Mexico

A recent LA Times article examines the alleged judicial activism of the Mexican Supreme Court, which has recently created a committee to investigate the political violence in Oaxaca. The Court made news earlier this month for overturning the anti-competitive “Televisa Law,” impacting Mexico’s two leading media conglomerates. Next on the docket is the eagerly-anticipated case of Mexico City’s controversial law legalizing abortion.

The Court’s independence is due in large part to judicial reforms in 1994 that granted the Court broad powers to make decisions that have the force of law. Prior to that, one political party ruled all governmental branches. While some may criticize the Court’s recent actions as over-stepping its role, its autonomy and authority are certainly positive developments for Mexican democracy.

Alan Greenspan, former Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, said recently that Mexico should privatize its oil industry to raise production through increased capacity for exploration. Greenspan stated that Mexico’s declining oil production could lead to a major fiscal crisis in the country. Mexico is the world’s 9th largest exporter of crude oil and a key supplier to the U.S. Petroleos Mexicano (PEMEX) is the state-owned, nationalized petroleum company.

Former Mexican presidential candidate Manuel Lopez Obrador has voiced his opposition to Greenspan’s recommendation, and despite Greenspan’s global stature, it is not clear that his comments will be well-received or have any impact on policy decisions in Mexico.

Often referred to as “banking for the poor,” microcredit programs provide collateral-free small loans to those too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans.  Originating in developing countries, microcredit has provided a successful model for enabling impoverished individuals to engage in self-employment projects to generate income.  It is part of the larger microfinance movement, and often focuses on lending to women, who have shown to be more reliable in repaying the loans and also more likely to devote their earnings to benefit the entire family.

Two organizations, BanComun de la Frontera and Grameen de la Frontera, focus on microlending in Mexico’s northern regions.  The latter is named after the famed Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, which is credited with developing the microcredit model that is now widely replicated worldwide.  BanComun loans, which range from just $50 to $800 per person, have reached over 1,500 residents in the poorest neighborhoods of Nogales.  Approximately 85% of the clients are women, and the program has a 95% repayment rate.  BanComun is expanding to other cities including Juarez and setting up a social investment fund that will allow people to help finance the socioeconomic welfare of its clients. 

Meanwhile, the Dallas-based Chiapas Project has helped more than 4,000 impoverished women in the state of Chiapas, through a partnership with Alternative Solidaria. The loan repayment rate has been 98%, encouraging organization leaders to further expand their reach through the Grameen Foundation. According to the Chiapas Project, with loans as small as $50, women can buy chickens and sheep to raise, plant trees to produce and sell fruit, purchase a corn grinder to make tortillas for the market, or buy cloth to create and sell handicrafts. The hope is that through microfinance, women such as those in Chiapas who typically live on less than $2 a day, are able to earn the income necessary to rise above poverty.

Mexico City’s Palacio de Bellas Artes museum is hosting a 2-month exhibition of artist Frida Kahlo’s work, marking 100 years since her birth.  Kahlo (1907-1954) was born in Mexico City and has been recognized as an intellectual and social activist.  As a painter, she depicted Mexico’s indigenous culture in a style combining realism, symbolism, and surrealism.  The Bellas Artes exhibition, the largest ever of her work, runs through August 19th.

Photo:  Frida Kahlo and her husband, artist Diego Rivera, in 1932

Le Figaro published an interview with President Felipe Calderon, in which he discusses relations with the U.S., Cuba, and Venezuela.  On Cuba, he said, “It is inconceivable that the Cubans would opt for a market economy if the outside world continues to block opportunities for trade and investment.” 

Calderon also addresses climate change, saying that although developed countries have the greatest responsibility, developing states should also act.

See:  Calderon: “Mexico must have an active foreign policy” (Le Figaro)

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who lost a highly contentious presidential election to Felipe Calderon last year, toured the southern state of Chiapas recently to advocate for transparent local elections.  Obrador claimed that the buying of votes, mainly in the indigenous communities, is the main obstacle preventing democratic reform in the country. 

Obrador, the candidate of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) in the 2006 presidential election, went on to lead a civil movement claiming electoral fraud while challenging the election results. 

See: Mexico Obrador for Clear Local Elections (Prensa Latina)

The Supreme Court of Mexico struck down the national “Televisa law,” which was enacted last year to give away bandwidth for television, Internet, and telephone services exclusively to two media giants, Televisa and TV Azteca, without bids or compensation to the government.  Lawmakers will now have to re-draft the law to allow competition. 

In making the ruling, Justice Olga Sanchez said, “The fact that the media is concentrated in a few hands distorts the right to information because it allows those in control of the media to manipulate, to mold public opinion.”

Mexican President Felipe Calderon kicked off a five-nation tour of Europe this week, hoping to promote trade relations, increase investment in Mexico, and boost European tourism to Mexico.  Calderon began his trip in Rome, where he met with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi. Calderon was scheduled to meet with 400 Italian business executives in Milan on Tuesday before attending the G8 Summit in Germany on Wednesday, representing Mexico in the “Group of Five” or G5 — the five countries selected by the G8 as “emerging powers.” He will also visit France, Belgium, and Denmark on his European tour.

According to the Latin Business Chronicle, Mexico is the top Latin American destination for European Union exports and the second largest EU trade partner in the region. Calderon commented in Italy that it was important for Mexico to diversify its relations in the EU.

(Photo: Calderon with Prime Minister Romano Prodi in Italy)

The UBS Art Gallery in New York City is hosting an exhibition to highlight the life and art of Mariana Yampolsky, an American-born artist whose work celebrates Mexico’s culture, history, and landscape.  ”Embracing Mexico: Mariana Yampolsky, Life and Art,” is featured in the Gallery until August 3rd. 

Yampolsky (1925-2002), who was born in Chicago, went to Mexico in 1944 and became a Mexican citizen in 1954.  “Embracing Mexico” explores the artist’s deep connection to her adopted country through an exhibition of her work as a photographer, printmaker, book editor, curator, and collector. 

“Embracing Mexico” is organized by the Mexican Cultural Institute and sponsored by the financial corporation, UBS, which is hosting the exhibition in its art gallery. Click here for details.

Photo: “Huipil de tapar” (Headdress) by Mariana Yampolsky

Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission, an independent government council investigating the 2006 unrest in Oaxaca, recently concluded that the federal government should have  intervened sooner after state authorities were overwhelmed.  The commission also said that hundreds of human rights complaints it received from the uprising were credible, and the 12 people killed in the clashes were mostly protesters shot by gunmen.

In May 2006, a teachers’ strike that was joined by leftist groups turned into a larger movement, occupying the city center for almost 5 months.  Teachers, union members, students, and indigenous activists joined in calling for the removal of the state’s governor.  The unrest in Oaxaca has become a symbol for tensions that exist throughout Mexico, including corruption and social inequality.  While the government cracked down on the public demonstrations, the discontent remains, raising the possibility of continued protest.

See also: Too quiet in Oaxaca (San Francisco Bay Guardian) and Mexico rights panel criticizes Oaxaca uprising response (Jurist)