Illegal Mexican immigrants have long met a
significant portion of the demand for cheap
labour in the United States.
Money sent back to Mexico by the immigrants
is money that is lost from the American
Economy. In 2003 $13bn was sent to Mexico.
In Axochiapan, the lure of American money has
created a town where fathers and husbands
are absent for years on end, women are left
alone to raise the children, and the community
is growing increasingly dependent on money
made elsewhere.
In the village of Jomulquillo, One of the few
locals remaining there says that at the moment
there are 80 people living in the village - 300
live in Los Angeles. With the empty houses, the
closed windows and locked doors, this feels
like a ghost town.
There are more Zacatecans now living in
Los Angeles than in the city of Zacatecas.
Remittances from Mexicans in the US have
become one of Mexico's most important
sources of income - second only to oil and
surpassing the traditional tourism industry.
The average weekly wage in parts of
Mexico is about 600 pesos, or $60. That's
about one-sixth of what most immigrants
can make in the States.
Women now outnumber men in rural areas
and the women have problems finding
suitable marriage partners.
Critics argue that dependence on
remittances can impair local initiative and
create no incentives for people to move
forward.
Hispanics in the USA lag behind the rest of
the population in terms of education. For
example, only 9% of Mexicans in the USA
aged 25 and over have at least a Bachelors
degree, compared with 13% of all Hispanics
in the USA and over 20% for the US
population as a whole.
Mexicans are the dominant Hispanic group
in many major metropolitan areas, from
Los Angeles to Chicago, and San Antonio to
Atlanta, with some exceptions in the East,
including Miami (Cubans) and New York
(Puerto Ricans).
diplomats regularly meet with Mexican
American leaders and, what is more
controversial, encourage Mexican
Americans to access social services funded
by U.S. taxpayers. Acting more cautiously,
Mexico has not encouraged its diaspora to
lobby on behalf of the countrys foreign
policy goals, fearing a nationalist backlash
within the United States.
The growing number of Hispanics in the USA
has meant that Hispanics are now looking to
have a greater say in politics. This has led to
the formation of the Tequila Party , a
nonpartisan movement launched on 5 May
(Cinco de Mayo) 2011. Their first political rally,
a call to get out and vote, accompanied by
mariachis, was held in Tucson, Arizona.
where the average personal earnings for
Mexicans in the USA aged 16 and over was
$20,000 in 2009, compared to $28.900 for
the US population as a whole.
the children and grandchildren of Mexican
immigrants were able to make close ties with
their extended families in Mexico, since
United States shares a 2,000 mile border with
Mexico. Many had the opportunity to visit
Mexico on a relatively frequent basis. As a
result, many Mexicans were able to maintain
a strong Mexican culture, language, and
relationship with others.
Money sent back to Mexico by the immigrants
is money that is lost from the American
Economy. In 2003 $13bn was sent to Mexico.

Despite the relative stagnation of the US

economy, the flow of money keeps growing,
according to recent data. In 2003 it increased
by 35% - the total amount sent that year to
Mexico was more than $13bn.

Critics argue that dependence on remittances

can impair local initiative and create no
incentives for people to move forward.

Remittances from Mexicans in the US have

become one of Mexico's most important
sources of income - second only to oil and
surpassing the traditional tourism industry.
WEALTH & DISPARITIES - NAFTA
& TRADE
The goal of NAFTA was to eliminate barriers to Maquiladoras (Mexican factories that take in
trade and investment between the US, Canada imported raw materials and produce goods for
and Mexico. The implementation of NAFTA on export) have become the landmark of trade in
January 1, 1994 brought the immediate Mexico. These are plants that moved to this
elimination of tariffs on more than one-half of region from the United States. Hufbauer's
Mexico's exports to the U.S. and more than (2005) book shows that income in the
one-third of U.S. exports to Mexico maquiladora sector has increased 15.5% since
the implementation of NAFTA in 1994. This has
Some have suggested that in order to fully allowed for the rapid growth of non-border
benefit from the agreement, Mexico must metropolitan areas, such as Toluca, Len and
invest more in education and promote Puebla; all three larger in population than
innovation in infrastructure and agriculture. Tijuana, Ciudad Jurez, and Reynosa.
Production of corn in Mexico has increased
The most serious overall increases in pollution since NAFTA's implementation. However,
were found in the base metals sector, the internal corn demand has increased beyond
petroleum sector, and the transportation Mexico's sufficiency, and imports have become
equipment sector necessary, far beyond the quotas Mexico had
originally negotiated. Zahniser & Coyle have
Unfortunately, many of the same rural people also pointed out that corn prices in Mexico,
who would have been likely to produce higher- adjusted for international prices, have
margin value-added products in Mexico have drastically decreased, yet through a program of
instead emigrated. The rise in corn prices due subsidies expanded by former president
to increased ethanol demand may improve the Vicente Fox, production has remained stable
situation of corn farmers in Mexico since 2000.
The goal of NAFTA was to eliminate barriers to Maquiladoras (Mexican factories that take in
trade and investment between the US, Canada imported raw materials and produce goods for
and Mexico. The implementation of NAFTA on export) have become the landmark of trade in
January 1, 1994 brought the immediate Mexico. These are plants that moved to this
elimination of tariffs on more than one-half of region from the United States. Hufbauer's
Mexico's exports to the U.S. and more than (2005) book shows that income in the
one-third of U.S. exports to Mexico maquiladora sector has increased 15.5% since
the implementation of NAFTA in 1994. This has
Some have suggested that in order to fully allowed for the rapid growth of non-border
benefit from the agreement, Mexico must metropolitan areas, such as Toluca, Len and
invest more in education and promote Puebla; all three larger in population than
innovation in infrastructure and agriculture. Tijuana, Ciudad Jurez, and Reynosa.
Production of corn in Mexico has increased
The most serious overall increases in pollution since NAFTA's implementation. However,
were found in the base metals sector, the internal corn demand has increased beyond
petroleum sector, and the transportation Mexico's sufficiency, and imports have become
equipment sector necessary, far beyond the quotas Mexico had
originally negotiated. Zahniser & Coyle have
Unfortunately, many of the same rural people also pointed out that corn prices in Mexico,
who would have been likely to produce higher- adjusted for international prices, have
margin value-added products in Mexico have drastically decreased, yet through a program of
instead emigrated. The rise in corn prices due subsidies expanded by former president
to increased ethanol demand may improve the Vicente Fox, production has remained stable
situation of corn farmers in Mexico since 2000.
 WEALTH & DISPARITIES
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN
MEXICO
 TARAHUMARA OR RARAMURI OF THE COPPER CANYON
82% highly marginalized, 33% illiterate
(national rate 9.5%) Females get 1 year less
schooling than males, 5% infant mortality,
+60% higher under 5 mortality, 85%
households below the poverty line, +50%
extreme poverty, +1/3 houses lack electricity
+50% lack piped water, +90% own their own
homes & farm plots
In many places, there are clear signs of the
immense environmental destruction
wrought by timber cutting, often on slopes
so steep that there is little chance of
reforesting them in the future. Soil erosion is
rampant in some areas and satellite imagery
reveals huge areas that are no longer
forested.
Better roads have enabled traders to build a
credit relationship with Tarahumara, offering
non-traditional goods in exchange for a
share of the maize harvest. Leading to
problems of indebtedness and exploitation.
The extreme isolation of the Tarahumara (until
recent years) and their adaptation of some
elements of the alien Spanish/Mexican culture
have enabled them to survive in what most
observers would regard as an extraordinarily
hostile natural environment. The effects of this
isolation are reflected in their culture, in their
relatively equal gender roles in terms of their
economy, their flexibility of work schedule, lack
of economic specialization and their willingness
to share available food when necessary to ensure
survival.
Drug cultivators seeking land for growing
marijuana & opium poppies in the Canyon
country has further marginalized the
Tarahumara. Drug cultivators have sometimes
registered parcels of land as theirs & then
ejected the Indians by force. Obviously, they
choose the best available land, & their cultivation
methods are designed to produce quick results,
rather than sustainability.
 GLOBAL INTERACTIONS
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN
MEXICO
 TARAHUMARA OR RARAMURI OF THE COPPER CANYON
Better roads have enabled traders to build a The extreme isolation of the Tarahumara (until
credit relationship with Tarahumara, offering recent years) and their adaptation of some
non-traditional goods in exchange for a elements of the alien Spanish/Mexican culture
share of the maize harvest. Leading to have enabled them to survive in what most
problems of indebtedness and exploitation. observers would regard as an extraordinarily
hostile natural environment.
Drug cultivators seeking land for growing
Mining activity has increased in the past marijuana & opium poppies in the Canyon
decade as metal prices have been high and country has further marginalized the
the federal government has encouraged Tarahumara. Drug cultivators have sometimes
foreign investment in the sector. Mining registered parcels of land as theirs & then
leads to a reduction in wildlife and to the ejected the Indians by force. Obviously, they
contamination of water resources. The most choose the best available land, & their cultivation
damaging pollutants are heavy metals. methods are designed to produce quick results,
rather than sustainability.
In the past decade, investments totaling 75 million dollars have been made to improve
infrastructure in the Copper Canyon region so that the area has the hotels, restaurants and
recreational activities to handle six times the current number of visitors. The plan includes three
remodeled train stations and a cable car that is already in operation. Sadly, they were not
consulted. The plan essentially deprives them of communal land with nothing being offered in
exchange. Clearly, they are in danger of losing control over even more of their natural resources
The total internal renewable water resources
in Mexico are 457 billion cubic meters (BCM)/
year plus 49 BCM/year inflows from
neighbouring countries such as the US.
More than 30% of water is lost due to leaks, in
Mexico City.
Poorest people need to pay higher prices for
safe water. Since the early 90s, more than 10
million inhabitants dont have access to safe
water (especially in Aguascalientes, Coahuila,
Colima, Tlaxcala)
Out of 600 aquifers
, 101 are exploited.
Water is a natural resource that is distributed
disproportionately in Mexico, a country which
is 31% arid, 36% semi-arid and 33% sub-humid.
The average annual precipitation is 780
millimeters and the annual volume of water is
1630 cubic kilometers, 27% of which drains
into rivers, the deepest of which are located in
the southeast. By contrast, only 19% drains
into the northern and central regions, which
make up more than half of the country. Similar
situations occur with underground water.

There are several

rivers, which
supply Mexico
with fresh water;
some of these are
Rio Balsas (49
BCM/year) &Rio
Grijalva-
Usumacinta (115
BCM/year)
Mexico is a country that has the greatest
biological diversity in the world and the
Lacandon Jungle is the most biodiverse region
of our country.
In the tropical rainforests concentrate 50% of
the planet's species, even though they hold
only 7% of its territory. These forests have
been profoundly transformed by human
action. The 70% of the deforestation occurs in
these ecosystems.
The Lacandon Forest in Chiapas represents
50% of the tropical rainforests left in Mexico
and is the latest flood forest in North and
Middle America.
The region of the Lacandon Jungle originally
contained 1.8 million hectares of forest. It has
been reduced to less than a quarter in the last
four decades due to agricultural activities,
human settlements irregular, forest fires and
illegal logging and hunting.
Lacandon Jungle, which represents only 0.16%
of the country, still has a fifth of Mexico's
biological diversity. It contains 30% of the
species of mammals, 50% of birds and 50% of
butterflies, many of these species are
endangered as the scarlet macaw, harpy eagle,
jaguar, tapir, spider and howler monkeys.
The government established seven protected
areas to conserve 419.452 hectares of
Lacandon Jungle and are administered by the
National Commission of Protected Natural
Areas. The reserve of Montes Azules Biosphere
is the largest area and ecological significance
with 331,200 hectares.
Natura Mexicana (NGO) has resolved land
conflicts & done so with an environmental
vision. Local communities and the country
know of the existence of the Reserve and the
importance of this natural heritage. have been
created jobs and productive projects initiated
by the conservation, management and
restoration of the Reserve and their areas of
influence.
URBAN ENVIRONMENTS
 KEY STATS
POP: 8.6 MILLION METROPOLITAN AREA: 18 MILL AREA: 1, 484KM2 POP DENSITY: 5,900
PEOPLE PER KM2 GDP: US$212,697 MILL (22% MEXICOS GDP)
IMPACTS OF URBANIZATION
Social impact; The wealthiest districts are in the west, while developers
sold large tracts of un serviced land in the east to low-income families.
In 1954 the Federal District forbade further subdivision of land within
the city limits, leading to informal settlements in Naucalpan (W),
Ecatepec (N) and Netzahualcoyotl (E). However, there is still a
desperate shortage of dwellings - in 1994 is was estimated around
800,000 houses were required. Access to healthcare attracts many to
the city in the first place but there is uneven distribution of facilities,
with most hospitals and clinics found in the centre and west. The social
security system does not cover most who work in the informal sector,
so many can scarce afford medical bills. Some 60% of Mexico City's
population live in what were originally illegal settlements. Much is poor
quality and high density with few services. The government does little
to change this situation. Newcomers are treated as transients from
rural areas who have strayed temporarily into town. They are described
as 'marginal', belonging neither to the urban economy, nor to the place
where they live. This supposed impermanence gives the authorities an
excuse not to provide the slum dwellers with services.
Economic: Mexico City is very much a primate city, producing 28% of the the
country's industrial output, 49% of manufacturing & 68% of financial services.
There are well over 7 million economically active people within Mexico City,
including 40% in the informal sector. The constant inflow of rural migrants
inevitably end up as street vendors, unskilled workers in the clothing and show
industries, or cleaners. The national minimum wage is $2.50, though most are
pleased with any small wage they are given. Foreign multi-national companies like
Daewoo are attracted to Mexico City by the large cheap labour force. Tourism is
another major foreign currency earner. The inflow of rural migrants in search of
employment makes the job situation acute, and unemployment is high.
TRANSPORT
METRO BUILT 1960S 200 km-long network ONLY USED BY 14% POP
CAR DENSITY: 383 CARS PER 1000 RESIDENTS and 2,252 CARS PER
KM2 METROBUS: 3 lines 67 kilometers of dedicated bus ways, 113
stations and 280 buses, moving 620,000 passengers per day and
reducing an estimated 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
every year.
Environmental : " In 1994, the World Health Organisation
declared that air quality in Mexico City was only
acceptable on 20 days in the year. Nowadays, some 4
million vehicles, together with 40,000 factories pump
over 12,000 tonnes of gases, pollutants and particulates a
day. Two million people suffer from diseases caused by air
pollution, as well as increasing incidence of allergies,
cardiovascular diseases and cancer. 98% of the population
suffers from deformation and inflammation of the nasal
passages. The air pollution problem is exacerbated by the
temperature inversions, which occur when cold air sinks
down from the surrounding mountains, trapping the
pollutants below at ground level. Another contributing
factor is the dumping of hazardous waste on open sites.
The city produces 40% of all Mexico's hazardous waste,
some 2.48 million tonnes pa. With no legal landfill sites
and just 5 recyclers, waste in dumped in any available
open space, for example Rincon Verde in the west. The
site produces dangerous air and water pollution, when
chemicals are leached into the water table. Water supply
is another problem. Mexico City consumes 60,000 litres
of water per second, 80% of which is groundwater. Having
overpumped the Mexico Valley aquifer, it is now
necessary to pump water up to 180km from Cutzamala at
much higher cost. Some 40% of water entering the city's
supply system disappears en route, due to cracked and
leaking pipes, illegal tampering and the lack of water
meters. A vicious circle has developed, with the service so
poor that the water companies cannot recoup their costs
from users, and the derived income so low that the
service can't be improved.
FOOD & HEALTH - OBESITY
Obesity in Mexico, whilst once a mark of A 1999 survey found 24% of Mexican women
wealth, can now be a sign of poverty in the were obese and an addition 35% were
inner cities of transitional economies such as overweight; 55% men were either obese or
Mexico. Despite this, in rural regions, many are overweight. By 2010, seven out of ten
still undernourished rather than Mexicans were overweight. In 2012, diabetes -
overnourished. associated with obesity - was the largest single
Mexico is using several methods to reform its killer of Mexicans.
obese and overweight population. The There was discussion on putting a 5 percent
Mexican Health Secretary launched a health tax on soft drinks; it was voted against because
campaign on February 25, 2008 and PepsiCo it was thought to be unfair to the poor when it
launched a program for children and is more expensive to buy water.
encourages active participation in exercise Eighty percent of schools do not have drinking
activities and adopting a healthy lifestyle by water, and it is easier to provide soft drinks. If
using a computer game. In this game, the these programs do not have considerable
"nutrin," as the figure is called, needs help impact leading to a lessening of the obesity
making decisions on what foods to eat, what epidemic, the country will have several
sports to play, and when it should go to the additional health problems with which to deal
doctor for a check-up.
Mexico has 205 McDonald's restaurants, which is not significant, ranking 34th in the world per
capita. As far as soft drinks are concerned, the countrys consumption has increased by 60
percent over the last 14 years. The intake of fast food, junk food, and soft drinks would have an
effect on the weight gain on the Mexican people because of the numerous calories each item
contains. Challenging is the inability to burn that large sum of calories compared to the amount
of calories in a balanced diet.
FOOD & HEALTH CHANGING
LIFE EXPECTANCY
Obesity in Mexico, whilst once a mark of A 1999 survey found 24% of Mexican women
wealth, can now be a sign of poverty in the were obese and an addition 35% were
inner cities of transitional economies such as overweight; 55% men were either obese or
Mexico. Despite this, in rural regions, many are overweight. By 2010, seven out of ten
still undernourished rather than Mexicans were overweight. In 2012, diabetes -
overnourished. associated with obesity - was the largest single
Mexico is using several methods to reform its killer of Mexicans.
obese and overweight population. The There was discussion on putting a 5 percent
Mexican Health Secretary launched a health tax on soft drinks; it was voted against because
campaign on February 25, 2008 and PepsiCo it was thought to be unfair to the poor when it
launched a program for children and is more expensive to buy water.
encourages active participation in exercise Eighty percent of schools do not have drinking
activities and adopting a healthy lifestyle by water, and it is easier to provide soft drinks. If
using a computer game. In this game, the these programs do not have considerable
"nutrin," as the figure is called, needs help impact leading to a lessening of the obesity
making decisions on what foods to eat, what epidemic, the country will have several
sports to play, and when it should go to the additional health problems with which to deal
doctor for a check-up.
Mexico has 205 McDonald's restaurants, which is not significant, ranking 34th in the world per
capita. As far as soft drinks are concerned, the countrys consumption has increased by 60
percent over the last 14 years. The intake of fast food, junk food, and soft drinks would have an
effect on the weight gain on the Mexican people because of the numerous calories each item
contains. Challenging is the inability to burn that large sum of calories compared to the amount
of calories in a balanced diet.
 GLOBAL
INTERACTIONS
DIGITAL DIVIDE
In the past decade, UN figures show
internet access nationwide has jumped
from negligible to 26%.
TELEPHONES: Nationwide there is slow
progress: the number of fixed lines per 100
people has inched from 12.5 to 18 in the
past decade.
The number of cellphones per 100 people,
however, has soared from 14 to 77. "It took
us six months to save the 600 pesos ($46)
but the family finally got a cell last month,"
beamed Antonio Pliego, 49, who sells fried
snacks from a stall. "It's changed our life.
It's much easier now to keep in touch with
relatives."
A government effort to give one laptop per
class faltered and was abandoned in 2006,
stranding Mexico's 50 million poor just
under half the population on the wrong
side of the digital divide.
Mexico, devoting over 6% of GDP to
schooling, is the most generous. Even so,
half of schools lack functioning bathrooms
and basic teaching equipment and qualified,
dedicated teachers are scarce.
At 55 cents per minute Mexico's mobile
phone charges are among the region's
highest. "The (telecommunications)
companies are oligopolies and their prices
are a deterrent to some of the poor," says
Martinez-Soliman.