Popo and Presidential Election: Day 6

We published this post the day after the Mexican presidential elections on July 1. We are now updating the Still Curious? section  daily (scroll down) by adding  articles—from both English and Mexican press—that 'give voice' to this period of transition that will have a profound impact on both our homeland, the United States, and our host country, Mexico.  

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Today Mexico's National Center for Prevention of Disasters (CENAPRED) reported that in the last twenty-four hours, the volcano Popocatéptl emitted one hundred fifty-five 'exhalations'. For the record, that's an extraordinary number. CENAPRED gives a daily update at 11:00 AM daily.

Today's update noted that the scientists considered six exhalations to be important. They occurred Sunday at mid-day; the others occurred between midnight and 10:00 AM today (Monday). CENAPRED's update also noted that the cloud cover that has obscured the volcano's crater had lifted, which allowed visual inspection of the volcano's crater for the first time in several days.

Popocatéptl's 'plume' caused by exhalation of water, gas and ash. Notice the snow cap. We've seen the cloud cover and given the cooler temperatures that arrived with the seasonal rains, snow on Popo's peak is understandable.

If you're a regular reader of Jenny's Journal, you know that the volcano [aka don Goyo, Popo and don Gregorio] has a real personality—even charisma—and that the campesinos who live on his flanks not only care for his well-being, but seek his protection as well.

Yesterday (July 1) was Election Day in Mexico. So somehow it stands to reason that Popo would make his presence known on a critical day of national decision-making!  

It's true: I've been distracted. 

Reed and I have been busy selecting, translating and posting articles from the Mexican press regarding the issues, political dynamics, candidates and ordinary people involved in the country's election process. The pieces are posted in the Mexico Voices (MV) blog that Reed launched on the first day of spring, March 21, 2012.

The purpose of Mexico Voices is to foster understanding among English-speaking readers by translating opinion pieces and other articles that 'give voice' to how Mexicans themselves see, analyze and make sense of what's happening in Mexico today.

Last week—in response to a question posed by many of Jenny's readers:  What's Happening in Mexico?—I wrote my first-ever editorial for the Mexico Voices (MV) blog. In it, I summarized the issues and provided links to relevant articles available in translation in Mexico Voices.  

Yesterday (Sunday, Election Day), the New York Times published a first-rate article by its Mexico correspondent, Damien Cave. Titled Pocketbook Issues Weigh Heavily as Mexicans Vote, Cave reports the stories of small business people from Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, a city in the State of Mexico, next door to Mexico City. I value the article because its conclusions are consistent with the experiences of ordinary people we know in Mexico.

Mexico is understandably nervous, because it is the PRI party that maintained a seventy-year hegemony, running the country with an iron fist until it was deposed in 2000 by the PAN candidacy of Vicente Fox. Several commentators discuss this issue. Here are outstanding articles published today in Mexico Voices:

• This opinion piece by a thoughtful, seasoned Mexican political scientist sets a useful context and provides a superb overview of key issues and challenges: Mexico Elections: About the Vote and Humility;
• This article takes a hard look at the strengths/weaknesses shown by each of the political parties: Mexico Elections: Assessing the Results; 
• Short and sweet assessment: What happened yesterday? What are the questions going forward?;
• A Mexican entrepreneur—clearly an important participant in post-NAFTA Global Mexico--cautions the president-to-be and his party: Mexico Elections: Seven lessons for Peña Nieto and the PRI; 
• Positive collaboration between a UN group, Mexican NGOs and the government: UN-Supported 'Election Watch 2012' Reports Successful Monitoring - 1,300 Complaints Received; 
• It will be five months before the new president takes office (December). Here's a good summary of part of why the long lead-time: Virtual triumph of Peña Nieto has to be validated by Mexico Electoral Court; 
• Bare-bones description of 'unfinished business' facing Mexico's new Congress: Mexico Elections: 'Frozen' Reforms, the challenges for the new Congress. 

Yesterday (July 2, 2012) the New York Times published three pieces about the Mexican elections:

• Editorial: Mexico Elects a New President; 
• Enrique Peña Nieto Savors Long-Plotted Victory in Mexico by Randal C. Archibald, NYT Bureau Chief for Mexico, Central America Caribbean; 
• Opinion piece by Enrique Peña Nieto, Mexico's Next Chapter. A word of caution: In the U.S. an old saying warns, "Many's the slip 'twixt cup and lip", and "The proof of the pudding is in the eating." Mexico has a similar saying, "There's a split between rhetoric and reality...." Mexican politicians are famous for their eloquent phrasing of lofty ideals; unfortunately, actions needed to bring ideas to fruition in the real world are way too often in short supply;
• July 6, 2012: Amnesty International responds to Peña Nieto's Opinion piece, Tasks for Mexico's Leader. 

Still Curious?

Here are Mexico Voices translations of articles appearing in the Mexican press:

• Deceitful role of Mexican pollsters and the primary challenge facing Mexico's Left as it assumes the role of opposition: Mexico Elections: Legitimacy, Legality and Challenges;
• Specific challenges facing the PRD: Mexico Elections: The Double Triumph of the Mexican Left;  
• On the Left's Being the Opposition by Marta Lamas, anthropologist and feminist activist in Mexico; one of the founders of La Jornada and a leader in the women's rights movement;
• Mexico Elections: Hell Wins, by Javier Sicilia, poet-activist and founder of the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity;
• For those curious to know more about Enrique Peña Nieto and his advisers: Mexico Elections: Peña Nieto's "Small, tight" Team.

In English:


Foreign Policy Journal published John M. Ackerman's article about Mexico's new president:  "The Return of the Mexican Dinosaur: Mexico's pretty-boy president is more dangerous than he looks". An insightful, engaging 'read': Highly Recommended.

Newsweek also published an article by John M. Ackerman: Obama Plays Risky Game in Mexico with Embrace of Enrique Peña Nieto. Good historical context and analysis of impact on US-Mexico relations: Highly Recommended.

New York Times Business Section: Numbers Tell of Failure in Drug War. "It's not good for business" seems to be the magic formula these days—making way for cautious, very cautious, optimism.