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A message from this feed's publisher: La Paz Baja California Sur Mexico on the Sea of Cortez / Gulf of California site of the southern Baja Peninsula
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Our Mexico of the Future video gone viral
Posted: Fri, 13 Apr 2012 04:14:30 +0000
A short video that has gone viral in Mexico asks a tough question of the country’s presidential candidates: “Are you striving only for the (presidential) chair, or will you change the future of our country?”. A realistic and fast-paced video that shows violence and corruption in Mexico, portrayed exclusively by child actors, has sparked debate over the country’s problems, and seeks to tilt the discussion in its presidential race. The video, which challenges politicians to improve living conditions in Mexico, has been viewed more than 2 million times since it was released four days ago. In it, a montage of everyday, even casual, crime plays out, all of it set to the Jose Jose song “Una Manana” (“One Morning”).
“In reality, the video is not reflecting anything that people have not experienced,” said Rosenda Martinez, a spokeswoman for Our Mexico of the Future, the group behind the production.
The video targets the major presidential candidates – Enrique Pena Nieto, Josefina Vazquez Mota and Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador – and aims to raise awareness about Our Mexico of the Future.
Hundreds of children were reportedly used to film the four-minute video, which was produced by the group Nuestro Mexico Del Futuro (Our Mexico of the Future). In it, they enact scenes of street crime, government bribes, pollution and human trafficking.Using high production values to show scenes of children holding – and using — cigarettes, machine guns, and suitcases of money, the video attracted both praise and criticism after it was posted on YouTube Monday.
As part of its video campaign, Our Mexico of the Future is calling for Mexican citizens to contribute their ideas about how to solve their nation’s problems. As of Thursday afternoon, more than 10.5 million people had submitted their ideas, according to the group’s website.
Some of the candidates in Mexico’s 2012 presidential election have seen the video.Vazquez Mota, of the ruling National Action Party (PAN), said the video’s message can’t go unnoticed, while Institutional Revolutionary Party candidate Pena Nieto expressed that now is the time for change, as the video suggests.
Leftist candidate Lopez Obrador, of the Party of the Democratic Revolution, had not seen the video, but said he agreed with the theme of change.
In a behind-the-scenes video posted by the group, the child actors who participated in the mockumentary discuss their own ideas for Mexico’s future.
The goal of the organization is to collect as many “visions” of Mexico’s future as possible and to compile them in a book that will be presented to the candidates before the election.
So far, more than 10 million Mexicans have written or recorded their dreams for a safer or cleaner or more tolerant Mexico.Again – before somebody jumps the gun – many of the scenes mocked up can not be associated with La Paz and Baja Sur! Drug trafficking related violence and crime, kidnappings and street robbery may be a problem in other parts of Mexico but not in La Paz.
The editor however – is in no way contesting the scenes portraying corruption.
In general this is a very good video and it’s circulation – over 2 million views since publishing – shows that it address the concerns of many people.www.nuestromexicodelfuturo.com.mx #NiñosIncómodos
Our Mexico of the Future video gone viral
Post from the Info Source for: La Paz Baja California SurNo related posts.
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US State Department travel update no advisory is in effect for La Paz
Posted: Tue, 03 Apr 2012 08:12:49 +0000
In a move that recognizes the safety of La Paz and Baja California Sur, the U.S. State Department’s latest 2012 travel update states no security concerns for the region. For the first time, the regular update includes “no advisory” in effect for La Paz and the entire Baja Sur region. The move reaffirms the reputation of La Paz as the city of peace and abundance on the Sea of Cortez, and one of the safer places to live in and to visit. “We applaud the U.S. State Department for recognizing what every visitor to La Paz experiences here: That it is a beautiful, peaceful city, and – along with the entire Baja Sur region – it is an entirely secure and rewarding place for vacations, for owning a second home, or for retirement,” said Agustin Olachea, President of La Paz Tourism Board, and spokesperson for the La Paz Developers Tourism Council. “Travelers can feel confident coming here, knowing that the peace that one quietly encounters in La Paz extends directly from the abundant ocean life and cultural richness that sets La Paz apart from any place on the planet.”
The report marks the first time that the State Department has broken down its Mexico travel update into specific populated areas and regions. According to an unnamed State Department source, the “granularized” report was compiled at the request of American business groups interested in employee security. It was not done to appease various boosters of Mexican tourism.
Previous to this report, the US State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs issued travel warnings to larger, more general areas for Americans visiting Mexico. The result was confusion, with some tourists curtailing plans for visiting Mexico in spite of huge areas of the country unaffected by recent drug-related violence.
The safety of Baja Sur in particular was also underscored by the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other international leaders at February’s G20 Foreign Ministers Summit in Los Cabos.
Please be aware that this post was compiled out of content from a report on Newswire (www.prnewswire.com) which again originated from a submission by “Paolucci Communication Arts”, a full-service marketing firm under contract with the Bahía de los Sueños development. With that as background, a total unbiased reporting may or may not be given. We provide enough links so you as reader can do your own research and build a opinion!
La Paz BCS Infortheque can not find any “significant move that recognizes the safety of La Paz and Baja California Sur” or mention of the La Paz area, which in the first way never had any problems with violent crime.
We, as local residents, explained many times in the past, that La Paz Baja Sur, is a safe place to visit or reside.
The only danger we recognized over the years – for visitors as residents alike – are “twisted reporting” promotion performance tuned by marketing spin-doctors being contracted by entities suffering from lower visitor numbers and sales……. (Should you wonder what that means in general and the culture of reporting – compare what has been published about – as example, the El Mogote project and what it is in reality today)
The U.S. State Department’s travel update from February 08, 2012 can be found here at the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs webpage.
US State Department travel update no advisory is in effect for La Paz
Post from the Info Source for: La Paz Baja California SurNo related posts.
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Carnaval en La Paz
Posted: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:11:47 +0000
Today second day of three late-afternoon parades of floats along the Malecón starts starts starts after 4 p.m. Tonight’s parade starts at El Molinito (the little windmill) and travels along Obregón to Marquez de León (the direction is the reverse of Sunday’s parade). There will also be entertainment by local performers. At 21:30, singer Damiana Conde performs. At 22:30, the pop duo Ha*ash performs (for a sample of this Mexican-American sister duo who combine commercial Latin pop and country rhythms. Tomorrows afternoon’s parade is the last of three. The floats travel on Obregón along the Malecón from Marquez de León to El Molinito (the little windmill), starting after 4 p.m. and following the same route as Sunday’s parade. There will also be entertainment by local performers. At 20:00, singer, telenovela star and former beauty queen Maribel Guardia takes the stage. At 21:30, there are performances by Class Jazz, singer Janeth García and Academia Habibi.
At 22:30, there’s a concert by El coyote y su Banda. At 23:30 there’s a performance by Los Traviesos de Marcelo Mendoza. All events are on the Malecón and admission is free.
Carnaval en La Paz
Post from the Info Source for: La Paz Baja California SurNo related posts.
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Stronger fines – nuevas multas
Posted: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:03:57 +0000
Fines are increased if you get caught violating traffic laws and regulations in La Paz. We did NOT independently verify the accuracy of a report by B. Crawford we seen at the cat-litter-box liner. We usual use that pamphlet laying out at some supermarkets aimed at gringos and consists of advertisements and other BS. Take one from 2002 and a 2012 issue. Same doo-doo!! Anyway, talk is about traffic laws and increased fines IF you… before we get into that I like to address a connected issue. very often you hear, mainly at online publications / foras this “La Paz police all corrupt etc.” talk. In a very simple way own experience: Foreigner, living almost 11 years Baja Sur (2 y. Loscabos, 9 y. La Paz). In this almost 9 years La Paz I got pulled over 3 times by La Paz traffic cops (in uniform) and 1 time by PGR at a street-block/control. All of the pull-over been 100% justified. 3 times I did cleary violate traffic rules. At the PGR control it was around midnight in a part of La Paz you rarely expect a foreigner, they stoped EVERY car and i could not produce the vehicle documents. I been also living in the USA for many years. I got tickets for way less (like not having a license-plate at front of vehicle as example). In none of the cases i got a ticket, they advised me of my violation and warned me that a repeat will be fined. The PGR guys drive with me to fiances house, checked registration and DL and that was it. There was never any attempt to get a “mordida” out of me!
So far about that. Now about the new fines. The heaviest fine is for those operating a vehicle while under the influence (DUI). It supposedly coast now 908$US. No clue what it was before, never worried about that. If I do a “internal Pacifico” cleansing i just dont drive. Common sense. Should be for everybody that way. Who wants to live with the thought to run somebody over cause he was not capable to operate his vehicle correct??
make sure you park your vehicle at the correct location!!250$ US if you transport construction materials without permission or you caught to dump garbage in the wrong spot.
455$ US if you park in a bus stop of a marked handicapped parking zone. Same fine will be applied to graffiti taggers who screw up public transit property.
Other fines for not stopping at crosswalks, speeding, not having current registration, driving with your children in your arms, talking on cell phones range from 20$ US to 70$ US depending on the infraction.Stronger fines – nuevas multas
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Trying to link the abandoned marijuana to the drug cartels
Posted: Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:42:13 +0000
Officials in Mexico have seized more than two tons of marijuana found floating off the coast of tourist hotspot Los Cabos. The following is the best line we seen so far and, as we informed by sources in a news outlet, was so supplied by authorities. “Law enforcement authorities are trying to link the abandoned marijuana to the drug cartels”… really??? Hmmm…, we thought this was the friendly neighborhood mom & pop pot dealer that went out squid fishing and took 2 tons of marijuana with them to wash of the dust… geeze! Is that all they can come up with?? Is that part of the 6-digit US $ paid north of the border media campaign to create a better image looking at the southern Baja and La Paz??
La Paz is a safe place to visit but a few more of that incidents as 2 weeks ago the shooting and now a rather large drug find, even if 200km away in Cabo San Lucas and La Paz will appear on the “do not go” radar with the rest of BCS. Who they want to fool with such a line our Mexican friends ask as much as we?? What about them cheezy videos published a few days after the shooting showing a bunch of liquored up cruise-ship visitors on a 200 meter stretch of beach and asking them how they like it and what date it is??? They probably did not even know there was some incident. So the tourism marketing spin-doctors, in that case we assume state / Baja California Sur, really need to do some reality checks and may do a little profiling on who they reach out to with such messages. This is about the lively-hood of a whole region and many jobs related to visiting tourists. Quit treating people like they are fools. You want to sense what people (foreign visitors) think?? How about fly 10 times to LA and listen to what the folks talk about. That may serves as a wake-up call……
Source: Baja Leaks
Trying to link the abandoned marijuana to the drug cartels
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Major gun-battle Cabo San Lucas military and narcos
Posted: Sat, 29 Oct 2011 20:25:27 +0000
A major gun-battle took place past night in Cabo San Lucas Prisas Pacifico area (general/near Sorianas) between Mexican military and assumed narco trafficantes. Out inside source (CSL city government personal) informed us that the shot-out lasted about 4 hours from 23:00hr to 3:00 am. One soldier dead, one kidnapper dead and 2 police seriously injured. A independent observer put this video on YouTube. One can expect that this will not remain single incidents.
As we write, 14:40 hrs. Saturday 29. October 2011 we receive information that at this moment at the area of the Plaza Sendero (dont know exact name, general area Sorianas / Prisas Pacifico) is another – related – gunfight with the military taking place. The road to Todos Santos and Aguajito Avenue, just off Plaza Sendero, have been completely closed to traffic. Gunshots can be heard (3:39 pm).
Mexican military is evacuating Plaza Sendero. This information is NOT official! We are informed by telefon from a person in the very near area. Thanks Salvadore R.!! Keep us posted but foremost: be save and stay out of harms way!Some people may ask: “How come now Cabo? This was all mainland so far.” Our opinion: the “squeeze” from the government activities of the last years slowly shows impact. Cabo San Lucas and all of the Loscabos area was attractive to the narcos for the money laundering via real estate investment opportunities. All those expensive, overpriced real estate and hotels etc. Additional, for the second and third league criminals/dealers there is/was also a huge domestic drug market in CSL supplying some locals and the tourists. In general CSL and BCS are not in a corridor for drug trafficking past the drugs consumed in the area. Turf-battles will occur more often as the economy goes further down…. the market they can invest in just get’s smaller or is hibernating as well the “real” (real as of people visiting versus what the media spin-doctors try to sell) visitor numbers are down i.e. also less “customers”. Maybe they (“investors”) take over some of the “white elephants”…..??
Report in spanish here: El Universal News
Major gun-battle Cabo San Lucas military and narcos
Post from the Info Source for: La Paz Baja California SurNo related posts.
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Mexico Independence Day Grito de Dolores
Posted: Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:39:32 +0000
Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon gives the traditional “El grito,” or shout, to kick off Independence Day celebrations at the Zocalo in Mexico City, late Thursday Sept. 15, 2011. Mexico is marking the 201st anniversary of the “Grito de Dolores,” honoring the call to arms made by the priest Miguel Hidalgo in 1810 that began the struggle for independence from Spain, achieved in 1821. In the early hours of September 16th, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest in the small town of Dolores, Guanajuato, rang the church bell to gather the townspeople. He called for the people of Mexico to rise up against the Spanish Crown, thus initiating Mexico’s War of Independence. The country did not achieve independence until 1821, but it is this event, known as the Grito de Dolores which is commemorated every year in town squares across Mexico.
The largest Independence Day celebration takes place in Mexico City’s Zocalo, which is decorated from the beginning of September with red, white and green lights and Mexican flags. On the 15th, at 11 pm the President of the Republic goes out onto the central balcony of the National Palace (Palacio Nacional), rings the bell (the same bell Hidalgo rang in 1810, brought to Mexico City in 1886) and cries to the people gathered in the square below, who enthusiastically respond “¡Viva!”
The words of the Grito may vary, but they go something like this:
¡Vivan los heroes que nos dieron patria! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Hidalgo! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Morelos! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Allende! ¡Viva!
¡Vivan Aldama y Matamoros! ¡Viva!
¡Viva nuestra independencia! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva!
At the end of the third ¡Viva Mexico! the crowd goes wild waving flags, ringing noisemakers and spraying foam. Then fireworks light up the sky as the crowd cheers. Later the Mexican national anthem is sung.
The celebrations continue on the 16th with civic ceremonies and parades – the largest taking place in Mexico City, but perhaps the most touching festivities are those in small communities in which school children of all ages participate.Mexico Independence Day Grito de Dolores
Post from the Info Source for: La Paz Baja California SurNo related posts.
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6.0 magnitude earthquake 60 miles east of La Paz
Posted: Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:50:57 +0000
A strong 6.0 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Sea of Cortez off Baja California, 60 miles east of La Paz, Mexico, the U.S. Geological Survey reported on Tuesday. The quake occurred at 11:44 a.m. local time (1744 GMT) at a depth of 3.1 miles. 86 km (53 miles) SW of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico 138 km (85 miles) NNE of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
La Paz BCS Infotheque is not aware of any damage. We did not even feel it at the Fidepaz area…. – La Paz, a good place to be
6.0 magnitude earthquake 60 miles east of La Paz
Post from the Info Source for: La Paz Baja California SurNo related posts.
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Tourist boat capsizes off Baja California peninsula
Posted: Mon, 04 Jul 2011 13:55:22 +0000
One person drowned and six were missing after a fishing boat carrying 27 American tourists capsized in a storm and sank off Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, authorities said on Monday. The 115-foot (35 meter) chartered boat left the port of San Felipe on the Sea of Cortez, a haven for windsurfers and sports fishermen, on Saturday but was struck by an electrical storm and capsized early on Sunday, port and navy officials said. Emergency services officials in San Felipe said 27 of the 44 people on board were U.S. citizens.
The U.S. Coast Guard, which is sending a helicopter to help with the rescue, said one person was dead and authorities were still searching for six others, but had no information on their nationalities.
“(The helicopter) should be there around 0800 (Pacific time) to assist with rescue efforts,” Coast Guard official Benny Minton said. The boat, called the Erik, was found around 87 miles south of San Felipe, a popular holiday and fishing resort located south of Mexicali. According to an Internet advertisement, the Erik has been operating in the Sea of Cortez since 1989 and can sleep up to 42 guests. “We are still looking for the rest of the people. The weather is really bad right now, with strong wind,” said local port official Felipe Vallecillo.
Vallecillo said weather conditions were normal when the boat set sail on Saturday.The services offered for this boat been described as “You live aboard the 105 foot ERIK in air-conditioned bunk rooms for 2, 3 or 6. Travel to the midriff island area where you fish from pangas. The boat is your floating hotel and restaurant. The food is excellent quality Mexican and American cuisine, all cooked fresh”
Vessel information: The Erik
- The ERIK has been in the Sea of Cortez liveboard since 1989.
- The vessel has a length of 115′ with a 24′ beam. Built in Holland, she was equipped with stabilizers to handle the turbulent North Sea.
- 9 air-conditioned staterooms will each sleep between 2-4 people. 1 large air-conditioned stateroom, located behind the wheelhouse, can accommodate up to 6 people.
- 5 bathrooms and 3 showers are located on the main and upper decks.
- The galley and outdoor eating area, with light breezes and sunset views, are located on the main deck near the bow.
- The ERIK will carry 9 pangas, accommodating either 2 or 3 fishermen(plus 1 guide). Each panga is equipped with a bait tank.
Tourist boat capsizes off Baja California peninsula
Post from the Info Source for: La Paz Baja California SurNo related posts.
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La Paz gastronomy in critical situation, make or break time
Posted: Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:48:58 +0000
You propably seen them baskets with gratis pamphlets at some locations in La Paz, we had our find @CheDrauiBaja and this article catched our attention. Not that it was somethings new – you walk across the city with open eyes the past 2 years and that is a ongoing situation, and not just with the restaurants… But now it’s the malecon and areas targeting tourists and worth some attention and to talk about….. Ok, let is quote – the author of the article us named as “TBC” and therefore full credits for this content to “TBC”. Saul Nunez, president of the national chamber of the industry of restaurants in La Paz (CANIRAC) predicts that summer 2011 will be a difficult time for his fellow members in the restaurant industry.
With some restaurants and bars recently closing their doors in the capital, including Caprichos on Madero, Time Out on the Malecon and Papas & Beer Nightclub, summertime is a make or break time for the industry. According to Nunez, some members of the local 119-member chamber will have to decide whether they will be able to keep their doors open.“Now, it is a critical situation for everyone, the economy in general is slow. Families, in times of financial difficulty, tighten their wallets and one of the first things they stop is eat out at restaurants. That has hurt the industry but on top of that, summertime is especially a difficult time for restaurants. August and September have traditionally been the slowest month of the year. Our cost go up, electricity to name just one factor, and we are seeing food and drink consumption down. I know some members are right now trying to decide if they can stay open or not.”
Nunez also mentioned that La Paz is a very paycheck-to-paycheck town. Members of of CANIRAC have noticed that on paydays, their restaurants have people entering their doors. But a few days after payday, very few people are visiting restaurants. At a time of downturn in the economy, people are buying the basics; food, clothes for school, hygiene products. Taking their family to a restaurant and eating out is the last thing that they are going to do or can do, on a restricted budget.
“We see less people coming into our restaurants. Of those people who are coming in, they are spending less money on their meals, less time in restaurants. Instead of ordering an appetizer, the main dish and a dessert, more are just ordering a main meal or sharing a main meal among the group” Nunez explained.
Several restaurants have had to already cut back on staff and extend or cutback on hours of operation, depending on demand and the staff available. In several restaurants run by families, at least one member of the family has had to look for other sources of employment.
Also, most people do not understand that it is very difficult to maintain a legalized business in Mexico. There are higher rates for businesses in regards to phone bills, electricity bills and water. Rent can be very expensive in La Paz. Labor laws are very strict and unions are very strong. Restaurants, like all businesses, need to be very careful with their staff.“It is a difficult situation. Fewer people are eating out and our bills to maintain our businesses are higher, especially over the summer month. Decisions will have to be made by members or whether they can continue to run their business. We just need to keep working hard and do the best we can.”
Addition by the editor: This situation is not just limited to the restaurants. Living 10 years in the city and having build up relationships with many “day-to-day” enterprises the general trend is the same with the lavandaria, the taxista, the gardener, the shoe-maker, even the tienda at the corner. All face the same dilemma with reduced income and increased overhead.The global economic crisis is exact that: global! La Paz is not spared from it and in our humble opinion do ongoing promotional activities to rekindle the economy not consider data, research and expertise from unbiased sources.
La Paz gastronomy in critical situation, make or break time
Post from the Info Source for: La Paz Baja California SurNo related posts.
Brought to you by Infotheque Intl
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