SWOPblogger

karlos says: The following are excerpts from Frontera Norte-Sur, an online news source and mail list dedicated to bringing you news from the border. You can subscribe below. The actual article is much longer and can be requested below through the subscription email...

Mexican Elections are in the spotlight this year as the media and others are tracking the trend of left leaning election results all over Latin America, and as the immigration debate heats up in the US.

Go here for another take on the election. And keep looking back, as I'll be posting other interesting links...

On the Eve of Mexico's Big Election Day: Narcos, Soccer and Spin
By Kent Paterson

Frontera Norte-Sur
June 29, 2006

In less than 72 hours, Mexican voters will go the polls to elect a new president and congress. Pre-election surveys claim a very tight race between two of the five presidential candidates: former Mexico City Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the standard-bearer of the center-left For the Good of All coalition, and Felipe Calderon of President Fox's conservative National Action Party (PAN). In an interview with Frontera NorteSur, Roy Campos, the president of Mitofsky Consultants, one of Mexico's leading polling organizations, said polls give a slight edge to Lopez Obrador but the election outcome is impossible to predict. "The polls showed that it's a competitive scenario. We simply have to wait for the election results and respect them," Campos said. Whoever wins the race will have to excel as a political negotiator, because a split Mexican Congress with no one party in control is the likely outcome of next Sunday's elections. "We're going to have a president corralled by a divided congress," Campos predicted.

Widely criticized for extravagant campaign spending and mud-slinging in place of a serious debate, the final days of the 2006 election campaign have been marked by charges and countercharges. Especially between the Lopez Obrador and Calderon camps, allegations of influence peddling, vote-buying, money laundering, manipulation of voter rolls and ballot-counting software, physical intimidation, illegal church interference, and destruction of campaign publicity are flying about fast and heavy.

Considered the third-rated candidate in the polls, Roberto Madrazo of the Alliance for Mexico, a coalition made up of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and Mexican Green Party, is making a last-ditch effort to pull ahead by positioning himself outside the Lopez Obrador- Calderon slugfest and portraying his candidacy as the centrist alternative to the right-wing "neoliberalism" of Caldreon and the left-wing "radicalism" of Lopez Obrador.

Th Propaganda War
Pulling out the heavy artillery, the Calderon camp saturated the airwaves with hard-hitting spots, while e-mails, some of them anonymous and accompanied by scenes of narco-executions in Acapulco, circulated on the Internet and warned of disaster if Lopez Obrador is elected president. Comparing Lopez Obrador's economic reform proposals to the debacles of the Lopez Portillo and Salinas de Gortari administrations, the media offensive stokes fears of inflation, economic stagnation, debt and doom. On the flip side of the coin, other Calderon spots that don't directly attack Lopez Obrador emphasize growth, stability and employment. According to the El Universal newspaper, Calderon, who is President Fox's favored successor, has spent about $55 million dollars on electronic spots just in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrery since last January. From June 17 to 23, 3,335 Calderon spots aired nationally, including more than 300 during prime-time hours, according to the newspaper.

For the first real time in decades, a pronounced left-right polarization in Mexican politics is resurfacing and rekindling long-standing divisions which were submerged somewhat during previous elections by a common focus on ousting the PRI from power. Ultra-conservative groups are reviving and updating old, anti-communist messages, casting Lopez Obrador in the same mold as Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales. As Hugo Chavez shouts "socialism or death" on one television spot, images of AK-47 rifles flash on the screen. Lopez Obrador is not mentioned in the ad, but following months of similar spots that clearly showed Mexico City's former chief executive as part of Chavez and company, everyone gets the message. Anti-Lopez Obrador forces are clearly betting on a Peru Effect, wagering that Chavez's image will help them triumph over the supposed leftist demon.

Lopez Obrador's partisans contend a "dirty war" is being waged against their candidate, but they are not shy either about passing out or posting insulting literature about Calderon and the PAN. Nonetheless, many pro-Lopez Obrador media messages generally have a positive, upbeat message. "Smile, we're going to win," proclaims a common bumper sticker.

Class schisms are more obvious in the 2006 campaign than in previous ones. Without generalizing, Calderon is gathering support from small business owners and other middle class sectors, while Lopez Obrador draws backing from small farmers, workers and low-income segments of the population.

In certain respects, the 2006 election exposes the two Mexicos sketched by analyst Sabino Bastidas. One Mexico travels abroad, learns other languages, uses the Internet, and sips imported coffee and snacks on two-dollar muffins at the local Starbuck's, which are spreading across the land; conversely, the other Mexico does not own a computer, attends crummy schools and is hard-pressed to make a living of any kind.

On a lighter note, and one which easily unites most Mexicans, most of the political parties took advantage of the hugely popular World Soccer Cup to fashion campaign propaganda that portrayed the candidates as winning soccer stars. Aping the current marketing campaigns for cell-phones and Coca-Cola, soccer was melded into politics. Restaurants, bars and private homes were packed on June 24, the long-awaited but finally heart-breaking showdown between Mexico and Argentina. A day that began with noisy pre-celebrations and rising expectations as Mexico gave Argentina a surprisingly good match ended in whimpers when the Aztec eagle was eliminated from the competition. Still, the 2-1 defeat was close. Expect similar emotional roller-coaster rides on July 2 or July 3.

Hot Spots and Narco-Violence
Numerous Mexican election and government officials are discounting possible trouble from a number of sizzling social conflicts. A June 28 general strike earlier announced by several major unions fizzled out, but the massive teacher's strike in Oaxaca state, now entering its second month, could impact Sunday's voting.

Mexican officials deny that a sharp upturn in suspected narco-violence will negatively affect the election. Press accounts report that about 1,000 people have been have been murdered gang-land style in Baj California, Tamaulipas, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Michoacan, Guerrero, and other states since the beginning of the year. Recent victims included a guard for Baja California Governor Eugenio Elorduy and the son of leading PAN activist in Reynosa, Tamaulipas.

As the elections approach, a new wave of violence is striking tourist cities like Acapulco, where 8 bodies were discovered strewn about the streets on June 25- the same day Lopez Obrador held a massive closing campaign rally in the Pacific Coast port. Three days later, the head of a victim was placed on the grounds of Acapulco`s city hall.

In Cancun, the city's second-ranking police commander was murdered onJune 26, while in another tourist resort, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, unidentified assailants tossed grenades at two police stations early on the morning of June 24. In the first attack, an explosion at the tourist police station in downtown Zihuatanejo shattered windows of the police building, a patrol car and an adjacent boutique. Two officers were slightly injured by the explosion from a fragmentation grenade.

The attack occurred very close to bars that were crowded with Mexican nationals and foreign tourists. Shaken by the blast, tourists watched as armed Mexican police scoured the streets for possible suspects. Joshua Stephens, a 23-year-old tourist from the US Midwest, was entering a popular bar with his brother and girlfriend when the blast sent patrons to the floor for cover. "Everybody was very confused," Stephens said. "And then I walked and looked around the corner just to see what was going on and there was a lot of smoke, a lot of dust…"

Besides murders and grenade attacks, Zihuatanejo has a growing problem of attempted abductions and forced disappearances. Reminiscent of Ciudad Juarez, posters of missing men are visible on city streets. Two weeks ago, hundreds of residents staged a "silent march" to demand answers about the disappeared. None have been forthcoming.

In a widely quoted remark , Jose Luis Santiago Vasconcelos, the head of the federal government's elite SIEDO anti-organized crime squad, downplayed the possible impact of the narco-violence on the election. Commenting on Acapulco killings, Vasconcelos said a cluster of recent murders only meant that "seven less (people) are going to vote."

State Elections
Virtually uncovered in the US national press, elections for state and local offices will be held in Mexico City and 9 states on July 2, including the northern border states of Sonora and Nuevo Leon. Some observers assess the negative tone of the governor's campaign in Jalisco state (the home of Mexico's second largest city, Guadalajara) as equaling or surpassing that of the national race. A recent story in the national news magazine Proceso framed the Jalisco governor's contest as a choice between the narco, allegedly infiltrated into the campaign of the PRI's Arturo Zamora, and the ultra-right, embedded in the PAN's slate headed by former Guadalajara Mayor Emilio Gonzalez.

Once the election victors are proclaimed, political analysts will have a lot of meat to chew on this year. Observers will be carefully monitoring the voter turn-out rate which, if as low as predicted, could actually favor one political force over another. A Calderon defeat could signal, in part, the backfiring of negative campaigning techniques prevalent in this election campaign and strikingly similar in style and tone to those perfected in US politics. On the other hand, a Calderon victory will probably reinforce notions that massively buying air time and aggressively attacking the opponent is the path to success.

Frontera NorteSur (FNS): on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico

For a free electronic subscription email fnsnews@nmsu.edu
mailto:fnsnews@nmsu.edu


mexico
Mexico Elections
Border
Immigration
Politics

karlos says: So it seems the Journal isn't going to print the latest Letter to the Editor I sent in about Intel. (They shouldn't let this post stop them :)

Here's the letter:

Dear Editor,

I was surprised to see the Journal didn't run a recent article printed in the San Francisco Chronicle, Intel Looks to Shed Staff...

[http://www.sfgate.com]

With billions of New Mexico tax payer dollars invested in the Rio Rancho factory, the Journal's readers - and more importantly the many employees at the plant with families who depend on their jobs - shouldn't be kept in the dark.

Newspapers from Oregon to India have printed stories of nervous employees wary of layoff talk.

Intel isn’t saying much, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t ask.

Layoffs would be unbearable with Sandoval County recently awarding the giant chip maker a $16 billion dollar Industrial Revenue Bond (that affects taxpayers all over the state) and noxious emissions continuing to hurt Intel’s neighbors.

As rival AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) continues to chip away at Intel’s dominance, Intel Chairman of the Board Craig Barret and CEO Paul Otellini should feel the squeeze, not employees.

-end-

The Journal did run this article on Sunday.

Andrew Webb writes that Intel's impending shake up and employee layoffs will make the "Goliath of the chip world... leaner, faster and more efficient."

Almost makes it sound like a good thing.

In a separate inset, Webb writes that the Rio Rancho plant is "on the trailing edge of Intel's technology," and notes that Intel campaigned for a 2004 incentive package saying the bond package and tax breaks would keep the Rio Rancho plant competitive.

In that same article, Intel spokesperson Jami Grindatto was surprisingly forthcoming.

"These decisions are really based on financial decisions of the company, the business decisions of the states in terms of incentives and taxes, and how busy these sites are with current products," Grindatto said. "Intel has the world to play with."

So when should we start to worry about our investment?

Stay tuned...

Intel
Layoffs
technology
AMD
New Mexico

This Wednesday, June 28 at 6:00pm the SouthWest Organizing Project and NM Venceremos Brigade will host the visit to Albuquerque of the 17th Annual "Friendshipment" Caravan to Cuba, organized by the NY-based Pastors for Peace.

Come welcome participants in this year's Caravan and send off several New Mexicans participating in the 37th Contingent of the Venceremos Brigade. Both delegations are traveling to Cuba without OFAC authorization in an open challenge to present US restrictions on travel to Cuba.

A featured speaker on Wednesday will be Alicia Jrapko (see below), who will be with the Caravanistas traveling on the route passing through Albuquerque.

This event will be part of SWOP's summer Tardeada series. SWOP will provide hamburgers and fixings. Please bring something to share.

For more information, call 344-5049 or 247-8832. For more info re. SWOP,
see www.swop.net.

*Alicia Jrapko* was born and raised in Cordoba, Argentina. In 1976, during the repressive military dictatorship, she was forced to leave her homeland and relocate in the San Francisco Bay Area. Alicia first traveled to Cuba in 1994 with IFCO/Pastors for Peace. Following her return, she became active in the San Francisco Bay Area Frienshipment Committee, a nonprofit organization which supports IFCO/Pastors for Peace projects in Cuba, Chiapas, Mexico and Central America. Most recently, Alicia became involved with the National Committee to Free the Five Cubans imprisoned in the United States. She has traveled to Latin America including Mexico, Cuba, Brazil and Argentina and participated in several International Events. Alicia earned her Masters Degree in Nonprofit Administration in 1998 from the University of San Francisco. Alicia has three children, works full time in a human services consulting firm, and is an active member of numerous solidarity organizations and peace and justice causes including: the anti-war A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, the International Action Center, political prison campaigns, lifting the US blockade of Iraq, and the struggle to stop the bombing in Vieques, Puerto Rico. She has also worked with IFCO/Pastors for Peace in recruiting students for the Latin American Medical School Scholarship program.

Cuba

karlos says: from a friend...

Check out http://godlesskinser.podomatic.com/ to listen to Watch It Burn, produced weekly by Brian Kinser, an Army aircraft maintenance worker at Balad AFB in Iraq. Be forewarned that there is plenty of barracks lingo in the material.

Kinser was inspired to do the show after he saw Sir! No Sir!, a documentary about the GI revolt during the Vietnam war. The film is showing at independent and art theaters around the country. For more
info see http://sirnosir.com.

Active duty GIs may obtain a copy of the film on DVD (only 500 available) by visiting the site of the Iraq Veterans Against the War - http://www.ivaw.net/index.php?id=213. Or ask a friend on base. Here in Albuquerque there are copies making the rounds. The film's producer says that about 200 copies are circulating in Iraq right now.

Iraq
Politics
Media
war
technology
Military

With yesterday's news of rumors of Intel's "restructuring," SWOPblogger is offering some oldies but goodies...

Moore's Law - 40 years of faster computers, corporate welfare, and harmful emissions...

Intel Inside New Mexico - from Democracy Now...

Shareholder Strategies - from Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation

CorpWatch's Case Study

Next Five Emails with "I want a copy of Intel Inside" in the subject line get a Free Copy of Intel Inside New Mexico: A Case Study of Environmental and Economic Injustice, 1995. Please be sure to include your address.

As always, we encourage donating to your favorite community-based organziation!



Intel
technology
AMD
New Mexico
Oregon
India

karlos says: As rival AMD (Advance Micro Devices) continues to chip away at Intel's dominance, the San Francisco Chronicle reports today that analysts are saying Intel is planning layoffs in the near future. Intel's not saying anything but their PR team seems to be working hard, as evidenced by a quick google news search. The article below references layoff jitters in Oregon, India. No mention of the Rio Rancho plant. What's happening over there? Anybody asking any questions over at the Fab the Tax Dollars Built?

Was I surprised to see that the Journal didn't run it? Guess.

Intel looks set to shed staff, unprofitable units;
Company is mum, but stock is sagging and rival
AMD is eating into business
Tom Abate, Chronicle Staff Writer

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Intel Corp. may trim staff and jettison money-losing divisions to help boost its sagging stock and fend off competition from arch rival AMD, analysts say.

Speculation has been building about a possible shakeup at the chip-making giant. In recent days, publications in Oregon and India, home to portions of Intel's 100,000-person worldwide workforce, have run stories about local layoff jitters. Read More.

Intel
technology
AMD
New Mexico
Oregon
India

karlos says: I've heard so much about this place - what a shame.

Xispas
June 13, 2006

http://www.xispas.com/blog/

Early this morning, at 5 PM, a squadron of helicopters, squad cars, and bulldozers came to remove the 350 families from Mexico and Central America who have made 14 acres in an urban blighted area into a garden oasis in South Central LA (41st and Alameda streets). The South Central Farm is the largest urban farm in the United States. Last reports were that bulldozers were tearing down the fences and tearing into the carefully plotted trees and plants.

This battle to save the amazing gardens and farm has been waged for weeks when a wealthy developer demanded to get the land back from the city so he can build warehouses and industrial sites (in an area chock full of warehouses and industrial sites). The farmers, however, have been on this land for 14 years. More:

Join Us at the office - 211 10th Street SW

June 16, 5:30-8:00pm

For our first Tardeada of 2006

We want to get to know you...

SWOP Tardeadas are a great opportunity to spend time together and begin to participate in making our communities better places to live, work and play.

Please bring a dish to share...

Hear a brief update on Campaign for a Better New Mexico.
Call us for more info: 247-8832.

The SouthWest Organizing Project. 211 10th St. SW. Albuquerque NM. 87102.

PLEASE ATTEND APS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TO SUPPORT A POLICY THAT WOULD ENSURE EQUAL TREATMENT OF STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 14th at 5:00 PM

WHERE: 6400 Uptown Blvd NE- DeLayo Martin Community Rm (East Entrance). Between Louisianna and San Pedro and Indian School and Uptown- Near Coronado Mall

Background: (see attachment for proposed policy) Based on the discriminatory treatment of some Del Norte students that almost led to their deportation in March 2004, MALDEF (the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund) has been in negotiations with APS to pass policies that would prevent a similar situation from occurring.

On Thursday June 1st the APS policy committee took action to support a policy that would prohibit APS employees from inquiring into, reporting,disclosing information, or in any way discriminating against students based on their immigration status. It would also provide for training of employees. This policy will now go to the full board on 14th.

The community needs to let the school board that we support their efforts to protect all students, regardless of immigration status.

For more information, call El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos at 246-1627 and we can put you into contact with MALDEF.

Click on the image below to get your "I Love New Mexico" badge for your website today.

Tell everyone you support the Campaign for a Better New Mexico!