jacobsen

Na Bolom Denmark was established one year ago to find funds for

the upkeep and the preservation of the buildings the house Na

Bolom in San Cristbal de Las Casas.At the same time, our intention is to formalize the network of

contacts that have been established over time, by making it

independent of personal relations.

We are very honored that the Queen of Denmark is the one who has

made the first donation to support our purpose. This act marks

the initiation of a journay in finding more parties who takes an

interest in the matter.

That is why we are here today.

Our interest in Na Bolom is based on veneration for the culturalheritage, the inspiration and access to the knowledge.

The cultural heritage is evident, so I will just refer to the

documents attached to the invitation and the movie we just saw.

The inspiration isn't easy to describe, but we couldn't have

started this journey without this. The experience when meeting

something exceptional, realized visions for a better life, the

behavior in all respects, the scientific interest in the culture,

the photographic documentation that ocassionally appears as pure

art, the concern for the nature turned into concrete actions and

much more. When reading the guestbooks one gets an idea ofvisitor's impression just by being there.

The inspiration is born from the actions taken by Trudi and Frans

Blom based on their view of human nature, today continued by the

board of trustees of Na Bolom.

They are responsible to carry on the heritage of the founders.

We are not alone of being inspired. During their lifetime both

Trudi and Frans Blom were praised many times because of their

work.

The capital of Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutierrez, appointed Frans Blom

and later on Trudi Blom as well, to honorary citizens.Trudi Blom received as one of the first ones the 500 Award from

the United Nations in 1991, just to mention a few examples.

The inspiration turns into concrete actions as well.

The cultivation of new trees for the re-forestation, which Trudi

Blom initiated in 1973, has today many successors.

Na Bolom is still, however, in the center of the interaction

between man and nature in order to protect and develop the

diversity of both the fauna and the way of living and thinking.

We also may find knowledge about multicultural behaviour in all

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it's aspects: How the the constant discussion about the right

rituals and costumes keeps the different cultures alive, how the

modern life influences and occasionally affects the costumes, how

to resolve conflicts because of differences, and much more.

A theme evident to present to the new Global Refugee Studies that

starts in Copenhagen at September for example.

The United Nations has designated the two big rainforests' of

America to be focus points on the Climate Conference; that is the

Amazon Rainforest and the Lacandon Jungle.

Na Bolom is the central player of the Lacandon Jungle with both

general work and specific projects, concerning the inhabitants,

the nature and environment, and all the various things concerning

the jungle and the surroundings, including the large scale

consequenses.

So of course we hope we will be able to present something

relevant to the public in connection with the Climate Conference.

We hope you will join us in one way or the other in finding means

to preserve and repair the property of Na Bolom, making it

possible to the board of trustees to focus on their important

work.

In that way to fulfill the words of Trudi Blom:

The real monument to Frans Blom is not his grave stone, it is the

Na Bolom Museum. My testament declares that after my death Na

Bolom and all that it contains, will remain in San Cristbal, theplace that Pancho (Frans Blom) loved as much as I do. I love my

new homeland, and I don't want to see its richness and beauty

destroyed - I hope that someone will hear me.

__________________

Notes

Mentioned at the beginning: "...the papers attached to the invitation and the movie we just saw.".

The folder among the papers: www.nabolom.dk/nb/english/aktiviteter/publikationer.html

The movie:Na Bolom by Jaime Kibben