Renowned Mexican poet and environmental activist to speak at Vassar College, March 25

Homero Aridjis, renowned Mexican poet and an ardent environmentalist, will give "A Talk on the Human Ecology" in Taylor Hall Auditorium at Vassar College on Tuesday, March 25, at 5:30 p.m.

Considered by many to be Mexico's most important living poet since the death of Octavio Paz, Aridjis has published more than 20 books of poetry and prose. Remarkable, innovative, and modernist, his poetry captures Mexico's 'lost worlds': its indigenous cultures, its natural beauty, its revolutionary movements. His new book, "Eyes to See Otherwise/ Ojos de otro mirar" (New Directions, 2002), edited by Betty Ferber, celebrates his 40-year career, with translations from Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Philip Lamantia, W.S. Merwin, Kenneth Rexroth, and others.

Over the course of his long and varied career, Aridjis also served as Mexico's ambassador to the Netherlands and Switzerland. Twice the recipient of a Guggenheim, he taught at Columbia, New York University, and the University of Indiana. A columnist and environmental activist, he is president of International P.E.N., the worldwide association of writers.

In 1987, Aridjis and Betty Ferber received the Global 500 Award from the United Nations Environment Program on behalf of the Group of 100, an environmental group of artists and intellectuals. Largely thanks to their efforts, many advances have been made on pressing environmental issues in Mexico: Monarch butterfly sanctuaries have received official protection, the slaughter of sea turtles has been made illegal, and dams were stopped in the Lacandon rain forest. They successfully spearheaded the campaign to stop the saltworks from being built at San Ignacio lagoon, the most pristine of the gray whale's breeding and calving sites in Baja California. Now, he is campaigning to keep the Mexican government from developing the entire Baja peninsula as part of its Nautical Ladder project, which is aimed at attracting millions of American boat owners to the Sea of Cortes.

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the departments and programs in English, environmental studies, Hispanic studies, and Latin American studies, by the Office of the Dean of the Faculty, and by the ALANA. Center and Blegen House.

For more information, call the Vassar College Department of English at (845) 437-5650. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Cathy Jennings, Office of Campus Activities, (845) 437-5370, as far in advance as possible to request reasonable and appropriate accommodations for the event.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations or information on accessibility should contact Campus Activities Office at (845) 437-5370. Without sufficient notice, appropriate space and/or assistance may not be available.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.

This article was posted on Tuesday, March 25th, 2003.