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ABOUT MEXICO, 4/2006

New Mexican Law

The Mexican Congress has recently enacted a law allowing journalists to protect the confidentiality of their sources. Press organizations in the U.S. have been campaigning for this as well, so far unsuccessfully, as evidenced by the incarceration of New York Times reporter Judith Miller. “The United States should follow the example of Mexico in allowing this fundamental right of the press,” said a spokesman for the Paris-based press group Reporters Without Borders. In 2002, Mexico passed a transparency law, allowing all members of the public to demand to see government documents. Next, the Mexican government needs to deal with journalists being killed by narco-traffickers and organized crime for printing the truth. 

Obrador on the Ropes

After recently enjoying a 16-point lead in the upcoming Mexico presidential election, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has seen his margin fall to three or four points ahead of the PAN ruling party candidate Felipe Calderon. There is a growing fear that Obrador is too far to the left politically and that his vow to help the poor will harm the fledgling and volatile economy. He also got into a spat with still-popular President Vicente Fox, comparing him to a “chachalaca,” a wild bird with a loud squawk. He has since apologized. 

Cancun Now Restored

Six months after being ravaged by Hurricane Wilma, the Mexican government has declared Cancun’s beaches to be officially restored. The restoration involved $19 million used to dredge sand from the ocean floor, replacing miles of beaches adjacent to the glitzy resort hotels that define the Riviera Maya. Up to 100,000 square feet of sand a day were dredged to complete the task. The hurricane is estimated to have caused over $1 billion in damage. Cancun normally receives around 3 million visitors a year, primarily from the United States and Europe.

ABOUT MEXICO, 3/2006

New Oil Discovery

President Fox recently announced a new oil discovery in the Gulf of Mexico that could be larger than the famed Cantarell offshore field, the second largest producing field in the world, discovered in 1976 and producing since 1978. Original total reserves at Cantarell were 35 billion barrels, but its output has been on the decline since 1981. The new find is in very deep, under 3,117 feet of water and another 13,120 feet underground. Mexico has been investing $5 billion a year in oil exploration. 

Nukes to be Revivied

Faced with rapidly growing energy needs, the Mexican government plans to expand their long-dormant nuclear power program. The plans call for a new plant, costing about $4 billion, to be completed by 2020. The company’s existing nuclear plant, the Laguna Verde plant in Vera Cruz, built in 1990, provides about 5 percent of the Mexico’s energy. No location for the new plant was announced, but expect heavy opposition for those old enough to remember Three Mile or Chernobyl. 

US Cuts Aid to Mexico

The Associated Press recently reported that since last fall, the U.S. has suspended military assistance to Mexico due to a dispute over whether U.S. citizens should be exempt from prosecution by the International Criminal Court. Mexico agreed to the Hague-based ICC which was formed to track down perpetrators of genocide and other crimes against humanity. A total of $1.1 million has been withheld from Mexico that was earmarked for English language, counterterrorism, and counter-narcotics training.

ABOUT MEXICO, 2/2006

 Guns for Computers

In a unique attempt at slowing the crime rate, Mexico City has begun offering a computer to anyone who brings in a gun to exchange. The program is similar to a previous attempt in which groceries were offered for guns with mixed results. The guns-for-computer program is being offered only in the most crime-ridden districts. 

Undocumented Migrants in Mexico

Mexico arrested more than 240,000 undocumented migrants in 2005, nearly 75% more than just three years ago. Of the arrested, 89% were from Central America. The remaining were from Brazil, Venezuela, and other countries as far away as China. Mexico has set up seven new detention centers throughout the country to house the detainees. 

Tourism continues to Grow

From January to November 2005, Mexico increased the number of international visitors to 19.68 million, an 8 percent increase over the same period the previous year. Tourism generated nearly US$11 million in revenue for the same time period, an increase of nearly 12 percent.. The tourism sector employed nearly 2 million workers in November 2005. According to 2006 Travel Trends, Mexico tops the list of top 10 international destinations with five vacation options. Number two was Riviera Maya, number three was Cancun, while Puerto Vallarta came in at number five. Mexico cruises were in the number nine spot with Cabo San Lucas ranked 10^th. 

Obrador Still in Lead

Ex-Mexico City mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of the PRD still leads in polling to become the next president of Mexico, although the PAN candidate, Felipe Calderon Hinojosa is running a strong second with the PRI’s Roberto Madrazo coming in a distant third. Obrador, the populist favorite in Mexico City has maintained the lead for several months despite attempts to discredit him by the opposition.

ABOUT MEXICO, 12/2005 

Mexico Wants Montezuma’s Headdress

The bejeweled headdress thought to have been worn by Montezuma II has been in an Austrian museum since the 16^th century and now Mexico wants it back. President Fox has already asked Austrian president Heinz Fischer to return the artifact in 2005, but is now being more insistent in his request. The headdress is nearly a three feet wide and is made from more than 450 bright green feathers from the elusive quetzal bird in a gold encrusted crown. 

Absentee Voter Drive

Mexico has passed a law allowing its citizens living abroad to vote in the 2006 presidential election, but so far only 18,600 people have applied to do so out of around 4 million potential voters. It was expected that 400,000 would take advantage of the opportunity. The process requires a complicated set of rules and forms to be filled out, possibly explaining the lack of interest. The Mexican government spent nearly $12 million promoting the absentee vote. With Mexicans having sent $16 billion back to their hometowns last year, it was expected that the interest in voting would be significant. 

Mexicana Airlines Sold

GruposPosadas, owners and operators of 64 hotels in Mexico, including the Fiesta Americana, has agreed to pay $165 million for Mexicana Airlines, Mexico’s second largest airline behind AeroMexico. Including debts and liabilities the sale is valued at $1.46 billion. The Mexican government, through a holding company, are the sellers of the airline that has been a financial drain for years. It is expected that AeroMexico, also owned primarily by the government, will be sold in 2006.

ABOUT MEXICO, 11/2005

Inflation Rate Falls

Mexico’s annual inflation rate fell to 3.05 percent in the twelve months through October, the lowest rate since the central bank started to keep records in 1969. The drop should result in the central bank’s cutting interest rates to increase economic growth. The monthly inflation rate fell to 0.25 percent from 0.40 percent the previous month. 

Monarchs to Return to Large Numbers

Experts are expecting as many as 200 million Monarch butterflies to make the annual migration to Mexico this year, nearly ten times as many as in 2004. At first a mystery, it is now believed that last year’s decline was the result of bad weather, pollution and deforestation. Last year fewer than 23 million butterflies survived long enough to make the trip from the United States and Canada, but this year the conditions are much more favorable. The last time there was a large decrease in 2000 it was followed by a large resurgence the following year. 

Mexico’s Michelada Beer to U.S.

Mexican’s have long enjoyed michelada, beer served with lime juice, various sweet and sour spices, Tabasco, ice and salt on the glass rim. Now some Mexican brewers are bringing the michelada to the U.S.. The Spanish translation is “my cold beer,” but the popular English name has become “beer lemonade.” It can be found along the U.S. side of the Mexican border, but is sure to spread to your neighborhood soon.  

Manuel Jimenez Dies In Oaxaca

October marked the death of Manuel Jimenez of Arrazola, Oaxaca, universally considered by all Mexican folk art aficionados to be the father of Oaxacan wood-carving. Featured in several popular books on both Mexican and Oaxacan art, Jimenez was the only woodcarver included in the Fomento Cultural Banamex book and exhibition, Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art. Originally a stone mason working on the restoration of Monte Alban, he began his career carving toys for his children from copallia wood. Nelson Rockefeller discovered him in the mid-1900's, bought all the carvings he had available, and encouraged him to spend more of his time developing his craft. One of the criteria for inclusion in Great Masters is that the artist contribute to the education and betterment of his community. During his lifetime Jimenez not only taught woodcarving to his own sons, but also to many other artists working in Arrazola today. He will be sorely missed by his legions of fans worldwide. Fortunately, his sons Isaias and Angelico are carrying on his tradition of excellence.

ABOUT MEXICO, 10/2005

Agave for Weight Loss

Mexican scientists have discovered that the juice extracted form the blue agave plant, better known in its final product of tequila, may help dieters lose some pounds and cut cholesterol. Unfortunately, the diet benefits are not evident in the tequila form.The key ingredient is fructans, which are known to reduce cholesterol and alters the absorption of fat in the intestine in animals. Now a team of 20 researchers is confident that they will find the same results in humans. The agave prices have slipped in recent years as supply has outpaced demand. This could open up new markets for the plant for years to come. 

Mexico Credit Card Defaults

The Banking and Securities Commission in Mexico reports that the defaults on credit card loans in Mexico are growing faster than performing loans and accounted for 16.1 percent of total past-due loans from commercial banks. Non-payment of consumer loans has increased for five consecutive quarters, but defaults on commercial loans, mortgages, and loans to the government have been declining. 

Budget Airlines on the Horizon

Four new budget airlines are being proposed for Mexico, which could result in much lower fares and better service while stimulating economic development. Cut rate carriers have prospered throughout the world in recent years such as Southwest Airlines and JetBlue in the U.S, Gol Airlines in Brazil, and Ryanair and EasyJet in Europe. Air travel within Mexico has been dominated by Aeromexico and Mexicana, both owned by the government. There are plans for both airlines to be sold before the end of the year if buyers can be found. Iberia Airlines from Spain has shown in interest, but that is now cooling. It presently costs more to fly from Mexico City to Monterrey than it does to fly from Mexico City to New York. Budget alternatives will spur competition and make flying around Mexico much less expensive.

ABOUT MEXICO, 8/2005  

Convention Business  Booming

In hosting more than 90.000 meeting and convention participants last year, Mexico ranked eleventh worldwide, moving up from 27th the previous year. Mexico receives more than 20 million business and leisure travelers a year, making it the eighth most important international tourism destination worldwide. The country boasts 38 modern convention centers in 25 cities and over 245,000 hotel rooms for conventions. 

New World Heritage Site

Mexico now has 25 World Heritage Sites, designated by UNESCO, with the new honor going to an area in the Sea of Cortez. Mexico is ranked first in the Americas and eighth worldwide in this regard, designated so by their historical, cultural and natural importance. The areas in the Sea that comprise the designation are some 244 islands, islets and protected areas up and down the Sea of Cortez. The Sea is home to 39 percent of the world’s total number of species of marine mammals and a third of the world’s marine cetacean species. Since 1972, UNESCO has designated 812 properties in 137 countries worldwide on its World Heritage List. 

Mazda to Enter Mexico

Mazda Motor Corp will enter the Mexican market this month, selling cars assembled in the US and Japan. They plan to sell 2,000 units of three types of cars including a small vehicle and sports car. Honda Motor Co. and Nissan currently sell cars in Mexico with a volume of around one million. 

Fox to Cut Debt

President Fox has proposed a budget and spending plan for 2005 that would use record high oil prices to reduce the nation’s international debt to its lowest in more than 30 years. The plan would allow Mexico, the sixth largest oil producer in the world, to cut its debt to 6.8 percent of gross domestic product. Fox is also proposing that the government show a budget surplus in 2006 for the first time in twelve years.

ABOUT MEXICO, 7/2005  

Mexico Rejects U.S. Proposal

The United States has proposed to the OAS (Organization of American States) that they create a “democracy supervision mechanism” whereby the U.S. would monitor elections and ensure that democratic principles be upheld in OAS countries. Mexico flatly rejected the notion, stating essentially that they agreed with democratic principles but didn’t need the US supervising their affairs. Condoleeza Rice, US Secretary of State, in a seemingly ironic statement, said that countries failing to fulfill democratic principles have to respond to the U.S. 

Obrador Offers Free Medical

Mexico City Mayor Andrea Manuel Obrador has announced plans to provide free home care for all of his city’s 350,000 elderly. His proposal also includes a monthly stipend for the elderly. The program is to be staffed by 200 doctors. Obrador has announced that he will resign as mayor on July 31st in order to run for Mexico’s presidency. He currently leads in most of the polls by wide margins. 

Mexico First to Support UN Initiative

Mexico is the first country to commit its government and all of its agencies to the principles proposed by Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations. The proposal, termed the Global Compact, is designed to challenge businesses around the world to take a greater responsibility in society and to support human rights, labor rights and the environment. More than 200 companies in Mexico have voiced their support, as have another 400 in Latin America. 

Tourism Rising

Mexico’s Tourism Secretary (SECTUR) has announced that international travel to Mexico in March generated $1.91 billion in revenues, 30.6% more than in March of 2004. The number of tourists totaled 2.16 million for the month, up 18.7% from last year.

ABOUT MEXICO, 6/2005  

Free Flights to Mexico

For the second summer in a row, free plane rides will be provided to illegal immigrants caught crossing the Mexican border into Arizona. The Tucson area has been the busiest area for illicit border crossings for years, accounting for more than one-half of the 1.1 million apprehensions. The plan disrupts the usual practice of sending illegals back across the border only to have them try again the next day. More than 70 percent of illegal immigrants arrested in Arizona come from south of Mexico City. The plan, negotiated with the Mexican government, will provide two flights a day from Tucson to Mexico City, taking 33,900 immigrants back to the interior this summer.

Obrador Will Win or go Home

Mexico City leftist mayor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the leading candidate to become Mexico’s next president in 2006, has stated that if he does not win the election he will go home to his home state of Tabasco. “I’ll go home and give classes in history,” he recently declared. Obrador, from the PRD, leads in most polls by more than 10 percent to replace President Fox, who has been unable to deliver on the changes in government that he promised when he took office. Most politicians remain in politics, enjoying the perks and privilege that come with the job. It is just this attitude that will probably propel Obrador to victory. He is widely recognized as a “man of the people.”

ABOUT MEXICO, 5/2005  

Minimum Wage Support

Mexico City Mayor Andres Manuel López Obrador supports raising the country’s minimum wage at 2 percent above the inflation rate to compensate for two decades of lost purchasing power. The minimum wage is now $4.25 per day and the inflation rate is 4.5 percent. Worker’s unions have countered that the minimum wage would need to increase by 300 percent in order to provide a bare subsistence for working families. A substantial increase would have a large effect on Mexicans’ choosing to stay home rather than going to the U.S. for better paying jobs. 

Obrador’s Popularity Rises

A recent poll in Mexico City has shown that their mayor, Obrador, has gained popularity – now at an all-time high of 84%, up from 76% three months ago. A recent fight with President Fox’s government over a minor legal case that could have prevented Obrador for running for president in 2006 has worked in Obrador’s favor, improving his image and popularity. In a recent national poll, President Fox’s approval rating has dropped to 60% from 64% because of his fight with Obrador.

ABOUT MEXICO, 4/2005  

New Trade Pact

After three years of negotiations, Japan and Mexico have signed a free trade agreement. Japan’s hope is to increase exports of autos and electronics and Mexico wants to export more farm products as well as entice more foreign investment. The pact immediately eliminates 91 percent of Japan’s tariffs on Mexican goods and 40 percent of Mexico’s tariffs on Japanese goods. Mexico has now signed eleven free trade agreements with 42 countries, including the powerful European Union. 

NASA looks at Mexican Lakes

In the hot Chihuahua Desert is a series of lagoons surrounding the town of Cuatro Ciénegas that evolutionary biologists have studied for years. Now scientists from NASA’s Astrobiology Institute are investigating the primitive pools where turtle, snail and fish species reside that are much like those in the Galapagos islands. The hope is that the organisms will help identify the unique atmospheric conditions created by primitive life on planets in other solar systems in helping to determine if life exists there. The theory is that planets near other stars could be populated by similar colonies of primitive bacteria, which comprised the basis from which multi-cell plants and animals that inhabit the earth later evolved. 

Sea of Cortez Fishing

A leading environmental group, the Natural Resources Defense Council, has directly accused the Mexican government and a San Diego company, Ocean Gardens, owned by Mexico’s foreign trade bank, of causing rapidly declining fish populations in the once-abundant Sea of Cortez, the body of water separating Baja California and mainland Mexico. Shrimping techniques, over-fishing and lax enforcement of existing laws are identified as the cause. The shrimpers employ huge nets that sweep the ocean of all marine life, often resulting in scoops that contain as little as four percent shrimp. The remainder are allowed to die before dumping them back into the sea, as shrimpers are allowed to harvest only shrimp. Ocean Garden is the largest exporter of shrimp from Mexico to the United States.

ABOUT MEXICO, 3/2005  

Mexican’s Abroad May Get Vote

Mexico’s lower house in Congress has approved a bill to allow Mexicans living abroad to vote in the 2006 presidential election. The bill also allows voters abroad to campaign and register voters. The bill will become law if passed by the Senate. An estimated 10 million Mexicans live abroad, mostly in the United States. The house bill was passed by a 391-5 vote.

Marine Life Damage

Stanford University researchers have concluded that there is a direct link between fertilizer runoff and the proliferation of marine algae in the Sea of Cortez, the abundant body of water separating mainland Mexico from the Baja California peninsula. Although natural algae blooms (phytoplankton) can benefit marine life, the algae produced by farming irrigation runoff generates destructive blooms, commonly known as red tides. Excess algae also suck oxygen from the water, resulting in dead zones where few fish can survive. The source of the runoff was identified as coming from the Yaqui River Valley on mainland Mexico, which produces much of Mexico’s wheat supply.

Carlos Slim Ranks Fourth

Telecom giant Carlos Slim Helu has been named the fourth richest man in the world by Forbes magazine, with an estimated net worth of $23.8 billion US. The growth of the Mexican stock market and an aggressive marketing program were primarily responsible for the rise from number 17 on the list just a year ago. It has been speculated that he may pass Bill Gates, with a net worth of $46.5 billion, as the richest man in the world in coming years. The irony is that Slim lives in a country where one-half of the people live on less than $10 per day.

ABOUT MEXICO, 2/2005  

Ambassador and the Heiress

Texan-born U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Tony Garza, has become engaged to Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala, heiress to a family fortune worth $1.5 billion. Included in her portfolio are Grupo Modelo, which makes Corona beer amongst others, as well as Grupo Televisa. Garza has never been married and she is once divorced. 

Mexican Composer Dies

The composer of the romantic hit song, “Besame Mucho,” Consuelo Velazquez, died recently in Mexico City from heart problems. Having started playing the piano at age four, Velazquez penned her famous ballad in 1941 and it soon became a world-wide hit as it was recorded by various artists. More recent renditions have been covered by Placido Domingo, Luis Miguel, and even the Beatles. 

Ancient Find in Chapultepec

Scientists have discovered the remains of ten people in Mexico City’s large Chapultepec Park, one dating back to 1,300 B.C. The discoveries are part of a major project sponsored by the National Museum of History in an ongoing study of preHispanic culture in Mexico City. 

Private Investment In Oil

Mexico’s government oil company Pemex is drawing up contracts that for the first time will provide for private, foreign and domestic investment in drilling for crude. It is expected that the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico contain some 54 billion barrels of crude oil, more than the country’s current total reserves. The Chicontepec field in the state of Veracruz has potential reserves of 139 million barrels. These totals would put Mexico in the class of Iraq and Kuwait as major world oil producers. There will be significant opposition within the country to allowing foreign investment in oil of any kind, as oil produces 60% of the country’s gross revenues.

ABOUT MEXICO, 12/2004  

The Mezcal Worm

Mezcal, the tequila-like liquor made from the same agave plant, will no longer have the infamous worm that many a macho male has gagged down after a few shooters. Mexican officials believe that the worms release little globules of fat into the alcohol that doesn’t conform to new regulations designed to improve the back-yard production reputation that mescal has enjoyed for decades. The new law is to take effect on February 10, unless a growing opposition can stop the madness. 

Tourism to Rise

Mexico has expectations to realize $11.5 billion US from tourism in 2005, an increase of 11 percent from 2004. Continued world-wide terrorism concerns as well as a weakening peso are expected to keep U.S. travelers close to home. International tourism is Mexico’s third-largest money generator after oil and money sent home from relatives. The Mexican peso has weakened against the U.S. dollar by 4.3 percent and 13 percent against the Canadian dollar in the past year. 

Minimum Wage Increase

Mexico’s daily minimum wage will get a small increase next year. Urban wages will rise about 3.5 percent to 47 pesos per day (about $4.15) up from 45 pesos per day a year ago.

That is a day, not an hour. 

Subcommander Marcos Published

The first chapter of a novel written by Mexican rebel Subcommander Marcos has been published in the leftist newspaper, La Jornada. The work in progress is a fiction story set in Chiapas, where Marcos and his followers first took up arms against the government in 1994. The book is titled Muertos Incomodos, or Awkward Deaths. Marcos is still in hiding, most likely in the Chiapas jungle.

ABOUT MEXICO, 11/2004    

AeroMexico Rated Tops

In a recent poll of its readers, Travel Survey magazine named AeroMexico the “Best Airline to Mexico.” The magazine asked its readers to rate international and domestic airlines worldwide in a number of “best of” categories based on their own travel experiences, as well as on such amenities and offerings as airport lounges and frequent flyer programs. AeroMexico, Mexico’s largest airline, offers travelers to Mexico a convenient choice of schedules and routes between 17 U.S. gateways and 40 Mexican destinations – and is the favorite airline of The Mexico File. 

Aztec Empire in NYC

The Aztec Empire, the largest and most comprehensive exhibit of Aztec art and culture ever presented, has opened at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The show contains more than 435 works from public and private collections. The exhibit will running through February 13, 2005. For more information contact (212) 423-3500 or visit www.guggenheim.or/exhibitions/aztecs. 

Tourism Rising

In his latest State of the Nation address, President Fox said that Mexico is working hard to increase foreign tourism revenues. Tourism revenues in 2003, he reported, were up 6.8% over the prior year. And private tourism investment increased 12.2% from 2002 to 2003. In the first six months of 2004, the number of foreign visitors rose by 11.1%, with expectations to number 20 million by the end of the year. It is expected that more than $11 billion tourism dollars will be spent this year, a record number.

ABOUT MEXICO, 10/2004    

Putin Visits Mexico 

Vladimir Putin, the first Russian leader ever to visit Mexico, met with Vincente Fox, expressing a desire to invest in Mexico’s energy sector, which has been closed to foreign companies for decades. The two leaders did firm up plans for Russia to build a helicopter assembly plant in the Gulf coast state of Vera Cruz and a heavy machinery assembly plant near Mexico City. 

U.S. Produces Ads for Mexicans to Stay Home 

The U.S. border patrol has designed an ad campaign called “No Mas Cruces en la Frontera”, warning potential illegal border crossers not to make the attempt. The $450,000 TV and radio campaign is being test-marketed in Atlanta, Phoenix and Tucson, before wider release in the United States. In Mexico, the spots have aired in Michoacan and Zacatecas, before going nationwide. The ads are targeted to two groups – first-time immigrants who live in Mexico, and family members who are already in the U.S. who might encourage relatives to cross. Whether a TV ad can convince people who need work to feed their families can be effective has yet to be proven.

ABOUT MEXICO, 8/2004  

Mexico NOW  in NYC

New York City is hosting the first city-wide, multi-venue arts festival focused entirely on contemporary Mexico. Over 100 Mexican architects, writers, filmmakers, music, theater and dance artists will be showcased at 31 of NYC’s leading arts venues for the entire month of November. The project is being sponsored by Arts International, the only U.S. non-profit organization devoted to connecting U.S. artists and audiences to the diversity of the arts worldwide. 

Videos in Butterfly Reserve

In an attempt to discourage illegal logging that has been severely damaging to forests of central Mexico, Mexican authorities have placed the first of 29 planned video cameras in the forests. Hundreds of millions Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico from the U.S. and Canada each fall in the 138,380-acre Monarch Butterfly Biosphere. The loggers operate primarily at night in remote areas, making them hard to guard against. 

Mexico City Renovation

The center of Mexico City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering 668 blocks built by the Spanish on what was once a lake, has been deteriorating for decades. Now the government and private money sources have vowed to restore the area, investing millions of dollars to save the culturally rich neighborhood. Between 1970 and 1995 the district population fell 46 percent, from a little over 142,000 to about 77,000 and then the earthquake of 1985 inflicted much damage. The single biggest spender in the project is Carlos Slim, Latin America’s richest man, with an estimated worth of $14 billion.

ABOUT MEXICO, 7/2004  

Fox Wife Won’t Run

In an attempt to defuse harsh criticism and speculation, President Fox has said that his wife, Marta Sahagun, has no intention of running for the presidency when his term ends in December 2006. Fox’s chief of staff, Alfonso Durazo, recently resigned his post, objecting to the idea that the first lady would be seeking the presidency. This is a sensitive issue in Mexico, which is trying to escape from a legacy of presidents choosing their successors.  

Woman Wins Historic Vote

Amalia Garcia was recently elected to the office of governor of the state of Zacatecas, becoming the first female governor in Mexico since the end of one-party domination in 2000. Garcia, the daughter of an ex-governor, is a member of the leftist PRD, soundly defeated the PRI and PAN candidates. About 1.5 million voters from Zacatecas live in the U.S. Garcia, who also was the first woman to lead a political party as the president of the PRD, attributed her victory to the large number of female supporters in a state where many men have migrated to work in the United States. 

Actor Asked to Perform Miracles

James Caviezel, who played Jesus in Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of the Christ, has been besieged with requests to perform miracles by Mexican fans who believe he really is Jesus Christ. The 35-year-old actor was on a one-week tour of the east Mexican state of Veracruz where dozens of residents from villages throughout the state, one of the poorest in the country, asked him to heal the sick and perform other miracles as he passed through. The actor, who is himself a strict Catholic, said: “It was a shock for me to see how they came up to me to ask for my help. I had to explain to them that I was only an actor, and wasn't really the son of God.” Mexico has the biggest population of Catholics in the world after Brazil and has been visited by the Pope five times.

ABOUT MEXICO, 6/2004  

Butterfly Refuge Under Attack

 The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve is a 10,000 year old forest stretching from the outskirts of Mexico City to the mountains of Michoacan. where millions of North America butterflies migrate to annually. Tens of thousands of tourists visit this forest set aside by presidential decree 18 years ago. But when the migration season ends, mobs of loggers descend, cutting down an estimated 70 mature trees per day, taking the law into their own hands and threatening violence to anyone who complains. President Fox sent the army into the forest in May, but this war continues. As elsewhere in the world, the indigenous people view the forest as theirs, and logging is what they do to feed their families. The government and environmental groups disagree.

New Health Guide for Travelers 

A doctor from Tempe, Arizona, has published a book that any Mexico traveler should consider buying. Mexico Health and Safety Travel Guide by Dr. Robert Page contains a regional directory of 180 qualified physicians, extensive symptom and disease overviews, and an index covering medicines, symptoms and medical translations. The book also lists 200 facilities in 40 of the most popular cities, including the size and staffing of each hospital and the names of English-speaking doctors. See www.medtogo.com for purchase information. 

Oaxaca Festival in July 

From July 17 to 26, the city of Oaxaca will host the Guelaguetza, an annual folkloric festival that dates back centuries and attracting thousands of visitors from throughout the world. Groups representing the various states of Oaxaca travel to the capital city to showcase their cultural heritage with regional song and dance.

ABOUT MEXICO, 5/2004  

Illegal Crossings Increase

President Bush’s proposal to enact a guest-worker program for illegal immigrants has drastically increased a surge toward the border based on expectations that another amnesty will follow for new arrivals. Ironically, many border agents have reported that the huge numbers that they are having to deal with has created a situation  where foreign terrorists will have an easier time slipping across the border. No additional funding for border protection has been proposed to help mitigate the situation. The Bush program will give renewable work visas for three years to millions of undocumented immigrants inside the U.S., as well as to others who wish to enter provided that they can prove they have been offered a job. 

Slim Speaks on Economy

Mexico’s version of billionaire Warren Buffett, Carlos Slim, says that Mexico is poised for economic growth at double the current pace. Slim, one of the world’s wealthiest persons, has an empire centered around telecom (TelMex), retail and industrial concerns. He is currently No. 17 on the Forbes world billionaire list with a net worth of around $11.5 billion. Slim says that Mexico’s economic picture is very solid, with healthy foreign reserves, improving interest rates, good public financing and low inflation. He has been calling for to the government to spend more on infrastructure and housing for Mexican citizens.

ABOUT MEXICO, 4/2004 

New Tax on Cruisers

In the middle of the very competitive cruise ship business, the Tourism Ministry and the Transportation Ministry of Mexico have proposed a new tax on ship passengers, with the money to be used for improving infrastructure where the ships dock. Citing the desire to see more cruise ships dock in Mexico, adding an extra expense to the customers seems like a bad decision. The Cabo golf industry employs the same reasoning. They want more revenue, so they keep raising prices, effectively discouraging business ($250 a round!). 

Casinos May Return

Three far better proposals by the National Tourism Council of the Private Sector are to promote the legalization of casino gambling in Mexico, to eliminate sales taxes that tourists pay, and to implement three-day weekends. There were no specifics on who could operate a casino or what regulations would be implemented. Tourist hotel taxes often add 12 to 17 % to the cost of a room, money that goes straight to the government. It is uncertain how that money is spent. For the three-day weekend, holidays falling on Saturday, Sunday or mid-week would be observed on Friday or Monday. 

Airline Business Up

Mexico has increased its tourism advertising significantly in each of the past three years, and the results are positive. Mexico air traffic increased ten percent during the first quarter of 2004. Domestic traffic increased 8%, traffic between the U.S. and Mexico increased by 14%, and Europe by 8%. Eighty-five percent of foreign arrivals are travelers from the U.S. Mexican airlines increased sales by 5% during the first quarter but  registered a loss of about 1.5 billion pesos.

ABOUT MEXICO, 3/2004

Miguel de la Madrid Comes Clean

President Miguel de la Madrid, who governed Mexico from 1982 to 1988, has just published his memoirs where he has confessed what many believed to be true – the presidential election of 1988 that enshrined Carlos Salinas de Gortari was rigged. Basically, the PRI was losing badly to then Mexico City mayor Cuauhtemoc Cardenas of the PRD when the government declared that the computers counting the votes had crashed. They then announced that the long dominant PRI had once again won. Three years later an alliance was formed between the PRI and the conservative PAN party that agreed to burn the ballots, thereby destroying the only evidence of the stolen election. In an unrelated story, the U.S. is gearing up for computer balloting in the next presidential election, with no paper trail to be available on how each of us voted.

Protected Marshlands Designated

The Environmental Department of Mexico has designated 34 areas as protected under the international Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. That makes 51 areas in 17 Mexican states that are now protected, making it the third-highest number of convention- protected areas worldwide. The requirements are that Mexico is will have to increase spending to protect the newly designated areas. 

Free Books, Fight Crime

Basing the concept on the idea that when people read, they become better people, Mexico City has started to hand out free books to subway riders in the hopes that they will return the books after finishing them. Some 250,000 books are being handed out during each morning’s rush hour. The plan is to distribute some 7 million books in the next two years. Tokyo has had a similar plan for several years which seems to be a success.

ABOUT MEXICO, 2/2004

Mexico City Festival

The 20^th Annual Historic Downtown Festival of Mexico will be held in the nation’s capital March 10 - 28, 2004. Over a million local and foreign visitors are expected to attend during the two weeks of events that include concerts, theater, art exhibits, dance productions, lectures, conferences and exciting gourmet fare. All of the money raised will go towards the rescue and restoration of the architecture and art of Mexico City’s downtown area, a World Heritage site since 1987. For updated information visit www.fchmexico.com or email festival@fchmexico.co

Krispy Kreme Invades Mexico

As if there aren’t enough carbs in the Mexican diet, carbohydrate and fat-laden Krispy Kreme doughnuts has opened their first store in Interlomas, a wealthy suburb just west of Mexico City. They have plans for at least 19 more stores in the country within six years. For those of us who have enjoyed the local panaderias for years for purchasing pan dulce and bolillos, this appears to be globalization gone too far.

Casinos May be Coming

After a 70-year prohibition, Mexico is considering, once again, the authorizing of gambling casinos at select locations throughout the country. The subject has come up every year for the last decade, but eventually gets shot down in the decision-making process. Driving the current interest is the obvious monetary benefit that would be derived, a mighty consideration in today’s economic environment.

Ex-President Portillo Dies

Jose Luis Portillo, president of Mexico from 1976 to 1982, died recently of pneumonia at the age of 83. Apparently, few in Mexico were saddened by his passing, as he was seen as the leader who led the country into a cataclysmic economic crisis. Portillo took office shortly after Mexico had discovered vast oil reserves that promised vast wealth and development for the country, upon which Portillo borrowed billions of dollars against the future revenue. But when oil prices slumped and widespread corruption was uncovered, Mexico found itself in debt to the tune of $80 billion. When the currency devalued by nearly 42 percent in 1982, many families’ life savings were lost. At the completion of his six-year term, Portillo fled to Spain and Italy to live.

ABOUT MEXICO, 12/2003

Cancun, Los Cabos...Loreto? 

It’s official. The next major tourist destination in Mexico will be Loreto, the small Mexican town about 700 miles down the Baja peninsula. The Villages of Loreto Bay will be a series of seaside villages built on 3,000 acres on the Sea of Cortez three miles south of Loreto. The first 60 homes recently went on sale and sold out on the first day. The total buildout will include 5,000 homes, hotels, service and retail businesses, and recreational facilities. Home prices currently start in the $150,000 range. The development is a partnership between Mexican, Canadian and American investors. Besides driving the transpeninsular highway to access Loreto, there is Loreto International Airport. For more information visit www.loretobay.com  

Airport Security Not Welcomed

Mexican politicians, religious leaders and human rights groups have lodged official complaints with government ministries requesting to know why there are U.S. security agents at the Mexico City airport. The major complaint is that Mexican law ensures that passengers are not searched by foreigners on Mexican soil. Mexico has complied with the U.S. request to place armed, undercover federal police on key flights destined for the U.S., but its sovereignty is being questioned regarding the searches. (Editor’s Note: Mexican airlines appear much more diligent in inspecting passengers than those in the U.S. Passenger profiling doesn’t seem to be a civil rights issue and I can’t imagine one of their pilots being a terrorist and not being discovered).   

Tourism Numbers Increase

International tourism to Mexico increased by 7.1 percent from January to September, 2003, compared to the same months in 2002. The revenue generated was a staggering $7.04 billion, with a historic record $9 billion within reach for the year. The average amount of money spent per visitor also increased by nearly 5 %. One reason for the increase has been attributed to the launch of Nuestro Mexico, a program aimed at promoting travel to Mexico among Mexicans residing in the U.S. and Americans descended from Mexico.

ABOUT MEXICO, 11/2003

Oaxaca 3 Set Free 

Three Americans, one of whom is Mary Ellen Sanger, a Mexico File contributor (cf. the December/January 2002 and the August/September 2003 issues), have been released from a month-long jail incarceration in Oaxaca, having been charged with invading and looting property in a publicized land-rights case.

At issue was a property dispute between a 91-year-old American writer and former City College of New York professor, Russell Ames, and the University of the Americas in Mexico City which is run by Alejandro Gertz Manero, Mexico’s minister of public security. 

Ames has lived on the mountainside house outside Oaxaca City, near the village of San Pablo Etla, for 50 years. He and his late wife, who died three years ago, had donated the property to the university in 1988 with the condition that they could live there until they died. The dispute arose because the property was in his wife’s name, and when she died the university declared the land now to be theirs. 

The three Americans, Sanger, John Barbato and Joseph Simpson, who is fighting cancer, had been taking care of the elderly Ames. They were arrested on October 6 and thrown in jail as a pressure tactic to get Ames to leave the property. Many of the local village residents protested the arrest and testified in court on the Americans’ behalf. Word spread fast via the internet (The Mexico File sent out numerous emails) and pressure was brought on the Mexican government to get involved in this “land grab.” The U.S. Embassy in Mexico declared the charges to be “a miscarriage of justice.” 

Finally, after a month in jail, a local judge decreed that there was no merit to the charges, and that the three could return to Ames’ house. Sanger, who has lived in Mexico for 16 years, is returning to the U.S. for a while after a month of sleeping on a concrete floor.

ABOUT MEXICO, 10/2003

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

The World Values Survey in New Scientist magazine has concluded what many of us have suspected all along, ranking Mexico as having the second highest percent of happy people in the world, trailing only Nigeria (huh?). The United States, with a large percent of the world’s total wealth, came in a dismal 16th – something to consider the next time you are crawling along on a freeway after pulling another 12-hour work day.

Home Depot Expands Operations

Home Depot, the Atlanta-based home improvement retailer that blazed across America in the 1980’s and 90’s, has moved into Mexico intent on becoming the dominant player in the field. With a growing middle-class and the fiscal crisis from eight years ago in reverse, they see a great opportunity to capture the $12.5 billion home improvement business. Home Depot currently has 15 stores in Mexico with three more planned this year, providing 2,000 new jobs. Ace Hardware, which has 84 stores in Mexico, is understandably concerned about the competition.  

New Telescope Nears Completion

Near the small town of Aztitzintla (pop. 7,000), on top of the Sierra Negra volcano about 100 miles east of Mexico City, dozens of welders, scientists, and engineers have been working daily, constructing a $100 million radio telescope with an antenna 165 feet in diameter. When completed in a couple of years, it will be the most powerful of its kind in the world, peering into now unknown galaxies. The location, in a 15,000 foot inactive volcano, has an oxygen level of only 57% of that at sea level. Newly developed millimeter wavelength detection devices will be put to test here, which may advance communications technology as well as security measures. The project is being funded and developed by both the United States and Mexico, with Mexico spending $50 million.

ABOUT MEXICO, 8/2003

U.S. Corn Subsidies Harm Mexico

A recent report by OxFam International is entitled “Dumping Without U.S. Borders: How U.S. Agricultural Policies Are Destroying the Livelihoods of Mexican Corn Farmers.” The U.S. currently spends more than $10 billion annually in taxpayer’s money in subsidies to domestic agribusiness giants which allows them to sell their grain at prices far below what it costs to produce. The result is cheap American corn flooding the Mexican market. How’s this for irony, ignoring the fact that Mexico is the birthplace of corn: 15 million Mexicans depend on corn for their livelihood. When they can no longer feed their families, they head north to illegally enter the United States, infuriating many Americans, so that they can get jobs¼.like picking corn. 

Mexico’s First Lady

Many eyebrows were raised when President Fox married his press secretary, Marta Sahagun. First ladies in Mexico have always followed in the ceremonial role of smiling demurely and keeping quiet, but Marta has quickly changed that tradition. Perhaps emboldened by Hillary, she is always in the news – looking good and giving opinions. Now it is being rumored that she has designs on becoming Mexico’s first lady-president, a charge she flatly denies. Recent polls show her to be one of the most popular public figures in the country. 

Mexico To Host Summit On Poverty

The Organization of American States will hold an interim summit in Mexico this January to discuss social and economic issues related to concerns about growing poverty in Latin America. This is seen as an emergency situation prompting the meeting to be held before the scheduled gathering of Western Hemisphere leaders in 2005 to discuss free trade. They will discuss issues that deal with economic growth and social development, which has been battered in recent years in this volatile part of the world.

ABOUT MEXICO, 7/2003  

Gigante to Expand

The ubiquitous Mexican retail outlet, Gigante, has plans to expand its presence in the U.S. this year, targeting Hispanics who have incomes several times higher than their Mexican customers. The three new stores will all be in Los Angeles, where the per capita income of Latinos is nearly $30,000, as compared to $6,000 in Mexico. 

Fox Wants Expatriate Vote

President Fox has plans to push for legislation that will allow Mexican nationals living in foreign countries to vote in the 2006 election. The hope is that they will reward his party with their votes for his efforts in liberalizing U.S. citizenship requirements, although they have been unsuccessful after 9/11. The recent congressional election which resulted in a seat loss will make this effort very difficult. 

Monarch Butterfly Findings

The astounding journey of the Monarch butterfly from eastern and Midwestern North America to the pine woods of Michoacan, Mexico, has long baffled scientists. Researchers now say that the butterfly uses an intricate interplay of its internal body clock in coordination with the position of the sun that causes them to fly in a southwesterly direction.  

ABOUT MEXICO, 6/2003  

Fox Signs Historic Bill

For the first time in its history, Mexico has a new law banning all forms of discrimination. The details have not been worked out yet, but will be authored by the new National Commission for the Prevention of Discrimination. Most people thought that the bill had little chance of passing when it was first proposed over a year ago, but after a year of debate it was passed by both houses of Congress.  

Tour Tips from Reader

Jim Nelson, a long time subscriber to The Mexico File, sent in a couple of news tips. Saltillo has a San Francisco-style cable car tour bus that runs a circular route to the main tourist sites, allowing the passengers to get on and off four times in a day. Mexico City has a double-decker tour bus which goes to sites all over the city. You can get on and off as many times as you would like, and you are given earphones for an English language description of the various sites. 

Christmas in Oaxaca

Far Horizons Archaelogical and Cultural Trips is planning a trip to Oaxaca from December 20 to 28, 2003. Throughout December, Oaxaca comes alive with color and pageantry as citizens commemorate everything from their patron saint’s day to the artistry of the lowly radish. The trip is led by Dr. David Sellen who has lived in Mexico periodically for a decade and is fluent in Spanish, Nahuatl and Zapotec. Call (800) 552-4575, email journey@farhorizon.com , web www.farhorizon.com.

ABOUT MEXICO, 5/2003  

Famed Highway to be Safer 

The old highway that runs 140 miles through the Sierra Madre mountains from the west coast town of Mazatlán to the old wild-west town of Durango is lined with some 150 crosses, each memorializing a deadly traffic accident. Likewise, the ravines along the way are littered with the ruins of vehicles that flew off the road. It is an amazing drive that requires your full attention should you attempt it. Guardrails are few and curves are as tight as J-Lo. Now, the federal government has announced plans to widen and improve the entire length of Highway 40, forever changing what is a true adventure. Hopefully, they’ll run out of money. 

Fox Retires His Boots 

Due to back surgery last month, President Fox has been told that he needs to quit wearing his trademark cowboy boots. He was recently seen sporting black orthopedic shoes with thick soles, not the image he likes to portray of having non-traditional attitudes – a macho guy not unlike the Marlboro Man who eventually coughed up a lung. So far, Maine-born President Bush still partakes in “clearing brush” on his 1999 purchased Crawford, Texas, ranch, whenever photographers are in the area.

ABOUT MEXICO, 4/2003  

AeroMexico Enhances Faresavers

Passengers of AeroMexico, Mexico’s largest airline, can now more easily make travel arrangements online thanks to the airline’s technology-enhanced Faresavers program. With the addition of a feature on the airline’s home page (www.aeromexico.com), passengers can click on a section of the website that offers instant rock bottom deals. Travelers can register to receive the best fares to Mexico every Thursday when a new page with weekly savings is loaded onto the site. Once you decide to purchase a faresaver special, you can automatically book your electronic ticket via the internet. AeroMexico’s gateway cities are Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Ontario, Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego and Tucson. 

Mexican’s Personal Records Sold to U.S. 

Associated Press has reported that the driving records of 6 million Mexico City residents and the country’s entire voter registry of 65 million people have been sold to U.S. government agencies, allowing officials to track Mexicans entering and living in the United States. Both federal and Mexico City laws prohibit public distribution of personal data contained on voter rolls and driver registration lists. The Mexican Attorney General’s office has called for an immediate investigation. U.S. officials claim that the data could help law enforcers identify potential terrorists. Is it getting weird enough for you yet? 

Famed Architect Dies 

Abraham Zabludovsky, one of Mexico’s giants of architecture, has died in  Mexico City at the age of 78 of a heart attack. His best known works were the Rufino Tamayo Museum, the National Education University and the Mexican Library, all in Mexico City. Although born in Poland, he moved to Mexico at the age of three and studied architecture at National Autonomous University, later winning the gold medal at the World Architecture Biennial in Bulgaria. 

Mexico City Passes Smoking Laws

The Mexico City legislature has passed a law requiring restaurants, bars, and night-clubs to provide non-smoking areas. Smoking is still widely practiced in Mexico. Businesses will now have to designate 40 percent of their space for non-smokers and to install special ventilation so that smoke does not migrate into nonsmoking areas.

ABOUT MEXICO, 3/2003  

Monarchs Are Back

One year after a mass death of monarch butterflies in the mountains of Mexico, researchers have declared that they seem to be back in near normal numbers. More than 200 million butterflies that had migrated from the United States and Canada died in the winter of 2002 from a severe storm. Generally, the monarch population will cover about 24 acres of forest. Last year that number was reduced to 5 acres, with expectations that it would be around the same this year. But researchers were surprised to find that 20 acres were filled this year, where the butterflies cluster in high tree fir tree branches. The annual migration is a major tourist attraction for the state of Michoacan. 

Pemex Stock May Be Offered

Pemex, Mexico’s state owned oil company, may soon offer stock to the public in an attempt to raise 19 billion dollars needed to modernize its production and refining operations. The world’s seventh largest energy company, Pemex was nationalized in 1938 and has been a symbol of Mexico’s sovereignty, supplying up to one-third of the country’s revenues. Many of Mexico’s potential reserves remain untapped due to lack of sufficient funds, causing the oil-rich country to be unable to meet its domestic needs. 

Cold War Spying

Recent documents released in Washington DC and Mexico City have revealed that Mexico had a deal with the United States during the Cold War that had Mexico officials spying on Cuba from the embassy in Havana. In return, the U.S. agreed to maintain the image of the Mexican government as revolutionary, a ploy to keep the leftist elements in the country appeased and under control.

ABOUT MEXICO, 2/2003  

A Name Change

The PAN party, apparently lacking enough important issues to tackle, hopes to change the official name of their country to Mexico, from the constitutionally given name of United Mexican States. It seems like mostly a symbolic measure, but it would require changing the name on mounds of government stationery, amending three articles of the constitution, and possibly redesigning the peso. There are two camps on the issue. One, citing Mexico’s pride and independence, are in favor of the name change and the need to show a new face for Mexico to the international community. On the other side are the pragmatists who are more concerned with fundamental changes that will actually improve people’s lives. 

Economic Concern of War In Iraq 

There is concern in the Mexican government over the effects that the U.S. war against Iraq will have on the global economy and oil prices. Mexico has been one of a majority of countries that has opposed unilateral action by the U.S. in prosecuting the war. Relations have cooled considerably since 9/11 between the two countries as any type of immigration reform has been tabled by the U.S. Not surprisingly, each country acts in its own interest, and for now a war is not in the best interest of Mexico. And when it comes to the U.S.’s best interest, oil is usually the driving factor. 

Mexico City Mayor 

Although he is of the PRD, Mexico’s third political party, Mexico city Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is being touted as a serious presidential candidate in the 2006 elections. In a recent poll he received a 67% approval rating compared to 59% for President Vicente Fox. It is speculated that the voters might decide that the long in power PRI and the presently in power PAN have had their chances and that little has improved for the average citizen. So they may vote for the left-leaning PRD and see what happens. The highly visible Obrador is enjoying popularity in Mexico City due to making capital improvements that have been ignored for decades. But some say he is spending irresponsibly to gain favor now and will be gone when the bills come due.

ABOUT MEXICO, 12/2002  

The News, Mexico’s premier English-language newspaper, has been sold to a Sonora-based group that publishes El Imparcial. The newspaper has been long owned by the O’Farrill family, a consistent supporter of the PRI, the political party that was defeated in the last presidential election for the first time in over 70 years. Whether the change in government power was a factor in their decision to sell has not been made clear. The newspaper has discontinued publication for a while and will start again under a different, undetermined name sometime in 2003.

The Mexican government has agreed to raise the minimum wage by 4.5% starting in 2003. For the most expensive areas of Mexico the daily wage will be raised to 43.65 pesos a day – just about $4.35US. In less expensive areas the minimum will be 40.30 pesos, or about $4.00. That is a day – not per hour.

In an effort to improve taxi service, the ever-present green VW bug, or vocho as it is called, is to be eliminated as a cab in Mexico City over a several year phase-out. The cabbies like them because they are cheap and they are easy to move through the city, but city officials say that the air-cooled rear engine throws out too many pollutants and fouls the city air. The cars have also been associated with the bandit problem the city had for a while, where the thieves would pose as cabbies and their prey were easy captives due to the bug’s having no back doors for an escape route. Nearly 60,000 green taxis are now in the city, making the transformation a huge undertaking. The government intends to help 10,000 cabbies buy new cars over the next three years. These will be more traditional four-door sedans. The VW plant in Puebla still produces about 30,000 bugs a year at a sticker price of $6,200US. They intend to keep making the Beetle as long as people want them

ABOUT MEXICO, 11/2002  

New Guadalajara Guidebook

Moon Handbooks, which publishes the best travel guidebooks on Mexico, has a new title: Guadalajara by Bruce Whipperman. Bruce also authors the Puerto Vallarta and the Pacific Mexico guidebboks. Guadalajara is a great tourist destination, often overlooked by the sun seekers and the Maya ruin and culture devotees. The booked is packed with detailed maps, historical and cultural backgrounds, and information about where to stay and what to do. The book can be found at major bookstores and online bookstores - check out www.travelmatters.com

Mexico UNESCO award

The Mexican Academy of Human Rights, one of Latin America's longest-established rights groups, was named as this year's winner of UNESCO's Prize for Human Rights Education. It was lauded for its "pioneering role in the promotion of human rights education in Mexico." The UNESCO prize was first awarded in 1978 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Cultural Music Festival

VII Encuentro de Dos Tradiciones, an annual festival celebrating traditional music from Mexico and the U.S., will be held March 3 - 5, 2003, in Mexico City. It will begin with a series of conferences, films and musical workshops and will culminate with a binational concert. This will be followed by a trip to Michoacán and Guerrero on March 6 - 11. In addition to the music, a temazcal (pre-Hispanic steam bath), and a visit to the Monarch Butterfly Reserve will also be offered. The event is open to the general public. Also being offered are scholarships for the musical exchange through Dos Tradiciones, a non-profit organization that promotes traditional music and cultural exchange.  The deadline for registration is February 1, 2003. For information contact Lindajoy Fenley at her email address: lindajoy@laneta.apc.org  The web site is www.laneta.apc.org/dostradiciones