Diego Rivera’s 125th anniversary celebrated
The world celebrates Mexican artist Diego Rivera’s legacy today. Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez was born in 1886 in Guanajuato, Mexico. Rivera is recognized as the person who exposed Mexican art to the rest of the world. As a muralist, he believed in making art that was accessible to the masses.
Google honors Rivera with a Google Doodle that demonstrates his unique style. The National Council for Culture and the Arts (Conaculta) in Mexico City honors his 125th anniversary as well, stating that Rivera was an outstanding member of the Mexican muralist movement. His work can be seen on different buildings in Mexico and all around the world including in San Francisco, Detroit, and New York. Additionally, Rivera’s birthplace in Guanajuato was adorned with flowers. “It is an important day for Mexicans and for Latin American art because Diego Rivera is wont of its principal exponents,” said the director of the Museum at the house of Diego Rivera. Experts consider Rivera to be “one of the most important plastic artists of the 20th century.” Not only is he famous for his artwork, but also for his important role in the political and cultural life in Mexico and as an outspoken member of the Mexican Communist Party. In 1950, he won the National Prize for Sciences and Arts in Mexico. He died 7 years later on November 24.
“Con flores festejan 125 años de Diego Rivera.” El Universal. 8 December, 2011.
“Diego Rivera, artist and man of fire, celebrated with Google Doodle.” LA Times. 8 December, 2011.
President Calderón rejects report that inequality in Mexico has risen
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released a study stating that inequality in Mexico rose during President Calderón’s presidency. Calderón however rejected this study, stating, “The OECD said that inequality rose and yes it is true, but one must read the fine print that says it rose between 1984 and 1998, and also, I can say with the OECD data that inequality in Mexico decreased from 2000 and 2008 and still more in 2010. Yes it rose, but it rose from 1984 to 1998, terribly. Why? Because we suffered three crises, in 82, in 87, and in 94, and a terrible inflation in the 80s that pulverized the income of the poorest, because of this inequality rose in the last decade.”The president went on to say that during the economic crisis of 2008 Mexicans with higher incomes suffered more and the poor “did not lose anything.”
The OECD report released data showing that Mexico was one of the most unequal countries out of all OECD participants with the income of the 10% richest population to be 26 times higher than the 10% poorest population. Mexico ranks in the top three most unequal countries along with Turkey and Chile, and is closely followed by the United States. Julio Boltvinik, academic at the College of Mexico, explained that the inequality in Mexico is due to lack of jobs, low wages, rising informality in the country, tax policies that favor the wealthy, and limited social spending. The OECD stated that employment is the most promising means to confront inequality.
“Asegura Calderon que la desigualdad en Mexico disminuyo.” Milenio. 7 December, 2011.
Matchmaking efforts continue to link U.S. suppliers with Mexican maquilas
With the help of the U.S. Department of Commerce and expos such as the one in Nogales, Sonora, connecting U.S. suppliers with Mexican manufacturers is becoming increasingly easy. On November 16, the 2011 Nogales Supplier Expo was held in the Mexican state of Sonora in an attempt to connect assembly plant representatives with suppliers in the region. U.S. officials from the Commerce Department saw a chance for American suppliers to compete with their Mexican counterparts by bringing them down to meet potential business partners at this expo. So, the U.S. Commercial Service decided to transport one hundred suppliers to the Nogales expo, in hopes that American businessmen and women can reap some of the benefits of the growing maquiladora industry in Mexico, which now includes approximately 110 assembly plants.
Matt Baker works for the U.S. Commercial Service and thinks of himself as a kind of matchmaker. Chris Schlesinger, owner of a business that supplies products to the metal-finishing industry, was looking to expand the market of her small operation and had her eye on Nogales. She contacted Baker and he got her on the bus to the 2011 Nogales Supplier Expo. Schlesinger was delighted. “To have a matchmaking, networking event that brings the supplier and the end user together, that is something I view as a gift to any business on a growth curve,” she said.
Similar government arranged trips have taken busloads of businessmen across the border both in 2008 and 2010. The idea of this type of supply chain tour sponsored by the U.S. Commercial Service arose out of a meeting with Nogales officials who informed the U.S. that they were having supply issues. The Commercial Service officials jumped at the chance to fill this need with American suppliers and started getting serious about connecting small business owners with Mexican assembly plants.
Schlesinger reported that she made three promising contacts from the expo and is hopeful that one will turn into a lucrative business partner. With many similar success stories coming out of the latest trip, the U.S. Commercial Service is looking to expand and improve upon these types of trips in the future.
Future of the peso uncertain
Those affected by the El Paso border economy are holding their breath during the shaky U.S. economic recovery. If the United States falls back into another recession and the European Union remains in trouble, the local economy in El Paso, and throughout Mexico, is at extreme risk.
In the past four months, the peso has depreciated by twenty percent. Peso exchange rates have been volatile over the past few weeks, ranging from 14.25 to 18 pesos to the dollar. The economic failure of Western Europe is making border investments risky, causing a downturn in the border economies and depreciating the currency. Sergio Kurczyn, an analyst for Grupo Mexico, reported in a recent study “Review of Mexico’s Economic Situation” that instability in European financial markets will continue to put pressure on the peso.
This volatility in the money market and devaluation of the peso is hurting those who rely on stable price exchanges, generally the low-income. “Devaluations are good for people who deal in dollars, but not for those of us who receive salaries or microbusiness income in pesos,” said Gina Gutierrez, a Juarez resident. While a depreciated peso is hurting small business owners and low-income Mexicans who sell goods in pesos, it is benefiting large maquiladoras and export manufacturers who are experiencing lower costs but still sell their goods in dollars. Locals at the border are hoping that the peso will soon appreciate against the dollar once again due to increased investment, causing a boost in the border economy. While the future of the peso is uncertain, one thing economists know for sure is that the peso-dollar relationship will be one to watch in the coming months.
A look at Republican presidential candidates’ current stances on immigration
Posted by amycal0321 in 2012 Elections, Immigration, Politics on December 5, 2011
The Republican presidential candidates are competing to see who can take the hardest stances on immigration. On Saturday night, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee hosted a Fox News forum in which the candidates appeared individually to discuss immigration.
On the topic of deportations, former Sen. Rick Santorum, said, “I don’t like to break up families, but … we’re not sending them to Siberia. They’re going to Mexico, which is a great country, a nice country.”
Rep. Michele Bachmann intends to deport every one of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the country, which the Department of Homeland Security has estimated would cost $135 billion. “It would be enforcement, enforcement at the border,” she said. “What we simply need to do is start enforcing those laws, which we aren’t doing.” When grilled on the topic at the forum, Bachmann did not provide any details about how she plans to carry out mass deportations.
Many of the candidates oppose the idea of amnesty and have accused former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich of supporting this idea through his controversial proposal to allow some of the country’s 11 million illegal immigrants to stay in the country. Gingrich emphasized that only illegal immigrants who have been in the United States for more than two decades would be eligible to stay, provided that they have a U.S. citizen sponsor. Gingrich has made it clear that he also favors the fence and increased enforcement of the law.
Mitt Romney, has pointed out that in his time as governor of Massachusetts he opposed legislation that intended to provide in-state tuition to illegal immigrants and allow them to obtain driver’s licenses.
Perry has repeatedly his pledged to “shut down” and secure the border immediately upon election, but Romney has criticized him for granting in-state college tuition to the children of illegal immigrants in Texas. Perry also supports more deportations.
But American voters, not even the bulk of Republican voters, are asking for these types of hard line stances.
Two-thirds of Republicans agree that there should be some sort of program so that “illegal immigrants who pay taxes and obey the law” have a way of remaining in the United States. Likewise, only one-third believe that the problem is solvable through deportations. Needless to say, hard line anti-immigration promises will alienate a huge segment of the voting population- Latino voters. A recent Univision poll found that Latinos favored Obama over Romney by a lopsided 67% to 24%, an even larger margin than Obama enjoyed over John McCain in 2008.
It seems likely that by the time elections start rolling around, the Republican candidates will need to sound more like the Romney from 2007 when he said, “The 12 million or so that are here illegally should be able to sign up for permanent residency or citizenship, but they should not be given a special pathway, a special guarantee that all of them get to stay here,” if they have any hopes of winning a significant portion of the Latino votes.
This seems to be an issue on which many Republican voters are more sensible than their Republican candidates.
Texas high schools deal with emotionally troubled victims of drug violence
Posted by amarie089 in Education, Immigration, Violence on November 30, 2011
Schools in Texas are initiating programs to help students who have experience with violence cope with the trauma. Many students are coming to Texas schools fleeing Mexico’s drug war. At a class in El Paso, a teacher explained how victims of violence go through different psychological stages following the event. Through tears, 17 year old Alan Garcia told his class, “I’ve been through all three stages: impact, recoil, reorganization of my life. My mom goes in and out of the recoil stage.” The other students in his class agreed, most having ties across the border in Juarez. Violent past experiences include mugging, witnessing a shootout, having had family members kidnapped, or being extorted by gangs.
The ongoing drug war in Mexico has brought thousands of students suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder similar to that experienced by soldiers returning from war. Thus many schools are implementing classes and counseling programs similar to those found in the military. Clara Contreras of the Safe and Drug-Free School and Communities program said, “What you see happening in Iraq or Afghanistan is the same that’s happening here in the border. This is not a war like those, but still you have people fleeing their country.”
Richard Barajas teaches “Principles of Victimology” at Cathedral High School where Garcia’s class meets. He began teaching the class after two students were killed in Juarez. The class teaches students how to help victims, how to understand the process of victimization, and how to talk about their experiences. Students have also started the group, “Hope without Borders,” which aims to raise awareness about violence and victimization in the El Paso-Juarez area.
“Drug War sends emotionally troubled kids to Texas.” Associated Press. 28 November, 2011.
Imperial Beach sea wall renovation to be completed by March 2012
Posted by amycal0321 in Immigration, Infrastructure, Security on November 30, 2011
Photo Credit: Los Angeles Times.
The current fence is corroded from the salt water and has many holes. Netza Tapia, 40, and his family used to slip through the corroded section of the fence to continue their strolls on the Imperial Beach side of the beach. Jonathan Parra and his friends used to cross regularly to play soccer on Imperial Beach’s empty sand.
Border Patrol says that the extended sea wall will help defer people from trying to cross the border through treacherous waters. Many people do not realize how dangerous it is to try and cross around the sea fence because the fence itself is so unmennacing. By building a bigger fence Border Patrol is hoping to send a clear message about the dangers of trying to cross the border in this way.
“I personally wish there was no fence, because I believe we should be building bridges of communication and not fences of separation,” said Enrique Morones of Border Angels. “The Border Patrol is doing what they feel they have to do.”
The new fence will be made of steel to a height of 18 feet and a ¼ mile long. About 90m of fence will protrude into the water.
The fence is expected to be completed March of 2012 and have a life expectancy of 30 years.
“Patrulla fronteriza reemplaza muro en playa del sur de California.” 28 November 2011. La Voz de la Frontera.
“Extienden muro fronterizo en el agua.” 29 November 2011. Voz de America.
“Project To Extend Border Fence In IB To Begin.” 28 November 2011. 10News.com.
Marosia, Richard. “U.S. to extend border fence 300 feet into Pacific.” 25 November 2011. Los Angeles Times.
Mexico looks outside of NAFTA, signs Free Trade Agreement with Central America
On November 22 in San Salvador, El Salvador, Mexico signed a Free Trade Agreement with five Central American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The pact is expected to cover the regional trade that amounts to $48 billion every year and it will take the place of the individual Free Trade Agreements Mexico holds with all five countries.
Mexico’s Department of the Economy confirmed that this agreement was three years in the making and is expected to promote competitiveness and development in the region. Economy ministers, Hector Dada of El Salvador, and Bruno Ferrari of Mexico, expressed hope that the accord will promote trade, mutual investment, and business opportunities among the signatory countries.
Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinoza, present at the signing, stated that the agreement is also a priority under the Tuxtla Dialogue and Agreement Mechanism and the Mesoamerican Initiative, which promotes integration among the region.
This new pact reflects the growing pressure in Mexico to look outside of NAFTA for trading partners. For more than a decade after the signing of the historic agreement Mexican trade with the U.S. increased exponentially, which significantly benefitted both economies. However, after the 2008 financial crisis in the United States caused massive economic shocks in Mexican firms, the drawbacks to an economy heavily dependent on the U.S. became apparent. Before the crisis, 88 percent of Mexican exports were dependent on U.S. demand. Now that Mexico is back on its feet, the country is witnessing a drive to diversify its trading partners and export demand, looking to strengthen existing partnerships and create new ones.
In this environment of diversifying trade agreements, the Free Trade Agreement with Central America comes as no surprise. As Ferrari explained, “For Mexico, the signing of this treaty has great importance, because one of our strategic priorities is to get closer to Latin America.”
“Histórica, la firma de TLC México-Centroamérica: Ferrari”. Milenio. 22 November 2011.
López, Lorena. “Firma México TLC con Centroamérica”. Milenio. 23 November 2011.
“Mexico, Central America Sign Free Trade Agreement”. Prensa Latina. 29 November 2011.
“March of the Skulls” in Mexico City honors victims of drug violence through psycho-magic
Posted by amarie089 in Culture, Drug Trafficking, Violence on November 29, 2011
Photo Credit: El Universal DF
On Sunday, 82 year old cult mystic Alejandro Jodorowsky called people in Mexico City to join in the “March of the Skulls” in order to “heal” Mexico of its drug violence. The march is called the “first act of collective psycho-magic in Mexico.”Many Jodorowsky fans showed up for the event which was advertised in this video. Jodorosky is a Chilean-born filmmaker and tarot guru who produced most of his films in Mexico including “El Topo,” “Santa Sangre,” and the “Holy Mountain.” By leading the march, Jodorosky was challenging article 33, which prohibits foreigners from intervening in political affairs.
The marchers dressed in black, painted their faces like skulls or wore masks, and carried Mexican flags colored in black shouting, “Long live the dead!” However the 3,000 people who showed up for the Marcha de las Calaveras paled in comparison to the 10,000 people who marched dressed as zombies on Saturday to break a Guinness world record.
The Sunday event demonstrates desperation by Mexicans to try anything, even public mysticism, to end the relentless violence plaguing Mexico. Angelica Cuellar, a 63-year old teacher said with regards to the dead, “Through the psycho-magic, we are saying, for this moment, we are them.” Her sister added, “And if we do it collectively, I assure you, at another level of energy, those dead will come awake.”
During the march, accompanied by mariachis, the group sang, “La Llorona,” the Weeping Woman. Through a bullhorn Jodorosky stated, “There are 50,000 dead beings. They are sheep. They are not black sheep. We must have mercy for these souls that have disappeared. Let’s sing this song with lament, as if we were the mother of one of these persons. Understand?” After singing the group chanted “Peace, peace, peace!” until Jodorosky told them to all start laughing. He ended the march by saying, “See you on Twitter!”
Guzman Roque, Sharenii.”Calaveras” claman paz social en Garibaldi Fotos.” El Universal DF. 28 November, 2011.
Nales, Miriam. “Psicomagia con mariachi.” Milenio. 28 November, 2011.
Mariachi honored in UN heritage list
Photo Credit: Milenio
On Sunday, mariachi music was placed on UNESCO’s list of “intangible cultural heritage,” as something that needs to be preserved. The UN cultural agency made the decision at a meeting in Indonesia. “Mariachi is a traditional music and fundamental element of Mexican culture, transmitting values, heritage, history and different Indian languages,” said the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
“We have something to be proud of, mariachi is something that identifies all Mexicans anywhere in the world and this validates that,” said Luis Martinez of the mariachi band Los Reales in Guadalajara. Guadalajara, Jalisco is the birthplace of mariachi and since 1994 has hosted an international mariachi festival that includes more than 10,000 performers. Despite this, mariachi music is losing popularity as other forms of music become widespread among Mexican youth. However, in response to mariachi being put on UN’s list, Efrain Franco Frias of the University of Guadalajara stated, “This is good news for Mexican culture, because mariachi is one of the cultural forms that evokes a national cultural imagination.” Frias added that mariachi exists not only in Mexico, but also all over the world. The island of Aruba is the country that has the highest demographic density of mariachi bands in the world. They sing both in Spanish and in the official language, Papiamento.
The “intangible cultural heritage” list works to create “better visibility of the intangible cultural heritage and raising awareness of its importance while encouraging dialogue that respects cultural diversity.” To many, mariachi music is a symbol of Mexico throughout the world. UNESCO has already honored several other Mexican monuments. Traditional Mexican food is on its intangible cultural patrimony list, as well as Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebration.
”El mariachi es patrimonio de la humanidad.” Milenio. 28 November, 2011.
CNN Wire Staff. “Mexican mariachi music receives international recognition.” CNN. 27 November, 2011.
“Joy in Mexico as mariachi put on UN heritage list.” AFP. 28 November, 2011.
