Mexican News
The latest news from and about Mexican issues.Thursday, July 31, 2008
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.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Mexico’s capital, 9 states vote on nation’s oil industry.
LA Times, July 28, 2008 - “A bitter debate on how to rescue Mexico’s troubled state-owned oil company went directly to the people Sunday as residents of the capital and nine states voted in a nonbinding referendum on President Felipe Calderon’s plan to open some portions of the petroleum industry to outsiders. The vote, organized by the opposition Democratic Revolution Party, or PRD, has no official bearing on energy legislation making its way through Congress. But opponents of Calderon’s reforms hope a decisive ‘no’ vote will force legislators to back off. The balloting was the first of three so-called Citizen Consultation referendums over the next month that will eventually cover Mexico’s 31 states and federal district.” Read more.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Privatization of Mexican Oil Will Advance SPP Objectives.
Granite Bay, July 23, 2008 - “Mexican President Felipe Calderon has proposed sweeping reforms to its state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX). He denies that his reforms constitute privatization and claims they will serve to make PEMEX stronger. Many view his proposals as a threat to Mexican sovereignty and nothing more then an energy grab. It is through NAFTA and the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) that the U.S. is further securing access and control to Canadian and Mexican resources.” Read more.
Immigration and the Right to Stay Home.
Alternet, July 24, 2008 - “ For almost half a century, migration has been the main fact of social life in hundreds of indigenous towns spread through the hills of Oaxaca, one of Mexico’s poorest states. That’s made the conditions and rights of migrants the central concern for communities like Santiago de Juxtlahuaca. Today the right to travel to seek work is a matter of survival. But this June in Juxtlahuaca, in the heart of Oaxaca’s Mixteca region, dozens of farmers left their fields, and women weavers their looms, to talk about another right, the right to stay home.” Read more.
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