Monday, July 14, 2025

Memory and Tolerance Museum: Turning tragedy into compassion

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One of the top 10 museums in Mexico city, the Memory and Tolerance Museum has the mission to educate the public on the values of tolerance, non-violence and human rights (myt.org.mx)

A tour through the horrors of the past is a way to honor the memory of the victims, but also a way to prevent their suffering from being forgotten and similar episodes from hurting humanity again.– Museo Memoria y Tolerancia

In the heart of Mexico City stands a remarkable museum designed to reflect on humanity’s individual and collective power for social justice. The Museo Memoria y Tolerancia (Memory and Tolerance Museum, MMyT), praised as one of the top ten museums in the city, is driven by the mission to educate the public on the values of tolerance, non-violence, and Human Rights to inspire personal awareness and accountability. 

Inaugurated in October 2010, the award-winning architecture of this privately funded non-profit museum offers an immersive experience that enriches our understanding of the past and inspires a more peaceful coexistence.

The museum’s origins are rooted in a steadfast personal quest to honor the memory of those who suffered the Holocaust. Sharon Zaga, the visionary behind this project, felt a profound calling after visiting Auschwitz at the tender age of 16. Witnessing the harrowing remnants of one of history’s darkest chapters, she resolved to ensure that the memory of the Holocaust’s victims would never fade into oblivion.

Sharon Zaga, along with her friend Mily Cohen, persevered with unwavering determination for over 12 years to bring their vision of the museum to life. They faced monumental challenges, from collecting historical items and securing funds from private donors to acquiring prime real estate in Mexico City and building the perfect space. 

Yet, they say that one of the most formidable challenges they faced was defining the concept of tolerance. Tolerance, as they emphasize, is a frequently misunderstood word that does not mean merely being patient or conceding. Tolerance is the harmonious relationship of our differences, accepting everyone’s right to be different with the understanding that human rights and fundamental freedoms apply equally to everyone. 

The museum’s origins are rooted in a steadfast personal quest to honor the memory of those who suffered the Holocaust (myt.org.mx)

Visitors are accompanied by a guide who has dedicated at least a year to honing their expertise in history and conveying the museum’s key takeaways. These guides not only lead the tours but also encourage society to acknowledge our collective responsibility in shaping a world that upholds every human’s right to exist and be treated with respect and dignity.

The Memory section serves as a sobering reminder of the atrocities that have scarred human history. Seven permanent exhibits delve into some of the most chilling episodes of mass dehumanization, including the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, Cambodia, Guatemala, Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia, and the ongoing conflict in Darfur. Each exhibit offers a profound insight into the suffering of millions of innocent people and the devastating impact of hate speech and divisiveness.

The museum’s extensive exhibit on the history of the Holocaust meticulously chronicles the rise of the Nazi Party, replete with its propaganda laden with hate speech towards minority groups, most notably Jews, Jehovah’s Witnesses, communists, people with disabilities, Roma people, and homosexuals. The exhibit masterfully illustrates how this toxic rhetoric paved the way for societal segregation, systemic violence and ultimately, the horrifying reality of genocide. Through a comprehensive array of historical items and facts, the museum serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of widespread discrimination.

One of the museum’s most striking exhibits is a train car brought from Poland, one of the many used to transport millions of Jews to concentration and extermination camps. The museum’s epic battle to acquire this piece of history has proved meritorious, as visitors often recall that stepping into that car and perceiving “the tragic energy it still holds” is an “unforgettable experience”. 

Museo Memoria y Tolerancia is located in Plaza Juárez in Mexico City’s Historic Center and opens Tuesday to Friday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (myt.org.mx)

The Tolerance section, on the other hand, seeks to illuminate the concept of tolerance as an active attitude that recognizes the universality of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Here, nine permanent exhibits explore critical facets for peaceful coexistence: Tolerance, Diversity and Inclusion, Discrimination, Human Rights, Our Mexico, Great Humanists, Altruism, Stereotypes and Prejudices, and a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence.

As some people have caused enormous pain and destruction, there are also great champions of the fight for peace and justice. There are millions of anonymous heroes and some great humanists who have raised their voices in the face of injustice. This museum exhibits the inspiring legacies of iconic leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, and the Dalai Lama. Their lives serve to remind us all of our personal potential to effect social change and usher in a more equitable world.

To foster the power of awareness and personal responsibility in people of all ages, the museum established an innovative program aimed at the youngest members of society. MYT Sesame Island is an educational program designed for children ages 4 to 12. Developed in collaboration with Sesame Street, this program offers interactive exhibits guided by educational mediators where children and families come to understand their role in society and the importance of being agents for peace.

As we navigate the complexities of the world we live in today, Museo Memoria y Tolerancia offers a sanctuary where the young and old alike can learn, reflect and feel empowered. By walking through its halls, you contribute to preserving history and taking an active stand against intolerance. Let your visit be a step towards a more compassionate and inclusive world, and take part in this inspiring journey to enlighten a brighter tomorrow.

Museo Memoria y Tolerancia is located in Plaza Juárez in Mexico City’s Historic Center and opens Tuesday to Friday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Sandra is a Mexican writer and translator based in San Miguel de Allende who specializes in mental health and humanitarian aid. She believes in the power of language to foster compassion and understanding across cultures. She can be reached at: [email protected] 

Monarch butterfly season begins in Mexico

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Butterflies settle on a fir tree near El Rosario Butterfly Sanctuary in Ocampo, Michoacán.
Butterflies settle on a fir tree near El Rosario Butterfly Sanctuary in Ocampo, Michoacán. (Juan José Estrada Serafin/Cuartoscuro.com)

The monarch butterfly has officially arrived in Michoacán.

According to the Revolución News, the first colonies were spotted around noon on Nov. 1 before millions of butterflies arrived in huge clouds by the afternoon.

Michoacán is home to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, which spans over 562 square kilometers (also including parts of México state) and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every year, the reserve welcomes around 200 million butterflies that make a journey of some 4,000 kilometers from Canada to nest in the pine and fir forests of Mexico.

The ejidatarios (communal landowners) of El Rosario Butterfly Sanctuary confirmed the arrival of the butterflies and are expecting the arrival of at least 250 million this year.

The sanctuaries are set to open to the public in the second half of November.  The region expects 511,000 tourists this year, around 7% more than last season, according to the Tourism Minister for Michoacán, Roberto Monroy García.

The season is expected to bring in 625 million pesos (US $35 million) of economic revenue for the state.

El Rosario monarch butterfly sanctuary in Ocampo, Michoacan
The El Rosario sanctuary in Michoacán, located within Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, is one of Michoacán’s more well-known monarch butterfly sanctuary. (LBM1948/Creative Commons)

“They are flying in the United States and Canada, but their breeding sanctuaries are concentrated in the Michoacán forests,” Monroy told newspaper El Universal.

Michoacán has three monarch butterfly sanctuaries open to the public: El Rosario (the largest), Sierra Chincua and Senguio, which are home to the butterflies from November to March each year. Visitors can walk around the designated areas on foot or on horseback. México state also has three butterfly sanctuaries open to the public.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared the migratory monarch butterfly as endangered last year. However, on September 27, the subspecies was downgraded by the organization to “vulnerable to extinction,” a lower level in the risk classification system.

The reason for this change is that the IUCN has found that the models that predicted the insect’s disappearance were overly cautious, and the numbers are declining more slowly than previously thought.

With reports from Revolución NewsEl Universal, National Geographic and Gobierno de Michoacán

Which Mexico City bars are listed on the World’s 50 Best Bars 2023?

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Barmen shake cocktails in Hanky Panky
The secretive Hanky Panky - which does not advertise its location - has fast become a staple of the Mexico City cocktail scene. (Hanky Panky)

The World’s 50 Best Bars for 2023 have been announced – with four Mexican bars making the final list. If you’re looking for some options for your next night out in Mexico City, you may want to check out these winners.

Baltra Bar (No. 45)

Baltra bar, CDMX
The cozy, cool vibe of Baltra helped the Condesa bar to 45th on the list. (Baltra)

Since first opening in 2015, this bar in the heart of Condesa has attracted a loyal following with “Martini Tuesday” nights being one of its busiest. According to the 50 Best list, Baltra “has the feel of hanging out in the apartment of your coolest friend.”

Its latest “Overseas Archives” menu draws inspiration from Darwin’s research voyages.

Hanky Panky (No. 22) 

The Juárez speakeasy remained a Juárez neighborhood secret, the entrance hidden behind a taco stand, until the nightly queue around the block gave it away. 

Opening during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hanky Panky has continued to go from strength to strength. (Hanky Panky)

“Hanky Panky may have started out with its door shut [the bar opened during the COVID-19 pandemic] but it has become the open-armed center of a global bartending culture,” the 50 Best list said. 

Its current menu, “Passport” offers a collection that celebrates a blend of flavors and human connections. Their Latino Americano cocktail is a pineapple and coffee-infused twist on an Americano, inspired by Cartagena, Colombia.

Licorería Limantour (No. 7)

“Licorería Limantour changed the face of the Mexico City bar scene when it opened in 2011; you could even make the argument that it kicked the whole thing off,” the 50 Best list said of this bar in the Roma Norte neighborhood. 

Licorería Limantour, in the Roma Norte neighborhood of Mexico City.
Licorería Limantour, in the Roma Norte neighborhood of Mexico City. (Licorería Limantour)

The split-level bar is always lively and. the cocktail menu is constantly evolving, with signature drinks including the Fluffy Paloma and Margarita Al Pastor. 

The bar’s latest menu, “Ida y Vuelta” features a Oaxaca inspired menu – and as you might expect is not shy with the mezcal.

Handshake Speakeasy (No. 3)

Handshake Speakeasy, Juárez
Ranked third in the world, Juárez’s Handshake offers a “stellar cocktail experience.” (Opentable)

Ranked third in the world, Handshake Speakeasy is Mexico’s top bar according to the 50 Best list. Located in a hard to find  spot in the Juárez neighborhood, the lounge offers those  who find it  “a stellar cocktail experience.”

“Handshake is a black varnish, marble and brass shrine to the cocktail,” the 50 Best list said, with Bar director Eirc van Beek using molecular mixology “to create a liquid dialectic.” 

The Matcha Yuzu – made with whiskey, matcha, yuzu, vanilla and whey – was one of the speakeasy cocktails highlighted on the 50 Best list. 

Honorable mentions

Two more Mexico City bars made the 51-100 best bars in the world list: Kaito del Valle at No. 81 and Rayo at No. 72. 

Mexico News Daily

President López Obrador gives an updated timeline for Maya Train

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The northern stretch of the train's route will be operational this December, with all 34 stations expected to open by February. (Alstrom)

Trains will begin running on the Maya Train railroad next month, but the entire project won’t be finished until the end of February 2024, President López Obrador said on Sunday.

After completing another weekend trip to inspect work on the ambitious infrastructure project, López Obrador said on social media that the stretch of the 1,554-kilometer-long railroad between Campeche city and Cancún, Quintana Roo, will open Dec. 15.

The Maya Train will begin running between Campeche and Cancún on Dec. 15, stopping at 13 of 34 total stations. (@TrenMayaMX/X)

The section between Cancún and Palenque, Chiapas, will open on Dec. 31, while the entire railroad and its 34 stations will be operational on Feb. 29, he said.

The stretch between Campeche and Cancún includes part of Section 2 of the railroad (Escárcega-Calkiní) and the entirety of Section 3 (Calkiní-Izamal) and Section 4 (Izamal-Cancún).

Passengers seeking to travel from Mérida – the Yucatán Peninsula’s cultural capital – to the resort city of Cancún by train will be able to do so as of the middle of next month.

The Cancún-Palenque stretch runs through Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Bacalar, among other destinations.

The Maya Train’s 1,554 kilometer route has 34 stops in five states. (Tren Maya Trips)

Tourists who fly into Cancún airport will be able to board trains at an airport station to travel south to beach destinations or west to the colonial cities of Valladolid and Izamal.

The archaeological sites of Chichén Itzá and Cobá are also located along the stretch between Cancún and Mérida.

In his social media post, López Obrador said that 29 “restored archaeological areas” and six “Maya Train” hotels will be accessible to passengers once the entirety of the railroad is operational at the end of February.

In the same post, he said that Parque La Plancha, a new park in central Mérida, will open on Nov. 19 and that the new airport in Tulum will begin operations on Dec. 1.

The Tulum International Airport is scheduled to open to national air carriers on Dec. 1, with international service starting in March 2024. (Aeropuerto Internacional de Tulum/Facebook)

Several airlines have already announced flights to the government-built airport, including Delta, Aeroméxico, Spirit and Viva Aerobus.

López Obrador, who has less than a year left in office, has pursued an ambitious infrastructure agenda during his presidency.

He opened the Felipe Ángeles International Airport north of Mexico City in March of last year, after earlier canceling the previous government’s airport project, and inaugurated the Olmeca oil refinery on the Tabasco coast in July 2022, although it’s still not operating at full capacity over a year later.

The government is also close to opening a modernized rail line across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec between Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, and Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. The Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec project – which also includes highway upgrades and the establishment of new industrial parks – is touted as an alternative to the Panama Canal.

While López Obrador has championed all these infrastructure projects, and others, the one closest to his to his heart – perhaps partially because it runs through his home state of Tabasco – is the multi-billion-dollar Maya Train.

The president asserts that the railroad will spur much-needed economic and social development in Mexico’s long-neglected southeast by opening up the entire region to tourism. On Saturday, he said on social media that 100,000 people were working on the Maya Train and Tulum airport projects.

President López Obrador frequently praises the work done “’round the clock” to make sure the Maya Train is inaugurated this December. (lopezobrador.org.mx)

“Never had so many jobs been created in the southeast,” López Obrador wrote.

The success of the Maya Train project appears to hinge, at least partially, on convincing some of the millions of tourists who fly into Cancún airport on an annual basis to travel to inland destinations by rail rather than spending their entire vacation on the coast. Trains will compete with buses, which already serve the destinations through which the Maya Train will run.

López Obrador said Monday that train tickets will go on sale Dec. 1 and that trips on average will be 10% cheaper than those for buses.

The opening of the Maya Train railroad next month will no doubt give the president immense personal satisfaction, especially considering that the project has faced a range of challenges since construction began in 2020. They include court rulings that have temporarily halted work and ardent opposition from environmental groups, which say that the construction and operation of the railroad pose a threat to wildlife, subterranean rivers and the Maya jungle.

There have also been doubts about whether the railroad – along which tourist, commuter and freight trains are slated to run – would actually be ready to begin operations in 2023. But despite setbacks, the government – and especially López Obrador – has remained adamant that trains will begin running this year, and, at least according to the president’s timetable, that will be the case.

Mexico News Daily 

The week with President López Obrador

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President López Obrador
From Acapulco's recovery to Ayotzinapa developments to the peso's performance, find out what President López Obrador talked about this week. (Cuartoscuro)

President López Obrador presided over just four morning press conferences this week instead of the usual five as he took Thursday off for Day of the Dead.

The response to Hurricane Otis remained a dominant topic at the four mañaneras, but AMLO also addressed a range of other issues and events, including a court ruling in favor of a former official imprisoned in connection with the 2014 disappearance of 43 students in Guerrero.

Acapulco hotel after Otis
An estimated 80% of Acapulco’s hotels have been damaged by Hurricane Otis, and the industry anticipates they may not reopen until 2025. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

Acapulco hotels to reopen “as soon as possible”

After noting that the president of the Acapulco Hotel Association said that hotels in the resort city might not reopen until 2025 due to the damage Hurricane Otis inflicted on them last week, a reporter asked the president what date the government was aiming for.

“As soon as possible, as soon as possible,” López Obrador responded.

“We know how to work in order to get things done correctly and quickly, and we have the support of the armed forces and very responsible public servants,” said AMLO, who has relied on the military for a wide range of non-traditional tasks including infrastructure construction.

AMLO at morning press conference
The president discusses recovery efforts in Acapulco. (Lopezobrador.org.mx)

“… Didn’t we build the Felipe Ángeles airport in two years? Are we not going to build the Maya Train in five years? Are we not going to be able to rebuild Acapulco in a very short time? Of course we are,” he said.

The president declined to specify exactly when Acapulco hotels would start reopening, but emphasized his commitment to rebuilding the city.

“We’re going to get Acapulco back on its feet. Me canso ganso,” he said, using a colloquial phrase to indicate he was certain of achieving his goal.

AMLO advocates electronic voting for Mexicans abroad

Mexico's President Lopez Obrador with councilors of the National Electoral Institute
At a meeting with the National Electoral Institute councilors in mid-June, President Lopez Obrador was told clearly what he must not say publicly in order to avoid running afoul of election law, said Electoral Councilor Claudia Zavala. (Presidencia)

Later on Monday, López Obrador told reporters that he had asked National Electoral Institute (INE) counselors to guarantee voting rights for Mexicans abroad by allowing them to cast ballots electronically.

AMLO – who met with INE officials in June and subsequently declared that the government had begun a “new stage” in its relationship with the electoral authority – said that he was told that implementing an e-voting (or online voting) system was “very difficult,” but he asserted that it could be done.

“I, respectfully, would still call on the INE council … to establish an electronic voting system so that our compatriots [abroad] can vote,” he said before calling on lawmakers to assist the electoral authority.

“The majority [of Mexicans abroad] have their Mexican voter ID,” López Obrador added

“… You know what? If they want to [implement e-voting], they can. The problem is they haven’t wanted to,” AMLO said, referring to INE officials. “They always put obstacles in the way.”

López Obrador evidently believes that the ruling Morena party stands to benefit from allowing Mexicans abroad to vote electronically. Following in the president’s footsteps, presumptive Morena presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum recently held a rally in Los Angeles, which has a huge Mexican population.

Claudia Sheinbaum in Los Angeles
Claudia Sheinbaum (right) met with officials on tour in Los Angeles in October. (Claudia Sheinbaum/X)
Monday mention

AMLO expressed his appreciation for billionaire businessman Olegario Vázque Aldir, saying that the media, healthcare and hotel baron has “behaved very well” by cooperating with the government, including during the coronavirus pandemic when his chain of private hospitals accepted public patients.

AMLO emphasizes the reach of the government’s welfare programs 

“There are 35 million households in Mexico … and we’re now delivering support … to 30 million,” López Obrador said Tuesday morning, referring to the government’s provision of pension payments, educational scholarships and other benefits as well as the employment of citizens in programs such as the Sembrando Vida (Sowing Life) reforestation initiative and the Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro (Youths Building the Future) apprenticeship scheme.

“Even if it’s just a little bit of assistance, [government welfare] reaches 30 million households. That didn’t happen before,” he said.

Seniors, students, young people and farmers are among those who benefit, AMLO said.

AMLO at a press conference
The president has highlighted social welfare programs as one of his administration’s most important achievements. (Lopezobrador.org.mx)

One of the president’s favorite phrases is “for the good of all, the poor come first,” and he has made the provision of welfare one of his administration’s central purposes.

Presidential candidates’ future plans for welfare are almost certain to be a feature of the campaign in the lead-up to the June 2, 2024 election.

López Obrador has attempted to portray opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez as being anti-welfare, but the National Action Party senator has asserted that social programs won’t disappear if she becomes president.

A self-inflicted headache 

Near the end of another press conference dominated by reports on the impact of Hurricane Otis and the progress of recovery efforts, AMLO noted that the book he is currently writing – his 19th – “is directed to young people” and “for young people,” in whom he said he has “a lot of confidence.”

“It’s giving me a bit of a headache because I’m writing it in my free time and intellectual work also wears you out, it’s quite exhausting,” he said.

President López Obrador
President López Obrador presents his book, A la mitad del camino, at a press conference in 2021. (Gob MX)

López Obrador said in June that “the book isn’t autobiographical,” but “has … to do with political experience.”

Its aim is to help young people who want to dedicate their lives to “the noble trade of politics,” he said June 16.

The new book is a follow-up to A La Mitad del Camino, which was published (and reviewed by Mexico News Daily) in 2021.

Tuesday tidbit

“We have a lot in common,” AMLO said in reference to Mexico and Guatemala. “We are peoples that inherited a great reserve of cultural, moral and spiritual values that the great Maya civilization left us.”

Recovery plan for Acapulco 

Much of AMLO’s Wednesday presser was taken up by the presentation of a Hurricane Otis recovery plan for Acapulco and the neighboring municipality of Coyuca de Benítez.

López Obrador outlined details of the 61.3-billion-peso, 20-point plan, which includes monetary support and tax relief for Hurricane Otis victims, interest-free loans for businesses and funds for public works.

“It’s important to say … that we have the budget to fund all these needs, these programs and we don’t consider the allocation of these resources an expense but rather an investment,” he said.

Evelyn Salgado
Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado described the people of her state as “brave” and said that Acapulco will “sparkle once again.” (Gob MX)

“We fortunately have healthy public finances and when it comes to providing benefits to the people we have unlimited resources,” he said, adding that the 61-billion-peso cost of the recovery plan is “an estimate” and that if more money is needed, “we’ll increase the budget.”

Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado said earlier in the press conference that guerrerenses – natives and residents of the state – are “a brave people” and “a people who know how to rise up in the face of any adversity.”

With the help of Mexican authorities, the Mexican people “and even international assistance,” Acapulco “will sparkle once again,” she said.

Two Mexicans leave Gaza 

Later on Wednesday, López Obrador read aloud a message from Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena announcing that a Mexican woman, Michelle Ravel, had left the Gaza Strip and was on her way to Cairo, Egypt.

Asked whether she was a doctor who had been working for Doctors Without Borders, AMLO said she was, but appeared to be mistaking Ravel for another woman in Gaza, Bárbara Lango.

Barbara Lango
Mexican citizen Bárbara Lango (center) was stranded in Gaza when the war began. (SRE_mx/X)

He subsequently said that authorities were seeking to obtain information about when Lango – an anesthesiologist from Sinaloa who has been in Gaza since 2022 – would be included on “the exit list,” allowing her to enter Egypt via the Rafah Border Crossing.

“They weren’t hostages, but they were in the Gaza Strip,” López Obrador said of Ravel, who is also reportedly a doctor, and Lango, who subsequently did manage to get to Egypt with her husband.

Two other Mexicans, Ilana Gritzewsky and Orión Hernández, are presumably still being held hostage in the Gaza Strip after they were abducted by Hamas members during the militant group’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

Wednesday wisdom 

Governor Salgado read aloud (in Spanish) a Náhuatl poem at the conclusion of her remarks on the hurricane response efforts.

“They tore down our fruit, cut our branches and burned our trunk, but nothing can kill our roots.”

Ayotzinapa update 

López Obrador acknowledged on Friday morning that a judge had ruled that former attorney general Jesús Murillo Karam – who is in prison in connection with the disappearance and presumed murder of 43 students in Guerrero in 2014 – could be transferred to house arrest as he awaits trial due to ill health and his advanced age (75).

“The [former] attorney general couldn’t leave [prison] because there is another case [against him], but [the judge] argued in favor of his release,” AMLO said.

Jesús Murillo Karam in 2016
Former attorney general Jesús Murillo Karam in 2016. (Cuartoscuro)

The president asserted that there was something “very strange” about the ruling, saying that a hearing was scheduled just 2 1/2 hours before it was held when there is “always” at least 48 hours notice.

“And the judge, according to the report I have, acted on orders because he spoke ill of me, … said that the judicial power is above the executive, … that they had more power than anyone, that he could do what he liked and that furthermore we weren’t fulfilling the commitment we made to clear up the Ayotzinapa case,” López Obrador said.

Asked whether the government would appeal the ruling, he said that was a decision for the Federal Attorney General’s Office.

Murillo Karam, who has been in the medical wing of a Mexico City prison for months, is accused of forced disappearance, torture and obstruction of justice in connection with the abduction of the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers College students

López Obrador, whose government released a new report on the case in late September, was also asked about the government’s attempt to have Tomás Zeron extradited from Israel. The former head of the now-defunct Criminal Investigation Agency is accused of abduction, torture and tampering with evidence in connection with the Ayotzinapa case.

The extradition process is “advancing very slowly, even more slowly now due to the situation in Israel and Gaza,” AMLO said.

Protesters outside the Israeli embassy in Mexico City
Protesters outside the Israeli embassy in Mexico City in September last year, demanding Zerón’s extradition. (ROGELIO MORALES /CUARTOSCURO.COM)

“It’s becoming more complicated, but we’re going to continue insisting on the extradition being carried out,” he said.

“I’ve written to two Israeli [government] ministers about the issue. There has been a response that they’re going to cooperate, that they’re going to help, but up until now [the extradition] hasn’t been achieved,” López Obrador said.

AIFA on the rise, but Interjet still “in trouble”

AMLO welcomed recent announcements from Viva Aerobus and new state-owned airline Mexicana that they will operate a combined total of 37 new flights from the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), the army-built airport just north of Mexico City.

“It’s very good that these companies are moving [to AIFA],” he said, although Mexicana hasn’t yet started flying.

The number of flights at AIFA is increasing because the Mexico City airport (AICM) is “saturated,” López Obrador added.

Interjet office AICM
Interjet stopped flights in 2020 and is in debt to both the government and to private companies, according to AMLO.(Cuartoscuro)

“Additional operations cannot be allowed [at AICM], … that’s why … [airlines] are going to move [more flights] to the Felipe Ángeles Airport. We’re pleased with this decision that the airlines are taking,” he said.

Turning his focus to Interjet, which stopped flying in late 2020 due to a lack of funds, AMLO said the situation the airline faces is “quite complex.”

It not only owes money to the federal tax service SAT, state-owned airport corporation ASA and other government institutions but also to private companies, he said.

“So, yes, that company is in quite a lot of trouble,” López Obrador said.

He said that the government made “proposals” to help Interjet settle its debts, but “they didn’t accept or they weren’t interested.”

If the airline wants to fly out of AIFA, that’s “all good,” but it first has to “get up to date” with its debts, AMLO said.

AMLO at Friday press conference
The president emphasized the strengthening of the peso against the US dollar this week on Friday. (Lopezobrador.org.mx)
Friday fragment

“Look how [the peso] is doing,” AMLO said as a USD:MXN exchange rate of 17.39 was displayed on the screen behind him.

Super peso, very strong. This helps us. There are some disadvantages, but there are more advantages,” he said.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

Take your chilaquiles from good to great with this simple step

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Traditional chilaquiles can be red or green, but you can try them with different salsas, like guajillo chili or mole. (Unsplash)

Chilaquiles—or “breakfast nachos,” as I like to call them—seem like such a simple thing to make. Grab a handful of chips, add a protein (a couple of fried eggs, leftover grilled chicken, or a spoonful of refried or whole beans), some melty cheese, pour some salsa on top, and stick the whole thing in the toaster oven for a few minutes. Voila!

At least, that’s what I’d planned to do the other day, but as I was rummaging around in the fridge I came across a small, sad bag of leftover corn tortillas. Hmmm, I thought, why not make my own chips? 

My friends, let me tell you: It was a game-changer.

The word “chilaquiles” is a Náhuatl word meaning “submerged in chili sauce.” Some folks like the chips to be drenched or soaked in salsa; others (myself included) like ‘em crisp. Either way, they’re delicious.

Making your own tortilla chips is one of those little steps that takes any dish from basic to supreme, common to memorable, ho-hum to wow. It’s why you can’t resist ordering them at certain restaurants even though your rational mind is screaming that it’s too much money for a pile of tortilla chips on a plate. It’s a professional chef’s secret that’s easy to incorporate into your home kitchen repertoire and will make your friends and family talk about your chilaquiles (or nachos, tortilla soup, or guacamole and chips) like they were really something special. 

And they will be.

Chilaquiles are the perfect traditional Mexican breakfast. (Unsplash)

I’m not saying that a great salsa, creamy guacamole, charred poblano strips, spicy crumbled chorizo, or any number of fantastic add-on ingredients won’t also up your chilaquiles game; they will. (The recipe below includes a delectable smoky guajillo chile salsa.) But the chips are the foundation, and you want them to be the best they can be.

I’d always assumed tortilla chips had to be deep-fried to be any good. Well, that’s not true. If you want to make ‘em that way—in a deep pot with 2-4 inches of hot oil at just the right temperature—go right ahead. But it’s not necessary. Sautéed in just enough hot oil or fat to cover, your corn chips will be fantastic in a way you never knew was possible. 

Here’s how to do it: Cut corn tortillas into the shape you want, either strips or triangles. Old, stale ones are OK and in fact, some say they work the best. You want the pieces to be flat, so don’t use any tortillas with curled edges or that have gotten bent. (If you were deep-frying the tortilla pieces this wouldn’t matter.)

Pour about ¼ -inch of oil into whatever size non-stick frying pan you’re using. Heat the oil on medium-high until it’s hot: shimmering but not smoking. Carefully place the tortilla strips or pieces into the oil, being careful not to crowd them or the oil will lose too much heat too fast and they won’t cook properly. 

Over high heat, cook for a few minutes, watching carefully, until the edges begin to brown a little. Carefully flip the pieces and cook the other side. They will continue to cook after you remove them from the oil so don’t let them get too dark. Lift out with a slotted spatula and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool. Sprinkle with salt and serve immediately.

Quick ‘n’ Easy Chilaquiles for One

Making your own tortilla chips will make a huge difference. (Unsplash)
  • About 2 cups of fresh-made tortilla chips (see above)
  • Salsa of choice
  • Cooked or refried beans
  • Protein of choice: fried eggs, chorizo, grilled chicken
  • 1 cup shredded Chihuahua, Jack or other meltable cheese
  • Toppings: crumbled queso fresco, minced cilantro, sliced avocados or guacamole, crema, pickled jalapeños

Mound chips on small baking tray. Add salsa, beans, chorizo or chicken and melting cheese. Broil in toaster oven for 5-8 minutes till cheese melts and salsa bubbles. Remove, add eggs or toppings, and serve. 

Sheet-Pan Chilaquiles with Guajillo Salsa

  • 6 Roma tomatoes, quartered
  • 1 small yellow onion, quartered
  • 3 garlic cloves, halved lengthwise
  • 1 jalapeño, stemmed, halved lengthwise
  • 1¼ cups chicken broth
  • 5 dried Guajillo chile peppers, stemmed, seeded and torn into large pieces
  • ¼ cup canola oil
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. ground coriander
  • 8 oz. corn tortilla chips (about 4-5 cups)
  • 4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken (from 1 whole chicken)
  • Toppings: Chopped onion, avocado or guacamole, crumbled queso fresco, crema, chopped cilantro and pickled jalapeños

On a sheet pan, combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, and jalapeño; broil (at about six inches from heat source) until lightly charred around the edges, turning occasionally, about 10-15 minutes. Transfer to blender.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan combine broth and dried chiles. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside. To the blender add the rehydrated chiles with broth, oil, salt, and coriander; purée until smooth.

Heat oven to 425F (220C). On the same sheet pan (no need to wash), toss chips with 2 cups of salsa and then spread in an even layer. Toss chicken with remaining salsa and arrange on top of chips. Roast until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Garnish with preferred toppings and serve

Janet Blaser is the author of the best-selling book, Why We Left: An Anthology of American Women Expats, featured on CNBC and MarketWatch. She has lived in Mexico since 2006. You can find her on Facebook.

What does it meme? The Mexican memes making the rounds

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When it comes to learning about a culture, humor is often the last frontier.

If you’re on a quest to understand Mexican humor – or at least to find the best Mexican memes to share with your friends – we’ve got you covered! Here’s this week’s curated collection with a translation, background, any relevance to current events, and hopefully, a good chuckle.

Meme Translation: I mean, none needed, right?

What does it meme?: When it starts getting cold outside, Mexican tamal season is upon us. Actually, it’s never absent! 

From the magic of AI – I’m assuming – comes this work of true art! The iconic scene from the blissful but short pre-ghost time in the movie Ghost has been adapted for even steamier levels of tender romance (tamales are cooked by steaming, after all): the clay vase has been replaced with the ingredients of tamales – masa (dough), carne de puerco en salsa verde y salsa roja (pork in green and red sauce). Hopefully the tamales they’re making make out better than that vase in the movie did!

And since we’re talking about tamales:

Meme Translation: (Announcement) “Pigs for Sale” → (first comment) “Are they good for tamales?” → (second comment) “Well I haven’t taught them yet, it would just be a question of patience!”

What does it meme?: Want to know how to make Mexican tamales? Well, one of the most common meat ingredients is, sadly for the future chefs above, pork. Here’s hoping these ones are fast learners! While they’re probably smart enough, their lack of opposable thumbs for scooping out the masa, distributing the ingredients, and folding the corn husk over it will probably work against them.

Meme Translation: “Look at me, I’m paying my rent with the honor of managing Eugenio Derbez’s social media accounts!”

What does it meme?: This one will take some explaining. Eugenio Derbez is a famous comedic actor in Mexico (you’d probably recognize him) who had the misfortune of saying something dumb and tone-deaf on camera. The internet never forgets, people! 

In an interview from 2018 – I’m unsure why there are suddenly so many memes about it making the rounds now – he seemed to take offense to the fact that a young person had asked him, after being offered the job of managing his social media accounts, how much he would be paid for doing so. He went on to say that he would have done it for free simply for the honor and opportunity that working with such a famous person would bring. 

How quickly those with plenty forget (or perhaps never knew) what it’s like to worry about meeting one’s monthly expenses!

Meme Translation: “Why so dressed up, Mr. Cloud?” → “There’s a solar eclipse today, boy.”

What does it meme?: Xalapeños were pretty sad about their inability to view the solar eclipse that took place on a cloudy and overcast morning…especially after a full week of unusually sunny and hot weather. We weren’t the only ones in Mexico that missed a good view of it though, and as always, the memes poured in. 

This is one of my favorites, along with this other close contender shared locally by my friend who works in the civil protection department:

“Aviso importante a los xalapeños* A fin de proteger la vista y dado la imprudencia de querer ver el eclipse directamente sin protección hemos decidido mantener nublado el cielo mientras dura el fenómeno. Gracias por su comprensión, Protección civil a su servicio.

(Translation: “Important announcement for xalapeños: To protect the sight of our citizens in light of their intentions to watch the eclipse directly without protections, we have decided to keep the sky cloudy throughout the event. Thank you for your understanding. Civil Protection, at your service.”)

Meme Translation: “Plants on the street: I don’t care, I’ll break the cement to keep growing.” → “Plants at home: Oh no, the pH of the water is too high.”

What does it meme?: The struggle is real! I’ve got plants on my mind since the article on native plants, and am just constantly amazed at how impossible it seems to get rid of some and how easy it is for the ones you actually want to grow inside to die. Alas, plants prefer the ground to a maceta (pot) just like fish prefer the sea to a fishbowl. 

Also, this meme format of the giant muscle dog next to the wimpy dog, popular in Mexico at the moment, cracks me up.

Meme Translation: “When a man cooks, washes his clothes, and cleans the house.” → “I hereby name you: Functional Adult.”

What does it meme?: Feminism in Mexico has taken a while to catch on, admittedly, and the struggles this movement faces are one of my favorite topics to write about. But with younger and more educated generations especially, the idea that women must forever be the handservants of the men in their lives is losing popularity (finally).

Child-rearing is still widely seen as the realm of the mother. However, an area where it’s hard to win (like everywhere, I suppose): women are both ultimately held responsible in a “buck stops here” sort of way and also blamed for raising what turn out to be spoiled men. (Here’s an article I wrote about child-rearing attitudes in Mexico if you’re interested). 

Meme Translation: ”I can’t lift the car…” → ”Did you try using the jack?” (in Spanish the word for “jack” and “cat” are the same: “gato”) → “Yeah, he tried, too.”

Most of these memes are found in the normal way: in chat groups, on Instagram, and on Facebook. If you’ve got a suggestion about one to include, feel free to send it my way! Now, without further ado…

I hope you all are enjoying these and that you have a fantastic week! 

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

The famous María doll sparks a new line of Mexican handcrafts – and identity

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Wixárika (Huichol) rag dolls made by the Las Rosetas cooperative in Nayarit.

Mexico’s handcraft traditions remain vibrant today because they are both conservative and innovative at the same time. They maintain a link to the past, often through form and or generations of artisans in the same family, but these same forms and artisans evolve to respond to their changing markets.

This fusion works best when artisans find ways to reinterpret culture on their own terms. One example of this is the humble cloth doll. 

The María/Lele doll is recognized primarily by its unique face shape, allowing for this Catrina version by Clauda Blas Juan of Amealco, Querétaro. (Alejandro Linares García)

Mexico is not particularly well-known for its doll-making, although there is evidence of this from both the Mesoamerican and colonial periods. Like everywhere else in the world, these dolls’ purpose is to pass down an image of society to those who will raise the next generation.

Dolls, like many toys, have always been made with whatever is available, though cloth did not fit the bill for most Mexicans economically, at least until the past century.

The María doll

In fact, the first example of an “indigenous” cloth doll handmade for commercial purposes is the María. She emerged in the 1970s when many Mazahua and Otomi women were eking out a living on the streets of Mexico City. Part of a program to improve their lives, the dolls are a rough approximation of a traditional Otomi and/or Mazahua woman, modified to be quick and easy to produce.

Cloth dolls are not traditional for Nativity scenes, but this one in Mexico City shows artisans’ ability to integrate new ideas on their own terms (Thelmadatter/Linares García)

The doll became a very successful street item for some time, although today, they are somewhat harder to find in the capital.

The town of Amealco, Querétaro “took over” production of the María and is now seen as the center of the trade. Artisans living there learned to make the dolls from family in the city and over the past decades, these wide-faced dolls have become almost entirely associated with the Otomí community there – with some even claiming that the doll was invented in the town. With the doll image now internationally famous, María (or Leles as they are also known) has become a major industry for the municipality and the basis of its tourism.

Visiting this Pueblo Mágico, it looks like the dolls rule. With their signature wide faces, you can now find Leles dressed in all kinds of ways, especially during the town’s annual doll fair in November. Interestingly, there is a cloth doll with a longer history in the same area, still found just outside Amealco in San Ildefonso Tultepec. Its body is made of two rolls of fabric in a cross pattern, with hair, face, and clothing added. 

Tlanezi dolls

Otomi Genoveva Pérez Pascual is a vital force in Amealco’s doll industry. Here she is holding a rolled rag doll, which has a longer history in this area than the María/Lele. (Alejandro Linares García)

The success of the Marías has inspired a number of Indigenous (and other traditional communities) to try their hand at making them, especially in communities with a textile-making tradition. The main advantage of dolls is that they are quicker and easier to make and able to be sold for less than an intricately woven or embroidered full-sized garment. Dolls can bring in some money while artisans wait for special customers able and willing to pay thousands of pesos for something that took months to make.

One such community is the tiny Nahua community of San Juan Totolcintla, which lies along the banks of the Balsas River in Guerrero in the shadow of a giant suspension bridge that links Mexico City and Acapulco. Deep in this hot valley, life is very traditional and very difficult, with residents traditionally making a living from tomato farming. José Luis Juárez Baltazar wanted to provide the women here (almost all of whom are housewives) a way both to help support their families and maintain pride in their traditional identity. The result is Tlanezi which makes cloth dolls that can be found in both everyday and special festive wear. I met Júarez Baltazar initially at a craft fair and was more impressed with the dress than the doll itself. Three years later, I had the opportunity to visit the pueblo and was impressed by how much their doll-making skills had improved in such a short time.

Mixtecas dolls

Dolls can also tell a story of migration. At another fair, I was surprised to find dolls dressed in Mixtec clothing at a booth representing Baja California. The women who made them are indeed Mixtecs from Oaxaca and Puebla but now live in the desert north because there has been migration to work the large commercial fields in this state –so much so that the Mixtecs are now the largest Mexican indigenous group in Baja California. At this fair, Magdalena Ramirez Huerta of Creaciones Mixtecas Nuumi told me that they began by making Marias but soon shifted to a doll design that reflects their culture.

Zapatista dolls

The Pastitstan family are one of few who continue to make Zapatista dolls in memory of the 1990s uprising in Chiapas. They include a cloth version as well as the older wood one. (Leigh Thelmadatter)

Not all forms of doll-making are new, and at least one is in danger of disappearing. The Pastitstan family in San Juan Chamula, Chiapas is one of the few who are still making Zapatista dolls. In 1994, the Zapatista movement erupted out of the Chiapan highlands and into international media, with its charismatic leader Subcomandante Marcos making the case that globalization threatened indigenous communities. This brought reporters and other foreigners to then-unknown Chiapas, and local artisans quickly learned that by dressing local dolls like the rebels, there was money to be made. As late as 2010, these Zapatista dolls were easy to find.

Not so today. Memories have faded and other things grab international attention, but this family in this highly traditional town continues to make both wood and cloth versions of Zapatistas, as well as depictions of traditional dress. But buy one if you can; it is not likely to survive another generation.

As a recent innovation, for many communities, variance in style and quality is quite wide. One common element is that the doll itself is always made with commercial cloth (handwoven would be too expensive for this), and often with less attention paid to whether the skin tone reflects that of the community.

However, the dress is always impeccable. Making a cloth doll may be new, but the clothing is just miniature versions of the garments that artisans have stitched their entire lives. 

Magdalena Ramirez Huerta shows off dolls made by Mixtec women made by migrant Mixtec women in Baja California (LeighThelmadatter)

And it is this clothing that makes the dolls valuable in most cases. For handcraft and Indigenous culture aficionados, buying the dolls offers an affordable way to support artisans. Most artisans can (and do) sell traditional garments, but some of us outsiders may not feel comfortable wearing something like a full Tarahumara or Wirikuta ensemble. With a doll, you can appreciate the clothing’s impact in its entirety without concerns of cultural appropriation.

But how to find and buy them?

Like other authentic and quality handcrafts, it is necessary to know where to look. With the exception of Amealco, there are no communities that specialize in doll making, although many do still offer them alongside their traditional wares. Your best bet is to keep an eye out for them at cultural fairs and folk art galleries and shops.

Whether dolls are an extension of tradition or innovation, they appeal to “kids of all ages” as a kind of reflection of those who make, play with and yes, collect them. They are truly folk art.

Leigh Thelmadatter arrived in Mexico over 20 years ago and fell in love with the land and the culture in particular its handcrafts and art. She is the author of Mexican Cartonería: Paper, Paste and Fiesta (Schiffer 2019). Her culture column appears regularly on Mexico News Daily.

Does Mexico set clocks back this weekend? Only in these cities

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A clock casts a long shadow on a white wall.
While most of Mexico has abandoned Daylight Saving Time, some regions have chosen to keep it to stay in harmony with the U.S. (Renel Wackett/Unsplash)

A vast majority of people who live in the United States and Canada will “fall back” this weekend when daylight saving time ends. But what will happen in Mexico, whose Senate voted last year to eliminate the mostly North American and European practice?

Mexico ended Daylight Saving Time for the last time in October 2022 across the majority of the country, meaning most Mexicans will not set their clocks back one hour this fall.

A person wearing a smartwatch checks the time.
A year ago, the Mexican legislature approved a law eliminating daylight saving time for most of the country. (Luke Chesser/Unsplash)

Why did Mexico stop observing daylight saving time?

The new law, which was pushed by President López Obrador, means they didn’t “spring forward” an hour last March, and therefore, won’t have to set their clocks back this weekend.

Thus, it won’t be getting darker an hour earlier. For example, in Mexico City on Sunday, sunset will be at 6:01 p.m., the same time as the evening before.

However, a number of Mexican locales do observe daylight savings time — mainly in areas close to the U.S. border.

People in the entire state of Baja California, plus those in more than 25 municipalities in five other northern states, will be setting their clocks back an hour this weekend to stay in sync with their U.S. neighbors, so as to not lose the economic and administrative relations they maintain.

Which cities still observe daylight saving time?

This list includes cities such as Tijuana, Mexicali and Ensenada (Baja California), Ciudad Juárez (Chihuahua), Piedras Negras and Acuña (Coahuila), and Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, Río Bravo and Matamoros (Tamaulipas). No big cities in Nuevo León use daylight saving time anymore.

The northern state of Sonora discontinued the observance of daylight saving time in 1999 to match most of neighboring Arizona.

The Mexico-US border wall runs through the desert with mountains behind it.
Certain areas of Mexico near the U.S. border continue to use daylight savings time.

Quintana Roo is also a bit of an anomaly among Mexico’s four time zones. In 2015, the state, which includes Cancún, Tulum and Playa del Carmen made a tourist-related decision to shift into the Eastern time zone (and to stop observing daylight saving time).

After Saturday night, people in Quintana Roo will thus be back at the same time as New York City in Eastern Standard Time (EST), after spending the summer months one hour earlier in Central Daylight Time (CDT).

Eschewing daylight saving time led to some confusion throughout Mexico over the summer. Because much of the country remained on Central Standard Time (CST), it no longer matched up with Chicago when the Windy City shifted in March to CDT, but instead was on the same time as cities such as Denver in Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).

After Saturday night, most of Mexico will be back in sync with Chicago again.

With reports from El País and Reuters

Business leaders say government recovery plan in Acapulco falls short

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Acapulco hotel zone after Otis
Leading private sector group Coparmex has said it intends to raise private capital to assist the reconstruction of Acapulco. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

A leading private sector group is seeking to secure funds from international organizations for the response to Hurricane Otis after determining that the federal government’s 61.3-billion-peso (US $3.5 billion) recovery plan falls short of what is required to rebuild Acapulco and other affected areas of Guerrero.

The Mexican Employers Federation (Coparmex) supports the government’s plan, which President López Obrador announced Wednesday, but believes that as much as 300 billion pesos (US $17.2 billion) will be needed for the reconstruction of Acapulco and other municipalities in Guerrero, 47 of which were declared disaster zones.

Acapulco hotel after Otis
An estimated 80% of Acapulco’s hotels have been damaged by the storm. Although tourism is the city’s lifeblood, the government has said reconstruction funding must come from the private sector. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

“We’re pleased that there is support from the federal government, they announced 61 billion pesos, [but] we believe that between 200 and 300 billion pesos will be required,” Coparmex president José Medina Mora said at the organization’s national meeting in Nayarit.

“For that reason we’re already in contact with international organizations that have funds that are precisely for natural disasters,” he said, adding that such resources could be used for “the reconstruction of the coast of Guerrero.”

Coparmex’s estimate that 200-300 billion pesos will be needed to rebuild from the devastation caused by Otis on Oct. 25 is in line with an assessment from Fitch ratings, which said this week that “preliminary economic and insured catastrophic loss estimates for Otis, a category 5 storm, are up to USD16 billion.”

A significant portion of the funds allocated to the government’s plan are to support residents of Acapulco and the neighboring municipality of Coyuca de Benítez. The government is offering loans to businesses, including hotels, but López Obrador has acknowledged that the reconstruction of hotels – 80% of which were damaged – will depend on private investment. Insurance payouts will presumably cover part of the reconstruction expenses.

José Medina Mora
José Medina Mora, Coparmex president said the group was “pleased” by federal construction funding, but that the group estimated true costs would be several times higher. (Coparmex)

After acknowledging that 80% of hotels in Acapulco sustained damage, Medina announced that Coparmex will assist tourism sector workers to find temporary jobs in “other beach destinations such as Cancún, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos” as well as in “city tourism destinations.”

Coparmex represents over 36,000 employers across Mexico, according to its website.

Some businesses affiliated with the organization will donate building materials, according to Medina, while others will be directly involved in the construction work.

The Coparmex chief stressed the importance of collaboration between government, the private sector and civil society on the recovery and reconstruction efforts in Guerrero.

The work to repair the city has begun, though it will take up to 5 years to fully restore the city. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

“The reconstruction of Acapulco and the coast of Guerrero will take a long time. We’re making progress but right now we need to attend to the emergency … [and] get water, food and cleaning supplies [to residents],” Medina said.

Among the other business groups seeking to assist the recovery and reconstruction efforts in Guerrero are those that belong to the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco Servytur).

Concanaco Servytur president Héctor Tejada said in a statement earlier this week that the organization he leads, “in coordination with other business leaders,” will present a proposal to President López Obrador that incudes “work, tax, housing and general measures” aimed at “revitalizing the economy of the region and helping those affected” by Hurricane Otis, the most powerful hurricane to have made landfall on Mexico’s Pacific coast.

With reports from El Financiero and El Universal