A Sea of Hope
Un Mar de Esperanza, by Andrea Saénz-Arroyo
One word describes my personal struggle of finding an author who doesn’t simply write passionately and well, but who covers the complex topic of sustainable economics in a compelling and concise manner: grueling.
Un Mar de Esperanza (A Sea of Hope), written in beautiful Spanish by marine biologist Andrea Saénz-Arroyo of Mexico, chronicles the humble secrets of sustainable fishing communities around the globe. The tales Andrea shares are deeply personal, insightful, and have far-reaching implications for not only community resilience and economic productivity, but for the sustained prosperity of entire nations.
An English version is not currently available; but hey, what better way to learn Spanish this winter than nestled in a cozy room with some Chiapas-sourced coffee or chocolate, Spanish-English dictionary in one hand, “Un Mar de Esperanza” in the other. The stories Anrea portrays are so intriguing that I was compelled to refine my own Spanish speaking skills.
Andrea and I met while planning a watershed & wetland restoration project in Chiapas a few years ago, and have since been debating economic solutions rooted in the resource creation and distribution strategies of nature. I was delighted to give a seminar at the university where Dr. Saénz-Arroyo teaches in Chiapas, and to work alongside Colorado and Chiapas volunteers to implement the first phase of the project. I was equally thrilled when Andrea graciously offered to write the forward for the 2nd edition of Ecosystems as Models for Restoring our Economies (To a Sustainable State).
Amidst our shared human experience on Earth lies a sea of hope.
Un Mar de Esperanza is available used at Abe Books. GoodWillBooks, and elsewhere.