en inglés

Trucks stuck on Colón street in Ajijic.

Editor.- It was not his day. The owner of a recent model white pickup truck was very unlucky. On Friday, June 10, he left his large vehicle parked on Colón street in Ajijic, almost at the Carretera.  He did not count on a bottled water delivery truck getting stuck with his pickup, and even though the Bonefont delivery drivers tried to unblock the vehicles, they were unable to do so.

The damaged pickup after it came loose from the tow truck.

The pickup truck had scratches on its side, while the water delivery truck barely showed any scratches. The white truck was towed away from the site, but while traveling through El Tempisque, it broke loose from the tow truck, rolling downhill in reverse until it stopped when it hit the corner of the fence of a wine shop. 

Translated by Paul Weeks

Inaugural ribbon cutting. Photo: Government of Jocotepec.

Editor.- Jocotepec now has a university. The Regional University of Tequila (URIT) opened a campus in Jocotepec June 4, starting with 11 degree programs.

URIT Jocotepec, already has students. Photo: Government of Jocotepec.

Present at the opening were Juan Diego Calderón Rodríguez, general rector of the university council, Moisés Rodríguez Huerta, vice rector, Carlos Alberto Zúñiga Chacón, municipal trustee, and Father Jesús Quiroz Romo, who blessed the facilities, academic staff and students.

The facilities are located next to the access to the San Jorge passage in the Jocotepec plaza. Photo: Government of Jocotepec.

URIT Jocotepec offers studies in International Business, Administration, Accounting, Law, Nutrition, Psychology, Pedagogy, Architectural Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Industrial Relations and Graphic Design. 

«Bringing the campus to young people allows them to receive the same education right here. We are continuing to break ground in Lake Chapala municipalities in order to bring affordable and convenient education,» said Rector Juan Diego Calderón Rodríguez during an interview.

Part of the school facilities. Photo: Government of Jocotepec.

The campus plans to offer bachelor’s, postgraduate, specialties and master’s degrees, said Vice Rector Moisés Rodríguez Huerta, adding that the wide educational offerings help the community, especially the Agronomist Engineer, in view of the red fruit fields for export in the municipality.   

For more information, please call 332-637-7821 or go to the campus, located in the Jocotepec plaza.

Translated by Paul Weeks

More than 45 women between the ages of 20 and 65 completed their courses at the Pro Mexico association. Photo: Alma Serrano. 

Editor.- Mujeres Pro México celebrated the culmination of the third generation of the Second Chance program on the afternoon of May 8 in San Juan Cosalá.

The event was held at a restaurant on the edge of Lake Chapala, near the restaurant row area of Piedra Barrenada, where the 45 students received recognition for their participation, after an honorary act.

The trades studied were Handmade Sewing, Natural Cosmetics, Caregivers for the Elderly and Event Organization, which lasted about a year. However, the Pro Mexico team offers continuous basic training for women in any of its workshops. 

The event was attended by more than 100 people, including guests, family members, students, mentors and members of the Pro Mexico team. The third generation of the workshops was finally able to complete the course, as the first two lasted between six and ten months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

During the graduation, the mentors and women on the podium recognized and congratulated the graduates for the significance that the Second Chance program has achieved in their lives. 

At the event it was pointed out that «there are 45 women giving themselves a second chance to learn»; and «you have put yourselves in front of everyone, deciding and have left aside the thought of ‘I can’t’; we don’t wait for things to happen, thinking if God wants it, of course he does», were some of the phrases expressed.  

Pro Mexico is the only association in Ribera de Chapala focused on the development of women by offering them personal and emotional support.

«We are the number one empowerment center in San Juan Cosalá, with 45 hardworking and tireless women,» said Rosa Arévalo, a representative of the association. 

The event ended with a runway show of blanket clothing created, intervened and presented by Pro Mexico women, which highlighted the value of each and every one of its women. 

Translated  by Patrick O’Heffernan

Neighbors of the Santa María neighborhood presenting their complaints and petitions to the municipal president of Chapala.

Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- Residents of Chapala’s Santa María neighborhood told Cshapala President Aguirre during a weekly “Session with the Mayr’ that they need maintenance on streets that flood when it rains, public spaces,  and medical services,

The heavy floods that occur on Santa María street bring mud, stones, materials and even dead animals, according to the testimonies of the people who attended the supervision tour, with more than eight neighbors complaining. Municipal authorities committed to address the issue.

Another of the requests made to Aguirre Curiel was the installation of public recreational places for young people and adults, since there are few in the area.

They also asked the municipality to provide local or mobile medical services, since the neighborhood is far from community health centers.

Translated by Kerry Watson

A little more than a year after being elected by the citizens of the 17th district, María Dolores López Jara, who goes by Lolis, has promoted 39 initiatives, several focused on equality and human rights, in addition to multiple co- sponsorships in social matters. 

“I feel happy because we are celebrating our anniversary!” said the congresswoman on social networks. “One year after the election, I am still grateful to all the people who gave me their trust.”

The Jocotepec native and Deputy in the Congress of Jalisco has accomplished a lot so far in projects and negotiations. About 1,200 people have benefited through various social programs, she has had 20 talks with women throughout the district and she has made 156 visits to municipalities,  

Lolis also recognized the efforts of her family and friends, as well as her work team. She has committed herself to the citizens to continue moving forward, to be at the service of the people, and to be always working. 

Translated by Mike Rogers

Administrative Building of the University of Guadalajara. Photo: UdeG.

Editor. – Following the recommendations of the Health Situation Room by Covid-19 of the University of Guadalajara (UdeG) and in view of the increase of cases that have been registered in recent weeks in Jalisco, as of this Wednesday, June 8, 2022, the use of masks in university facilities is mandatory.

«This preventive measure seeks to safeguard the health of university students and their families. Therefore, we invite our community to retake this measure which has proven its effectiveness in preventing contagions,» the university announced in a statement.

The publication ended with the recommendation: «In case of presenting symptoms of respiratory disease or having been in direct contact with a positive case of Covid-19, the corresponding diagnostic test should be performed and reported.”

Translated by Sydney Metrick

With no clear results since the first Summit of the Americas, the presidents of the American nations are meeting in the United States for its next round, minus Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua and Mexico. Photo: Courtesy. 

By: Abigail A. Correa Cisneros

The various issues discussed at the Summit of the Americas since its beginning in 1990, remain unresolved in the region. Currently pending are the two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, the climate crisis we are going through, and migration.

This meeting lacks, among other things, inclusion, after leaving out Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela and for which the President of Mexico said he will not attend. However, his representative will be the Foreign Minister, Marcelo Ebrard addressing the issue of Cuba and the blockade.

Every three years political leaders from all over the continent meet to discuss and define actions to face the problems and challenges shared by the region. It seems that little has been achieved. The region continues to experience problems of marginalization, migration, violence and economic problems. 

In this  meeting, the focus is on climate change. «Building a sustainable, resilient and equitable future» is the theme of the summit being held in the United States from June 6 to 10. Other topics to be discussed include democracy, human rights, justice, security, trade, disaster management, sustainable development, education, health, gender equality, connectivity, among others. 

Since the summit has been taking place, the pending issues are becoming more and more important in the Americas. Nayar López Castellanos, the coordinator of the Center for Latin American Studies of the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences (FCPyS), considers that: «it has traditionally been a space created by the United States to generate a favorable environment for its interests and its hegemonic condition that has prevailed throughout history».

The researcher and academic secretary of the Center for Research on North America (CISAN), Juan Carlos Barrón Pastor, says that the idea of creating a summit to promote a sustainable, resilient and equitable future creates a set of ambiguities because it is not clear what it refers to. «Many analysts talk about issues such as pandemics, climate change, structural causes of migration and strengthening democracies. What is certain is that Biden is stalled in the Senate and the resources with which he intends to balance China’s investments in the region, are in doubt».

Much of what will be discussed during this summit in the United States has to do with its own political agenda. Joe Biden’s administration presented five projects related to strengthening health systems, addressing climate change, transitioning to clean energy, establishing a regional program for digital transformation and strengthening democratic governance. What remains to be determined is the budget that will be available for these purposes.

At the start of the summit, organizations called for respect for the rights of migrants and for a solution to this problem at its source, the problems that force them to leave their countries. 

The Summit of the Americas should «generate specific regional agreements based on respect for human rights standards to guarantee safe transit and attend to the population in mobility, from the south to the north of the continent,» indicated more than 100 social organizations from Mexico.

AMLO’s government allowed the free transit of the caravan heading to the United States, with an estimated 15 thousand people heading north. The National Migration Institute (INM) will deliver humanitarian visas, exit permits and temporary cards so that they can move in the coming days.

The number of people exposes the problem that concerns even those absent from the Summit, because most of the migrants are from Cuba, Venezuela and Central America. 

FROM THE CENTER

Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, will host the twelfth session of the Subcommittee on Aquaculture of the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), to be held from March 7 to 10, 2023, said the Government of Mexico, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in coordination with the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca). Announcing the news at a press conference, the National Commissioner for Aquaculture and Fisheries, Octavio Almada Palafox, accompanied by Governor Alfonso Durazo Montaño, said he was convinced that Sonora and the whole country have a good opportunity to continue consolidating joint efforts among countries to achieve the objectives of the United Nations Organization, (UN), to reach agreements, add experiences for the welfare of Mexican fishing and aquaculture families and to promote the development of the Mexican fishing and aquaculture industry.

Translated by Sydney Metrick

Presentation of the program.  

The Galas del Mariachi will come to Jocotepec for the first time. The Lakeside municipality will host the XXIX Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería, August 25 to September 4.

The event is being held outside of the traditional Guadalajara to help promote tourism to other Jalisco municipalities and bring the musical quality of this genre to other places. Mariachis from Mexico, Colombia, Chile, the United States, Bolivia, Israel, Peru, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic will attend the event. 

Puerto Vallarta, Cocula, Tequila, Mazamitla, Chapala, and Tapalpa will also host programs for the Mexican musical event.  

Jocotepec’s participation in the Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería will showcaseJocotepec and its Mexican character to countries worldwide, placing the name of Jocotepec in 52 countries. During the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, some activities were carried out digitally, giving the opportunity to people from other countries to enjoy mariachi music.  This year the program will again be broadcast digitally.

Translated by Nita Rudy

The mayor of Chapala, accompanied by municipal officials and representatives of the Government of the State of Jalisco.

Editor.– The municipality of Chapala is one of the venues that  will host the XXIX edition of the Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería to be held this year from August 25 to September 4 in different venues in the state of Jalisco  to promote tourism outside the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara (AMG).

Chapala President Aguirre  announced at a press conference on the program of activities of the Encounter that Chapala will host a gala concert on Friday, August 26.

The Mayor of Chapala, accompanied by municipal officials, representatives of the Jalisco State Government and the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce.

«One of the objectives of this Encounter is to extend to the municipalities of the state this celebration, so Chapala will host one of the events of this program. On  Friday, August 26 we will have a gala concert in our municipality,»  the mayor shared on his personal Facebook account.

In addition to the AMG, International Gala events will  also be held in Puerto Vallarta, Cocula, Tequila, Mazamitla, Jocotepec and Tapalpa with the presentation of mariachis from countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Chile, United States, Bolivia, Israel, Peru, Ecuador and Dominican Republic.   

Alejandro Aguirre during the presentation conference of the XXIX Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería.

On August 27 and 28, 15 teams will participate in the Charro Championship will be held at the «Los 3 Potrillos» horse track on the highway between Chapala and Guadalajara.

This year  event organizers plan to continue with live broadcasts, as was done during the pandemic,  to reach approximately 13 million viewers from 50 countries in four continents: America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. 

The Mayor of Chapala thanked the Chamber of Commerce; Lourdes Ariadna González Pérez, Secretary of Culture; and Vanessa Pérez Lamas, Secretary of Tourism of Jalisco, for their support for Chapala’s participation in major international events such as the International Mariachi Encounter. 

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

In Jocotepec the loss of jobs amounted to 559, primarily in the agricultural sector. Photo: Notisistema. 

Staff.- Chapala and Jocotepec registered the loss of 780 formal jobs during May, according to the IMSS database of insured workers. 

In the update presented by the Institute of Statistical and Geographic Information of Jalisco (IIEG), lakeside towns can be found on the list of the 20 municipalities with the greatest decrease in jobs. 

Jocotepec ranked fifth with 495 formal jobs lost; 431 of them classified as seasonal and 64 as permanent. Chapala ranked tenth with 221 fewer jobs; 149 permanent and 72 seasonal. 

The ranking of municipalities with the greatest loss of employment in May 2022 was headed by Tala with 1,666 fewer jobs, followed by Ameca with a decrease of 994 jobs and in third place was Tamazula de Gordiano with 752 fewer formal jobs. 

In contrast, the towns with the greatest job creation were Zapopan with 4,117 new jobs, Guadalajara with 3,322, and Zacoalco de Torres with 1,218 new insured workers. 

At the state level, Jalisco generated 3,517 formal jobs in May, mainly due to the construction industry sector, where there was an increase of 2,327 workers in the month, with a monthly variation of +1.70 percent. 

Translated by Rebecca Zittle