At the most recent Oscars, the Academy recognized the talents of numerous Mexicans who worked on the acclaimed film Birdman. During his acceptance speech for the Best Director award, Alejandro González Iñárritu made two statements meant to resonate with Mexicans living on both sides of the Mexico-United States border. In regard to those Mexicans living … Continue reading »
Mexico
Not everyone mourns for Ayotzinapa’s students
Forty-three student teachers (normalistas) disappeared on the evening of September 26 in the municipality of Iguala, in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero. The incident has attracted national and international attention, and it has also generated a wealth of speculation and misinformation. The daily reports concerning the discovery of numerous mass graves have further muddied … Continue reading »
Is the U.S. Falling Behind Mexico? News from Ambos Nogales
In the Mexican border town of Nogales, I sat finishing my lunch when Alma, a Sonoran friend who had been watching the diners, spoke quietly: “That’s something you would never have seen a year ago – Mexican men eating salads.” It was, she explained, because of the rising awareness of diet-related health problems in Mexico, … Continue reading »
Kafka at the border
A little-known paradox in debates on immigration reform is the ongoing fortification of the United States-Mexico border, which is occurring at the same time as the number of official ports of entry between the two countries is expanding. Not lost on residents on both sides of the border is the irony that the US is … Continue reading »
Follow the sun: Mexico on target to pass national climate-change law
With Friday’s lower chamber passage of a new national climate change law, Mexico is poised to become a pioneer in climate change policy, proving the United States and the rest of the world that environmental protection and economic growth are both critical and achievable goals. On April 13, Mexico’s 500-member Chamber of Deputies passed the … Continue reading »
Art, authenticity, and the market in Precolumbian antiquities
Probably unnoticed by most readers of this blog, this week a major international incident exploded, pitting prestigious Mexican institutions against a French gallery, and causing social media linking archaeologists to light up. As summarized by Art Daily, the story begins with the sale of a private collection of Mexican antiquities in Paris. Primarily from the … Continue reading »