Distance Learning

From a fight to democratize their union Local 22 to the resistance of the APPO – it’s been a tumultuous ride for teachers and their supporters in the State of Oaxaca. Being Mexico’s second poorest state where the average level of education completed is 6.4 years, is the teacher’s battle over more than just a pay dispute?  Get the breakdown of the teachers union struggle that began back in 1980 and ends with human rights violations against striking teachers. 

More from: SF GATE, FriendsofBradWill.org & Images from Mark In Mexico

 

Humble Tortilla Pie

In what hopes to be the beginning of a humanitarian and compassionate acknowledgment of his country’s poor, Mexican President Felipe Calderon signed a deal with businesses to curb the soaring price of corn tortillas and protect Mexico’s poor from speculative sellers as well as the surge in cost of corn driven by the U.S. ethanol industry. With the Mexican minimum wage topping off at $50.57 Mexican Pesos a day (approximately $4.65 USD), President Calderon’s act of political compassion may be the difference between eating — or more likely — not eating for many of his constituents. Let’s hope he stays the track and keeps the deal in place. The accord comes up for review and possible modifications on April 30, 2007. 

More on ethanol from the WSJ.

Move Over Merengue — La Ranchera Norteña Is Here.

New York City has traditionally been the destination of caribbean latinos – principally Dominicans and Puerto Ricans – but it’s the Mexican population that’s exploding all over NYC.  According to a NYT article, the 1990 census numbered Mexicans living in NYC at about 62,000 – it’s now at about 300,000 and growing.  And with that influx comes a need for the customs, cuisine and just recently a demand for the music of the motherland. 

Strike up the mariachi band, pour yourself some fine tequila, and enjoy a good norteña ballad.

The sounds of México are here.

Hola.

Bienvenidos a mi mundo. Thanks for loggin’ on and checking this out.  Esta es tu casa — for anything you need to know or care to share about Mexico City and its surrounding 31 states – from Augascalientes to Zacatecas! Let’s celebrate the diversity of the Mexican people and its wealth of regional cultures and possesions, from the Afro-Mexican of the Costa Chica in the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, to the Capitaleño or Chilango of Mexico City, to the AmerIndio or indigenous peoples of Veracruz and Yucatan – all will be celebrated here. Feel free to comment and add your opinion.