Opinion: AMLO’s proposed reforms deserve scrutiny in both Mexico and the US

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February 22, 2024

Mexico's Constitution in Congress — What impact could López Obrador's proposed constitutional reforms have on Mexico and its relationship with the United States? (Cuartoscuro)

In light of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s presentation of 20 constitutional reforms on Feb. 5, the Mexico Institute invited Advisory Board members, fellows and experts to provide analysis and commentary on individual proposals and the broader reform package.

You can read the first part of this series here.

AMLO’s Constitutional Reform Proposals

Andrew I. Rudman

Director, Mexico Institute

Many analysts have characterized the package of constitutional reforms presented by President López Obrador (AMLO) on Feb. 5 as a political maneuver intended to create wedge issues for the campaign and to further solidify AMLO’s Fourth Transformation by making it more difficult for a future president to reverse various measures and programs. The maneuver may be good politics, but the proposed reforms are not good policy. Their passage would undermine transparency and weaken civil oversight of elected officials and will undermine confidence in the integrity of Mexican democracy.

One of the proposed reforms calls for the direct election of judges — a change from the current presidential appointment system. While this may sound democratic, and indeed judges are elected in some jurisdictions in the United States, AMLO’s reforms would politicize the third branch of government which is meant to act, in the words of U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, “like umpires. Umpires don’t make the rules, they apply them. The role of an umpire and a judge is critical. They make sure everybody plays by the rules…” In the same testimony, he noted that, “judges are not politicians who can promise to do certain things in exchange for votes.” The proposal to choose judges through popular vote is perhaps most concerning with respect to the Supreme Court in light of proposed reforms on the internal structure of the Court and AMLO’s direct and personal attacks on justices whose decisions went against his policies.

A second reform would eliminate several independent agencies designed to ensure transparency and protect Mexican consumers. Among those to be abolished are COFECE, Mexico’s Competition Commission, which is responsible for “protecting and promoting competition in the markets to contribute to the welfare of families and the economic growth of the country,” and the National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information, and Protection of Personal Information (INAI). COFECE is “responsible for the efficient functioning of markets to the benefit of consumers,” while INAI provides the transparency required to eliminate precisely the type of corruption that AMLO has sworn to eliminate. Nevertheless, AMLO calls these independent institutions “useless, factious, onerous and anti-popular” and argues that they should be eliminated so that the resources can be allocated to payment of pensions and other direct cash transfer programs. No institution is perfect, and it may indeed be appropriate to consider reforms to the functioning of COFECE, INAI, and some of the other identified institutions. However, their functions provide critical oversight of government, which is an essential part of a vibrant, functioning democracy.

Several of the other proposals are “feel good” proposals that are unlikely to lead to substantive, productive outcomes. A constitutional ban on the use of synthetic drugs not legally authorized, for example, is unlikely to have an impact on drug use which is already prohibited by law while the right to access to health is already included in Article 4 of the constitution.

Constitutional reforms based on thoughtful legislative debate with appropriate public consultation should (ideally) lead to broad based citizen support for them and to greater citizen confidence in the functioning of the institutions on which democracies are based. Reforms presented for wholly political objectives might win elections, but they leave the victors with poor policies with which to govern.

The Logic Behind AMLO’s Proposed Constitutional Changes

Pamela K. Starr

Wilson Center Global Fellow; Professor of the Practice of Political Science and International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences; Fellow, Center on Public Diplomacy and Professor, University of Southern California; Adjunct Fellow for Mexico and U.S.-Mexico Affairs, Pacific Council on International Policy

AMLO’s wish list of 20 constitutional and legal changes presented Feb. 5 runs from highly significant economic and political reforms to ultimately meaningless promises to respect animal rights and outlaw vaping. Two proposals stand out for their importance to economic stability, five for democratic practices, and one for both. All are designed to reinforce AMLO’s effort to transform Mexico into a more statist and less democratic country. Few, if any, have a significant chance of being approved in the current legislative session, but that’s not AMLO’s near term objective. He instead aims to guarantee that his vision for Mexico extends well beyond his single six-year presidency.

The Reforms: A pension reform is fiscally fraught. It would create a government guarantee that every worker receives 100% of their final salary, but it lacks a clear financing mechanism in a tight budgetary context coupled with a transexenial promise not to raise taxes. The proposal to enshrine AMLO’s electricity law in the constitution would permanently undermine investment in renewable energy and contravenes the USMCA. Regarding democracy, AMLO wants to strengthen military power and autonomy by giving it full control of the national guard, undermine the autonomy of the legal system by making all justices, judges and magistrates directly elected, reduce electoral competition by making all legislative elections first-past-the-post races, make all referenda binding if they are supported by just 30% of the electorate, and reduce the INE’s autonomy by making its board directly elected. Finally, AMLO proposes to eliminate autonomous agencies designed to promote economic competition and transparency.

The Objectives: AMLO aims to achieve three political effects from this announcement. First, as these proposals gradually work their way through the legislative process over the next three months, the president’s agenda will dominate the news until the last month of the election campaign. This will help AMLO galvanize and mobilize his political base to get out the vote on June 2. Second, AMLO hopes to use the consequently strong turnout not only to ensure victory for his chosen successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, but to win the 68% of the vote needed to create a qualified majority in both houses of the federal legislature. This would allow him to push through all his proposed reforms in September, the last month of his presidency and the first month of the new Congress.

Failing that, the third effect would be to force Sheinbaum to embrace AMLO’s new governing agenda as central to her government. As a loyal obradorista whose election depends on AMLO’s continued backing, it is unsurprising that Sheinbaum immediately announced her support for the proposals. At the same time, there have been rumblings from her team, and from the candidate herself, that a Sheinbaum government might be more pragmatic and predictable as she implements AMLO’s Fourth Transformation. To ensure that this pragmatic bias does not lead Sheinbaum to stray too far from AMLO’s vision for Mexico, the proposal to reduce the percentage of the electorate needed to authorize referenda, including a presidential recall, from 40 percent to just 30 percent should keep her in line since AMLO’s loyal base of support reached the mid-30s. While AMLO will step down from the presidency on October 1, he still aims to extend his policy influence well beyond that date.

Mexico’s proposed constitutional reforms need careful scrutiny in Mexico and the U.S.

Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne

Wilson Center Public Policy Fellow, Former Career Ambassador to Afghanistan, Argentina, and Mexico; Distinguished Diplomat in Residence, School of International Service, American University

Mexico’s President López Obrador has proposed 20 constitutional and legal reforms in an apparent effort to boost his chosen successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, and his Morena party for Mexico’s June 2 national elections.

The proposals would protect and advance several AMLO favored initiatives by incorporating them in the constitution. Many of the suggested reforms would concentrate more power in Mexico’s executive at the expense of independent authorities working on electoral, economic, judicial, and other important issues. On Feb. 18, tens of thousands in Mexico met in protest citing several of the proposed reforms as threatening for Mexico’s democracy.

AMLO’s successor, Morena presidential candidate Sheinbaum, is 15-30% ahead in the polls, but AMLO wants his allies to win the 2/3 legislative majority that are needed to approve his recommended constitutional amendments. By offering these reform proposals now, AMLO seems aiming to remain in the limelight during the campaign season, allowing him to weigh in on issues that he sees a key to his legacy and appealing to his electorate.

While AMLO’s proposals can serve to limit the freedom of maneuver for Sheinbaum and other Morena party leaders, several proposals seem designed to put the opposition parties off balance by appealing to poorer Mexicans, for example, by suggesting generous but potentially costly new minimum salary and retirement benefits for workers.

Importantly, several proposals would reduce checks and balances built into Mexico’s democracy over the last 30 years. Concerning propositions include introducing elections for Mexico’s judges, eliminating independent bodies promoting transparency and access to information, weakening electoral authorities, and introducing changes that would favor larger over smaller political parties by eliminating the current use of proportional representation for some congressional seats.

The reforms would also bolster the military’s public security role by giving them formal authority over Mexico’s National Guard, without commensurate steps to strengthen civilian law enforcement or justice authorities. Experts warn against overreliance on the military for public security and other functions in Mexico.

From a good governance perspective, AMLO’s propositions would eliminate key autonomous regulatory bodies including those covering competition, telecommunications, and energy. These reforms would have direct and indirect impact on the implementation of the North American trade agreement, USMCA, and on U.S. companies doing business in Mexico.

Overall, if approved, the proposals would weaken key Mexican institutions. They would give the government more concentrated power by expanding its ability to regulate with less oversight through eliminating independent authorities. This would be a shift away from best international practices and harm Mexico’s ability to attract investment.

With a proposal to cap salaries of public officials even for very demanding regulatory, oversight and judicial jobs (and incorporating AMLO’s version of “austerity” into Mexico’s constitution), the proposed changes could well further weaken Mexico’s public service, which has already been diminished in recent years.

AMLO’s proposals would also protect several AMLO initiatives. These include social welfare programs for the disadvantaged and programs aimed at job training for young people and planting more trees. However, at least the job training program has been criticized for poor results and there is not yet attention to evaluating the effectiveness of the programs that would be protected.

Mexico’s executive has yet made clear the additional fiscal costs that would be imposed on future governments by AMLO’s proposals. Experts say those costs could be substantial and require a serious discussion to consider future costs.

One potentially important AMLO proposal is to put his ban on hydraulic fracking into the constitution. This would tie the hands of future governments who might find more ecologically acceptable ways to develop Mexico’s significant natural gas resources to meet energy security needs. Mexico is very reliant on natural gas from the U.S., for example.

From a U.S. perspective, some proposals threaten commitments made in the USMCA trade agreement and could harm U.S. businesses in Mexico. Mexico is the U.S.’s largest trading partner and depends heavily on exports to the U.S. and U.S. investments for jobs and growth.

AMLO’s proposed reforms would weaken and eliminate independent regulators that are intended to play a vital role in the energy, telecommunications, competition, and transparency areas, as well as in countering corruption. The U.S. has already complained that Mexico not following the USMCA’s regulatory and transparency procedures in the agricultural and energy sectors. AMLO’s current proposals would also transform Mexico’s oil and electricity entities into fully state-owned and run entities, which could allow for further questionable practices and policies.

In general, independent bodies are considered very valuable for good regulatory policy making and for transparency. These types of regulatory entities are important for good implementation of the USMCA and for protection of the many US companies operating in Mexico. Mexico already ranks poorly in studies of regulatory enforcement, and Mexico has been cited recently for a lack of transparency and increased use of no-bid contracts for government-related projects. Observers also express concern that the proposed judicial reforms will reduce the independence and professionalization of judges in reviewing economic, regulatory and legal complaints.

In an apparent effort to circumvent USMCA, AMLO also proposes to put a ban on genetically modified corn into the constitution. U.S. farmers currently sell massive quantities of GM corn to Mexico, and the U.S. has filed a USMCA trade complaint about Mexico’s plans to ban GM corn without providing science-based evidence. A GMO ban would seriously harm many US farmers and underscore important differences over the use of science-based policies as required in USMCA.

Strategically, the U.S. seeks a strong democratic Mexico to be a good partner in building a more competitive, prosperous North America. Several of AMLO’s proposed constitutional and legal changes, however, should spark serious concern in Washington.

AMLO’s proposals certainly deserve thorough debate and examination in Mexico. Additionally, they should attract scrutiny and appropriate responses from the U.S. If enacted, several could have a major impact on U.S.-Mexico relations.

This article was originally published by The Mexico Institute at The Wilson Center.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mexico News Daily, its owner or its employees.

Exploring psychedelic tourism and tradition in Mexico

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Henrietta Weekes

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February 22, 2024

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shutterstock_1868218408 — We met Cesar Marin, founder of Atlanta's Cultivating Wisdom, and explored the landscape of psychedelics and their respect and regulation in Mexico. (Shutterstock)

One thing we can be sure of is that any field of human endeavor or inquiry will eventually evolve.

The field of psychedelic therapy to address depression, anxiety, PTSD and addiction has fast been evolving in the last decade, due to promising clinical trial results from prestigious institutions like John Hopkins University, Imperial College, and New York University. These days, psychedelic healing is a hot topic in mainstream media in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Europe.

Article 195 of Mexico’s Federal Penal Code specifies that psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca for traditional spiritual practices or ceremonies are legal, which has led to a flurry of psychedelic retreats emerging in the country. (Unsplash)

Few countries are as important to the psychedelic healing scene as Mexico, however, which has become a major destination on the psychedelic map. How has this happened? For one, psilocybin from magic mushrooms — which demonstrates remarkable results when working with depressive disorders — was first brought to the attention of the West via Mexico, through R. Gordon Wasson, an American banker and amateur mycologist. He attended the indigenous healing ceremonies of Maria Sabina, a curandera (healer) highly regarded by her community in the village of Huautla de Jiménez in the Sierra Mazateca. Ask any of the key figures in psychedelic medicine; Amanda Feilding, Rick Doblin, Paul Stamets or Michael Pollan, and they will all reference this early 20th-century Mexican medicine woman as the keystone figure for the current psychedelic renaissance.

Secondly, Mexico has become a hot spot for psychedelic tourism; in part due to the culture’s history of healing practices and indigenous curanderas like Sabina and current practitioners who claim to hail from a similar folk medicine lineage — and in part because it’s more affordable to set up retreat centers and clinics. People also love the beauty and affordability of Mexico, and there has been a renewed interest in indigenous culture, whether it be their approach to healing, the environment, community or simply their daily lives.

But what is the history and legal landscape of psychedelics in Mexico?

We met Cesar Marin — former CNN Español producer in Atlanta, GA — who is pioneering microdosing with psilocybin for Latinos, Gen Xers and underserved communities in Latin America, through his new company, Cultivating Wisdom.

Are psychedelics in Mexico legal?

Mexico has a long history of indigenous healing practices with psychedelics, which are recognized and protected through law. (Shutterstock)

Article 195 of Mexico’s Federal Penal Code specifies that psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca for traditional spiritual practices or ceremonies are legal. The use of 5-MeO-DMT is also permitted for those purposes, and ibogaine is legal in accredited clinics. It’s these laws that have created space for the “psychedelic tourism” boom in Mexico

As the global trend for transporting psilocybin, ayahuasca, peyote and iboga reflect the demand, incidents like the arrest of Amazonian folk medicine practitioner Eric Rosas by Mexican authorities for bringing ayahuasca into the country, illustrate the grey area that still exists between the law and its enforcement. Customs and border agents have been given a brief “to neutralize the trafficking of weapons, drugs, foreign exchange and prevent human trafficking,” so those that move drugs across borders still face risks in doing so. It’s a confusing moment when genuine psychedelic guides are being arrested but at the same time, there are self-appointed ‘shamans’ from across the world running retreats in Mexico.

The therapeutic benefits of psychedelics have the current support of Mexican Green Party senator Alejandra Lagunes, who is campaigning to reschedule psilocybin, and even, to an extent, that of President López Obrador, who last summer stated that traditional medicines and ancestral treatments must be preserved in respect of their usage for the health of indigenous communities.

A brief history of psychedelics in Mexico and why it matters

Indigenous Mexican cultures have used hallucinogenic plants, mushrooms and cacti to induce altered states of consciousness in healing rituals and religious ceremonies for centuries — long before these plants were introduced to the Western world. Maria Sabina’s psilocybin mushrooms were known as teonanacatl, meaning something close to “God’s flesh.”

Maya and Aztec communities continue to use peyote, magic mushrooms and ololiuqui seeds, which contain mescaline, psilocybin and lysergic acid amide, in religious rituals. (Luis Zurita/Instagram)

Maya and Aztec communities use peyote, magic mushrooms and ololiuqui seeds (Turbina corymbosa), which contain mescaline, psilocybin and lysergic acid amide, and balché (a mixture of honey and extracts of peyote) in spiritual ceremonies. It is possible these communities also used the venom from the toad Bufo alvarius since the Olmec period, which contains 5-MeO-DMT; though the exact history is unclear.

Marin named his company Cultivating Wisdom because “that’s what these substances do, if used correctly”, he says. To do this means approaching this treatment not like a capitalist consumer, but instead asking how can you be better in your community and therefore feel happier in yourself. “I’m from Colombia, not Mexico, but there are many cultural similarities. I am interested in how we find ways to honor the indigenous practices and the contributions of Maria Sabina,” explains Marin.

We might be on the cusp of readdressing a lack of regard for indigenous ways of life in psychedelic healing. Reportedly, Wasson betrayed a plea by Sabina to keep his experience secret when he wrote about her in his 1957 article in LIFE magazine, “Seeking the Magic Mushroom”. Sabina’s community blamed her for being overrun by Americans and Europeans seeking spiritual experiences with psychedelics as a result of the article. She died impoverished and outcast. Her legacy is only now being posthumously honored.

Focusing on the Latino community, Gen X-ers and indigenous psychedelic practices

Marin is a man who is thinking carefully about the ethical landscape of psychedelic healing. “I lost my job at 55, due to changes in the media industry, and I also had some personal issues. I guess it was a classic mid-life crisis,” he says of his decision to found Cultivating Wisdom. But his career change has given him the purpose and contentment he was seeking. “I believe in the potential of psilocybin for healing and windows into a deeper wisdom — it helped me stop vaping, which was becoming troublesome.” He went on a mission to educate himself thoroughly about the benefits of psilocybin and connect with the experts in the field, with a view to sharing the best information with others. His career in news media set him in good stead. “I like to organize, collaborate, and get news out fast!” he says.

At 55, Marin believes in the possibility of starting over, wherever you are in life, as well as the power of collaboration between people of all cultures, ages and economic circumstances. (Cultivating wisdom/Instagram)

Marin believes we are just at the beginning of a healthy new chapter in Western society’s exploration of psychedelics for mental health, “I feel I have a responsibility to the Spanish speaking, Latino community. I’m forming collaborations with brands, therapists and thought leaders to find new ways to honor Latin American indigenous practices, while also being aware that these substances produce powerful changes, and need to be approached highly responsibly and respectfully,” he adds.

Marin also studied journalism at Columbia and worked for local NY news network Univision 41 and The Christina Show (sometimes called the Hispanic Oprah), in Miami. He spent 2020 educating himself and launching his new microdosing-themed platform. “I’ve been in the business of news and telling stories my whole life. Now I’m ready to spread the good news about psychedelics, while taking care to outline the current legal landscape, historical usages and the pitfalls or misuses that can occur. Presenting balanced, well researched information in collaboration with the experts is my goal.”

This year, he plans to host his first six-part webinar, in both English and Spanish, called ‘Reinventing your Life,’ which will address safe and effective protocols for microdosing with psilocybin. He will also begin planning retreats in partnership with accredited practitioners in Colombia and Mexico, with a larger vision for a future center — specifically to educate, inform and provide access to therapies for underserved Latino communities. “Why not give people from all walks of life more ability to be creative and empathetic? Connecting us all and making us stronger and better,” he says, remarking that firefighters, police officers and moms in his local Latino community are all talking to him about the positive effects of microdosing. He says, “Objective and honest conversations are crucial as we navigate these waters. Let’s change the narrative. Imagine a headline that reads, “Moms are becoming better parents with the aid of a plant that has stood the test of millennia.”

He also intends his center to offer psychedelic treatment for veterans, as clinical studies show their remarkable effectiveness for post-traumatic stress disorder. “ There is also a suicide epidemic amongst veterans, which we don’t hear enough about. My son, at 24, has just entered the military, so I have some skin in the game,” Marin remarks of his plans.

Marin believes the stigma around psychedelics is finally dissolving, but that caution and education are needed more than ever, as well as knowledge about indigenous history and usages of these plants. “People like Maria Sabina are really the gatekeepers to these medicines. Psychedelic tourism has probably gotten a little out of hand, so it behooves the public to start rethinking their approach to psychedelics. They are not a magic bullet or a ‘feel good’ therapy.”

At 55, Cesar believes in the possibility of starting over, wherever you are in life, as well as the power of collaborations across cultures, ages and economic circumstances. “It might sound a bit corny, but I wake up each day now with this maxim; today is the best day of my life, yesterday is a memory!”

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. The writer and Mexico News Daily assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content on this site. Individuals should always consult with qualified professionals regarding the use of ibogaine or any other substance for medical purposes, as well as consider their jurisdiction’s applicable laws and regulations.

Henrietta Weekes is a writer, editor, actor and narrator. She divides her time between San Miguel de Allende, New York and Oxford, UK.

Beyond the hashtag: Exploring CDMX’s top 10 Instagrammed locations

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Bethany Platanella

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February 22, 2024

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virroylola — Mexico City is (maybe) the most Instagrammable place in the world. Here's our guide to how to take the best photos and avoid the crowds. (Virroylola/Instagram)

My life in Mexico City consists of regularly dodging slews of tourists taking “candid” shots of each other in the most predictable places. Twenty-somethings dressed in trendy, oversized blazers and Ray-Bans with an iced coffee in one hand, gazing off into the distance in wonder, or (my personal favorite) laughing heartily over an undetected incident that occurs precisely the moment the flash goes off.

The backdrops are some of Mexico City’s finest — the Angel of Independence, the Museum of Fine Arts, the castle in Chapultepec Park. If you’re someone with a weak spot for Mexico, and I imagine you are, these landmarks are likely slathered all over your Instagram feed.

The Rosetta bakery located in la Colonia Roma is a must if you are in Mexico City, but that means getting the perfect photo can be very difficult indeed. (Panadería Rosetta/Instagram)

I’ll be the first to admit, Casa de los Azulejos in the historical center does make for an excellent picture. But (cue Carrie Bradshaw) I can’t help but wonder…how many of the models actually know what it is they’re taking a picture of?

While it’s appealing to avoid the photo shoots altogether, I encourage you to brave the selfie-stick wielding crowds and see the iconic sites anyway. Read on to find out why and how to capture them in a unique way.

Angel of Independence (El Ángel de la Independencia)

Try a rooftop view at Salazar for an alternative (but still incredible) shot of the Angel. (Restaurante Salazar)

What is it: Let’s start with what it’s not: an angel. The statue is actually a representation of Nike, the Greek goddess of triumph. It was commissioned by Porfirio Diaz in 1902 for a whopping 2 million pesos to celebrate the centennial of Mexico’s independence from Spain in 1810.

It became a mausoleum until it fell in the earthquake of 1957. It was promptly rebuilt and is now the preferred scene for many quinceañera photo shoots.

Where to take a photo: Instead of the classic shot in the middle of Reforma, cars buzzing by at a frightening speed on either side of you, make a reservation at Restaurant Salazar. Aside from a fantastic photo of the “angel”, you’ll get the added bonus of fresh oysters and housemade sourdough bread.

The Museum of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes)

Yes, outside is lovely and iconic, but try getting inside the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and get some really great Instagram shots. (Alex Covarrubias/Wikimedia)

What is it: Another Porfirio-commissioned masterpiece, the building’s design and construction was to be completed by 1910. Many incidents plagued its advancement, including a sinking foundation and a lack of financing.

The revolution all but stopped the project entirely. After a decades-long hiatus, construction resumed and now showcases famous Mexican artists like Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros.

Where to take your photo: Instead of the Art Nouveau cupola, book a ticket to see the Folkloric Ballet of Mexico. Arrive early to see the opera house, whose marble interior and iridescent stage drop make for an excellent background for your selfie.

Zócalo

What is it: The third largest plaza…in the world. It dates back to Mexica (Aztec) times when it was the ceremonial temple of Tenochtitlan. According to local guide Fernando Acosta of Warrior Experiences, the Spanish renamed it Plaza de la Constitución. In the 19th Century, plans were made to build a statue here but construction was never finished past the base. The word for this plinth in Spanish is zócalo.

“Basically, it’s a nickname that stuck,” says Acosta. Even though the square is technically still Plaza de la Constitución, who says that anymore?

Where to take your photo: If you didn’t book a room at Circulo Mexicano, you can still meander your way up to the rooftop for a spicy margarita and a fantastic view. It’s situated just behind Catedral Metropolitana’s dome and adjacent to Templo Mayor, a juxtaposition that portrays the history of Mexico with succinct accuracy.

Frida Kahlo museum

A shot at Casa Azul is a must-have for most visitors to Coyoacán, but try the nearby Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo House and Studio Museum for a quieter version of the same photo. (Antonio Loya Jr./Instagram)

What is it: If the snaking line around the block is any indicator, Frida Kahlo’s bright blue house is on every tourist’s ‘must see’ list. The artist was born here in 1907, died here in 1954, and spent most of her life within its walls and peaceful gardens. Aside from her works, a visit gives you the chance to peek into her daily life, as her makeup is still intact in the bathroom and her paint kit in the studio.

Where to take your photo: Not here. Instead, head to San Ángel and visit the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo House and Studio Museum. The twin houses, his white and hers the same bright blue, are connected by a bridge and were the couple’s mutual abode for five years. You’ll still get a shot of that vibrant azul, without the crowds.

Trajineras at Xochimilco

No trip to Xochimilco would ever be complete without a snap of its iconic trajineras. Get there early to give yourself time to take some stunning photos. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)

What is it: These rainbow-colored boats are frequented by visitors and locals looking for a fun, often debaucherous, afternoon of micheladas and mariachi bands. What they don’t realize is that they’re sailing through the very canals the Mexica used in the 15th century to transport fresh fruits and vegetables from “floating farms” to the golden capital of Tenochtitlan.

Today, these farms (known as chinampas) supply some of Mexico City’s top restaurants with produce — Pujol and Contramar to name a few.

Where to take your photo: In this case, it’s a question of when. The answer is before dawn. Sign up for a sunrise tour with ArcaTierra or Comunidad Routes n Roots and capture that magical, misty moment on the water that occurs when the sun just starts to rise.

Rosetta Bakery

Rosetta is to bakeries what Paris Fashion Week is to models – an essential destination for a photoshoot. If you don’t want to stand in line behind the next big influencer, try escaping to a different, but equally delicious option. (Panadería Rosetta/Facebook)

What is it: Odds are high that 14 separate gringos have told you that Rosetta’s pastries are the best. This is naturally a personal decision in which I will not interfere. Elena Reygadas has won multiple awards for her craft and spearheaded the support of Latin women in the restaurant industry, and indeed, her bread is something to experience.

Be forewarned, though, that there will be a long line of Instagram models waiting their turn to bite into a concha while idly flirting with the camera. If this feels more like L.A. than Mexico…

Where to take your photo: Go immediately to Pastelería Ideal. This iconic bakery was opened in 1927 and has hundreds, if not thousands, of fresh-baked pastries on display. There are racks and racks of goodies including cakes, muffins, croissants, sandwiches, even jello! Photos are useless here, because this sugary wonderland screams video content.

Parque Rio de Janeiro

Parque de Río de Janeiro is maybe… too popular. The Morrocan Kiosk offers a calmer, much more impressive alternative – and the nearby bakery is just as good as Rosetta. (Shutterstock)

What is it: Speaking of pastries, a friend of mine and I have a joke. Wherever we see an uncommonly large gathering of gringos, we blame it on the New York Times. At some point, an NYT travel writer must have suggested that visitors to Mexico City buy a pastry at Rosetta Panaderia and eat it on a bench in Parque Rio de Janeiro, because that’s what they all seem to do.

Known for the large statue of Michaelangelo’s David, what you may not know nearby Edificio Rio de Janeiro is where the name came from. It’s called la casa de las brujas (the witch house), for its roof that resembles a witch’s pointy hat and for mysterious figures that appear in the windows — and is reputedly one of Mexico City’s most haunted houses.

Where to take your photo: If you want to sit in a beautiful square with an equally-good-if-not-better pastry surrounded by locals instead of tourists, go to the Moroccan kiosk in Colonia Santa Maria la Ribera. What it lacks in supernatural activity is made up for in ambiance and is a great place to immerse yourself in an authentic Mexico City neighborhood.

House of Tiles (Casa de los azulejos)

Casa de los Azulejos is, to be fair, an extremely pretty house. Grab a table at Sanborns to make the most of it. (Viaja Bonito)

What is it: Legend has it that the son of a wealthy 16th Century viceroy built this house to prove his worth to an ever-disapproving father. The facade is covered with countless hand-crafted Talavera tiles from Puebla and is popular for visitors to casually lean against while looking nonchalantly to their right so the optimal, and obviously spontaneous, profile picture can be snapped by a friend on standby with an iPhone.

(I cannot tell a lie. It’s a great shot.)

Where to take your photo: Inside this magnificent palace is none other than a Sanborns restaurant. And believe me when I tell you, it’s stunning. Reserve a table for their famous breakfast so you can first dine on fresh juice and huevos rancheros and then peruse the majestic interior.

Chapultepec castle (Castillo de Chapultepec)

Chapultepec Castle was the imperial residence of Emperor Maximilian. It now offers the best views of Reforma Avenue in town. (Kateskarma/Instagram)

What is it: It’s the only royal castle in all of North America and was home to Hapsburg Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Carlota. In pop culture, it was used while filming Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 adaptation of Romeo + Juliet, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.

Where to take your photo: Tour the historical museum, for starters. At the top, there is a black-and-white tiled balcony with sweeping views of the city. Position yourself in the front of the castle to snag a perfectly angled capture of Avenida Reforma. Legend has it that Carlotta would sit on this very balcony, watching her husband ride his horse to work on what was then a newly constructed super-highway that led from the suburbs to the city.

There you have it! Not only will you hit the biggest sights in CDMX, but you’ll also have a photo journal to boot. Share with your friends or flip through it when you feel like reminiscing about your visit to what is surely one of the world’s most fascinating cities.

Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.

Could Mexico’s nearshoring boom move south?

By

MND Staff

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February 22, 2024

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Port Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz — The port of Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz is part of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec trade corridor, which could be a booster for nearshoring investment in Mexico's southern states. (Cuartoscuro)

Foreign companies relocating to Mexico will increasingly choose to establish their operations in the south of the country due to a lack of water in northern and central states, according to the head economist at brokerage firm Grupo Bursátil México.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Miriam Acuña noted that some companies, such as those that make semiconductors, use large quantities of water and therefore seek to operate in areas where the resource is readily available.

“Companies seeking to relocate to our country will look for the most appropriate region for their functions,” she said.

Water is much more abundant in southern and southeastern states such as Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz and Oaxaca than in central and northern states such as México state, Baja California and Nuevo León. Widespread drought in recent times has exacerbated water shortages in some parts of the country.

Acuña noted that the government is aiming to attract companies to Mexico’s south via the construction of infrastructure projects such as the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT), which includes a train line between Pacific and Gulf of Mexico ports and a chain of soon-to-be-developed industrial parks.

“As we know, there are Taiwanese semiconductor companies seeking to set up in our country, but these types of industries need large quantities of water, so both the government and the private sector are carrying out large infrastructure investments in the southern region, with the objective of connecting with the east coast of the United States,” she said.

Santa Catarina river in Monterrery, Nuevo León — During droughts in spring 2022, the Santa Catarina river that runs through Monterrey, Nuevo León dried up. The city has been the beneficiary of much nearshoring investment to date but some are concerned about sustainability in the face of water shortages. (Cuartoscuro)

A group of 20 Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturers visited Mexico last year and learned about government incentives on offer to companies that establish operations in the CIIT, which runs between Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, and Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. They include a range of tax incentives that were announced last June.

Such incentives will offset the higher cost of getting goods to the United States from the south of the country. Companies operating in southern Mexico and seeking to get their products to the southeast and east of the United States could make use of the port at Veracruz, as U.S. brewer Constellation Brands plans to do, or that in Coatzacoalcos in the same state. The CIIT train line, which is set to connect with the Maya Train railroad in southeastern Mexico, will facilitate the movement of goods to port.

Constellation, which brews Corona and other Modelo beers, decided to build a brewery in Veracruz after its partially-built project in Baja California was canceled by the federal government precisely due to concerns over the amount of water it would use.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has encouraged foreign companies, including Tesla, to set up in southern Mexico due to the greater quantities of water there, but proximity to the United States, among other factors, led the Elon Musk-led electric vehicle manufacturer to ultimately choose Nuevo León for its new “gigafactory.”

AMLO and the interoceanic train — President López Obrador has made the Isthmus of Tehuantepec trade corridor a key project of his administration. (Cuartoscuro)

The Isthmus of Tehuantepec trade corridor has, however, attracted significant interest from foreign companies, while Yucatán is one southeast state that has already benefited from nearshoring investment.

In addition to water, Acuña said that the government must be able to guarantee a reliable supply of electricity to companies seeking to relocate to Mexico. The director of the Federal Electricity Commission declared in January that the state-owned power utility is “ready” to provide the power required to meet nearshoring-related demand.

Acuña also noted that the availability of workers and the quality of infrastructure in general are considerations for foreign companies looking at Mexico.

To take full advantage of the nearshoring opportunity, Mexico needs to train more engineers and IT experts, the economist added.

Acuña said that by taking full advantage of the nearshoring opportunity, Mexico’s GDP could increase by as much as 45 basis points in coming years. Official data published on Thursday showed that the economy grew 3.2% last year. On Acuña’s forecast, annual growth could exceed 7% in coming years.

Carlos Slim, Mexico’s richest person, is similarly optimistic, telling this week’s Mexico Nearshoring Summit that annual growth of 6% is possible during the next 10 to 15 years.

He said that the development of the CIIT will allow Mexico to send more goods to the east of the United States, “where until now Mexico’s participation has been low.”

“We have great export potential,” he said.

Yucatán’s SkyPark industrial project is one of several sites that have sprung up as a result of companies looking to nearshore in the south, rather than the north, of Mexico. (SkyPark)

Acuña compared the importance of the nearshoring opportunity to the entry into force of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994 and the reforms enacted by the previous federal government, among which was one that opened up Mexico’s energy sector to private and foreign companies.

Trade between Mexico and the United States has increased significantly since NAFTA took effect, while numerous private and foreign companies have invested in Mexico’s energy sector over the past decade.

In the next decade, Acuña said, “Mexico and North America as a whole are on track to become the most competitive region in the planet.”

“Upon analyzing the natural competitors of our country, we find that we have advantages that range from [the availability of] labor and infrastructure to demographic and geographic aspects,” she added.

In 2023, Mexico became the world’s economy 12th largest economy, according to the International Monetary Fund, and was the world’s top exporter to the United States, dethroning China.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) increased last year to reach its highest level since 2013 (when the sale of Grupo Modelo significantly boosted the total), but none of Mexico’s water-rich but historically disadvantaged southern or southeastern states was among the top 10 recipients of such investment last year.

Will 2024 be the year when at least one of those states enters the top 10 for FDI, as many other entities continue to contend with a scarcity of water?

With reports from Milenio, Forbes México and El Financiero

Volaris to offer direct McAllen-Cancún flight

By

MND Staff

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February 22, 2024

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Volaris plane in Mexico City — The new flight will operate twice a week beginning on July 3. (Octavio Hoyos/Shutterstock)

Mexico City-based budget airline Volaris has announced it is opening a new route from McAllen, Texas, to Cancún in July.

Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa confirmed the announcement Wednesday, saying the new route will strengthen the “new era of tourism” in her state, home to some of Mexico’s most popular beach destinations, including Cancún, Tulum and Playa del Carmen.

21 million tourists flocked to the beaches of Quintana Roo last year, as the state exceeded tourism projections. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)

The route will feature two flights per week beginning on July 3, linking the Texas border town with the popular resort destination on the northeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. Volaris announced the flights will be offered Wednesdays and Saturdays, leaving Cancún at 12:15 p.m. and returning from McAllen at around 4:05 p.m.

“This is a clear example of how collaborative efforts can overcome obstacles to build stronger connections among communities,” Lezama said Wednesday. “With this new route, Quintana Roo embarks upon a new era of tourism that promises unforgettable experiences for visitors to our state.”

The state has over 130,000 hotel rooms, and this number is expected to increase in 2024 with the addition of a growing number of vacation rentals. Quintana Roo also saw 6.1 million cruise passengers arrive during 2023.

Cancún International Airport boasts connectivity to more than 40 US cities and it ended 2023 with record-breaking tourism figures. The airport received roughly 33.7 million visitors last year. Revenue from tourism was reported to be 12% higher in 2023 than the year before, reaching US $21 billion.

“It has undoubtedly been a great year for Cancún, with numerous high-level events taking place,” Benito Juárez Tourism Minister Juan Pablo de Zulueta Razo said in early January. Benito Juárez is the municipality in which the city of Cancún, its municipal seat, is located.

The announcement of the new route comes five months after Mexico’s aviation safety rating was restored to Category 1 by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Mexico’s rating had been downgraded to Category 2 in May 2021 after the FAA found “the country did not meet International Civil Aviation Organization safety standards.”

With the safety rating restored, Mexican airlines are allowed to open new services and routes to the United States and have already announced a significant number of new flights connecting the two countries.

With reports from La Jornada Maya

Got 1 min? Locals help rangers rescue 21 stranded pilot whales in Celestún

By

MND Staff

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February 22, 2024

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unnamed-1 — Residents and park attendants rushed into action to save a pod of pilot whales in Yucatán, who were at risk in the shallow waters. (Screen capture)

Local residents and national park personnel on Tuesday rescued 21 short-finned pilot whales that had become stranded near a beach in the Celestún Biosphere Reserve, in western Yucatán state.

Park rangers noticed the imperiled animals, took video of them and immediately sent it to Picmmy, a local marine mammal conservation group. A nearby Navy oceanography station was also notified.

Más de 20 ballenas piloto quedaron varadas en el puerto de Celestún, #Yucatán. ⚠️
El avistamiento ocurrió en el sector conocido como “La Herradura”, detrás de las escolleras del puerto.
Los habitantes reportaron el hecho a elementos de la Marina, quienes actuaron para… pic.twitter.com/Yl0Jgx55jv

— Diario de Yucatán (@DiariodeYucatan) February 20, 2024

The rangers waded out into chest-high waters to prevent the marine mammals from endangering themselves in shallow water. Local residents also joined in the rescue effort, forming an extended line in front of the beach.

Once the Picmmy team arrived, they examined the short-finned pilot whales, discovering that two had suffered injuries, including one that was likely the result of an attack by an orca, or killer whale. After the evaluation was completed, the rescuers used boats to guide the pilot whales out to sea. Navy personnel joined in the efforts to shepherd the mammals to deeper waters.

“The participation of the public was critical in carrying out this rescue,” Raúl Díaz Gamboa, the Picmmy coordinator in charge of the operation, told La Jornada Maya newspaper. “They started without us, with the help of Celestún reserve personnel […] We decided to use all hands despite the risk of someone being struck or bitten, but we explained how to push the mammals and the importance of coordinating so that they could all be moved at the same time.”

Díaz, who is also director of the Marine Biology Department at the Autonomous University of Yucatán (UADY), said park personnel and members of the public have in the past received training to carry out this important maneuver, including on how to properly push and redirect the mammals and how to work in coordinated fashion to maintain a secure line of protection.

Pilot whales often stick together when one of a pod is injured, and experts say the behavior demonstrated in Yucatán is not uncommon. (NOAA/Wikimedia)

The number of pilot whales involved in the incident was not unusual, Díaz said, as pods typically stay together when one of their number is injured.

The rescue operation lasted most of the day. Picmmy was alerted at 10 a.m. and the animals finally reached open waters after 8 p.m. Navy personnel and park rangers remained in the area to make sure the pilot whales did not return.

Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) are cetaceans belonging to the oceanic dolphin family — which includes orcas — and are not actually whales. They are known as “cheetahs of the deep” for their ability to dive at high speed to hundreds of meters in search of prey.

With reports from Quadratin Yucatán, La Jornada Maya and Diario de Yucatán

Inflation slows in Mexico in first half of February

By

MND Staff

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February 22, 2024

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AMLO at the morning press conference discussing inflation — At the Thursday morning press conference, López Obrador highlighted the improvement in the annual headline inflation rate in the first half of February. (Cuartocscuro)

Mexico’s annual headline inflation rate fell to 4.45% in the first half of February, beating the forecasts of analysts.

Reported by the national statistics agency INEGI on Thursday, the rate is 0.43 percentage points lower than the 4.88% reading for the entire month of January.

It is considerably lower than the 4.7% median forecast of 13 analysts polled by Reuters earlier this week, but still above the Bank of Mexico’s target of 3%.

INEGI data also shows that the closely-watched annual core inflation rate, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, fell to 4.63% in the first half of the month, down from 4.76% in January. Core inflation has declined steadily over the past 12 months.

The decline in headline inflation comes after increases were recorded in November, December and January. Prior to November, headline inflation fell for nine consecutive months after reaching almost 8% in January 2023.

The latest inflation data reinforces views that the Bank of Mexico will soon make an initial cut to its record-high benchmark interest rate, which has remained at 11.25% since it was raised to that level last March.

“This reading takes away a huge weight from central bankers, who could begin cutting rates next month,” said Andres Abadia, Chief Latin America Economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.

The central bank’s next monetary policy meeting is scheduled for March 21.

Fruit and vegetable prices decline more than 7% in 2 weeks

While fruit and vegetables were just over 17% more expensive than they were in the first half of February 2023, prices dropped 7.2% compared to the second half of January, according to INEGI. Widespread drought has caused fruit and vegetable prices to increase significantly over the past year.

Vegetables at a market stand — The cost of fruits and vegetables, while still 17% higher than in the same period last year, fell significantly in the first two weeks of February compared to the last half of January. (Cuartoscuro)

The only other goods and service category for which prices declined in the first half of February compared to the previous 15-day period was meat. The reduction in prices was 0.64%.

The decline in prices for fruit and vegetables and meat was sufficient for overall headline inflation to recede 0.10% compared to the second half of January.

Despite drought conditions of varying intensity in much of the country, meat prices were 3.24% lower in the first half of February than they were a year earlier.

Prices for all other goods and services increased on an annual basis. Processed food, beverages and tobacco were 5.28% more expensive, while the cost of services increased by the same percentage. Non-food goods were 2.68% more expensive, while energy prices, including those for electricity and gasoline, rose 2.44% compared to a year earlier.

With reports from El Economista and El Financiero

On International Mother Language Day, Mexico celebrates linguistic diversity

By

MND Staff

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February 21, 2024

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A child wearing a cowboy hat and traditional clothing looks at the camera as festival dancers prepare to perform in the background. — There are 68 Indigenous groups officially recognized in Mexico, including Purépecha communities like this one in Coeneo, Michoacán. (Juan Jose Estrada Serafín/Cuartoscuro)

Mexico observed International Mother Language Day on Wednesday with both happiness and sadness.

The happiness comes from the fact that there are 68 surviving Indigenous languages in Mexico, spoken by 7.5 million people, according to figures from the country’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). About 6% of Mexico’s population of 130 million can speak Nahuatl, Maya, Tzeltal, Tzotzil, Mixtec or another Indigenous language.

The majority of indigenous Mexicans are concentrated in the states of Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guerrero and
Yucatán. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)

The sadness, however, is that almost 300 Indigenous languages in Mexico have already disappeared, and others are becoming increasingly endangered. Approximately 25 languages die out every year globally.

For example, Cuitlateco, a language native to the state of Guerrero and its surroundings, died in the 1960s with the death of it’s final speaker, Juana Can. Now Ayapaneco, a language native to a village in Tabasco, and Ixcatec, spoken in a village in northern Oaxaca state, are each critically endangered, with precious few speakers of each language remaining.

In Mexico, there are 23.2 million people over age 3 who identify as Indigenous, but only 3% of them speak one of the 68 native languages, or one of their 364 variants, according to the newspaper El Economista.

International Mother Language Day, or Día de la Lengua Materna in Spanish, arose from an initiative in Bangladesh and was approved in 1999 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It has been observed globally on Feb. 21 since 2002.

Women are primarily credited with passing indigenous language and culture on to following generations. (Fernando Carranza/Cuartoscuro)

Of Indigenous peoples who speak native languages in Mexico, 22.4% speak Nahuatl, 10.5% speak Maya, 8% speak Tzeltal, 7.5% speak Tzotzil, 7.2% speak Mixtec, 6.7% speak Zapotec: 4.1% speak Otomí, 3.5% speak Totonac and the remaining 30% speak one of the remaining Indigenous languages or variants.

Those speakers live mostly in rural regions, and half are in four particular southeastern states. In Oaxaca and Chiapas, three out of every 10 inhabitants speak an Indigenous language. In Yucatán and Guerrero, it’s two out of every 10.

Most speakers of an Indigenous language use it within their families and communities; and nine out of 10 also speak Spanish. In absolute terms, there are about 866,000 Mexicans who speak only their native language.

The survival of languages in Mexico is credited largely to women, with grandmothers, mothers and aunts the main transmitters of knowledge and culture to new generations.

Jesús Ramírez Cuevas, a spokesperson for the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, noted on social media that Mexico ranks 10th in the world in language diversity, the same as in 2019.

To observe the UNESCO day, Mexico’s National Institute of Indigenous Languages (INALI) organized a two-day conference titled “Linguistic Rights in the Field of Justice” in Mexico City. The importance of using professional-level translators and interpreters in legal situations was highlighted.

With reports from El Economista

López Obrador says Mexico is working with Canada on asylum-seeker surge

By

MND Staff

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February 21, 2024

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AMLO and Justin Trudeau — The number of Mexicans seeking asylum in Canada rose significantly last year. President López Obrador has said the Mexican government is addressing the issue with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a "very respectful way." (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)

The number of Mexicans seeking asylum in Canada surged last year, and Canadian authorities believe that crime groups in Mexico are playing a role in sending some of them to the country.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador acknowledged Canada’s concerns on Tuesday and said that the Mexican government is dealing with the issue.

Air Canada plane in flight — Mexicans do not currently require a visa to visit Canada, and 17,490 Mexicans applied for asylum in the country in the first nine months of last year. (Rene Dominguez/Shutterstock)

Data from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada shows that Mexicans submitted 17,490 claims for asylum in the first nine months of 2023, up 134% from a total of 7,483 in the whole of 2022. The number in 2013 was just 128.

Last year, Mexicans made more asylum claims in Canada than nationals of any other country. Just under 2,000 were accepted, while the remainder of applications were rejected, withdrawn or have not yet been processed. It is likely that some of the Mexicans who applied for asylum in Canada last year have since entered the United States.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that his government was “in conversations with Mexico about making sure that the number of asylum seekers — some of them supported by organized crime in Mexico to come up to Canada — are reduced.”

Since 2016, Mexicans have not needed a visa to travel to Canada, but Canadian officials have recently suggested that could change. Mexicans affiliated with criminal organizations began entering Canada in greater numbers once the visa requirement was dropped, according to Canadian intelligence reports.

A Canadian flag in front of a blurry city background — Mexicans have been able to enter Canada with just an electronic travel authorization since 2016, but now some Canadian politicians would like to see tighter restrictions. (Shutterstock)

A number of Mexican criminal groups, including the Sinaloa Cartel, have a presence in Canada, according to the website Insight Crime.

Trudeau’s remarks at an event in Winnipeg came after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) told the immigration committee of the lower house of the Canadian parliament earlier this month that it was investigating the role of crime groups in the smuggling of people to Canada.

“We can say that in Canada from our investigations across the country that there is Mexican organized crime involved in this,” said Richard Burchill, an RCMP acting assistant commissioner.

López Obrador was asked about the Canadians’ assertions at his morning press conference on Tuesday.

He told reporters that Truedau raised the issue with him during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the APEC conference in San Francisco last November.

“We agreed there that the foreign ministers of Canada and Mexico would deal with this matter. And there have been several meetings about this and we’re already taking measures, an agreement with Canada is being sought,” López Obrador said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) said in a statement on Jan. 24 that “due to the concerns about the increased number of Mexican asylum seekers in recent months, in December 2023, we held the sixth interim meeting of the Mexico-Canada High-Level Dialogue on Human Mobility.”

“… As a result of this meeting, we agreed to establish joint measures, which are making good progress, as reflected in the decreased number of asylum applications for the month of December,” the ministry said without specifying what those measures were.

The SRE also said it would “look for new solutions that can address the legitimate concerns of Canada and its provinces and, in turn, maintain the dynamic human mobility between our nations, which strengthens the economic exchanges and growth in the region.”

President López Obrador thanked the Canadian government for the decision not to act unilaterally on whether to allow Mexicans to enter their country without a visa. (lopezobrador.org.mx)

Asked on Tuesday whether organized crime is connected to the asylum claims filed by Mexicans in Canada, López Obrador responded:

“No. The thing is that there is an increase in asylum applications and we have to see if they really are people who need asylum or if it is [just] a means to get into Canada. … It’s an issue that the government of Canada has raised with us. … Prime Minister Trudeau raised it with me directly and we agreed to deal with it, but in a very respectful way.”

Apparently referring to the possible reinstatement of a visa requirement for Mexicans seeking to enter Canada, López Obrador said the Canadians “don’t want to take a unilateral measure that could affect Mexico, and we thank them very much for that.”

Francois Legault, the premier of the province of Quebec, wrote to Trudeau in January to urge the prime minister to take action over the flow of asylum seekers into Quebec and provide compensation for costs his government has incurred by taking them in.

“Mexican nationals represent a growing proportion of the asylum seekers arriving in Quebec, the possibility of entering Canada from Mexico without a visa certainly explains part of the flow of asylum seekers,” Legault said.

Canadian Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc subsequently said that he and Immigration Minister Marc Miller were considering visas and other measures for Mexican nationals seeking to enter Canada.

The United States government last year asked its Canadian counterpart to consider reintroducing visas for Mexicans due to an increase in illegal crossings into the U.S. from Canada.

Miller indicated last week that the Canadian government would implement measures to reduce Mexican asylum seeker numbers, but remarked,”I’m not going to tell you in advance when it will occur.”

The immigration minister didn’t specifically mention that authorities were planning to reintroduce a visa requirement, which was introduced by the Canadian government led by former Conservative Party prime minister Stephen Harper in 2008 and scrapped less than a year after after Truedau took office in November 2015.

With reports from El País, The Globe and Mail, National Post and Reuters

Mexico City’s new solar power plant is ‘largest of its kind in the world’

By

MND Staff

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February 21, 2024

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Planta Fotovolcaica CDMX-1 — Mexico City has unveiled it's new solar energy plant, said to be the largest of its type in the world. It will be able to generate 25 gigawatt hour per year, enough to power 10,000 homes. (Gobierno de CDMX/Cuartoscuro)

An installation of solar panels said to be the largest of its kind in the world was put into operation Tuesday on the rooftops of Mexico City’s massive public wholesale market, the Central de Abasto (CEDA).

The 32,000 solar panels installed over 21 hectares (52 acres) above the capital’s Central de Abasto (CEDA) have 18 megawatts of capacity, and will generate up to 25 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable electricity per year, according to data from Mexico City officials.

The panels are installed on the roof of Mexico City’s giant Central de Abasto market. (Gobierno de CDMX/Cuartoscuro)

That’s enough energy to power 10,000 homes for a year, officials added.

They also said that the electricity generated will reduce carbon dioxide emissions annually by 11,400 tonnes and result in annual savings of 3.5 million pesos (US $205,300) in the payment of CEDA’s electrical bills.

The reduction of the carbon footprint is equivalent to the reforestation and care of nearly 29,000 pine trees for 50 years, said Mexico City Mayor Martí Batres Guadarrama.

The plant, which cost 600 million pesos (US $35.2 million) to build, was promoted by Morena presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum during her 4½-year term as Mexico City mayor.

Sheinbaum has a master’s degree and Ph.D. in energy engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and from 1991 to 1994, she completed work for her doctoral thesis on the use of energy in Mexico at the world-renowned Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California.

The plant is being run by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).

Thirteen months ago, Sheinbaum declared that the project, in the capital’s eastern Iztapalapa borough, would be finished by the middle of 2023.

The plant was inaugurated this week by Energy Minister Miguel Ángel Maciel Torres and CFE head Manuel Bartlett Díaz, among others.

Mexico City Mayor Martí Batres was present at the inauguration of the new plant. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

Bartlett Díaz highlighted the plant as a work of economic development and social responsibility that will provide clean and cheap energy to the largest such market in Latin America.

“It is an important symbol — not just another electricity project,” Bartlett Díaz said. “It is really a sign that the [Mexico City] government has seen social and technological development as its main concern … [It’s] an example for the entire city.”

Maciel Torres said the next step is to generate storage batteries so that the electricity generated is not only used during the day, but also at night.

Like others, he also stressed the “important social component” of the project. “Not only are we thinking about the business, about recovering the investment, but we are thinking about supporting the population, the tenants, the people, the neighboring buildings,” he said.

The solar installation has been described as the largest urban solar park in the world; close competitors are the Radha Soami project in Amritsar, India and the rooftop solar park at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California.

A ranking of the world’s 15 biggest solar power plants by capacity also includes Mexico: the Villanueva Solar Park in Viesca, Coahuila, about 40 miles outside of Torreón, with 2.3 million solar panels and 754 megawatt capacity, making it the biggest solar plant in the Americas.

With reports from La Jornada