Category Archives: May & June 2014
Editor’s Letter
One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. – Plato
“The personal is political” is a phrase that was tossed around freely in my women’s studies circles during university. Made popular by Carol Hanisch’s essay of the same name, it examined how women gaining greater consciousness in their lives affected the political landscape. Hanisch noted that “political refers to any power relationships, not just those of government or elected officials.”
Applying this idea to my life has helped shape my interactions- seeing my experiences as a woman, not as only my experience, but as a comment about the experience of being a woman in general. This same principal can be applied to the experiences of immigrants, men, seniors, Mexicans, Canadians etc. What does our individual experience say about our collective experiences? Continue reading Editor’s Letter
Canada’s Visa Requirement for Mexicans Lingers Despite Critics
By Alvin Starkman, M.A., J.D.
It’s been almost five years since the Government of Canada imposed a visa requirement on Mexicans wishing to visit the country for either business or pleasure. Despite opening more visa application centers and providing for a more streamlined turnaround process, criticism persists. Every year, the country continues to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in travel, tourism and related revenue. Its reputation abroad, especially in Mexico, suffers as well. Continue reading Canada’s Visa Requirement for Mexicans Lingers Despite Critics
Lifeguard Training
By George Hurchalla
Just before Semana Santa began, the Huatulco Fire Department got a most timely visit from a great friend, Hawaii lifeguard Rick Williams. Two years ago during one of his annual visits to surf in the area that he has been visiting for the past decade, Williams trained the firemen – most of whom also serve as lifeguards at Huatulco beaches – in rescue techniques at Playa Chahue. They also spent a day up at the village of Coyula training the local residents in CPR and lifesaving techniques, as they have no lifeguards or medical help to depend on there. This time around Williams brought a much appreciated gift for the lifeguards, in the form of an 11 foot long, inflatable professional surf rescue board. The board is manufactured by the C4 Waterman company, based in Hawaii. Continue reading Lifeguard Training
Summer’s Here! Outdoor Fun In Mexico City
By Carole Reedy
A visit to Mexico City is a grand experience any time of the year, exciting and culturally satisfying. But our summer is a long one and offers unique opportunities for outdoor activities. The sun is hot, the sky is blue, and the city sizzles. Come on down! Continue reading Summer’s Here! Outdoor Fun In Mexico City
Recent Classics About Youth: What Goes On In Those Minds?
By Carole Reedy
It’s ironic that recently published books can already be viewed as “classics.” Yet there are some books and writers destined for this path. From the start, serious readers and some critics knew that Portnoy’s Complaint (Philip Roth, 1969) and Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger, 1951) would be read well into the future by millions of people, young and old alike. Both books look into the nest of confusion that is a young man’s mind. Both were controversial, too, not only in the eyes of critics, but also to those in education, the church, and everyday homes. Even friends disagreed. Continue reading Recent Classics About Youth: What Goes On In Those Minds?
Mamey
By Kary Vannice
The mamey doesn’t look much like a fruit. From the outside it resembles a small, ancient cracked leather football. It’s outer surface more like bark than peel. As a matter of fact, its exterior is so hard, you couldn’t peel it if you tried. You’ll need a knife to get into its soft, slimy, salmon colored flesh. If it weren’t for the sweet flavor of this fruit, it would remind you a lot of an avocado, once you’ve cut it open. Continue reading Mamey
Mexico and The United States: Early Roots of an Uneasy Relationship
By Marcia Chaiken and Jan Chaiken
Anyone who crosses the border between the United States and Mexico knows it can be quite a hassle. The contrast with travel in Europe is striking. Once you clear immigration and customs in any one of the almost 30 countries that belong to the European Union, you can travel between member nations and territories without further ado. But traveling to or from Mexico, by car or plane, entails long lines for immigration and paper-wasting documentation. Luggage is sniffed, searched, and often torn apart. The bureaucratic requirements for bringing a car to Mexico, or keeping it here, can be a nightmare. Continue reading Mexico and The United States: Early Roots of an Uneasy Relationship
Governing Oaxaca: The frontier between the traditional and the modern
By Deborah Van Hoewyk
However we think of ourselves—expats, gringos, visitors, tourists—when we want to straighten out our visas, taxes, or license plates, we’ve all brushed up against the Mexican and Oaxacan governments, their laws and their bewildering array of agencies. Some of us hire lawyers, some of us flounder through on our own, but when we come out on the other side we still wonder whether we got it right—are those license plates for real or are they fraudulentos? Continue reading Governing Oaxaca: The frontier between the traditional and the modern
Juicios Orales (Oral Trials): A long awaited major reform to Mexico’s judicial system
By Julie Etra
The judicial system of Mexico is undergoing some dramatic changes. Up until March 2014 judges decided trials and relied almost exclusively on written briefs. The perception within and outside Mexico has been that that the accused was commonly considered guilty, with the briefs being the only other major mechanism to determine otherwise. Finally, on March 4, 2014, the federal government of Mexico initiated the new Code of Criminal Procedures, signed by President Enrique Peña Nieto. Continue reading Juicios Orales (Oral Trials): A long awaited major reform to Mexico’s judicial system
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