Green Diplomacy
Consul General and Mayor Tour City by Bike to Promote Tourism and Green Initiatives
The U.S. Consulate General in Matamoros along with the Matamoros Mayor’s office organized a bicycle tour of the city of Matamoros followed by an American style barbeque at the Consulate General on October 21, 2009. The events were part of Consulate General Michael Barkin’s welcome to post and displayed the continued warm relationship between the United States Consulate and our Mexican Host Government.
(Fifteen members of the Consulate General Staff participated in the 10K bicycle ride that began at the entrance of the Consulate General)
The unprecedented bicycle tour had three important goals: First, the ecologically friendly event demonstrated a shared vision of increasing awareness for conservation and recycling. Second, the ride displayed that the City of Matamoros is bicycle friendly and that tourism is alive and thriving in the city. Third, the joint effort showed the strength of the bilateral relationship that is present between the United States and Mexico.
(Consul General Michael Barkin and Matamoros Mayor Erick Silva led the 42-person peloton from the Mayor’s Office in the central plaza of Matamoros)
(The route for the ride included hills and dirt paths that ran along the Rio Grande River)
(The participants were all smiles and enjoyed the camaraderie and refreshments at stops along the way)
The bicycle tour traveled to key attractions of the city including, the Mayor’s Offices, Casamata, (the Matamoros fort used by Mexico during the Mexican-American war) the Gateway International Bridge, The Museum of Cultural Arts, The Parque Olympico, and the Consulate General. At each stop guides gave short presentations on the rich history of Matamoros to the 44 person riders. For Consulate General Michael Barkin and other members of the Consulate staff this was the first visit to some of the landmarks.
(Mayor Erick Silva’s daughter Elsy Silva (center, red top) participated in the bicycle tour as well and had no problems keeping up with the other cyclists.)
(Matamoros Mayor Erick Silva points to the large Mexican Flag on display at the entrance to the Gateway International Bridge that connects Matamoros and Brownsville)
(The tour stopped at the Port to the World in the Olympic Park in the center of Matamoros)
After the bicycle tour, Consulate General Barkin and Mayor Silva spoke to the media to feature the success of the collaborative effort. Television, radio and print media correspondents gave ample coverage to the event, which generated overall positive reviews. Immediately after the press conference, Consulate General Barkin invited the media representatives to a barbeque where they socialized with the Consulate staff, the Mayor and his team.
(The leaders hosted the local media representatives at the Consulate to discuss the bicycle ride, green initiatives, and bilateral relationship)
(The American Style cookout afterwards included hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and charro beans).
(The large attendance from both staffs reinforced working relationships between the Consulate General and the host city that will continue grow.)
The Consulate General Staff have instituted a variety of “Green Diplomacy” projects in the last month. The Consulate General staff began by organizing into Green Teams that formed short term and long term goals regarding a number of project ideas such as Green Office, Green Home, Transportation, Recycling, and Green Trivia. Among the programs they have begun are: An aluminum recycling program, participation in America Recycles Day, Nov 15, A youth poster competition, use of recycled paper, less printing, efficient light bulb installation, and online visa application so applicants only need to bring in one piece of paper with a barcode rather than seven pieces of paper.
(The Consulate General staff participation proudly included eight female bikers)
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