El año pasado México vivió la peor sequía en una década, este se vislumbra similar. Foto: World Resources Institute.
Por: Abigail A. Correa Cisneros
Más de 2200 millones de personas en el mundo carecen de agua potable. En el Día Internacional del Agua, que es cada 22 de marzo, vale la pena recordar que esta cifra aumentará debido a la falta de conciencia en el cuidado del líquido y la falta de acciones respecto al cambio climático.
La falta de agua afecta a más del 40 por ciento de la población mundial. Más de 1700 millones de personas viven actualmente en cuencas fluviales en las que el consumo de agua supera la recarga. Asimismo, la falta de saneamiento provoca la muerte de alrededor de mil niños cada día, debido a enfermedades diarreicas asociadas a la falta de higiene.
En México, la escasez de agua perjudica a cerca de 15 millones de ciudadanos. El 30 por ciento de la población tiene acceso deficiente al líquido. Se reportan sequías constantemente en el Valle de México, Sinaloa, Sonora, Chihuahua, Guerrero y Tamaulipas. Pero el Nuevo León la situación es crítica.
El Monitor de Sequía en México (MSM), del Sistema Meteorológico Nacional (SMN) advirtió en 2021 que México atravesaba la segunda sequía más severa desde hace una década. El año pasado, la Comisión Nacional de Agua (CONAGUA) informó que tres cuartas partes del territorio se encontraban padeciendo la falta de lluvias mientras que la mitad del país ya enfrentaba una situación de sequía extrema, pues algunas de las presas más importantes se encontraron por debajo del 25 por ciento de su capacidad total.
Vivimos en la “hora cero”, como mencionó el director del Programa de manejo, uso y reúso del agua en la UNAM (Pumagua), Fernando González Villarreal. Sentenció que en la CDMX quedan escasos 40 años para abastecer de agua a la población. Cada vez será más complicado, si seguimos sin una cultura del cuidado del líquido y sin políticas que mejoren la extracción de los mantos alrededor del Valle de México.
De acuerdo con información de la UNAM, México tiene definidos 653 acuíferos, y 38.7 por ciento de este recurso utilizado en el país proviene de esas fuentes; de éstos, 105 están sobreexplotados, es decir, la extracción excede a la recarga, en varios de ellos en más de 100 por ciento.
De acuerdo con la Comisión Nacional del Agua, 60.8 por ciento del vital líquido con uso consuntivo (es decir, agrícola, abastecimiento público, industria autoabastecida y termoeléctricas) provenía, en el año 2018, de fuentes superficiales (ríos, arroyos, lagos y presas), y el resto de las aguas subterráneas.
Su mayor consumo es agrícola, 75.7 por ciento, y su origen predominante es la superficial, con 63.4 por ciento; en cambio, el suministro público, que incluye la totalidad de la entregada a través de redes de agua potable, tanto a usuarios domésticos como a las industrias y de servicios, tiene como fundamento preponderante al agua subterránea, con 56.7 por ciento del volumen.
El cambio climático repercute en la falta de lluvias debido al aumento de la temperatura lo que altera el comportamiento de los océanos y los ciclos de agua. Desde hace una década, desastres naturales son más comunes, 90 por ciento a causa de inundaciones, tormentas, olas de calor, sequías y otros fenómenos meteorológicos, según la Oficina de las Naciones Unidas para la Reducción del Riesgo de Desastres.
El Informe de políticas de ONU-AGUA sobre el Cambio Climático y el Agua de la organización Un Water, estima que por cada grado de calentamiento global, casi un 7 por ciento de la población mundial estará expuesta a una disminución de al menos 20 por ciento de los recursos hídricos renovables.
Las causas son otras también, como la pésima calidad en infraestructura, el acceso inequitativo y la mala gestión. Se ha detectado que el agua que hoy se destina a uso potable está contaminada con arsénico, boro, fierro, manganeso y plomo, así como compuestos químicos, fármacos, antibióticos y otros contaminantes emergentes.
El organismo Green Peace sugiere que la única manera de frenar este desabasto es “una recuperación y manejo adecuado de las áreas de conservación; el uso de tecnologías para aprovechar las aguas residuales; impulsar proyectos de captación de agua de lluvia en la ciudad; invitar a más gente a organizarse para detener la crisis climática; mejorar la gestión del agua en coordinación con estados vecinos y reducir la inequidad social (pobreza y desigualdad)”.
DESDE EL CENTRO
El Pueblo originario Wixárika pide ayuda para salvarlo de un ecocidio que amenazan empresas mineras. Este miércoles Gobernadores tradicionales de la nación wixárika se reunirán con el presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador en Palacio Nacional. Entregarán al mandatario una carta en la que solicitarán que los lugares sagrados sean “protegidos”, sean “llevados a rango federal” … La Secretaría de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural y el Grupo de Trabajo de Agregados Agrícolas en México (GTAAM) se pronunciaron por reforzar la cooperación internacional y el intercambio comercial agroalimentario entre las naciones integrantes, en respuesta a los recientes acontecimientos globales.
En estos momentos, el Gobierno de México centrará su prioridad en fortalecer la seguridad alimentaria del país y cumplir con los compromisos comerciales con más de 181 naciones y la colaboración internacional para hacer frente a los retos que se presentan en el sector, expresó el titular de Agricultura, Víctor Villalobos Arámbula. Ante 34 consejeros Agrícolas y Económicos de las embajadas acreditadas en México, el secretario del ramo señaló que este diálogo oportuno permite reflexionar sobre la visión y perspectivas de la agricultura en el país, en un marco de pandemia y conflicto bélico que impactarán la producción de alimentos.
Jacob Storms at LLT.
Patrick O’Heffernan(Ajijic).- Jacob Storms came to Ajijic two years ago for dental work. This week he is performing his award-winning one-man show ”Tennessee Rising” live at the Lakeside Little Theater.
“ I knew of your beautiful theater and submitted my play for consideration two years ago, but the season was too tight,” he told Laguna in an interview at LLT, adding that this year a friend got an email looking for plays, «we submitted and here I am.”
He is also moving his grandmother to Chapala this month, which made the scheduling much easier.
In “Tennessee Rising”, Storms becomes the young Tom Williams , and evolves into one of the most famous playwrights in the world in a 75-min solo show. An audience member interviewed after Thursday night’s performance called it “powerful and fabulous” and loved the Q&A with Storms after the play.
Storms has performed “Tennessee Rising”, directed by Tony-winning actor and director Alan Cumming , at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and cities throughout the US and in Mexico City. Storms performs “Tennessee Rising” at LLT March 10 -13, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday at 4pm. Tickets available at LLT’s website and at the box office.
Crisia Regalado sings opera rock
Patrick O’Heffernan(Ajijic).- The wildly popular Mexican-American singer Crisia Regalado will perform two concerts in Ajijic this weekend. Trained in opera, jazz, mariachi, and synthesizer, she blends them together in operatic jazz, synth pop and rock, and traditional Mexican music.
Regalado is on tour in México and agreed to take a detour from Guadalajara to Ajijic. She will perform Friday night at Dharma’s Bistro on the Ajijic Malecón in her operatic synth-pop electronic persona, Sin Color, and Saturday night at Casa Domenech in LCS as CRISIA! Delivering operatic jazz, rock and traditional Mexican songs.
In a telephone interview with Laguna, Crisia said “I am so excited and grateful for the opportunity to perform for the Magic Pueblo, Ajijic. Thank you México for receiving me with open arms!” adding that she is looking forward to touring the sights of Lakeside.
Regalado has 1 million streams on Spotify and over 13,000 followers, half in México. Performing since she was child, she has performed in operas, jazz and rock clubs, with mariachis and her electronic pop band. She has released two albums. This tour marks her first live shows in México.
Dogs in the West Ajijic shelter. Photo: Archive
Editor. A group of 20 Mexican and Expat homeowners and representatives of several Homeowners Associations in West Ajijic have filed a lawsuit against the SOS Chapala Dog Rescue organization, the Chapala government, and the Jalisco State Employees Pension Fund over the dog shelter established by the previous municipal administration near homes. The shelter is operated by SOS under an agreement and occupies land transferred from the municipal government to the state Pension fund by the Móises Anaya Administration.
In a copy of the lawsuit obtained by Laguna, the plaintiffs charge that the dog shelter was illegally established by the Anaya Administration on land zoned for housing only, and that the agreement between the Anaya Administration SOS Chapala Dog Rescue was invalid. The suite requests that the court order administrative action be taken to move the shelter to a site zoned for the correct use.
Because the site of the shelter belongs to the Jalisco State Pension Fund, which is “the one that legally has the power of deed on that land”, the Chapala Department of Ecology is acting as a mediator of all parties involved and seeks to ensure that everyone has a favorable response to this situation.
The Chapala government issued a statement saying that “ the Municipal Government has been in constant communication and dialogue to generate agreements, one of them is that the people in charge of the association (SOS) have agreed to change the location of the shelter.
SOS representatives contacted by Laguna said there was no formal agreement, but they have agreed to move if a suitable site is located and meets the necessary criteria. They told Laguna in a message that while negotiations are ongoing , to date “ the Department of Ecology has suggested a new site and SOS has suggested a new site, but no one knows if either of these places is willing to provide a lease and no one knows what the rent would be.”
The shelter has been contentious since it was established by the former Director of Ecology, José Jaime Ibáñez on land originally donated to Chapala for a cemetery but was unusable for that purpose. Several years later, Jaime Ibáñez decided to use it for a shelter for stray dogs and other animals in the area in response to legislation passed by the Chapala Council. But, since the land had been given to the state Pension Fund in repayments for debts, leases or permits issued by Jaime Ibáñez’s staff were not valid.
Additionally, no discussion was held with nearby homeowners by Jaime Ibáñez or his staff and he told Laguna on October 20, 2020, that “We did not meet with the homeowners in advance because we saw that the developments were not close to the site and we did not anticipate any problems (and) we were surprised by the opposition”.
The homeowners immediately registered their opposition to the shelter built without their knowledge and the 24-hour a day barking of the sheltered dogs which upset their lives and lowered property values . The shelter affected the residents of nearby developments of Puerta Arroyo, Sierra Viva, Los Sabinos, Villas Colorado, and Los Alebrijes and La Canacinta.
The residents of those developments – about 200 households, half of which are estimated to be Mexican by the HOA officials — submitted a petition to 7 government agencies in 2021 to solve the noise problem and subsequently met with Jaime on July 28, 2021, to find a new location. Several sites were located but were rejected for various reasons by Jaime Ibáñez, despite his promises to resolve the problem.
Just before the end of the Anaya Administration, Jaime Ibáñez staff forged an agreement with SOS Dog Rescue to manage the shelter, although the Administration knew it was not on land controlled by the municipalidad, handing the problem to the state and SOS to deal with the impacted homeowners.
SOS Chapala Dog Rescue expanded the shelter and improved conditions for the dogs so that it is now one of the best run shelters in North America, according to inspections by other shelter operators. But the expansion created more noise for the homeowners, and negotiations have continued. SOS installed mitigation measures like dog feeding schedule changes and soundproofing, but these actions did not mitigate the noise of the dogs, and measurements by homeowner representatives found the barking exceeded 80 decibels – the legal maximum in Chapala.
SOS has resisted moving the shelter unless the move is paid for, the new site meets its conditions, and an orderly transition can take place to care for the dogs. The homeowners agree that the welfare of the dogs is paramount, but question why they should pay for a problem created by the municipality and now owned by the State. However they are willing to raise funds to rent a suitable site for three years — a continuation of an offer they made in 2021 to the Anya Administration to no avail. Faced with inaction and what they see as a record of broken promises the owners have filed suit.
From left to right: Ricardo González, Alejandro González, director of COMUDE and Aurelio Márquez. Photo: Sofía Medeles
Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Two of Ajijic’s own, Aurelio Márquez Rodríguez «Nano» and Ricardo González González «Chicles,» will compete in the international race Ultra Machu Picchu, in Peru, on April 10, 2022.
For Ricardo, 63 years old and with 25 years of running experience, this race is one of many he has run abroad. For Aurelio however, who is 27 years old and has been running for three years, this is the first one he will participate in outside of Mexico. Both will run 30 kilometers; Aurelio «Nano» in the free category and Ricardo «Chicles» in the 60 to 64 years old category.
To support Aurelio with travel expenses, the Corredores Unidos (Runners United) group organized a race last Sunday, March 6, which attracted more than 90 people in the streets of Ajijic. There was also a fair to help raise funds.
For his part, Ricardo González said that he makes a point of putting money aside, so that every two years he can participate in an international race, the last one being in Argentina in 2019.
«On many occasions I have invited different runners to accompany me to international races but Nano (Aurelio) is the first one who showed interest. I invited him because he is one of the best that the town currently has and I like the runners to meet, go out together, meet other good people and make friends,» said Ricardo.
This being his first race abroad, Aurelio admitted he is nervous, but said he will do his best to give a good performance. He also believes that part of growing as a runner is meeting and competing with people better than he is, who motivate him to improve.
Alejandro Gonzalez Gonzalez, the head of the Municipal Sports Council (COMUDE) Ajijic, said he was willing to support local athletes who show promise, regardless of the sport they practice.
In particular, he noted that the construction of the track at the Unidad Deportiva, located in La Floresta, is continuing so that runners will soon have a safe space to practice.
Ricardo requested that family members of athletes make an effort to support and motivate them in their careers. To the public in general, he reminded them that practicing sports develops good habits in people, such as discipline, saving, healthy eating, etc.
Aurelio invited young people to take up running, and to surround themselves with people who have the same interests in order to feel supported and motivated.
For those who wish to support the runners, donations can be made at the Ajijic delegation.
Translated by Rebecca Zittle
Children who came to the call for the tryouts, at the Juan Rayo municipal field.
Jazmín Stengel.- Six children were selected by the Chivas de Guadalajara club out of 188 who tried out, after tryouts held on Monday, March 7, at the Juan Rayo Municipal Field in Chapala.
In the first category, 16-year-old Gerson García Ortega qualified in the field, while Eduardo Raygoza Pérez and Juan Diego Ascencio Vilchis of the same age, managed to stay in the red and white goal.
In the youngest category, three campers were selected, Fernando Guadalupe Martínez Casillas and Santiago Gutiérrez González, 12 years old, and Armando Karin Serna Pajarito, only 11 years old, being the youngest.
But the most important thing to qualify for this type of team is to be creative and bring novelty to the game, said Juan Miguel Siordia Vázquez, Chapala’s scouting coordinator.
Translated by Kerry Watson
Terranova Institute students commemorated International Women’s Day by sharing examples and opinions regarding the violence they suffer throughout the country. Screen copy.
D.Arturo Ortega (Chapala).- Students stood on the terrace of the Terra Nova Institute demanding the respect that is due them from a society that has owed them since the beginning of time.
Student, Julieta Ortega spoke of the cases of Renata from Oaxaca, Karina from Chiapas and a 14-year-old girl from Jalisco who were all victims of femicide.
«What fear, what rage, what terror! I am sick of living in a place from which I leave my home, but to return is a privilege. I leave with little hope of returning — not only me, but my friends, my teachers, my mother and my sister,» said the outraged high school student.
The young woman shared the results of a 2021 report where the national authorities reviewed 275 cases of femicide and macho violence examining the reason for the irrational hatred of one gender towards the other. Forty-eight percent of the aggressors committed violence because the victim did not want to have sex, and the other 52 percent because the woman disobeyed. This type of violence against women afflicts all 32 states of Mexico.
Julieta reflected: «they are killing us for being women, and every day we suffer intimidation, harassment, threats, resignation, silence and fear.» She said these are reasons not to “celebrate” International Women’s Day but to march to be respected, valued, heard, and to fight against hatred, violence, lack of equity and justice towards the female gender.
«If they kill me and if they find me, this body marked by violence will be the hands that remove the blindfold from people’s eyes. And if they kill me and if they find me, may my death give strength to raise my voice, to remove the ropes from the mouths of my sisters who are still there,» were the poetic words with which Julieta concluded her message.
Terranova Institute celebrated International Women’s Day with conferences, reflections and denunciations from its students.Also present at the meeting were special guests Anabel Lechuga and Erika de la Cerda. The photographer, María Di Paola, gave a presentation of the history of achievements and examples of courageous women whose contribution and sacrifice have allowed us to reach the moment we live in.
Translated by Nita Rudy
Tilapia, one of the most consumed local fish at Lakeside, costs up to 65 pesos each on Fridays during Lent. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.
Jazmín Stengel (Ajijic).- This year, seafood products in general increased between 10 to 15 percent during Lent (March 2 to April 14), and fish from Lake Chapala costs up to 25 pesos more per piece on Fridays.
According to merchants selling seafood products such as basa (a catfish) fillet, tilapia, and shrimp increased very little at the beginning of Lent, so most merchants kept their prices fixed, as did seafood restaurants.
In the Chapala market and downtown fish markets, the price of tilapia and basa vary between 130 and 150 pesos per kilogram. In comparison to last year, the cost averaged an increase of 20 to 30 pesos. Shrimp prices remained the same, ranging between 245 and 250 pesos per kilogram.
Lake Chapala fishermen have increased their prices considerably. Tilapia and catfish from the lake, which in 2021 ranged from 25 and 35 pesos, now range between 40 and 50 pesos.
In addition, with the beginning of the Lenten season, local sellers increased their prices by ten pesos more to take advantage of the demand for the product. As a result, a piece of tilapia or catfish can cost up to 65 pesos on Fridays, while a kilo of tilapia fillet costs around 130 pesos.
Consequently, the prices of dishes prepared with the local product did increase in street markets and small stores; and some of the inhabitants who used to eat fish on Fridays during Lent stopped doing so.
«The tradition is no longer the same, few people respect it,» commented one of the merchants. In addition to selling less fish, the merchant notices every year how customs are changing. «Now they sell meat all week long,» said a citizen who saw taco stands open even on Lenten Fridays.
On the other hand, consumers have become increasingly skeptical and no longer follow the Catholic tradition of not eating meat during Lent, as expressed by Mariana, who only stops eating meat on Fridays and now with the high prices has also stopped consuming local fish.
Consumers are advised to research the safety of fish from Lake Chapala. Fish from Lake Chapala are both farmed and caught wild as well as for sport by local fishermen. Dr. Todd Stong has studied the lake and fish for almost 2 decades and reported that fish from the lake are well below the international limit for safety. (Annual State of the Lake Report 2020, Part 1). A PMC report indicated that PCB’s and other toxins bioaccumulate in Lake Chapala fish (Bioaccumulation of PCBs and PCBs in Fish from a Tropical Lake Chapala, Mexico)
Translated by Kerry Watson
The march for women’s rights in Chapala advanced with the cry «The oppressor state is a male rapist.» Even children participated in the march.
Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).– More than 200 women who demonstrated on Tuesday, March 8, International Women’s Day, used the facade of the Chapala City Hall as a forum to expose the children of former public officials, teachers, among other aggressors of women in the municipality.
The march began after 8:00 p.m. and proceeded along Francisco I. Madero Avenue. Protesters closed the road at the intersection with Morelos Street and Hidalgo Avenue for a little more than ten minutes, and then went to the front of the City Hall. Posters with feminist messages had been pasted on its façade starting two days earlier.
There, different women, especially young women, spoke of cases of harassment, rape and violence committed by the children of former public officials, current public officials, teachers and private individuals, in order to publicize the names and thus avoid further harm to women.
«As long as there is no justice for the people there will be no peace for the government,» declared one of the signs of the young women protesters who on more than one occasion accused the government of protecting the aggressors. They also claimed they were ignored by the authorities when they filed complaints with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
«I am here for those that my municipality wants to erase and silence. No more impunity!» and «What does a country that sows bodies reap?» read among some of the signs carried by the protesters.
«We are the cry of those who have no voice» said another poster, referring to the 13 women who have disappeared in our municipality. An altar for these women was placed in a door to the building with the message «Sorry for the inconvenience, they are killing us.”
Amid tears and shouts of encouragement such as «you are not alone» and «I believe you,» the women who dared to speak out told the tragic stories of the abuses they have suffered. Those who did not speak publicly shared their stories anonymously on the Instagram group @Isonomia.chapala.
The most important issues besides the accusations were the freedom to dress as they please and the insecurity to which women are exposed. «The length of my skirt does not define the respect I deserve,» wrote a protester. Signs read «Quiet mom today I’m not going home alone» and «I can’t die yet.»
Women were not alone in demanding their rights. Some were accompanied by men carrying with signs that read: «I like women and I don’t harass them.»
The case of Chuyito was also presented. This young boy suffered rape by his stepfather and physical and psychological violence until the day of his death. All women expressed their solidarity with this situation, demanding that the guilty be found and that the case not go unpunished.
Though the march was peaceful, a patrol of the Municipal Police and three state police were present at all times. Traffic police helped drivers who were not part of the demonstration to find an alternate route.
Translated by Elisabeth Shields
El incremento salarial fue anunciado por el gobernador Enrique Alfaro el pasado 22 de marzo. Foto: Gobierno del estado de Jalisco.
Redacción.- El Gobernador de Jalisco, Enrique Alfaro Ramírez, anunció el pasado 22 de marzo un aumento del 12 por ciento a policías de la Secretaría de Seguridad y 15 por ciento a agentes de la Fiscalía del Estado.
La bolsa de 279 millones beneficiará a más de 9 mil elementos, 6 mil 972 estatales y 2 mil 421 de la Fiscalía. El incremento se otorgará a partir de la segunda quincena de marzo y se da en reconocimiento a la labor de los uniformados por cuidar a la ciudadanía, aseguró Alfaro Ramírez.
“El incremento que hemos autorizado implica una bolsa adicional, solamente para mejorar sus ingresos de los elementos operativos de 279 millones de pesos para este año. 279 millones adicionales que van a ir destinados para hacer un ajuste en el caso de la Secretaría de Seguridad del 12 por ciento, es decir, del doble el incremento de los policías, de lo que va a recibir cualquier servidor público del nivel 1 al 13 que es del 6 por ciento, y en el caso de la Fiscalía del Estado, en donde había un rezago de muchos años, del 15 por ciento”, detalló el Gobernador.
Por su parte, el coordinador General Estratégico de Seguridad, Ricardo Sánchez Beruben, dijo que en todas las estrategias implementadas desde la coordinación han puesto al centro a los policías y la cobertura de necesidades como equipamiento, capacitación y mejores percepciones.
“Y esto por qué, porque cuando asumimos la administración nos dimos cuenta de que si bien existía un modelo que pudo funcionar en su momento, había una situación de abandono, una situación de rezago y una situación que lamentablemente quien se arriesga diario, es quien resentía, y esto lo podemos resumir, el último incremento que se dio al sueldo base en la Policía Estatal fue en 2012; en el caso de la Fiscalía del Estado, el último incremento salarial no tiene registro, pero tal vez el último incremento fue en 1994”.
El secretario de Seguridad, Juan Bosco Pacheco, agradeció al Gobernador a nombre de los uniformados por hacer real un aumento salarial y mejorar las condiciones laborales de los policías, quienes a su vez podrán mejorar de manera directa su calidad de vida y la de sus familias.
Luis Joaquín Méndez Ruiz, Fiscal del Estado de Jalisco, también reconoció al Gobernador por cumplir su palabra y seguir pensando en proyectos como la Universidad del Policía que, sin duda, elevará las capacidades e intelecto de los elementos, continuando el impulso al Servicio Profesional de Carrera.
El incremento que se verá reflejado en la segunda quincena de marzo, lo recibirán en total 9,393 elementos, entre Policías estatales, Policías viales, Policías de custodia y guarda, Policías investigadores, Agentes del ministerio público y Directivos operativos y estratégicos.
© 2016. Todos los derechos reservados. Semanario de la Ribera de Chapala