After nearly a year of blogging for the FPA, I’m moving on to a new opportunity with the Political Database of the Americas at Georgetown University. I’d like to thank my co-blogger, Alejandro Quiroz Flores, for a great year of writing together as we’ve documented Mexico’s …
Today the American Congress held hearings on the drug violence that is increasingly spilling over from Mexico to the US. The big proposal put forth by the Department of Homeland Security was to deploy the National Guard on the US-Mexico border to stemt the tide of violence. Read more
The State Department recently released a document titled “Spring Break in Mexico – Know Before You Go.” I’d highly recommend it for anyone with Spring Break plans south of the border.
I just received the following email today that the Congressional Subcommittee on National Security will be examining the US role is fueling organized crime in Mexico. This long overdue, as I wrote about the seriousness of the issue back in May. Our previous Mexico blogger, Rohini Gupta, …
Thomas Friedman wrote an intriguing article in last week’s NY Times on how immigration for highly-skilled workers could save the American economy. He said the following:
“All you need to do is grant visas to two million Indians, Chinese and Koreans,” said Shekhar Gupta, editor of The …
I’m immensely proud to announce that the Latin American Studies Department at Georgetown University has launched a new web site. “The Center for Latin American Studies was one of the first of its kind in the United States. Its core faculty bring together diverse scholarly interests with a …
With the global economic crisis still dominating headlines following inconclusive results from Davos, I’d like to focus on two effects on Mexico’s economy.
One indicator is remittances. Worldwide, remittances bring in several times more money than foriegn aid. In Mexico, these bring in the second-largest amount of foreign money …
Wednesday begins the annual World Econonic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. With the global credit crunch continuing to worsen, this year's meeting is of utmost importance. In 2008, Mexico hosted the World Economic Foreign in Latin America in Cancun. This year the government's senior people will be in Davos, including:
Agustin Carstens, …
Today I had the chance to watch history unfold in Washington, DC as Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Washington was jam-packed with people from all over. President Obama's speech inspired the crowd in Washington and will lead to …
President Calderon's meeting with President-elect Barack Obama this past Monday comes at a crucial time for both countries. While it is customary for the American President to visit Mexico early in his administration, it is unusual that Calderon and Obama met before the Obama inauguration on Tuesday the …
American President-elect Barack Obama met with Mexican President Felipe Calderon in Washington on Monday. More detailed analysis to follow, but see coverage here. Significantly, the BBC points out that this will be “Mr Obama's first [meeting] with a foreign leader since his election in November”. Although high-profile issues …
With Christmas almost here, I wanted to share a list of my favorite charities that are doing amazing work in Mexico. If you have not finished your Christmas shopping or are looking for a way to give, please read on.
Heifer International –
provides livestock for families …
Today's BBC featured an article about a small town in Michoacan, the state that has been consumed by drug violence. But today's story centered on the affect that decreasing remittances is having on town, a decline of around 12% thus far. Many families are sending less money from …
As the year closes, we’re focusing on 2008 in review. Below is my take; see my co-blogger Alejandro's commentary here.
Summary
2008 has been an extremely turbulent year in Mexico. Drug-related violence dominates the headlines and is now the most pressing issue facing the country. Following President Felipe Calderon's crackdown …
By now you surely have seen the headlines about the historic election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States. As an American, I’m thrilled to have Obama as our next President, and to know that the race and class barriers have been shattered by his …
