What a Bright Idea!

Local artist, Victor Villegas, recycles old light bulbs into whimsical plant hangers and jewel-like chandeliers.  

It’s a fascinating use for something that would normally end up in an overcrowded garbage dump or landfill site.  Tiffany Yenawine Wareing clued us in on the artistry of Victor Villegas.  

As for other unwanted items, Mexico’s recycling program is still very much in its infancy, giving me pangs of guilt about what we toss out. 

Items that are still useable, but not needed in our household go to local friends or are set out on the curb for anyone to pick up and hopefully put to good use.  Things made of copper are highly prized by scrap collectors.  

Aluminum and tin have some scrap value

Aluminum beverage cans have some value.  Tin cans have a much lesser scrap value.  I put the cans in a separate bag so the garbage guys can easily add them to their personal stash of good stuff.   Large cardboard boxes, the types used for TV’s, computer, appliances are flattened and left at the curb for the city trucks for pickup. 

At various locations around the island there are wire bins for recycling plastic beverage bottles.  The plastic bottle recycling program was originally started by Friends of Isla Contoy, with funding from PEACE and various island businesses. 

I asked a few folks, and it seems that items such as broken plastic patio furniture, plastic bags or yoghurt containers are not wanted; they cause a huge problem with sorting and recycling.   The bins are a small start on being environmentally responsible. 

Some glass beer bottles are recyclable.  Purchasers pay a hefty deposit for the bottles when buying a complete case at the suppliers. To get a refund the purchaser must return to the original location with the receipt, all of the beer bottles and the case.  This is the biggest reasons bar operators don’t want their customers walking out with a beer bottle in their hand.  If you want to drive with a beer in your hand, just don’t do it with their expensive recyclable bottles!

Cleaning up veggie and fruit scraps

With compostable items such as fruit and vegetable scraps our daytime herd of semi-tame iguanas do a good job of cleaning up.  Anything they don’t want the night-shift of hermit crabs is happy to consume.  Pretty much everything else gets tossed in the waste cans.  It pains me to throw away so much stuff! 

Then I had a middle-of-the-night epiphany; why not ask some of the local charities and service organizations what new or gently-used items would be useful to them.

Can be recycle to students in need of gym shoes

Tiffany Yenawine Wareing enthusiastically responded with a number of good ideas.  

Gently used sneakers for the students who need them for gym classes would be welcome, even adult sizes because many of today’s kids have larger feet.  Old or mismatched housewares will be recycled for the domestic violence shelter on the mainland – the Continental Zone area of Isla Mujeres.  Contact her via her FaceBook page, or drop off donations at Marina Paraiso’s office.

Hey, we'd like to go for a walk with you!

Eileen Regn at Isla Animals said they are always looking for used sheets, towels, and stacks of newspaper to help out with their bi-weekly spay and neuter clinics.  Pet cages, carriers, dishes, collars and leashes are welcome.  And there are plans for a larger clinic/shelter so additional household or office type items would be gladly accepted.  You can contact Isla Animals via their FaceBook page if you have items to donate, or stop by their current location at the entrance to the Mundaca Hacienda Park.  You can also donate your time and a bit of love by taking a homeless dog for a much needed walk.

2014 Diabetes Clinic

Karen Rosenberg, organizer for the annual Diabetes Clinic said they would happily accept any unopened current-date products for diabetics.  

She also asked that we remind everyone about the upcoming clinic September 21^st starting at 9 am, at the Cruz Roja (Red Cross).  

Diabetes is now the number one cause of death in Mexico, so please spread the word to other islanders.

Karen says: “We have 200 glucose meters to distribute and many strips, and lancets.  No insulin or pills but the doctor from the Cruz Roja is going to be part of the clinic along with 4 nurses and EMT's who are Islenos!”

Well, my thought processes have wandered from tin cans and bottles, to stray dogs and old towels but you get the drift; just a reminder to put a little thought into what you toss out, and what you recycle. 

It’s a beautiful paradise we live in, let’s keep it pretty.

Hasta Luego

Lynda & Lawrie

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Shocking Statistics

Fishing economy changing to tourism

Sometimes in the course of looking for ideas to write about for our weekly blog we come across information that is surprising, or even quite shocking. Part-time resident Karen Rosenberg, LISW, recently emailed me the stats on diabetes in Mexico – and they are awful!

According to Mexico’s Department of Social Health, it is believed that 20% of all Mexican women and more than 25% of men are at risk of developing the disease. It’s the nation’s #1 killer, resulting in about 70,000 deaths a year. Diabetes has also become the main cause of limb loss and blindness in Mexico.

Tourists enjoying North Beach on a sunny Sunday afternoon

The economy of Isla Mujeres is gradually shifting from a fishing community to a tourism-based community. 

In the busy season from December to May workers can conceivably earn more money in the form of tips from restaurant or bar patrons, but on average most islanders earn around $9.00 USD per day. That does not leave enough money to eat in a healthy manner. Inexpensive processed food and high-sugar beverages are commonplace. 

Affordable - Coke Cola for baby

We shudder every time we see the young construction workers pedal past on their bicycles clutching their lunch break supplies in one hand. Most days their lunch consists of a two-litre bottle of Coke Cola and a fifty-cent stack of tortillas.

A few years ago the Medical Director of the Salud Publica (health clinic on Isla Mujeres) stated that the clinic does not have glucose monitoring devices or meters available. He estimated that up to 80% of the islanders live with undiagnosed diabetes until it is a life threatening condition. 

Diabetes Clinic 

Karen Rosenberg has been coming to Isla for the past eighteen years, and hosting the Portals to the Self: Isla Mujeres Women's Retreat at the Na Balam Hotel for the past fifteen years. 

Karen said she started the clinics after a friend who worked at the hotel died from complications of undiagnosed diabetes and another friend at the Women’s Beading Coop went into a diabetic coma.

The first two free clinics were held at the Women's Beading Cooperative, but they soon outgrew the limited space and moved the next year to the English School premises. The following year the clinic was so well attended they relocated again, this time to the even larger space at the Red Cross location in La Gloria.

Diabetes Clinic workers

Another community-minded full-time resident, Kathy Ennis RN, pitched in to help with the clinics. 

Then Geovanny Avalos from the Cruz Roja Isla Mujeres, added his invaluable assistance, helping the health professionals with testing and diabetes education. 



Registration of the walk-ins is handled by members of the Women's Beading Cooperative so this effort is a collaboration of ex-pats and local Islenos.

Members of Women's Beading Cooperative at art fair

So, what can you do to help? The organizers are in desperate need of donations of test strips and meters, preferably Contour and Contour Next brands. The Fifth Annual Diabetes Clinic will be held on Thursday October 23^rd, starting at 9:00 a.m., at the Red Cross. The clinic will continue during the day until the supplies run out. They will perform testing of blood sugar levels, teach the recipients how to use the meters to monitor their blood glucose, counsel them in diabetes education and give replacement supplies when needed.

Karen writes: “If you have any connection with pharmaceutical companies or reps, doctor’s offices or hospitals that can donate these supplies, (short dated or even recently expired) please contact me via private message on FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/kfrlisw?fref=ts&ref=br_tf”

“Money donations may be made through PayPal via kfrlisw@gmail.com. Supplies will then be purchased in your name and used for the clinic attendees.” If you would like additional information please contact Karen or Kathy via the email addresses listed below.

Hopefully these shocking numbers will motivate others to help out with the battle against diabetes on our favourite little island in paradise.

Hasta Luego

Lynda & Lawrie

kfrlisw@gmail.com             Karen Rosenberg

kathy@kathyandkeith.mx   Kathy Ennis

www.islawomensretreat.com