Stories about Mexico from April, 2011
Mexico: Senate Approves Political Reform
The Mexican Senate approved “La reforma política,” a political reform that Aguachile describes as “immensely significant.” Aguachile lists the sections included in the reform and adds: “Of course, this does not mean the reform has passed; it will now move on to the Chamber of Deputies, and then for ratification...
Mexico: 51 Kidnapped Migrants Rescued in Tamaulipas
Gancho reports that “Federal Police rescued 51 kidnapped migrants in Tamaulipas today [April 26], days after they saved another 68 in the same state. Such rescues were not common before the discovery of scores and scores of dead bodies last week in San Fernando, and now we've had two in...
Mexico: Northern States Hit by Wildfires
Alejandro Ortiz Sotomayor in Vivir México [es] shares a photo by Jorge Alberto Mendoza Mariscal which shows the work of Mexican firefighters as they try to control a “Spring” wildfire in northern Mexico.
Mexico: Felipe Calderon's Cabinet on Twitter
In mid-April, the government headed by Felipe Calderon announced with much fanfare that every member of the cabinet was now registered on Twitter, and prepared to deal more directly with the public via social media. The initiative, however, is shadowed by a concurrent report ranking Mexico just 78th out of 133 countries in terms of its effective use of information technology.
Mexico: The Reality of Public Transportation in Mexico City
Bloggers in Mexico City narrate their experiences and express their opinions on two of the most popular means of public transportation in that city: the Metro and the Metrobús.
Mexico: Netizens Deploy the “Failed State” Meme
The idea of Mexico as an actual or potential "failed state," pending since its introduction into public discourse in 2008 following news of a report to this effect by the U.S. Joint Forces, has become a popular meme in its own right on the Internet, as bloggers and other netizens deploy the parlance (signaled on Twitter by the ubiquitous hashtag #estadofallido) for their own critical purposes.
Mexico: Bloggers Reflect on Elections in Peru
Tim Johnson in Mexico Unmasked and Richard Grabman in The Mex Files look at Peru's elections on Sunday, April 10 and compare them to the political climate in Mexico as the country prepares for the 2012 presidential and legislative elections.
Mexico: March Against Violence or Against the Government?
Thousands of Mexicans - not only in their own country, but also in various cities around the world - conducted simultaneous protests on April 6, 2011. Some took part to express their discontent at the country's violent climate, others showed their disagreement with the government's strategy in the fight against crime.
Mexico: News of US Clandestine Operation Draws “Fast and Furious” Response
Mexican netizens take to their blogs and Twitter accounts as an interview with a former head of the ATF (the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) in Mexico makes public "Operation Fast and Furious," under which ATF officers secretly monitored - without intervening - as more than 2,000 weapons were purchased at outlets in Arizona and transported over the border into Mexico.
Mexico: 59 Bodies Found in Mass Graves in Tamaulipas
In Vivir México [es], Perla Cristal Gomez reports that 59 bodies and 8 mass graves were found in San Fernando in the state of Tamaulipas, the same municipality where 72 migrants were found dead in August of 2010.
Mexico Appoints its First Female Attorney General after Arturo Chavez Resigns
Erwin in The Latinamericanist reports on the resignation of Attorney General Arturo Chávez, adding that: “Chavez’ resignation opens the doors for Mexico’s first female Attorney General. Calderon named investigative prosecutor Marisela Morales to the post with the aim of deepening ‘the strategic role of the attorney general's office, in particular...
Mexico: Reactions to “Resignation” of US Ambassador Carlos Pascual
The government of the United States recently announced the resignation of its ambassador in Mexico. The decision is understood by some bloggers as a clear consequence of the disclosure of confidential documents by Wikileaks and discomfort from the Mexican government, while for others the resignation doesn't make sense because the published documents show that the ambassador acted in accordance with the work of his predecessors.
