Mexico File News

Treasures of the Southern Baja

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:04:29 +0000

By Lisa Coleman

The 880-mile long Baja Peninsula is divided into two Mexican states – Baja California Norte (north) and Baja California Sur (south). On one side of the Baja is, of course, the Pacific Ocean, and on the other lies the magnificent Sea of Cortez. Until the early 1970’s, the secrets of the southern Baja (Baja Sur) were only known to the heartiest of travelers. But these days Los Cabos is booming and the lesser known destinations like La Paz, Loreto and Mulegé have worked very hard to become recognized as contenders in the Baja market – And they are doing a great job!

La Paz means “peace” in Spanish. It is the capital of the state of Baja California Sur and is the second largest city south of Tijuana on the Baja Peninsula. La Paz has a simple energy and an easy feel. Though framed by beautiful beaches, the city itself is more provincial atmosphere and lacks the occasionally overwhelming hustle and bustle that seems to come with traditional beach resorts. And even though La Paz is surrounded by desert, the town itself is set amidst ancient laurel trees and coconut and date palms.

Fishing and water sports are a given in La Paz, but what you may not know is that it is also arguably the ecotourism capital of North America. Just outside the city itself are countless deserted beaches, calm bays and ecologically pure offshore islands. The region’s complex wildlife, plant life, and geology are truly astonishing. The Sea of Cortez is one of the world’s unique ocean environments, considered by some to be the most biologically rich body of water on earth. More than 850 species of marine life make their home in its temperate waters making it a year-round fishing utopia. In fact, this sea is said to be the greatest fish trap in the Western Hemisphere. Colonies of sea lions, pods of Humpback, Blue, Sperm, Fin and seasonal migrating Gray whales are a very common site.

Just over two hundred miles north of La Paz, Loreto is making a name for itself as a secluded beach resort with ecological attractions and stark desert beauty. In the shadow of the rugged Sierra la Giganta Mountains, the small in scope, almost village-like Loreto can certainly be classified as remote. Nonetheless, its surprisingly complete historic past has made it a point of interest for cultural visitors for years. It was the first capital of the Californias and has become somewhat famous for its well-preserved Jesuit missions. In fact, the town’s official slogan is “300 Years Old and Still Undiscovered.” The downtown area is a mix of shady plazas, small shops, picturesque churches and a hotel or two. The views here are magnificent and the nearby cobalt waters of the Sea of Cortez are calm and clear. The beaches are a bit rocky, but the crystalline waters are ideal for kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and above all, fishing.

And not to be forgotten is the friendly, tiny town of Mulegé (moo-leh-HAY). This tropical oasis can be found about 80 miles north of Loreto and has a population of only about 6,000 residents. Nestled along the southern Baja’s only fresh water river, Mulegé is mostly lush and green year round. There isn’t too much going here, but the location is key for those searching for some really untouched land along the Sea of Cortez. The village sits at the mouth of the Bahia Conception (a national marine preserve), and is a great starting point to discover the pristine waters and deserted coves of stunningly beautiful isolated beaches. The diving is excellent!

If you step out of the more mainstream destinations, you’ll find the off-the-beaten-parts of the southern Baja are truly treasures worth discovering.

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Community Manager for the Mexico Today Program. All stories, opinions and passion for all things Mexico shared here are completely my own. Mexico Today is a joint public and private sector initiative designed to help promote Mexico as a global business partner and an unrivaled tourist destination

One Town at a Time

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:52:44 +0000

One Town At a Time

By David Simmonds

“Is the rich world aware of how four billion of the six billion live? If we were aware, we would want to help out; we’d want to get involved.” Bill Gates, rich guy.

About fifteen years ago I started a non-profit called The Sea of Cortez International Preservation Foundation. We raised some money and were able to do some good things for several years, including donating $10,000 to help in the creation of an artificial reef off the coast of La Paz in Baja California Sur. It has become a very popular dive site, helping tourism as well as the fish population. But then the horror of 9/11 happened and, understandably, it became very difficult to raise money, so I regrettably had to shut it down.

As a few years passed I missed doing something larger than my self-centered endeavors, so two years ago I formed another non-profit, One Town At a Time (www.onetownatatime.com). Then, immediately, I destroyed my ankle after decades of extreme activity, and had to back-burner everything until I could become reasonably mobile again. Today, thanks to a great orthopedic doctor, the ankle is mostly fixed. With the help of Susie Albin-Najera (founder of the excellent blog “The Mexico Report”), we have fired up One Town again. I don’t think this Susie ever sleeps. My friend and partner in Mexico Premiere, Lisa Coleman, has also joined the Board of Directors.

Here is the Mission Statement, to give you an overview of our purpose:

The mission of One Town At A Time is to address the living conditions of poor villages in Mexico by providing families in these areas with tools for achieving sustainability. This is the ideal way to ameliorate the immigration pattern in the United States which currently encourages villagers to cross the border to earn money to send back to their families. By providing villagers with tools for addressing their poverty, they can remain in their villages, sustain a sense of family and community structure, and cultivate pride in their way of life. One Town At A Time shares and provides the technology that enhances the ability of villagers in Mexico to improve and expand their current farming, trade, and communication practices in a way that honors their rich cultural heritage and brings them closer to the global socioeconomic realm.

Our present project is Apples For Classrooms. With monetary donations we will purchase Apple computers, iPads, etc. to give to rural schools in Cabo Corrientes, an area just a little south of Puerto Vallarta in the state of Jalisco. Some of the villages include Chacala, Mascotita, Refugio and Guasimas. They will need ongoing support to pay for satellite internet connection, but the benefit the kids will derive will be life-changing. A new world of possibility will open up to them that will positively impact each child as well as their community. I can think of no single thing that could be more beneficial than the knowledge gained by these curious and open minds. For the first time in their lives they will have access to all of the world’s information.

Our goal is to be able to present the Apple devices to the schools in the latter part of March, 2012 in coordination with Tianguis, the huge travel trade show that will be held in Puerto Vallarta March 25 – 28. Please consider helping us out. There is a Donation button on the web site www.onetownatatime.com, and/or forward this article to other people that you know. We are a registered 501(c)3 and all donations are tax-deductible.

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Contributor for the México Today Program. All stories, opinions and passion for all things México shared here are completely my own. Mexico Today is a joint public and private sector initiative designed to help promote Mexico as a global business partner and an unrivaled tourist destination.

Street Food

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:55:10 +0000

“You don’t eat at the street stands, do you, genius?” I get this annoying question all the time. I tell them “hell yes, it’s good and it’s cheap.” In many years of traveling Mexico I have been taken ill from bad food a few times, but I can’t think of one time that I could trace the problem back to eating street food. And in recent years I rarely get sick…ever. And it’s not because I have become “used” to it, somehow convincing rogue bacteria that they are powerless attempting to invade my long-battered immune system. Sanitation and proper food preparation have improved immensely in Mexico, and if you use a little common sense and chant a daily prayer to the porcelain god you can fine-dine at the street stands, just like the locals do. I like the street stands in part because you can see the person cooking your food and what they are cooking. It has to be fresh and look safe for consumption. Having been a waiter and bartender just after college graduation I know what goes on in a closed kitchen, and…never mind.

The first thing you should look for when choosing your street food is to discover who is doing all of the business. If a street stand operator is dishing tainted food he’ll be out of business in a week, so go where the locals go. They know who has safe food and just as importantly, who has really good food. You can fill up on three sizzling meat-filled tacos (try to find the stand that is cooking with mesquite wood for the best flavor) for about $3.00. There is usually a small tienda nearby to grab a soda, beer or bottle of water. Generally, you’ll order what you want and they’ll hand over your plate in a minute or so. Load up the tacos with the bowls of salsa, guacamole, onions, cilantro, and whatever else is offered. Find a place on the street or lean against the counter to enjoy your meal, or some stands offer a couple of portable tables and chairs. Then, get this, you pay the person at the cash register AFTER you have finished eating. Try that at Bubba’s Burger Shack takeout back home.

Most stands specialize in one or two signature dishes, usually serving variations of beef, chicken, and near the coast, fish. Some stands serve just fresh fruit or elote – roasted corn on the cob slathered in a mayo-type sauce with lime and cayenne pepper. Another stand might just serve carnitas, sold in bulk with salsa, cilantro and fresh tortillas, and down the street it might be churros, the long, deep-fried donut-like waist exploders. The list is endless, as are the flavors.

But my personal favorite, the one dish I would order on the way to the gas chamber, is birria, or goat stew. Most commonly found in the state of Jalisco, it is served in a bowl with a side dish of cilantro, onions, chiles and tortillas. I usually have to be dining solo when I’m searching for birria – apparently goat meat doesn’t agree with everyone, even after I explain that we aren’t actually eating someone’s pet. Oh well, birria and a beer is as good as it gets for me.

So on your next Mexico trip take a walk on the wild side (apologies to Lou Reed).You can find open stands all day, but many don’t open until the evening, staying in business late into the night. A couple of street tacos right after a night of cantina-hopping will lessen the hangover symptoms immensely the next morning…or so I have been told.

The Enduring Huichols

admin — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 17:27:45 +0000

One of my favorite states in Mexico is Nayarit. The have the perfect mix of the Sierra Madres and a beautiful coastline, featuring San Blas, Chacala, and the ever-popular Sayulita. But it may be the Huichols that make the state so intriguing.
While many of the native peoples of the Western hemisphere have been assimilated into the mainstream of the modern world, the native Huichols have been able to maintain their traditional language, mores and spiritual ways for centuries…although they, and we, are now in danger of losing a pristine culture that has much to teach the world about the reciprocal relationship people can have with the planet.
The number of Huichols, who are some of the last remaining descendants of the Aztecs, is estimated at around 7,000. The rugged and remote terrain of the mountainous Huichol homeland, as well as the fact that the Huichols had little to plunder, helped these people escape the pillage of the Spanish conquistadors (and in fact, this is the only group in Mexico spared by the Iberian conquest). The Huichol Indians today live in small communities high in the Western Sierra Madre in the state of Nayarit.
The Huichols call themselves Wixalika, meaning “prophets” or “healers,” and they are proud of their freedom and purity of race. The Huichols are a refreshing reminder of a world past in which entire communities worked together as caretakers of the planet. Many of their ways could exemplify the techniques that could be used by more modern cultures to come to terms with ecological balance.
The primary focus of their belief system is the ritual ingestion of the hallucinogenic peyote cactus. (It is used, of course, as an integral part of their religious ceremonies, and is never used recreationally…a more modern cultural phenomenon.) The Shaman priest or sorcerer of the tribe, called the Marakame, accompanies members of the tribe on several spiritual journeys each year to the Wirikuta Desert, a six-hundred mile round-trip journey on foot, in search of this cactus. When the plant is finally found, it is ceremonially shot with an arrow, a means of sacrificing the Deer God (or Venado) inside the cactus. When the drug is eaten the voyager goes into a ritual dream in search of a pantheon of 90 deities, mostly female, and this becomes the basis for a translation to other member of the tribe of the symbolic meaning of the induced visions.
The Christian missionaries arrived in the 17th century and introduced to the Huichols the glass beads made in Europe. The Huichol Indians immediately incorporated these objects into their intricate beaded devotional art in the form of beaded masks, prayer bowls, and beaded yarn paintings, art forms that continue to the present day. While all Huichol art is seen as a spiritual manifestation of the induced peyote experience, they see no conflict in offering it for sale.
While most Huichols support themselves through hunting and agriculture, there are several families, numbering perhaps 15 or 20, who devote themselves to the creation of beaded and yarn art. The artist applies a thin layer of soft beeswax to a wood sculpture or a gourd. With a fine pointed wood stick, he picks up one glass bead at a time and sets it into the wax, pressing in the bead with his finger. He starts from the outside of the piece and painstakingly works toward the center in a representation of one of his intense spiritual visions.
In some areas of the Huichol homeland the traditions remain strong, but in others the influence of the modern “conquistadores” is being felt. With the building of roads and airstrips and greater exposure to the ways of the modern world, social ills such as alcoholism, disease, cultural alienation, and suicide have had a negative impact on the Huichols.
The Huichols do not necessarily have to make the journey to complete assimilation, and, in effect, extinction. The knowledge of the Wixalika is much too valuable for the world to lose. In a sense it is perhaps our duty to find ways to allow the Huichols to enter the 21st century without compromising the spirit of these people.
Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating and managing content as a Contributor for the México Today Program. All stories, opinions and passion for all things México shared here are completely my own. Mexico Today is a joint public and private sector initiative designed to help promote Mexico as a global business partner and an unrivaled tourist destination.

Why You Should Drive in Mexico

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:12:53 +0000

I have driven tens-of-thousands of miles in Mexico and the worse thing I can remember happening was having a mango jump off the flatbed of an oncoming produce truck near Mazatlán, smashing out the left headlight in my old VW van and spraying mango pieces and juice from head to huarache, where I sat in the driver’s seat. I thought I’d been shot by a deranged sniper until I figured it all out. And another time I blew an engine (another VW van, naturally) in the Sonoran desert on my return trip on a 100 degree summer day when few cars were on the road (this was years ago, before toll roads), only to be rescued by a pickup truck full of missionaries who rope-towed me to the Arizona border, almost making a believer of me.
But that’s about it for the mishaps. Driving in Mexico is a great way to really see the country and to meet the people who live in the small towns along the way. This is where the character and soul of the country resides, and should not be missed. The one caveat that has always held true is to avoid night-driving. Not because you’re going to get held up by bandits, but because animals often find their way onto the roads and there are still trucks and cars that drive without taillights…and headlights. Daylight is just a safer way to travel, and you see more. Mexico has built many thousands of miles of four-lane toll-roads over the past thirty years, making it much easier to get around (although they aren’t cheap), but the old roads still exist. Whereas the toll roads avoid having to drive directly through many towns and are much faster, you miss a lot by taking them. However, when you drive the old roads, you really need to pay attention. Crater-like potholes, narrow un-banked roads, erratic drivers, wandering livestock, slow moving trucks, and plastic-Jesus grasping bus drivers require that you keep your mind uncluttered and concentrate on your surroundings. But still, I highly recommend that you do it.
If you are flying into Mexico and plan to rent a car to give you more flexibility, make the arrangements before you travel. You will find the best deals by calling, or going to the web site, of the various rental companies and see who has the best deal for you. The rates can vary widely, so it is worth the effort. I can usually find a small car for about $120 – 160 per week, or $25.00 per day. Try to get unlimited miles and insurance included in the price. The independence of having your own wheels will make for a more interesting and complete trip. Just avoid the VSM’s (van-seeking mangos).

New Facebook Social Magazine For Mexico Enthusiasts

admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:23:00 +0000

The Mexico Today program that I have written about (and a member of) is really doing some good things for Mexico’s image. With all of the negative news we all hear from the mainstream press, we push back by reminding people of what is so good about Mexico – and there is plenty to tell. There are 24 ambassadors in the program, all of whom are active bloggers with well-traveled web sites, as well as using Facebook and Twitter to reach tens of thousands of people. It’s a great program and we are making a difference.

And now another great source is available in the form of Mexico Today Social Magazine. This is a Facebook page loaded with a variety of articles about Mexico, including Travel, Culture, Economy, Health, Infrastructure, Security and Sustainability. And the great news is that YOU can post your own articles. This innovative model creates a true grassroots approach to worldwide dissemination of news and information. We all have a Mexico story to tell – and now we have a place to tell it. And as an incentive to post your story they are offering a chance to win a $500 gift card.

So take a look.I guarantee you will learn things about Mexico you didn’t know. And you teach all of the readers something new, or even just post a link to an interesting article. Check out this work in progress. An ipad App version will soon be available, as well. Go here to join the fun

Nieto Announces

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:35:02 +0000

I don’t know. I thought the 70-year reign of the one-party-rule PRI had been buried for at least 20 years. But now it looks like they have a real good chance of winning the next presidential election in 2012. Reviving the PRI banner is 45-year-old Pena Nieto, the former governor of Mexico state. Many Mexcans have become increasingly disillusioned since current President Calderon declared war on the drug cartels while 40,000 countrymen have been murdered in drug-related violence. They want the mayhem to stop. They want to feel safe in their beautiful country. They wants jobs and education and time with their families. What they don’t want is the continued daily bad news. They want the government to reach an agreement with the cartels who ship most all of their drugs to the U.S. They want their country back, and they just may give the PRI another look. The module apologizes in a climate.

The Mexico Bullfight

admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:59:06 +0000

I went to Spain right after college graduation, a long time ago. After buying a camper van in Amsterdam for four hundred bucks I headed south for the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. That was to be my introduction to bullfighting, right where Hemingway had been. Perfect. The problem was that my girlfriend and I were camped a couple of miles out of town by a stream, along with an international mix of party-warriors whose stated purpose was to consume all the wine and sangría in the country. Being a friendly American type I was viscously sucked right into their depravity, rendered too hung-over to make it into town early enough every morning for the “running” and following bullfight. As I recall, the South Africans were the primary culprits. Stay clear of those guys whenever you have something to do and beer and wine are involved.

Having blown my chance to attend my first bullfight in the perfect place, I lost interest for a long time. As much as I have been obsessed with learning the culture of Mexico through a lifetime of travel, I had ignored the sport which is so clearly associated with the country.

That all changed one day in San Miguel de Allende. I’m blithely strolling along a quiet street, taking some afternoon photos for an article I’m writing, when I hear the band and I see the signs — and before you can say “olé” I’m being asked if I want to sit on the sunny side or the shady side of the neighborhood bullring. And since it’s only a ten-peso difference I find myself sitting in the shade, totally enthralled by the surroundings. Here I was heading back to my hotel for a siesta, but instead I’m now absolutely mesmerized by the crowd, the costumes, the spectacle, and…the Bull. The bull that will be killed right before my eyes, merely because this is Mexico and this is what he is bred for. I’m not sure that I want to be here, but I also know there is nothing that can make me leave.

Now, thinking back, I wonder what I learned from my introduction to the bullfight. And the most striking and obvious observation is that maybe they named this sport (?) wrong. First of all, I don’t think it’s a fight. Nor is it a sport. It’s a spectacle, a show. It’s the Romans feeding the slaves to the lions, except the animal/man roles are reversed. The bull enters the ring full of life and energy, and in all but a few rare occasions the only way he is leaving that ring is on his side being dragged by a team of horses, quite dead.

Although I’m not ready to call the Matadors athletes (can they hit a curveball or sink a three-pointer?), they do qualify as being brave, not only in encountering the charging bull, but also for wearing those matador pants. That takes a confident courage not even Hemingway would recognize.

Interview With Operative, Part 2

admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:07:06 +0000

Jack” is a career military “special operations” operator, a retired “case officer” and still a member of the intelligence community at the highest levels. The name “Jack” is a pseudonym, at his request. His career has taken him to Columbia, Mexico, the Middle East and much of the world. I know Jack well and know him to be very honest, bright, and a stand-up guy. He is a true patriot in every sense of the word.
We have had many conversations. The following is excerpted from various talks and emails, with his permission and approval.
Part 1 can be viewed here: http://www.mexicopremiere.com/?p=5220

DS: There are people on both sides of the border who are calling for the legalization of some drugs. Wouldn’t this go a long way towards shutting down the cartels, much as the repeal of prohibition did in the U.S. with the organized crime?

Jack: It’s way more complicated than that, Dave. Legalization will not happen because too many people, many in high places, have too much to lose.

DS: Okay, I get that the cartels would be opposed to it, but who else?

Jack: The major banks in the U.S. are very powerful, as we have learned in the past few years. They have been laundering drug money for a long time, maybe as much as $40 billion a year. Wachovia, HSBC, American Express Bank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo – they have all been involved. Generally they pay a fine that is a fraction of the money they have made. So it’s a good deal for them. Believe me, they don’t want anything to change, and they let the lawmakers know that with their contributions.

There is also the private prison system now so widespread in the U.S.. They pay a lot of money into our lawmaker’s fundraisers to keep drugs illegal. It started with Nixon’s “War On Drugs” in the early 1970’s when smoking pot was put into the same category as harder drugs. The U.S. is now the most imprisoned society in the world and many of those prisoners are there on drug convictions. About one-half of all drug arrests are for marijuana. The prison system has a huge stake in keeping all drugs illegal. They make money by having a constant flow of prisoners – big money.

And there are the arms and weapons manufacturers.

DS: Please explain. You mean because all of the small arms that get into Mexico?

Jack: Yes, but there are much bigger players than that. The Merida Initiative authorizes the U.S. to spend $1.5 billion to help Mexico in fighting the cartels. Much of this money filters to U.S. security companies and manufacturers, such as General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Boeing.

DS: Are we only supplying systems and equipment or do we have personnel in Mexico, as well.

Jack: Yes, we do have people there. Mexico has already acknowledged it allows US drones to conduct surveillance flights over Mexican air space. Who controls “the flights” is classified, but a Mexican official is present. The newspaper “La Jornada” wrote an August 8 editorial that “Washington’s growing military, political, intelligence, police & private security contractors interference regarding Mexican laws have been documented in many ways, as has the Mexican’s acceptance of it”. The New York Times, on the weekend of Aug 5th reported that CIA, ex special forces (private security contractors) are already working at one or more Mexican military bases! These are the same security contractors using the same tactics that they used in Afghanistan & Iraq with disastrous results that got them kicked out and Blackwater had to change their name. But these guys are good enough for the Mexican people? No wonder why they support the cartels over government! The Mexican government won’t discuss “specifics of their role” for “national security reasons”.

DS: I have read about CIA being involved in drug smuggling for years. Any truth to that?

Jack: Yes, it’s just an undying myth that the CIA sold drugs, in our country you can say anything you want. It’s just like the perpetual myth all Vietnam Vets are serial killers, deranged maniacs and so on. The newest Drug dealing myth now is the infamous “Operation Fast & Furious” started by CIA to give more modern weapons to one side of the Mexican Drug War. It is just ridiculous! But what do you expect, 40% of all Americans refuse to believe Obama is an American? This CIA stuff will never die, what makes it worse is some old disgruntled employees or former assets have an axe to grind, so they tell/write about such bullshit and a certain segment of our Country will always believe them, make movies, films showing how corrupt the CIA is and there you have it; but thanks for giving me an opportunity to set the record straight! And by the way, the CIA, FBI, all law enforcement agencies have some bad apples that get involved in criminal acts, get caught, and you know that old saying “only one rotten apple will spoil the entire barrel”

Interview With An Intelligence Operative

admin — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:55:28 +0000

Part 1 of my interview with Jack.

“Jack” is a career military “special operations” operator, a retired “case officer” and still a member of the intelligence community at the highest levels. The name “Jack” is a pseudonym, at his request. His career has taken him to Columbia, Mexico, the Middle East and much of the world. I know Jack well and know him to be very honest, bright, and a stand-up guy. He is a true patriot in every sense of the word.

We have had many conversations. The following is excerpted from various talks and emails, with his permission and approval.

DS: Jack, what’s going on with the drug cartel situation in Mexico? How is it ever going to improve?

Jack: The best comparison I can make is what happened in Columbia during the time of Pablo Escobar. We were finally able to get to him when the people of Columbia turned against him. The people have to demand it or it won’t happen.

DS: How does this relate to Mexico in 2011?

Jack: Right now the drug cartels are more popular than the government, the police or the army. The cartels are Mexico’s biggest employer. Think about that! They are providing a living and necessities for many people and communities that otherwise would be nearly starving. You can call it bribery or intimidation, which it is. But for the people benefitting it is salvation, a way to get by day to day.

DS: But the brutality of the cartels is contrary to anything I know to be true of the Mexican people. How do you square that?

Jack: For the most part the violence is directed at people in the drug game – rival drug gangs, informants, etc. If it ever gets directed towards the general public, then the people will rise and demand that it change. But the cartels know this. They want the people on their side because they know that is the only way they can survive. So far they are winning that battle.

DS: But there have been some innocent people killed, Jack.

Jack: Yeah, I know, but they are usually in the wrong place at the wrong time and get caught in the middle of something they had nothing to do with. That can happen anywhere in the world.

DS: How did all of this escalate like it has?

Jack: Most people will say that it started with President Calderon’s declaration of war against the cartels. But this really goes back to the 1980’s when the government wanted to change the Mexican economy from a primarily agrarian state to manufacturing. That was when NAFTA began to be negotiated and was finally signed in 1994.

DS: How does NAFTA relate to the situation today?

Jack: NAFTA was intended to benefit Mexico by the growth of manufacturing jobs. At the same time the US started to dump corn into Mexico with the help of subsidies from the US government. As a result, farmers had to leave their farms because they couldn’t get a high enough price for their corn. And the vast manufacturing jobs didn’t quite materialize because of Far East competition, and the work didn’t pay well.

DS: This situation also drove many Mexicans north of the border, right?

Jack: Absolutely. They could no longer make it on the farm or in the city. Enter the drug trade. Either by accident or design they filled a void by “hiring” locals and helping their communities financially. Many people saw just three options – leave their homeland, scrap for a minimum wage job that can’t support a family, or hook up with the bad guys.

This interview will continue in future posts covering drug legalization and who, on both sides of the border, is benefitting from the violence, and the U.S role. I think that many of you will be surprised by what you learn.