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 Editor Dorothy Bell

Where Most Foreigners Live in Mexico
 

Geo Mexico
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Mexico's 2010 census found that 961,121 individuals living in Mexico had been born outside the country. In 2000 there were only about half as many foreigners living here (492,617). The 2010 figure is less than 1% of Mexico's total population of 112 million. (Compare Canada where 21% are foreign-born and USA where 13% are foreign born.)

Of the total number of foreign-born residents in Mexico, 76.6% were born in the USA. Sadly, INEGI (Mexico's statistic bureau) has not released any information relating to the country of birth of current residents who were born in countries other than the USA.

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Headline News

Mexico News This Week

Mexico presses US House speaker on arms traffic

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has asked U.S. House Speaker John Boehner to crack down on weapons trafficking that has fueled drug violence in Mexico.

Calderon's office says the president stressed the importance of stopping illegal trafficking of weapons and cash into Mexico.

The government says Mexico's drug cartels import much of their weaponry from the United States….go to original article

Mexico catches alleged key Zeta leader

Police have captured the man who allegedly ran the Zetas drug gang in three northern Mexican states and who is suspected in the killing of a U.S. immigration agent, authorities announced Friday.

Soldiers and local police captured Luis Jesus Sarabia in Garcia, a town in the northern state of Nuevo Leon, said Army spokesman Gen. Ricardo Trevilla.

Trevilla said Sarabia is a confidant of top Zeta leader Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano and Miguel Angel Trevino and was in charge of operations in the states of Coahuila, Aguascalientes and San Luis Potosi, Trevilla said….go to original article

Growing Catholic divide over Mexico drug war

A bishop is among those alleging human rights abuses by state, but the church stands behind President Calderón's military-led crackdown on the Mexico drug war.

Bishop José Raúl Vera López of Mexico has never shied away from controversy, defending unpopular minorities ranging from illegal migrants to prostitutes.

Now, as violence between Mexican drug traffickers and security forces pushes the drug war's five-year death toll over 45,000, the Roman Catholic bishop is taking on the government. He claims that corrupt officials are allying with criminals to skim drug profits and using the military to murder criminals who might reveal any collusion….go to original article

Durbin: American Drug Habit Fuels War In Mexico

The Mexican government says the war with drug cartels left 13,000 people dead through September of last year, meaning the war has killed almost 50,000 people in the last five years.

As WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody has reports U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) says the drug war in Mexico is being fueled by the U.S. appetite for drugs.

“It is our consumption of these narcotics that is creating this lucrative opportunity that they’re willing to die for,” Durbin said….go to original article

Mexico expects millions to visit for 2012 solstice

Tourism officials said Thursday that 2012 will be a special year for Mexico, even though they don't expect the world to end Dec. 21.

The Tourism Department says it will spend $8 million promoting tourism to the "Mayan World," the southeast Mexico region where the Mayan culture thrived. The area extends into Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

Doomsday prognosticators' belief that the Maya predicted the end of the world for December 2012 has brought attention to one of Mexico's great cultures. Officials reject the prediction but hope the attention will draw tourists….go to original article

Dates for Pontiff's Visit to Mexico, Cuba: March 23-28

Itinerary Includes Official Meetings With Both Presidents.The dates for Benedict XVI's visit to Mexico and Cuba have been confirmed and will include the feast of the Annunciation.

The March 23-28 trip will be centered in Leon, Mexico, and in Santiago and Havana, Cuba.

A note issued by the Mexican bishops' conference explained that the Pope will arrive at the airport of Leon in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato on the afternoon of Friday, March 23. He will be greeted there by President Felípe Calderón, members of the episcopal conference and the city's archbishop….go to original article

After huge Mexico City landfill closes, trash piles up

Mounds of debris piled up at illegal dumping sites around the city in recent weeks as the metropolis grappled with an avalanche of refuse after closing one of the world's largest landfills.

Garbage trucks queued up for more than six hours to dump loads at transfer stations, while overstuffed bags and other trash piled up even on the toniest streets over the holidays, when dumps in surrounding Mexico state refused to take the city's trash….go to original article

News Last Week

On his stroll toward Mexico's presidency, Pena Nieto stumbles

The PRI's Enrique Pena Nieto is perceived as the insurmountable favorite to become Mexico's next president this year. But a series of blunders have caused some to question his mettle as a candidate. First, he struggled to name a single book he'd read, except for "parts" of the Bible. Then he couldn't quote the minimum wage nor the price of the omnipresent tortilla.

The man who would be the next president of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, is not off to a good start. …go to original article

Mexico gets independence monument 1½ years late

Mexico's president has inaugurated a soaring monument that was supposed to be ready for the country's 2010 independence bicentennial, but came in way over budget and nearly 1½ years late….go to original article

Mexico’s Election Draws Eyes From Across Border

Texas economists are confident that the financial upheavals long associated with Mexican elections are a thing of the past. Still, they are closely watching what this summer’s presidential contest means for the peso and, in turn, Texas’ symbiotic business ties to Mexico.

Texas politicians are paying close attention, too — to whether the trade, security and energy policies of President Felipe Calderón’s successor will affect illegal immigration or the state’s robust trade relationship with Mexico. …go to original article

On 'el Chepe' train, Copper Canyon can be safely visited despite location

I won't lie: I had some qualms about traveling alone to the Copper Canyon, a series of awe-inspiring gorges bigger than the Grand Canyon that happen to be in the same northwestern region of Mexico consumed by drug-trafficking violence.

At the same time, I knew from being in the news business that tourists are seldom, if ever, the target of such violence. I also was aware of the tendency to paint an entire region with a bleak brush when only small pockets are actually affected. …go to original article

Undeterred by recent violence, snowbirds continue to flock to Mexico
Snowbirds say they will continue to flee the West Coast’s cold, wet winters for the small coastal villages of Mexico despite the murder of two British Columbia residents this week.

Robin Wood, 67, of Saltspring Island was shot and killed Wednesday while trying to stop a home invasion at his friend Arvid Chalmers’ home in Melaque, 200 kilometres south of Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast….go to original article

San Blas International Migratory Bird Festival Jan 29-Feb 5
 

noticiaspvnayarit.com
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The International Migratory Bird Festival in San Blas will take place between January 29 and February 5, 2012. For more information, visit AvesSanBlas.uan.mx.

For the eighth consecutive year, The International Festival of Migratory Birds will be held in San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico between January 29 and February 5, 2012.

Each year in Riviera Nayarit thousands of migratory birds inhabit the landscape and fill them with magic. Ornithologists and 'birders' meet in the historic port to try to spot as many species as possible of the more than 500 species that live in this region.

The International Migratory Bird Festival will also present the different routes for wildlife observation and a program of cultural activities. In addition, the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) of Riviera Nayarit is preparing to receive national and international journalists that provide coverage of this festival every year

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Once in while it is nice to receive a great compliment from our Face book Page Driving in Mexico

Dorothy Bell

At Home in Paradise
Reporting and Making News
Bill and I are not traveling right now as we are in the middle of our Giving Season in La Penita – our home 1 hour north of Puerto Vallarta. We operate the Jaltemba Sol - a small online English online newspaper for the area and have done so since 2003.
The Giving Season (also known as the Gringo Season) is when thousands of snowbirds descend on our area and park themselves in rigs or hotels for 1 to 8 months. These fun loving generous souls organize themselves in a variety of ways to amuse themselves and give to the community.
We have a Fashion Show, Margarita Challenge, Cancer Walk, Horseshoe Tournament, Music Festival, Golf Tournaments and various fiestas. We give thousands of dollars to scholarships, health, schools, facilities and programs.
This morning Bill and I and a few others folks from the Jaltemba Cup Golf Tournament are going to the public middle school to install a computer lab that we have purchased for them. We have purchased 10 new computers (we have already purchased 4 in the past), a computer projector (with ceiling bracket) screen and two laser printers. It has taken two years and a lot of organizing to be able to provide this equipment.
Bill and I recently drove to Guadalajara to purchase the computers and peripherals. Bill spent a “FEW” man days installing parts and programs. Today we install the computers and get them set up for Monday – the day that we will be presenting the lab to the students and school community. It will be a surprise for the students.
Even though we love to travel, right now we have to stay put and cover the numerous events of this generous community. This is only one great event; we have at least a dozen, each with equally worthy recipients.
Let us know where you land this year on your travels. Tell us about the communities you find interesting.

Kip Wylie

Like that! Tonight we're going to a charity dinner on the beach in Melaque for a child with spina-bifida (sp?). $100pesos goes so far, and to think I spend this at a Starbucks almost every morning when I'm N.O.B. :)

Laurie Jeanne Wideman Gaona

just wanted to say that you and your husband are reminders to all....LIVE the life you dream of....I grew up in Recife Brasil my parents had an orphanage and a school. My Mom was like the Dr. to the community...The out reach work you are doing reminds me of my parents. I am now married to a Mexican living in the USA.. I went to Mexico for the first time in July of 2010. My daughter was going to a language school in San Cristibal das las casas. I flew into Cancun from Atlanta Ga. I took a bus from Cancun to San Cristibal...long ride :)...I spent one week there.. then I went to Merida for a few days and ended my trip in Puerto Morelos. I traveled alone and everyone was nice and very helpful. I fell in Love with Mexico! My husband and are planning to move back there to live. I can't wait!! But I'm not sure I would have thought about driving until I found your most informative web page and now it's the only way I want to return to Mexico and start living the life I have always dreamed of!!! Thanks for all the work you put into this page it is a big help to us that are interested in traveling to Mexico.

You can also visit bill and Dorothy Bell's Travel Website on Mexico at www.ontheroadin.com

 

 

 

Jaltemba Cup builds computer lab for Plan de Ayala Secondaria

Golf organizers and golfers stand in front of donated computer equipment

When most golfers on the Nayarit Coast think of the Jaltemba Cup they think of an extremely competitive golf tournament that pits golfers from one community against the other in an annual classic that takes place at the El Monteon Field of Dreams nine hole golf course.

This year however, the Jaltemba Cup means a great deal more to the thousand students that attend La Peñita de Jaltemba’s Plan de Ayala Secondaria as the Jaltemba Cup organizers presented an entire computer lab to the school on Monday.

 

Larry Baron "Mr. Jaltemba Cup" is presented a thank you certificate by school director Eduardo Lopez

“We’ve donated computers to the school in the past because students attend there from Lo de Marcos all the way up to Chacala,” said Jaltemba Cup chair Larry Baron. “This year, two of the founders of the Jaltemba Cup, Bill and Dorothy Bell used the funds to put together an entire computer lab for the children of our communities.”

The Bell’s met with school officials and got their wish list of 10 computers, printers, scanner/fax, computer overhead projector and screen. This was in addition to the four computers that the Jaltemba Cup had already bought the school.

“When we traveled to Guadalajara to buy the equipment, we realized that the budget just couldn’t handle all of their needs,” Dorothy said. “My husband Bill, who has made a hobby of rebuilding computers, decided to buy the computer components and build the computers in order to afford all of the equipment for the computer lab.”

“For over two weeks we had computer parts all over the house.”

The school director, Eduardo Lopez, told the Jaltemba Cup organizers and golfers that the donation was “extremely important” as they had only six computers for over 1000 students who attend the school in two shifts. “Computers are a important educational tool and thanks to the Jaltemba Cup, our students have an opportunity to learn vital skills.”

Bill and Dorothy Bell are presented with a certificate from school director Eduardo Lopez thanking them and the Jaltemba Sol for their efforts

“When you see all of these children’s faces light up, it is truly wonderful to behold. You know that by giving just a little hand, you could be making a huge difference in their lives,” Bill Bell said.

The Jaltemba cup was started six years ago to allow golfers from Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta to compete in a fun and competitive manner, while at the same time raising funds for computers in the school system. It now has over 30 teams representing communities throughout Nayarit and Jalisco playing.

This year’s Jaltemba Cup takes place at the Field of Dreams – Campo de Enseueño - Golf Course in El Monteon on January 28 and 29^th. Deadline for Registration is January 22. To register email Larry Baron at clbaron6@gmail.com or visit us at www.jaltembacup.com. Special thanks goes out to this years major sponsors, Peter Vines PV fishing, Campos de Ensueno Golf Course, Jaltemba Sol and Vista Golf Course

 

 

 

Click here to view more great pictures from this event

 

Margarita Zodiac: Monthly Flavors

© Tara A. Spears

In the spirit of honoring the New Year’s tradition of having a resolution, I vowed to try a new flavor of margarita each month for 2012. I must admit that the upcoming fund raising event, the Margarita Challenge, with its creative margarita concoctions, inspired me. I amended my resolution to include a charitable good deed- just like the Margarita Challenge fund provides year-round community service- I will do a different positive thing each month that I try a new margarita recipe. My approach to compiling the recipes is a blending of ‘70s zodiac personality hype, thinking of what the tropical mood is typical that month, and flavor creativity.

WARNING:
* The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you are whispering when you are not.
* The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.

*The consumption of Margaritas may increase lustfulness or table dancing and loss of clothing.
* The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to think you can sing.
* The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.

Acqurius- the water carrier. (Jan 21- Feb 20) Ruling planet, Uranus; associated color- bright blue. Turquoise Margarita. Ingredients: 2 parts tequila, 1 part Blue Curacao, 2 parts lime juice, ¼ part sugar syrup. Mix all ingredients together in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into chilled margarita glass. Extra touch: rub fresh lime juice around the glass rim and dip into a saucer of salt before pouring in mixed cocktail.

 

Picies- the fishes (Feb 21- Mar 20) Ruling planet: Neptune; associated color-seagreen. Mango Margarita. Ingredients: for Mango mix: 1 ¼ pounds fresh magoes, 1 cup water, ½ cup sugar; gray salt. The drink ingredients: 3 cups ice, 1 ½ cups Mango Margarita mix, 4 oz tequila, 2 oz triple sec. lime wedges, mint salt. Directions: After peeling and cutting mango into chunks, put chunks into blender with water, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Blend til smooth; taste and add sugar to taste, set aside. Next, fill blender with ice, add mango mix, tequila, triple sec. Dip glass rim in mint salt- 1 cup chopped mint leaves crushed and mixed with equal parts coarse salt.

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Mitt Romney is Latino?

In a political season rife with intrigue and scandal, this latest piece of news may just be one of the most interesting yet. Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is of Mexican nationality, and could easily obtain dual citizenship in both the United States and Mexico.

Romney’s father, George Romney, was born in 1907 in an American colony in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. According to Mexican law, Mitt, who was born in Detroit, Michigan, qualifies for dual citizenry, and would simply have to produce his birth certificate at any consulate office to confirm it.

This fact was public knowledge, but is now coming to light amidst Romney’s emergence as a front runner for the Republican nomination, as other candidates are looking to disparage Romney in the polls. Mitt Romney still has several relatives in Colonia Juarez and Colonia Dublan who publicly support Mitt in his endeavors, but are quick to note that he has never come to visit.

Read more at Huffington Post.

Puerto Artista Oaxaca, Photo Frank Peters

 

New Reports of ATM Skimming at Local Bank Here is What the FBI says to watch out for

Taking a Trip to the ATM?
Beware of 'Skimmers'

Last fall, two brothers from Bulgaria were charged in U.S. federal court in New York with using stolen bank account information to defraud two banks of more than $1 million.

Their scheme involved installing surreptitious surveillance equipment on New York City ATMs that allowed them to record customers’ account information and PINs, create their own bank cards, and steal from customer accounts.

Skimming typically involves the use of a hidden cameras (top) to record customers’ PINs, and phony keypads (right) placed over real keypads to record keystrokes.

What these two did is called “ATM skimming”—basically placing an electronic device on an ATM that scoops information from a bank card’s magnetic strip whenever a customer uses the machine. ATM skimming is a growing criminal activity that some experts believe costs U.S. banks hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Enlarge Graphic How to Avoid being Skimmed - Inspect the ATM, gas pump, or credit card reader before using it…be suspicious if you see anything loose, crooked, or damaged, or if you notice scratches or adhesive/tape residue. - When entering your PIN, block the keypad with your other hand to prevent possible hidden cameras from recording your number. - If possible, use an ATM at an inside location (less access for criminals to install skimmers). - Be careful of ATMs in tourist areas…they are a popular target of skimmers. - If your card isn’t returned after the transaction or after hitting “cancel,” immediately contact the financial institution that issued the card.

How skimming works

The devices planted on ATMs are usually undetectable by users—the makers of this equipment have become very adept at creating them, often from plastic or plaster, so that they blend right into the ATM’s façade. The specific device used is often a realistic-looking card reader placed over the factory-installed card reader. Customers insert their ATM card into the phony reader, and their account info is swiped and stored on a small attached laptop or cell phone or sent wirelessly to the criminals waiting nearby.

In addition, skimming typically involves the use of a hidden camera, installed on or near an ATM, to record customers’ entry of their PINs into the ATM’s keypad. We have also seen instances where, instead of a hidden camera, criminals attach a phony keypad on top of the real keypad ... which records every keystroke as customers punch in their PINs.

Skimming devices are installed for short periods of time—usually just a few hours—so they’re often attached to an ATM by nothing more than double-sided tape. They are then removed by the criminals, who download the stolen account information and encode it onto blank cards. The cards are used to make withdrawals from victims’ accounts at other ATMs.

Skimming investigations

Because of its financial jurisdiction, a large number of ATM skimming cases are investigated by the U.S. Secret Service. But through FBI investigative experience, we have learned that ATM skimming is a favorite activity of Eurasian crime groups, so we sometimes investigate skimming—often partnering with the Secret Service—as part of larger organized crime cases.

Some recent case examples:

·         In Miami, four Romanians were charged with fraud and identity theft after they made and placed skimming devices on ATMs throughout four Florida counties … all four men eventually pled guilty. More

·         In Atlanta, two Romanians were charged and pled guilty to being part of a criminal crew that stole account information from nearly 400 bank customers through the use of skimming equipment they installed on ATMs in the Atlanta metro area. More

·         In Chicago, a Serbian national was arrested—and eventually pled guilty—for attempting to purchase an ATM skimming device, hoping to steal information from ATM users and loot their bank accounts. More

·         In New York, a Bulgarian national referenced at the top of this story was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in prison for his role in a scheme that used sophisticated skimming devices on ATMs to steal over $1.8 million from at least 1,400 customer accounts at New York City area banks. More

One last note: ATMs aren’t the only target of skimmers—we’ve also seen it at gas pumps and other point-of-sale locations where customers swipe their cards and enter their PIN. (See sidebar for tips on how to avoid being victimized by skimming.)

 

 

 

Mexican Dichotomy: Celebrating the Virgin in a Macho Culture   

©Tara A. Spears

By the early morning hours of December 12, every small village and urban area of the country will awaken to the burst of fire crackers with their brilliant light to begin celebrating the holiday season with a fiesta dedicated to the Mother of all Mexicans- Our Lady of Guadalupe. I find it interesting that such an intrinsically macho culture- where men have perceived superiority and dominance- accords such importance to female deities.  Not only is Our Lady of Guadalupe the country’s patron saint since the 1810 Mexican Revolution, she symbolizes what the modern Latino woman should strive to be.

 

Slide show produced by Bill Bell, photography by Bill and Dot Bell

It comes as no surprise, then, that the mysticism of the Virgin of Guadalupe should permeate the pop culture throughout north, central, and south American countries. In modern times, this female deity is portrayed in literature, art, and commerce as a female goddess of the cosmos, a warrior defender of minority rights (no down cast eyes for this contemporary woman), a loving and forgiving mother that can intercede with God the Father and Son. Beyond her role as life-giver, this Virgin is one of the violated masses who is able to rise above economic and physical woes to heal the wounds of the past.  It is easy to understand the Virgin’s popularity with all these spiritual attributes, and why the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is Mexico’s most important religious holiday.

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Mexico’s 2011 Growth Outlook Improves

laht.com
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Mexico City, Mexico - Analysts have raised their growth outlook for the Mexican economy, the central bank said Thursday.

According to Banco de Mexico’s November survey of financial service firms, analysts expect Mexico’s gross domestic product to grow 3.87 percent for the year, up from their October forecast of 3.72 percent.

It was the first time since June that the analysts had raised their forecast for Mexico’s 2011 GDP growth relative to their previous month’s expectations. They also predicted growth of 3.25 percent for 2012, virtually unchanged from October.

Banco de Mexico interviews analysts from 25 private banks and consultancy firms each month for its survey. The experts expect year-end inflation to come in at 3.36 percent and for core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, to stand at 3.22 percent.

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 Learn Spanish Today 

Mexico Seeks New Guinness Record for Moon-Gazing with Telescopes
 

laht.com
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Anyone can participate, provided they own a telescope and set it up for viewing at one of the sites around the country that are listed on NocheDeEstrellas.org.mx.

Puebla, Mexico - Several Mexican scientific institutions are seeking on December 3 to set a new Guinness record for the number of people observing the moon simultaneously using more than 5,000 telescopes.

The National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics, which is part of the organizing committee for "Reto Mexico 2011" (Mexico Challenge 2011) intends to exceed the record set in October 2009 when 1,042 telescopes were simultaneously used by people in Mexico to view the moon.

To achieve the goal, the institutions participating in the event called upon hobbyists and astronomers to turn out on more than 40 public squares and archaeological sites across Mexico at 7:30 pm on Saturday (0130 GMT Sunday).

Anyone can participate, provided they own a telescope and set it up for viewing at one of the sites around the country that are listed on NocheDeEstrellas.org.mx.

Once the judges finish counting the people who are participating in the event, some of the telescopes will be placed at the disposal of the general public so that people can observe the moon, but also Jupiter and its own moons, the Orion and Pegasus nebulae and the winter constellations.

The organizing committee for the festival, which is comprised of Mexico’s National Autonomous University, the Mexican Academy of Sciences, the French Embassy and the National Polytechnical Institute, explained that Reto Mexico is the curtain-raising event for the Night of the Stars 2012.

The aim is to deal with the claims made on Maya steles and in that culture’s astronomical myths and cosmology about the alleged end of the world next year with an eye toward demythicizing those claims.

utionalist Movement. Huerta had to flee the country in 1914. In 1917 the Constitution was reformed. Fighting among revolutionary groups did not end until 1920.
The Revolution had at last triumphed!

Labor Law: Household Employees in Mexico
 

Yucalandia
 

- Yucalandia, a very useful blog about living in Mexico, just published an article regarding the labor laws for household employees in Mexico. The article was guest authored by Sr. Solomon Freimuth, who, along with his partners at Calderón & Asociados, has fine expertise in Mexican Law, focusing on key issues affecting expats.

Solomon Freimuth and his counterparts have created a very good series of articles on expats rights and responsibilities in Mexico, on Buying Land, on Starting a Business in Mexico, etc on their website, chflawyers.com.

What is an employee?

Mexican labor law says that anyone who performs a subordinated, personal service in exchange for remuneration is an employee. There is a jurisprudencia, or established legal precedent based on decisions of the Mexican Supreme Court, that defines subordination as being at the disposition of the employer during the employee’s shift. Remuneration means to be paid, or in exchange for payment. As a general rule, this means if there is subordination and remuneration, there is an employee-employer relationship and therefore the employee is entitled to certain benefits under Mexican law.

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