This past Sunday was the much anticipated first set of CONCACAF Gold Cup matches between Mexico and Panama. Canada vs. Martinique was played before in a double-header but I skipped it in order to partake in all the free food at the tailgate parties.
I covered the game for Remezcla where you can see photos (including the above) and read a bit about the madness. See more HERE.
I also uploaded a bunch more photos on Flickr that were unused. Here are a few of my favorites that were cut:
Since I wrote about the drug war in Mexico last year (see here and here), I’ve discovered more independent journalists who devote their time to covering drug war-related events in Mexico. One of these journalists is K. Mennem, creator of the Hell On Earth blog. His blog provides analysis of headlines from the drug war plus delves into aspects of the drug war’s cartel culture not covered by other sites, such as his story about Nuevo Laredo’s Boy’s Town.
I swapped a few e-mails with Mennem to learn more about his work and blog. Below is a brief exchange we had about his work and blog.
Beneath this calm exterior...
Let’s talk about your journalism background. How long have you worked as a journalist? Where have you been published/are published? Why did you decide to become a journalist?
I do not come from a formal journalism background. My college degree is in business, but I traveled to Mexico frequently with international study groups during college. I started my blog in 2009. The original plan was to write about various global events that are not covered by main stream media. My whole intent was to help bring to light the horrible things that occur daily in our world, yet these are often ignored by the public. I write routinely for the San Diego Reader, my blog of course, and guest spots on various blogs and websites from time to time. I have recently had an increase of interest from universities and politicians on my work. Doing work for these type of groups is currently in the making. I decided to start into journalism after I finally realized how much time I was spending on reading, researching, traveling, and talking to people about these issues. In most ways it had already engulfed my life before I even realized it. I am also an insurance agent. I sell local and international policies to businesses and private customers. I am the marketing director and international sales agent for an agency my brother owns. The flexibility with this job has allowed me to make both of my careers work.
Tell me about Hell On Earth blog. Where/how did you come up with the title? What is your interest in following/investigating narcotrafficking/drug war in Mexico?
The title for my blog came from the original concept of the site. Writing about the “Hell on Earth” that is unknown to many. As the Mexican cartel wars raged on, my blog eventually became focused on issues there. The drug war across the Americas has always been my focal point, but I decided to completely focus on it for the time being. I have always had strong ties to Mexico. I still travel to Mexico when possible. My passion for the country and its people compelled me to write about events often ignored in the United States. The ugly truth is that the U.S. is causing this chain reaction of events by its huge appetite for narcotics. My interest into following these events were naturally drawn in because of my interest in Mexico. I have friends on both sides of the law, friends on both sides of the border, and have spent considerable time along the border. These things have helped me develop into what I do.
How can mainstream media outlets improve their coverage of the drug war in Mexico?
Mainstream media needs to elaborate more on events happening, and not just give short summaries. Almost everything happening is directly tied to the United States, but you can not tell that by reading one paragraph a week in the newspaper. National news stations pick up on stories whenever it is the hot thing to do, but most often it is only when a U.S. citizen is a victim of a crime in Mexico or on the border.
To continue where I left off a few months ago, I present another talented artist/group from Mexico: Ruido Rosa.
Ruido Rosa. Photo courtesy of Revista Plastica
Ruido Rosa is a rock n’ roll quartet from Mexico City featuring Alejandra Moreno (vocals), Daniela Sanchez (guitar), Carla Sarinana (bass) and Pablo Cantu (drums). Drummer Maryluz Alatriste left the band earlier this month for personal reasons and Cantu is serving as a temporary replacement.
The original members started the band in 2005 and had their first huge break in the U.S.A. in 2009 when they performed at SXSW. They recorded their self-titled debut album the following year with the help of Diego Solorzano, a.k.a. Rey Pila but not before opening for KISS during their three-city tour of Mexico. RR returned to SXSW in 2011 where they performed at La Banda Elastica’s showcase.
RR has a rock/classic rock sound which shouldn’t be a surprise as they claim Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Kinks and The Raconteurs as their primary influences. The two singles off their debut, “Dentro” and “Miedo A Caer,” have a bit of an early BRMC vibe. Listen below.
No word yet on a proper tour of the U.S.A. but hopefully there’ll be one next year.
The following excerpt comes from Writing The War On Drugs: Why do so few American papers report on the trade in their backyard?
For years the absence of stories about how drugs are moved and traded inside the United States has sparked my curiosity. Ten years ago, while a graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, I did a content analysis of how several American news outlets portrayed the war on drugs in Mexico and in the United States. I uncovered two main narratives. The one about Mexico focused on government corruption, the cartels’ structure, their control of local law enforcement, and the way they move drugs across the country. The narrative about the US dealt mostly with drug addiction and stories about prevention and rehabilitation programs. Continue reading “Blood, Drugs and Hitmen Addendum: Javier Garza Ramos”→
Drug cartels in Mexico who once operated in the shadows announced their entrance into mainstream society with a number of beheadings in 2006 that marked the beginning of a wave of unprecedented violence that still consumes parts of the country. Gun fights in broad daylight occur regularly in parts of Nuevo Leon, Michoacan and Chihuahua. Cartels have also moved on to methods more sadistic than beheadings via vats of acid and even a car bomb or two.
Flag of Los Zetas by cartoonist Jose Hernandez (monerohernandez.com.mx)
Much of Mexico continues to live normally despite the violence in some areas. Traveler extraordinaire Rick Steves celebrated the coming of 2011 in Mexico City with nary a hint of drug-related violence in sight. My relatives in the state of Jalisco continue to live in peace. My friends with families in Juarez, unfortunately, cannot say the same. They have suffered extortion and violence at the hands of cartels and corrupt law enforcement.
Most Mexican news organizations can’t or won’t cover the situation in-depth because of threats and attacks by cartels on their headquarters and journalists. U.S. news organizations can’t or won’t because it’s not in their interest to do so save for lazy, fear-mongering tales of spillover violence and anarchy.
So where do concerned citizens and interested parties turn to for accurate information and comprehensive analysis of events in Mexico? Read on after the jump to find out:
Let’s skip past the obvious sombrero/sarape jokes and get straight to the point: far too many people have no clue what Cinco de Mayo is all about nor how it came to be. For the sake of brevity, I present a brief history cheat-sheet on the history and development of the Cinco de Mayo celebration.
From Francine Prose’s article, Savoring Puebla for Smithsonian Magazine:
Like the rest of Mexico, Puebla has had a troubled history marked by war, invasions and revolutions. Several important military confrontations took place there, most famously the Battle of the Fifth of May, Cinco de Mayo, commemorated in a holiday that has assumed great significance for Mexicans living outside their own country. At the battle, which occurred not far from Puebla’s center, on May 5, 1862, the Mexican Army defeated the French with the aid of local troops. Unfortunately, the French returned a year later and smashed the Mexican forces and occupied Mexico until they were defeated by Benito Juárez in 1867.
Artwork depicting the Battle of Puebla. Courtesy of diasdehistoria.com.ar. Artist unknown.
Carla Morrison. Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone Mexico
Count Carla Morrison among the current crop of Mexican artists whose fame has exploded seemingly overnight. The singer/songwriter has won over millions of fans in her native Mexico and is slowly repeating that performance stateside.
The young starlet grew up in Tecate, Baja California (yes, that’s the city where THAT beer is brewed in) and studied in Mexico City and Phoenix, AZ where she performed with various musicians, most notably Babaluca.
Morrison (no relation to Jim) released her debut EP, Aprendiendo a Aprender (Learning to Learn), in 2009 and followed it up with Mientras Tú Dormías (While You Were Sleeping) the following year. She most recently wowed audiences at SXSW and at her album premiere show at Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s “Day of the Dead” festival.
“So what’s the big deal?,” you ask. At this point I must admit that any attempt at describing her music will fall flat despite the fact that she is armed with nothing but a guitar, an incredible voice and an enormous heart worn on both sleeves. Instead, I’ll let her music speak for itself.
Le Butcherettes opened for living legend Mike Watt (Minutemen, dos, fIREHOUSE, The Stooges) this past Friday for a night filled with many “firsts”: it was the band’s first gig at The Echo (photos here), the first time playing mostly (all?!) songs off their upcoming debut album Sin Sin Sin, and the first time the new lineup featuring Gabe Serbian of The Locust and Jonathan Hischke of Hella performed together.
I spoke with Teri before the show about the many changes and obstacles she’s faced since Le Butcherettes’ performance at The Troubadour last September, how she met her new bandmates, her new home in Echo Park and life as a musician in Mexico and the USA.
Below is the trailer to the movie mentioned in the last clip, Los Ojos de un Omiso Destino:
Afroxander (aka Iván Fernández) 