Mexican News
The latest news from and about Mexican issues.Saturday, August 02, 2008
Official: Mexico open to new NAFTA talks.
Chicago Tribune, August 2, 2008 - “The Mexican government dismisses talk of disbanding NAFTA as politics, the country’s economy minister said Friday, but it would back the idea of a new round of North American trade talks, with the aim of including issues such as the environment and labor. Eduardo Sojo, in Chicago this week to address the U.S.-Mexican Chamber of Commerce, was responding to criticism of the 15-year-old trade accord that resurfaced during the Democratic presidential primaries this year. ‘What we do believe that we need in the region, in North America, is more integration, not less integration,’ Sojo said in an interview with the Tribune.” Read more.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Plan Mexico and the US-Funded Militarization of Mexico.
Democracy Now!, July 31, 2008 - “The latest US initiative in Mexico is also attracting scrutiny. Last month, the Bush administration and the Democratic-led Congress agreed on Plan Mexico, a $400 million program to fight Mexican drug trafficking. Much like its predecessor, Plan Colombia, the Mexico initiative has been criticized for emphasizing militarization and security rather than addressing social and economic causes. The bulk of the money will go to military contractors and Mexico’s armed forces. The final version of the bill also omits several key provisions that would have linked funding to human rights.” Listen to the broadcast or read the transcript.
Mexico ponders how to boost faltering state oil company.
McClatchy, July 31, 2008 - “Pungent smoke billows from aging petrochemical plants here. Foul-smelling bluish water gathers in pools outside the walls. Fading paint announces the creaky Lazaro Cardenas refinery, a perfect metaphor for one of the world’s biggest and most antiquated state oil companies. Petroleos Mexicanos employs more than 147,000 people and has long operated as a state within a state, with its own hospitals, pensions and integrated business operations. But Pemex has historically overinvested in a bloated work force and underinvested in new or expanded refineries and sophisticated oil exploration and production. That’s evident in the rust, smog and environmental contamination here in the state of Veracruz and further east in the state of Tabasco.” Read more.
A Change of Fortune: Remittances to Mexico Fall, Weakening Washington’s Diplomatic Clout.
Council on Hemispheric Affairs, July 31, 2008 - “On July 30, the Mexican central bank reported that remittances coming from overseas nations—mainly the U.S.—have dropped 2.9 percent this year. This was the first decline since the practice began being accurately measured. In 2007, remittances flowing into Mexico reached an all time high of $23.98 billion, but Mexican officials recently predicted a decline this year of 1.5 to 2 percent as a result of the United States’ housing crisis and soaring food prices. Also contributing to the drop is the current crackdown on illegal immigration which has made it difficult for many Mexican nationals to gain entry across the border or find jobs in the United States.” Read more.
Mexico’s Pemex proposes new oil refinery.
Reuters UK, July 31, 2008 - “Mexico’s state-run energy monopoly Pemex presented a plan on Wednesday for a new oil refinery with a processing capacity of 300,000 barrels per day of heavy crude. Pemex suggested nine possible sites in a proposal to Congress for the new refinery, which is badly needed as the company pays billions of dollars to import costly foreign fuel to cover a 40 percent shortfall in domestic refining. The proposal follows a call by President Felipe Calderon in March to draw up a study for a new refinery.” Read more.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
U.S. Recession, Drug War Violence Cause Crisis in Mexico Tourism.
CIP Americas Policy Program, July 29, 2008 - “At first, a song about the Mississippi Delta belted out on the moonlit shore of Zihuatanejo Bay, Mexico, seemed out of place. But the bluesy tune performed by U.S. musicians at this year’s Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival struck a chord in the Mexican town. These days, many locals know the blues very well.” Read more.
Mexico says reform won’t reverse oil woes fast.
Reuters, July 29, 2008 - “It will be hard for Mexico to restore flagging oil output before 2020 to recent levels of 3 million barrels per day, even if the government pushes through a plan to boost foreign investment in production efforts, a top energy official said on Tuesday. Mexico’s status as a top supplier of crude oil to the United States is under threat because of a steady fall in output, which in the last year has slipped below the country’s recent production goal of 3.0 million bpd. ‘What the country needs is to return to these levels for 2020. It will be hard to achieve that,’ Deputy Energy Minister Jordy Herrera told reporters after an oil sector event in Congress.” Read more.
Mexico sees decline in migrant remittances.
AP, July 29, 2008 - “Half-year figures are expected to show the first sustained decline on record in remittances sent home by Mexicans working abroad, officials said. The downturn in U.S. housing construction and stepped-up immigration raids have made it tougher for migrants to find jobs, and less able to send money home. Mexico’s Central Bank is scheduled to release figures on the remittance flow on Wednesday.” Read more.
The Maquiladora Reader: Cross-Border Organizing Since NAFTA.
MyCoffeeBeans, July 29, 2008 - “Cross-Border Organizing Since NAFTA Globalization is one of the most talked-about phenomena - but little information is available on how those who are most involved - the communities and working people affected by globe-trotting corporations - are responding to its challenges. The Maquiladora Reader explores how grassroots activists are facing one of the most important trends in the globalization of production: the proliferation of maquiladoras - the foreign-owned (mainly by US corporations) assembly plants along the Mexico-U.S. border. Through more than two dozen readings culled from a variety of sources - The Maquiladora Reader reveals the determination and creativity of maquiladora workers as they seek to improve their wages and working conditions - protect their communities from health and environmental hazards - and build cross-border relationships with unions - religious groups - community organizations - and others.” Read more.
U.S. Recession, Drug War Violence Cause Crisis in Mexico Tourism.
IRC Americas Program, July 29, 2008 - “At first, a song about the Mississippi Delta belted out on the moonlit shore of Zihuatanejo Bay, Mexico, seemed out of place. But the bluesy tune performed by U.S. musicians at this year’s Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival struck a chord in the Mexican town. These days, many locals know the blues very well. Wandering along Zihuatanejo’s small waterfront, harpist Jose Luis Ramirez lamented the absence of foreign tourists to serenade. Wearing a resigned look on his face, jewelry seller Margarito Batalla sat alone at his jewelry stand. And silver salesman Rolando Pineda Fernandez expressed the sentiments of many in the Pacific Coast resort. ‘We were expecting more people, but they didn’t come,’ Pineda shrugged. ‘Who knows what happened?’ In 2008, Zihuatanejo and other Mexican tourist destinations are suffering a downturn in international tourism. The reasons are multiple: U.S. recession, high fuel costs, air route cancellations, new U.S. passport requirements, narco-violence, and environmental contamination.” Read more.
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