This Puebla museum knows just about everything about Mexico’s Talavera

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March 23, 2023

Talavera artisan in Puebla — María Reina has been painting Talavera Poblana pieces for about a year. "Knowledge is important in this work, but... they have to have ethics and enjoy what they make,” says Armando Pérez, director general of Grupo Armando, one of only nine business approved to make authentic Talavera Poblana. (Photos by Joseph Sorrentino)

Did you know that a single piece of Talavera pottery is the product of thousands of years of development and experimentation involving many civilizations?

“In one piece of Talavera, we are going to see signs of Asian, Arab, European and traditional Mexican cultures,” said explained Armando Pérez Domínguez, the Director General of Grupo Armando and the retail store Talavera Armando. “That is what is beautiful about an artistic piece: the styles and all these influences, the participation of so many continents [through] so many centuries.”

“The Mexican input is the workmanship of different pieces, different shapes and designs, many of which are distinct here,” he said.

You can learn the history behind the making of Talavera pottery at the Museo de Talavera in Puebla city. The museum opened four years ago.

“The idea was to have something different,” said continued Pérez, “to show people the historical processes.”

The name Talavera comes from Talavera de la Reina in Spain, a town famous for its pottery.

talavera museum in puebla, mexico — Gómez hitting a dried piece of Talavera Poblana to produce the bell-like sound.

The techniques for making Talavera pottery — which in Mexico is known as Talavera Poblana to distinguish it from Talavera made in Spain — were brought to Mexico from Spain just a few years after the conquest.

Puebla city was founded in 1531, and soon afterward came churches and monasteries — and a demand for tiles to decorate them. The area that would become the state of Puebla proved to be a perfect place for making the tiles.

“Here, historically, Franciscans and Dominicans arrived, and they discovered that Puebla has two types of clay, white and black,” said José Luis Gómez, who served as my guide during my visit. “These two are the soul of Talavera, and these two clays can only be found in Puebla, Atlixco, Tecali and Cholula.”

“The white is sandy, and it gives strength to the piece so it can withstand high heat,” Gómez added. “The dark clay gives it body and volume. They brought artisans from Spain to teach the artisans here, and that is why Puebla is famous for Talavera.”

As Pérez pointed out, 450 years after they were made, the tiles on cathedrals and other buildings in Puebla can still be admired.

The museum’s first room outlines the history of Talavera pottery, whose roots can be traced back to Mesopotamia, where the lead-glazing technique that’s still used today was invented around 2,000 B.C. Later, Chinese, Islamic and European cultures — all of which have a long history of ceramic-making — perfected glazing and other techniques for making pottery while adding new designs and colors to their ceramics.

Talavera Museum puebla, mexico — Visitors at the museum. (Facebook)

“Blue is from the Babylonian culture,” said Gómez. “The Arabs incorporated green from copper, the Italians orange and yellow.”

The next two rooms in the museum show how artisans transform an undistinguished piece of clay.

The first step is the mixing of the two types of clays, which are then washed and filtered to remove larger particles. The piece is then shaped by a tornero on a potter’s wheel and then dried for several days. After that, the piece is fired at 850 C (1,560 F).

Gómez took a piece of dried pottery from a shelf, gently striking it with a key. It made a clear sound, like a small bell ringing.

After the first firing, the piece is painted and then fired a second time to harden the glaze. Start to finish, the entire process can take three to six months.

Talavera Armando also offers tours of its workshop, where it’s possible to watch artisans — 15 torneros (who shape the clay into its intended form), painters and esmaltadores (glazers) — working on their craft.

talavera artisan in puebla, mexico — Tornero Alberto Fuentes shapes the clay into its intended form.

“These are people committed to their work,” said Pérez. “Our employees are special people [who] profess their love of art. Knowledge is important in this work, but one also has to have a personal value, a moral value; they have to have ethics and enjoy what they make.”

While many stores and stands in Mexico will sell you inexpensive pottery that looks like Talavera, real Talavera Poblana only comes from nine businesses in the state.

“Each have their own style, but [use] the same techniques,” Pérez said.

The businesses are certified by the Consejo Regulador de la Talavera (Talavera Regulatory Council). The council inspects each businesses’ manufacturing process twice a year and pieces are subjected to 16 laboratory tests. All pieces must be made by hand using only the special clays found in four places in Mexico, and painted using only six approved colors: blue, yellow, black, green, orange and mauve.

You’ll know an authentic Talavera Poblana piece because the bottom contains the manufacturer’s logo and location and the artist’s initials. In 2019, UNESCO named Talavera Poblano to its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The nine certified companies must follow fairly strict guidelines, but Pérez noted that there’s still room for innovation. “We continue respecting the old,” he said, “but we are growing and evolving. That is, we have new designs, new creations and images, contemporary designs that do not lose their essence.”

Talavera Poblana museum in Puebla, Mexico — Gomez holds a mix of clays being washed. Only clay from four locations in Puebla can be used to make Talavera Poblana artesanías.

After a tour of the museum and workshops, relax in the Belcanto Cafeteria, adjacent to the museum. It not only offers food but on some evenings, live music — rock, flamenco and opera and more. It’s best to check their Facebook page for information.

“Currently, we are developing a house of art and culture that includes the Talavera museum, a cafeteria, and exhibition rooms,” Pérez said. “We will give courses for people who want to know about the old ways of making Talavera.”

Talavera Poblana costs considerably more than the knock-offs that are sold in places catering to tourists. But once you learn about the history and craftsmanship that goes into every piece, you’ll realize it’s worth the price.

The museum is located at 6 Norte 406, Centro Histórico, in Puebla city and is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. The entrance fee is 80 pesos (about US $4).

Joseph Sorrentino, a writer, photographer and author of the book San Gregorio Atlapulco: Cosmvisiones and of Stinky Island Tales: Some Stories from an Italian-American Childhood, is a regular contributor to Mexico News Daily. More examples of his photographs and links to other articles may be found at www.sorrentinophotography.com He currently lives in Chipilo, Puebla.

Body of Chihuahua priests’ accused killer discovered in Sinaloa

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MND Staff

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March 23, 2023

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José Noriel "El Chueco" Portillo is said by authorities to have been a regional boss for an offshoot of the Sinaloa Cartel. He had been in hiding since he allegedly killed four people in Chihuahua, including two Jesuit priests in the Sierra Tarahumara. (Fiscalía Chihuahua)

Forensic testing has confirmed that a body found in Sinaloa is that of a man accused of killing two priests, a tour guide and another man last June in Chihuahua, as well as a United States citizen in 2018.

President López Obrador delivered the news Thursday morning, announcing that authorities had established that the body belonged to José Noriel “El Chueco” Portillo Gil, a presumed leader of a Sinaloa Cartel-affiliated criminal cell called Gente Nueva (New People).

President Lopez Obrador of Mexico — President Lopez Obrador announced Thursday morning that authorities had discovered Portillo’s body in the small Sinaloa town. (Rogelio Morales Ponce/Cuartoscuro)

Portillo, whose nickname means “the crooked one,” allegedly killed two elderly Jesuit priests, Joaquín César Mora Salazar, 80, and Javier Campos Morales, 79, tour guide Pedro Palma, 60, and 22-year-old local baseball player Paul Oswaldo Berrelleza in the municipality of Urique on June 20, 2022.

He was also accused of murdering American teacher Patrick Braxton-Andrew in October 2018.

Portillo’s body was found Tuesday in Choix, a municipality in northeastern Sinaloa that borders Chihuahua and Sonora. He had been on the run since the murders of the priests in a church — a crime perpetrated at the tail-end of a one-man rampage precipitated by an argument after a baseball game, according to a version of events presented by former Chihuahua Attorney General Roberto Fierro Duarte.

The state’s current attorney general, César Jáuregui Moreno, said Wednesday that a sister of Portillo had identified her brother’s body, but he stressed that authorities were waiting for the results of forensic testing in Sinaloa for confirmation that it was in fact him.

Choix, Sinaloa — Portillo was found in the municipality of Choix, which has seen major violence between cartels and cartels and police. Authorities say it is controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel. (SSP Sinaloa)

The body had a gunshot wound to the head, and 16 spent bullet casings were found in the area, Jáuregui said. Authorities believe Portillo may have been killed late last week by local residents who dumped his body in the location where it was found.

The Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office had offered a 5-million-peso (about US $270,000) reward for information leading to his capture, while Chihuahua Governor Maru Campos pledged that justice would be served.

The murders of the priests caused “deep anger, indignation and pain” and “shook us to the very core,” Campos said last June.

“We’re not going to allow acts like this. To the Jesuits and all Chihuahua residents I say: you have the state government and the federal government [to protect you]. You have the force of the state that will protect you against those who disrupt our peace and take away the most precious thing we have, which is life.”

In a statement posted to its website on Wednesday, the Jesuits’ association, the Society of Jesus in Mexico, said it “regretted the death of the person whose body was found by Sinaloa authorities, as we regret all lives cut short by the violence that reigns in the country.”

“We reject the dissemination of images… [showing] the discovery,” the association said, adding that if the body is confirmed to be that of “the person implicated in the homicide of the Jesuit priests,” the discovery can in no way be considered “a triumph of justice or a solution to the structural violence problem in the Sierra Tarahumara,” a region named after the indigenous people who live there.

Funeral for Jesuit priests killed in Chihuahua — The Chihuahua priests Portillo was accused of killing were beloved in their diocese of the Sierra Tarahumara. (Graciela Lopez Herrera/Cuartoscuro)

“On the contrary, the absence of a legal process in accordance with the law in relation to the homicides would imply a failure of the Mexican state to comply with its basic duties and [would] confirm that authorities don’t have territorial control in the region,” the association said.

The murder of the priests sparked outrage in Mexico, and even triggered a response from Pope Francis.

“I express my pain and consternation due to the murder in Mexico … of two Jesuit priests and a layman. So many murders in Mexico!” the pope said in a post on his official Twitter account last June.

Mexico’s Roman Catholic Multimedia Center said after the murders that seven priests had been killed since López Obrador took office in December 2018. At least two dozen were murdered during the 2012–18 term of the government led by former president Enrique Peña Nieto.

According to a Milenio newspaper report published last July, Chihuahua authorities established that Urique municipal police were complicit with Portillo’s criminal activities. That complicity appeared to have been facilitated by El Chueco’s uncle, who was the municipal police director in Cerocahui, the Urique town where the murders occurred last June.

In late July, Chihuahua authorities said that Portillo controlled the beer market in some Sierra Tarahumara communities. State Security Minister Gilberto Loya told Milenio that “clandestine” beer sales helped finance El Chueco’s criminal group, while then attorney general Fierro said his monopolization of that market in some towns was indicative of the criminal power he had.

Chihuahua State Attorney General Roberto Javier Fierro Duarte — Roberto Javier Fierro Duarte briefs reporters in 2022 on the search for Portillo after he went into hiding. Authorities were offering up to 5 million pesos for information leading to his capture.

On Wednesday, President López Obrador said that Portillo and his criminal activities were “tolerated” by authorities in Urique, whose municipal seat is at the bottom of a canyon that is part of the Barrancas del Cobre, a popular tourism destination known in English as the Copper Canyon.

“He was even a promoter of a baseball team. The local authorities … knew [about his criminal activities] but didn’t do anything. That’s the truth,” the president said, adding that Portillo had a criminal network in the entire region.

Thirty-two people linked to Portillo’s criminal group have been arrested, he told reporters.

“… We’ve acted responsibly .. and the Ministry of Defense … has been working [in the Tarahumara Sierra] permanently,” he said.

With reports from El Universal, El Financiero and El País

Meet Karla de Lara: official artist of the US-Mexico Bicentennial

By

Sarah Bender

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March 23, 2023

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Artist Karla de Lara at work — Karla de Lara is a celebrated Mexican artist who has exhibited in 350 individual shows in more than 38 countries around the world. (Courtesy)

Karla de Lara has been called the “mother of hyperrealist pop art”: a woman who is redefining Mexican art and strengthening US-Mexico relations as the official artist of the Bicentennial.

With over 350 individual exhibitions in more than 38 countries worldwide, including Art Basel and Art Miami, Karla de Lara has gained a reputation as a restless soul who never stops creating. Her attention to light, atmosphere, plasticity, abstract forms, and architecture enriches her paintings, which often depict cityscapes as magical colorings and reinterpretations of her own immersion, giving them a soul.

Karla de Lara with Mexican and U.S. flags — Karla de Lara (Courtesy)

In this interview she gives insights into her artistry, family roots and her inspiring path to becoming one of Mexico’s most celebrated contemporary artists.

You were recently chosen as the official artist of the U.S.- Mexico Bicentennial. How does your artwork promote solidarity and cooperation between the two countries?

I was honored when the Mexican government and then the U.S. representatives asked me to be the artist for their bicentennial celebration. It’s been fascinating learning about the relationship between Mexico and the United States. As a neighboring country, we have many Mexican citizens who have become U.S. citizens, creating bi-cultural families. However, some third-generation Americans don’t feel connected to Mexico, many of them don’t even speak Spanish. So, they’re in between two cultures, not truly identifying with either.

To help with this issue, I’ve been working on creating a sense of harmony between the two countries and helping them navigate this new identity. It’s not exactly a new nationality, but a mix between the two. It’s similar to when the Spanish conquered Mexico. It wasn’t the Mexico we know now. It started with the native peoples from different cultures such as the Aztecs, Mayans, and Olmecs and they mixed with the Spanish to create this new breed: Mexicans. We’re neither native nor Spanish and it’s this fusion that made the Mexican nation.

Karla de Lara’s “Aliento Primogenio” or “Primal Spirit” painting (Diplomacia Cultural MX)

When I began working on the artwork for the U.S.-Mexico Bicentennial, I found inspiration in Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam.” Specifically, I was struck by the representation of the first minute of humanity, and I wanted to translate that idea into the first minute of the bicentennial – the start of the relationship between our two countries.

That’s why I decided to tattoo the Mexican and American flag on the arms of two hands, symbolizing a connection between the two nations. To take it a step further, Juan Carlos and his team created a powerful NFT where the hands touch, forming the universal symbol of respect, love, and peace.

In many countries around the world, this symbol is associated with a message of unity and togetherness, which is exactly what we wanted to convey through our artwork. As neighbors and allies, it’s important that we are open to helping each other. When we work together, we can achieve great things and foster a positive relationship between our two nations.

I’ve also created several important pieces of art that showcase the blending of our cultures. For example, I painted Times Square with many Mexican symbols, and I painted one of Mexico’s most iconic buildings, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, with a backdrop of Mount Rushmore and an American bald eagle. These pieces of art are meant to communicate the mutual respect and connection between the two countries.

Karla de Lara and First Lady Jill Biden — Karla de Lara (left) with U.S. First Lady Jill Biden. (Courtesy)

You gave your first masterclass at the Belmond Sierra Nevada Hotel in San Miguel de Allende recently. How does it feel to teach your art to others?

I really enjoy it! They’re all very talented and it’s amazing to see how quickly they learn. But since this is my first time teaching a class it’s a bit challenging. I never really wanted to do it before because I have my own unique technique that I developed over time without any strict rules. But I realized that I could share some of my ideas with others and help them develop their own artistic style and unique cultural interpretation using the same technique.

Teaching is a learning process for me too, as my technique is always evolving and improving. I’m excited to see what my students will create and how I can continue to develop my own skills through this experience.

What advice would you give to up and coming artists?

First of all, make sure that this is really what you want to do. It’s not just a hobby or a fleeting passion, but a long-term career that requires dedication and hard work. I know it can be tough, and sometimes it feels like you’re not making progress, but don’t give up

Karla de Lara Canelo Álvarez — Mexican boxer Canelo Álvarez painted by Karla de Lara. (Courtesy)

Keep working at it, and over time you’ll see your creations take shape. Remember that success is not just about talent, but also about discipline and perseverance.

Have you always been artistic, even from a young age?

Yes, painting has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started when I was just four years old, and from there, my parents always encouraged me to explore my creative side. I took advantage of every class available to me, which allowed me to learn a variety of techniques.

When it came time to decide on a career path, I chose to study graphic design in college, followed by industrial design. However, even though I loved these fields, I never really saw myself as an artist. It wasn’t until later in life that I realized how much painting meant to me. Perhaps this was because I never had any artists in my family, and I didn’t know anyone who pursued art as a profession.

Your works have been exhibited in hundreds of galleries and museums around the world. How has this exposure to other cultures and countries affected your career as an artist?

I’ve always been an adventurer at heart, so after college, I decided to travel around Europe for several months. I fell in love with the beautiful city of Florence; a friend of mine was living there and suggested that I stay and find something to study. At first, I thought it was a crazy idea. I mean, what could I possibly study in a foreign country where I didn’t even speak the language? But the idea stuck with me, and I found out that Florence University was offering scholarships to foreigners. I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw that one of the courses on offer was plastic arts. It felt like a sign that this was meant to be.

Karla de Lara Palacio de Bellas Artes — Karla de Lara’s work at Two Countries, Two Centuries (MexCultureDC Twitter)

I decided to take a chance and apply for the scholarship. I was nervous about the test, I was accepted to study there for three years. It was absolutely amazing. I took art history classes in the museum and lived and breathed art during my time in Florence. It was an incredibly inspiring experience that helped shape my passion for art and my appreciation for other cultures.

When you moved back to Mexico, is that when you decided to dedicate your life to your art?

Not entirely. Actually, when I returned to Mexico, I went back to doing the same thing as before. I had a design studio and a publicity agency, which was also making films. Around that time I met my husband, Juan Carlos, who also had a publicity agency and we started a family.

But after running my own design and publicity business for some time, I started to feel a bit burnt out. I was spending most of my time selling instead of designing, and I craved more time to be creative. That’s when I turned to my husband and asked him if he would support me if I pursued painting full-time. He fully backed my decision, which gave me the confidence to take a leap into the unknown.

What was the transition like from corporate work to full-time artist?

It was tough! At the beginning of my career as a full-time artist and a client of Juan Carlos’ agency, he advised me to develop a very personal and unique style that people could recognize immediately, just like other successful artists in our industry. But I found it challenging to repeat myself over and over again and put myself in a box that limited my curiosity for experimentation.Although Juan Carlos meant well, it made me crazy and I felt like I was losing my creative freedom.

Karla de Lara art — Colombian singer Maluma painted by Karla de Lara. (Courtesy)

So, I decided to take a different path and started exploring my own expression. I felt that I needed to do things that enriched my creative side and allowed me to be more experimental. I told Juan Carlos this, and with time, people started recognizing my style even though I might have produced two completely opposite pieces of art. I realized that being true to myself was the best way to develop my art and that I could still be recognizable without limiting my creativity.

What was it like when your full-time art career started to take off?

It was a difficult road, and there were moments when I wasn’t sure if I could keep going. My career was becoming really demanding, and at one point, Juan Carlos had to choose between continuing to work with his agency or representing me. It was a tough decision, especially since we already had a small son and wouldn’t receive a regular income if he chose to support me.

The first couple of years were really trying, and there were times when we thought about giving up. We couldn’t afford to pay our son’s tuition fees, we had to sell our cars and we were months behind on rent. There were even times when Juan Carlos asked if it was time to quit. But I knew I couldn’t give up, not after all we’d been through. So, I asked him to have faith and give me one more year, and within that year, we started to see the light. It wasn’t easy, but it was all worth it.

Can you share your experiences as a female artist in a male-dominated industry and how you have navigated any challenges or resistance?

As a woman artist, I can say that at times it’s been harder to gain recognition and respect for my work. We live in a society that’s still rooted in gender inequality, and that often means that our voices are drowned out or overlooked. But things are changing, and I’m glad to see more and more women artists getting the recognition they deserve.

I’ve been lucky to have the support of my partner, Juan Carlos, who’s always been open-minded and supportive of my career. I’ve never had to choose between my family and my passion for art. It’s important to remember that we’re all in this together, and by supporting each other and speaking out, we can create a world where women’s voices are heard and celebrated.

How do you feel about your children following in your footsteps in the art world?

I’m proud of them. Maybe it’s in their blood, or maybe they were inspired by watching me paint when they were growing up. My oldest son is already pursuing a career in the art world, and I couldn’t be more thrilled for him. My youngest has also had a few exhibitions, and while I’m not sure if they’ll ultimately pursue a career in the arts, my partner Juan Carlos and I believe that it’s important to support our children’s talents and give them the space, encouragement, and freedom to grow.

As parents, it’s our job to help our children find their passions and pursue their dreams, whatever they may be but also know that nothing is given to you, you must work hard to get it. We always remind our kids of the hardships we have faced in pursuit of our passion.

Can you give us some clues about what’s next? You’ve recently been working on some NFT’s. How do you balance the use of technology and physical creation?

Yes, the world is moving towards digital art, and I believe it’s important for us to keep up with the trends. But, I also strongly feel that the value of physical art and creating with my hands will never diminish. In fact, I think it will become even more valuable in a world where everything can be replicated digitally.

This summer, Karla de Lara’s bicentennial commemorative paintings will be exhibited at the White House at the direct invitation of the First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden. She’ll also be touring in China and Dubai later this year.

Inflation falls more than expected but remains at double Banxico’s target

By

MND Staff

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March 23, 2023

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Produce for sale in Tepoztlán, Morelos, 2015. — The inflation rate for agricultural products in the first half of March, including for fruit, vegetables and meat, was 8.1%. (thelastcarmusai/Wikimedia)

Inflation declined more than economists expected in the first half of March, but still remains well above the central bank’s target rate.

The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) reported Thursday that the annual headline inflation rate in the first half of the month was 7.12%, down from 7.62% in February.

Graphic from study on inflation published by INEGI on 3/23. — Inflation dropped to 7.12%, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography reported on Thursday.

The rate is the lowest since the second half of January 2022, and 0.14 percentage points below the median estimate of economists surveyed by Reuters.

Inflation has now declined during four consecutive fortnights, but the headline rate remains more than double the Bank of Mexico’s (Banxico) target rate of 3%, give or take one percentage point.

INEGI reported that the core inflation rate, which does not include some volatile food and energy prices, was 8.15% in the first half of March, down from 8.29% in February.

The publication of the data comes a week before central bank board members meet to discuss monetary policy. The bank’s benchmark interest rate is currently set at a record high of 11% after a 50-basis-point hike in February.

Produce at the Mercado Medellin in Mexico City, 2016. — Inflation has now declined during four consecutive fortnights. (Wikimedia Commons / Estef93)

Most analysts expect Banxico will lift its key rate by 25 basis points next Thursday, which would mirror the interest rate increase announced by the United States Federal Reserve this week and increase the accumulated hikes during the current tightening cycle to 725 basis points.

“The data is good, but we cannot declare victory against inflation yet because the trends that worried Banxico the most, related to core inflation, are still there,” said Pamela Díaz Loubet, an economist specializing in Mexico at the French bank BNP Paribas.

“The … [data] doesn’t change our view that Banxico will hike 25 basis points in its next decision,” she said.

Janneth Quiroz Zamora, chief economist at the Monex financial group, said that the latest inflation data “supports the idea that the hiking cycle in Mexico is near an end.”

The central branch of the Bank of Mexico in Mexico City. — The Bank of Mexico, whose board members will meet next week to discuss monetary policy, has stated that it expects headline inflation to converge to its target of 3% in the last quarter of 2024. (Wikimedia Commons / Alfonso21)

“It does make it seem likely this will be the last increase,” she said before noting that “there’s still a red flag related to the inflation of services, which could lead to an additional increase in May.”

INEGI data shows that services were 5.68% more expensive in the first half of March than they had been a year earlier. That figure is the highest inflation rate for services since the second half of February 2003, the newspaper El Financiero reported.

The inflation rate for processed food, beverages and tobacco was 13.2%, while that for agricultural products, including fruit, vegetables and meat, was 8.1%.

Energy prices, including those for fuel and electricity, were 1.05% higher compared to the same period a year earlier.

Banxico said last month that it expects inflation to converge to its target in the final quarter of 2024 but noted that the projection is subject to a range of risks, including “pressures on energy prices or on agricultural and livestock product prices” and “exchange rate depreciation.”

With reports from El Financiero, El Economista and Bloomberg

Mexico says support growing for lawsuit against US gunmakers

By

Cat Rainsford

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March 23, 2023

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guns — The majority of weapons confiscated by authorities in Mexico have been traced back to sales in the U.S. (Shutterstock)

An appeal filed by Mexico’s Foreign Ministry (SRE) challenging the dismissal of its lawsuit against U.S. gun manufacturers has received numerous declarations of support.

The SRE submitted the appeal on March 14, challenging the dismissal of the case by the District Court of Boston in October 2022, in which the judge cited U.S. law that protects gun manufacturers from lawsuits when their products are used for their intended purpose.

The smuggling of guns such as these, seized in Nogales, Arizona is common — and Mexico wants manufacturers to take responsibility. (@CBPPortDirNOG/Twitter)

By March 22 — the deadline for proponents of the appeal to submit supporting amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs — nine briefs had been filed in support of Mexico’s case.

The SRE said in a statement that the briefs’ purpose was “to state to the judges the relevance of the case; highlight the positive impact that a responsible arms trade would have on the United States, Mexico, and the world; as well as make a statement on the applicable law.”

It went on to list actors who had filed briefs, including:

A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection commissioner and U.S. police chiefs, who reported that U.S.-made weapons trafficked to Mexico have caused a security crisis on both sides of the border and fueled the current fentanyl epidemic.
Prosecutors from 17 U.S. states, who questioned the U.S. law granting immunity to the gun industry, as well as 24 U.S. district attorneys, who said that trafficked weapons harm their communities by facilitating drug flows to the U.S.
Five Caribbean countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago), who said that U.S. weapons fuel violence and crime across the region.
International law specialists, who argued that immunity laws should not apply in this case, as well as Mexican jurists who argued that the principle of access to justice means the Mexican government’s lawsuit should be allowed to proceed.
Activists and victims of armed violence from both sides of the border, who argued that a responsible weapons trade is essential to stop the deaths of innocent people.

The Mexican government first filed the lawsuit in August 2021, demanding US $10 billion in damages from United States weapons manufacturers “who due to their carelessness and negligence, actively facilitate their weapons being trafficked to Mexican territory.”

After the Boston court ruled that gun companies were protected by the U.S. Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), Mexico deepened its legal arguments, saying that U.S. immunity laws should not apply to criminal damages in Mexican territory.

On Oct. 10, 2022, the Mexican government filed a second lawsuit in Tucson, against gun stores near the Mexico-U.S. border that it believes have traded negligently. On Oct. 26, Mexico requested to appeal the Boston court ruling, then requested an advisory opinion from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on Nov. 11.

In the briefs submitted this week, numerous U.S. prosecutors backed Mexico’s viewpoint, saying the PLCAA only protects gun manufacturers in the case of misuse by third parties, not in the case of its own misconduct.

“It does not eliminate all forms of accountability for gun manufacturers,” the brief said.

The brief from U.S. law enforcement officials made similar arguments.

“U.S. (armament) producers have long been aware that their practices put weapons in the hands of traffickers who trade them across the border to Mexican cartels.”

A coalition of Mexican human rights groups and researchers who contributed briefs to the court stressed the “deadly” consequences of trafficked U.S. weapons, pointing out that gun homicides increased by 570% in Mexico from 1997 to 2017.

With reports from La Jornada, El Universal and Milenio

Viva Aerobus welcomes 70th plane to fleet with all-female crew

By

MND Staff

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March 23, 2023

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Viva Aerobus female crew XA-XVI — The new aircraft, registered XA-VXI, had a female flight, maintenance and planning crew on it's way from Germany to Mexico. (Viva Aerobus)

Low-cost airline Viva Aerobus marked the arrival of its 70th aircraft with an all-female crew – including the captain, first officer, flight planners, legal staff, support engineers, and maintenance personnel.

The new Airbus A321neo, registered XA-VXI, flew from Airbus headquarters in Hamburg, Germany to Monterrey International Airport (MTY) with fueling stops at Keflavik International Airport in Iceland, and Bangor Airport in the United States.

An airbus A320 takes off into the evening — Viva Aerobus also anticipates the delivery of 28 more A321 aircraft. (Viva Aerobus)

With the arrival of the new aircraft, Viva Aerobus’ fleet now has a total of forty-two Airbus A320 and twenty-eight Airbus A321. The airline expects to receive twenty-eight additional A321 aircraft in the coming years.

Between December 2021 and March 2023, the company’s fleet grew from fifty-five jets to seventy, an increase of 27%.

Since January, Viva Aerobus has announced the opening of new international routes such as Cancún to Quito, Ecuador, and Monterrey to Bogotá, Colombia. Nationally, it now connects Tijuana with the new Felipe Ángeles airport in Mexico City and has increased frequencies between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.

Viva Aerobus recently announced that it will be the first airline to operate from the new Tulum airport in 2024.

The airline has grown steadily since 2021. According to Director General Juan Carlos Zuazua, the airline grew a little more than 22% in the first two months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.

With reports from Simple Flying

Fuel theft blamed for pipeline explosion in state of México

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MND Staff

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March 23, 2023

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Huachicolero Atlacomulco — Firefighters were quickly on the scene to douse the flames. (Protección Civil)

A pipeline containing hydrocarbon gas exploded late Wednesday afternoon in the state of México, with authorities quick to blame huachicoleros – black market fuel thieves

The incident occurred in the municipality of Atlacomulco, 63 kilometers from the state capital of Toluca. The blast happened at approximately 4:35 p.m. in the ejido (village lands) of San Lorenzo.

The remains of a huachicolero vehicle after a similar explosion in 2019. (Cuartoscuro)

Municipal and state officials that arrived on the scene, along with firefighters and other emergency service providers, said the explosion was caused by illegal extraction from the nearby Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) pipeline.

Clouds of black smoke and flames could be seen several kilometers away, but there were no reports of any deaths or injuries, although two vehicles and a building caught fire.

The area was cordoned off by local law enforcement, while firefighters fought the flames. Pemex officials were on hand to tend to the fuel leak, carry out repairs and begin an investigation along with government authorities. Reports from the scene suggest that six 1000-liter drums were recovered near the pipeline.

Pipeline explosions from people stealing petroleum and gas are nothing new in Mexico. The worst incident in recent years was a horrific explosion in 2019 in which at least 66 people were killed and 76 injured near Pachuca, Hidalgo.

At least two people were killed at the site of an illegal tap in Veracruz in 2018, the same year an incident in Querétaro killed a woman and severely burned her 15-year-old daughter. In 2021, at least one person was killed in Puebla due to an explosion also resulting from an illegal tap.

With reports from Milenio and La Silla Rota

Mexico moves up the 2023 World Happiness Report

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MND Staff

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March 23, 2023

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Happy people in Mexico — The new UN World Happiness report has seen Mexico rise to 26th place on the list of the world's happiest countries. (Bernandino Hernández/Cuartoscuro)

Mexicans have grown happier since 2020, according to the latest United Nations report on world happiness.

The country has moved up 10 places, to the 26th position on the list of the world’s happiest nations.

Social support has been key to Mexico’s rise through the rankings in 2023. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)

The report, published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, ranks 137 countries by their average life evaluations over the preceding years — in this case, the three years of the Covid-19 pandemic, from 2020 to 2022.

Finland topped the list as the happiest country for the sixth consecutive year, followed by its Nordic neighbors Denmark and Iceland. At the other end, Lebanon (136th) and war-torn Afghanistan (137th) remain the two gloomiest countries in the survey.

Amongst the big winners, Israel moved from ninth to fourth, with the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Luxembourg and New Zealand rounding out the top 10.

Despite the pandemic, the report said that life evaluations have been “remarkably resilient,” with global averages close to the same levels as the pre-pandemic years of 2017–2019.

“Even during these difficult years, positive emotions have remained twice as prevalent as negative ones, and feelings of positive social support twice as strong as those of loneliness,” John Helliwell, one of the authors of the World Happiness Report, said in a press release.

“Benevolence to others, especially the helping of strangers, which went up dramatically in 2021, stayed high in 2022,” Helliwell told CNN in an interview.

Encouragingly, social support was twice as prevalent as was loneliness in seven key countries across six global regions, including Mexico.

“The importance of these positive social relations helps further to explain the resilience of life evaluations during times of crisis,” the report said.

On March 1, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography also reported that Mexican moods had returned to pre-pandemic levels.

With reports from The World Happiness Report and CNN

Mexican Data Center Association anticipates US $8 billion investment

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MND Staff

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March 23, 2023

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Governor Diego Sinhue of GTO — Governor Sinhue said that the association would work to turn the Bajío region into a data hub. (@diegosinhue/Twitter)

The Mexican Association of Data Centers (MEXDC) has officially commenced operations and anticipates an initial investment of up to US $8.5 billion in the Bajío region, an area that includes Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Querétaro and San Luis Potosí.

The association seeks to strengthen Mexico’s development in the industry by concentrating the largest cluster of data centers in Latin America, Guanajuato Governor Diego Sinhue Rodríguez Vallejo said during the launch event. “We seek to move from manufacturing to ‘mind making’,” the governor added.

Rendering of data center to be built in El Marques, Queretaro, by KIO Networks. — One of the new developments will be the KIO center in Queretaro. (KIO)

President of MEXDC Amet Novillo said that the country expects investment of between 600 to 800 megawatts of capacity into data centers — representing around US $8.5 billion of investment. It will largely be allocated to the Bajío.

In the data center industry, megawatts are usually reserved for wholesale colocation customers in need of enough power to host thousands of servers and IT hardware. Colocation refers to data centers hosting a customer’s hardware offsite from the customer’s property.

Governor Sinhue said MEXDC’s alliance with the Bajío is thanks to the region’s geographical location and its infrastructure. Almost 60% of the country’s population is only within a six-hour drive, the governor explained.

“Those people require Uber, UberEats, autonomous cars, and seismic alerts. They need to save photos, hold online meetings, send emails, and make online purchases,” he said. “Data centers are at the heart of it all.”

Odata center in Querétaro — Brazilian company Odata has built the largest data center in Mexico to date, but more are expected to follow. (Odata)

Industries such as manufacturing, entertainment, telecommunications and finance also benefit from data centers, Novillo added. “We are talking about a digital transformation throughout the industry of a country,” he said. “Everything from a photo on a social network to our financial statements to stock transactions is stored at the data center.”

Data centers require massive amounts of energy to operate. To optimize its use, Governor Sinhue said they are working to create their own local energy agencies and to use hydrogen energy, green energy and hydrogen plants to guarantee clean energy in the future.

Querétaro already has a state energy agency tasked with ensuring energy development. During the event, the state’s Minister of Sustainable Development, Marco Antonio del Prete explained that the agency has instructions from Governor Mauricio Kuri to find ways of collaborating with companies in the industry.

“[The state government needs to] collaborate so that they can use clean energy so that they can access fiber optics and good connectivity so that the facilities are safe,” he emphasized.

According to Minister Prete, Querétaro already accommodates 10 data centers and is expecting 18 new projects, including one from Microsoft. He explained that these are not real estate projects but “productive investments,” since infrastructure and equipment need to be renewed every couple of years. Companies also need to be in compliance with new regulations in matters of digital waste, data protection and the use of energy, he said.

Finally, Prete highlighted the region’s benefit for the housing of data centers.

“Querétaro is a strategic area in the country […] because there are no earthquakes [and] no hurricanes, and this represents a great opportunity to generate added value.”

The founding partners of MEXDC are Ascenty, DCD, Equinix, Layer9 Data Center, Odata, Scala Data Centers and KIO, who recently announced an expansion of their Querétaro facilities.

With reports from Milenio and Boletines Guanajuato.

Mexico-US climate meeting yields good will but few specifics

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MND Staff

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March 22, 2023

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US-Mexico climate meeting — Kerry arrived in Mexico for a whirlwind visit to meet with the president as well as Mexico's National Conference of Governors. (Presidencia)

Mexico and the United States need to “act quickly” in the fight against climate change, U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar said Tuesday after a meeting in Oaxaca attended by officials including President López Obrador and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry.

In a statement on the Embassy’s website, Salazar said that U.S. and Mexican officials spoke about “crucial issues for our countries and the whole world.”

John Kerry, AMLO — “It’s clear to me that [President López Obrador] understands the degree to which our futures are now inextricably linked,” Kerry said.

The two countries need to “confront climate change together” and make the transition to using clean energies, he added.

“The recent report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change … is an urgent call to act against climate change. We have to act quickly and efficiently because we are running very behind. Our conversations were directed at that as well as complying with our climate commitments,” Salazar said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard said at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt (COP27) last November that Mexico would collaborate with the United States to double its capacity to produce renewable energy.

Ebrard, who also participated in Tuesday’s talks, also announced at the time that Mexico would aim to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030, a target five percentage points higher than expected.

US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar — “In this meeting we held serious conversations and learned more about the basic structure needed in this energy transition,” U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said after the bilateral meetup.

Salazar said in his statement Tuesday that officials spoke about future solar and wind projects but did not offer specifics. The ambassador added that they discussed “steps to follow to reduce emissions more quickly.”

“In this meeting we held serious conversations and learned more about the basic structure needed in this energy transition,” Salazar said.

“… The private sector plays a crucial role, both in investment and financing as well as in technology. … We’re ready for [private companies] to be part of this work to provide clean, affordable and reliable energy to our nations,” he said.

However, under López Obrador’s leadership, Mexico’s government has not been particularly welcoming of private energy investment, including in the renewables sector. It has implemented policies that favor the state-owned Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).

Both the United States and Canada are challenging these policies under provisions of the USMCA free trade pact. Their challenges argue that U.S. and Canadian energy companies operating in Mexico are being treated unfairly.

With regard to U.S. cooperation with Mexico in the fight against climate change, Salazar said that progress has been made since Kerry made his first visit to the country as climate envoy in late 2021.

United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry — John Kerry has made seven trips to Mexico as the United States’ Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. (Presidencia)

“However, the work can’t stay on the table. We have to deepen it and make it a reality. We can and we must do more in favor of the prosperity and well-being of our families and for the future of the planet,” he said.

At a press conference after Tuesday’s talks, the ambassador made it clear that he hoped CFE chief Manuel Bartlett would travel to Washington D.C. as soon as possible for talks aimed at accelerating the growth of the renewables sector in Mexico.

Salazar expressed that view after Bartlett said at the same press conference that the next bilateral climate meeting would take place in two or three months.

“With all respect, Manuel, we have to [hold the meeting] sooner than in two or three months because there is a lot of work to do,” Salazar said, adding that it was time to put “the action plan” into effect.

The CFE uses nonrenewable sources, including coal, gas and fuel oil, to generate most of its electricity, but the commission also operates renewables facilities, including hydroelectric plants and a large solar farm in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, that was officially opened in February even though it is not yet fully operational.

While López Obrador has praised the Sonora solar plant and has shown muted support for other renewable projects, he has championed the continued use of fossil fuels and argues that the transition to clean energy cannot be carried out hastily.

AMLO — While voicing support for tackling climate change, President López Obrador has invested in an energy independence strategy that relies greatly on fossil fuels and refineries. (Presidencia)

The president said earlier this month that he and Secretary General of OPEC Haitham al-Ghais — who praised Mexico for investing in oil refineries during a visit to Mexico City —understood each other very well given their shared commitment to the oil industry.

Despite that commitment, López Obrador has pledged that his government will work independently, and with the United States, to combat climate change.

Kerry welcomed Ebrard’s more ambitious commitments announced at COP27, saying at the time that Mexico and the United States have a shared “vision” for a clean energy future in North America.

Before the conference in Egypt, Ebrard said that Mexico needs to increase renewable energy production “at a rate even faster than the United States” to ensure it can comply with any clean energy requirements the U.S. imposes on exports to that country.

In addition to attending the climate talks on Tuesday, Kerry, at López Obrador’s invitation, also attended a ceremony in San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca, to mark the 217th anniversary of the birth of Mexican president Benito Juárez.

In a brief speech, Kerry said that he saw “a wisdom in [López Obrador’s] leadership that wants to undo some of the wrongs of the past and help to promote the interests of the people.”

“And it is clear to me that he understands the degree to which our futures are now inextricably linked,” said Kerry, who has now made seven trips to Mexico as climate envoy.

“That is not a political statement; that is not an ideological statement,” he added.

“That is a statement based on the reality of science and the report that just came out a few days ago from the United Nations warning all of us that we must take the steps necessary to reduce the rate of increased warming on the planet,” Kerry said.

With reports from El Universal and Aristegui Noticias