Sarah Bueter, a Maryknoll lay missioner in El Salvador, contributed as a source to an article in international newspaper Le Monde diplomatique that recounts the life, activism, and tragic murder of Honduran environmental defender Juan López, who was killed in September 2024 amid ongoing conflicts over mining and land rights in the Bajo Aguán region.
Read the article by journalist Robin Oisín Llewellyn: The rivers of paradise
The article covers López’s long-standing leadership in defending water, his resistance to harmful mining projects, and the violent repression faced by activists in the area.
The piece also covers the response to his death—which included a solidarity delegation in Tocoa, Honduras that gathered to meet López’s family and community, honor his legacy, demand justice, and call for the cancellation of extractive projects threatening the region. Sarah was a part of that delegation, representing the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns.
In her October 2024 article for Maryknoll Lay Missioners, Sarah documented the community’s grief and demands for justice, capturing the personal stories and broader environmental struggles connected to López’s activism. Her reflection emphasizes López’s commitment to life and the environment, and gives voice to the hopes and fears of those continuing his fight.
Le Monde diplomatique is a French monthly newspaper founded in 1954, offering mostly analysis and opinion on international politics, culture, and current affairs. There are 29 editions of the newspaper in 20 languages, with a total circulation of one million worldwide.
Compelled by faith to engage with people across cultures and ethnicities, Maryknoll lay missioners live, love and work with communities on the margins to promote active nonviolence and healing.
