When the music stops, it's time for the instrument on the Zapatista's back to sing una canción de México (a song of México). (Photo Credit: CC BY-SA/VillaPhotography/Wikipedia)

Tourism is a vital source of income for nations worldwide. For Americans, México has proven to be a popular tourist attraction. The traditional image of a Méxican vacation involves beaches, surfing, parasailing, margaritas and horseback trips to restorative hot springs in far-off villages. However, a new phenomenon has surfaced, reports Reuters. Increasing numbers of tourists are enjoying “danger tourism,” where they plunge themselves into the middle of the drug war killing fields, where gun violence between the cartels, police and military can erupt without warning.

Danger tourism in México: a break from the ordinary

While many people are appalled by the idea of spending their hard-earned dollars on vacations that would place them in serious risk of bodily harm, macabre thrill-seekers find travel agencies that offer the alternative of danger tourism. Such agencies give the morbidly curious the chance to see Zapatista rebels up close. Or, if running with street gangs and pickpockets is more to tourists’ liking, they can go undercover in such dangerous areas of México City as the Tepito black market, where drug deals, underage prostitution and other illegal acts are commonplace. Cesar Estrada of Universal Travel told Reuters that such excursions are becoming more popular with time, despite the good chance of robbery at gunpoint.

“We tell visitors to dress simply. If they want pictures, our guides take them discreetly,” Estrada said.

A trip into ‘the real México’

Adding to the theme of “the real México,” one tourist agency enables danger tourism aficionados to pay 200 pesos ($15) to hire a fake human trafficker (aka polleros or coyotes) for a nighttime run that simulates being a migrant crossing the southern border of the United States. No food or water is allowed on the trip through bushes and across rivers. If the tourists don’t run fast enough, faux-immigration trucks violently apprehend them.

An economic boost for México?

Reuters reports that it is unclear at this point exactly what kind of an effect danger tourism has had on the Méxican economy. Tourism in general accounts for 9 percent of the nation’s economy, and considering just how much damage the drug wars have done to México of late, it seems likely that danger tourism helps more than it hurts. Unless you’re a tourist on the wrong end of a bullet, of course.

Sources:

Reuters

Extreme Tourist: Afghanistan

La Frontera de Los Estados Unidos could be receiving a big boost in border security manpower if Obama's $600 million emergency fund makes it through Congress. (Photo: Wikipedia)

As controversy over the new Arizona immigration law SB 1070 rages on, the call for immigration reform and added border security is boiling over and can no longer be pushed to the back burner. The Los Angeles Times reports that President Obama has asked Congress for a $600 million emergency fund with which the U.S. can immediately hire 1,000 additional Border Patrol agents, purchase two Predator drones and beef up security along America’s Southwest border. As part of the border security fund, 160 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and additional Border Patrol canine units would also be hired, according to an unnamed senior White House official.

Border security: ‘Urgent and essential,’ writes Obama

President Obama outlined his $600 million border security fund in no uncertain terms to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco in a letter. The request “responds to urgent and essential needs” and should be considered an emergency situation, he says. Violence along America’s border with Mexico is becoming increasingly common. The recent upturn of grisly violence in Mexico’s drug war – a war Mexico seems unable to quell, even with military force – has no doubt weighed heavily on President Obama’s mind. Mexican drug cartels have even threatened American border security in Texas, reports the New York Daily News. Some of the proposed $600 million emergency fund would help provide overrun Mexican authorities with ballistics and DNA analysis, with the hope that the drug war does not spill over into the United States.

Mending fences, breaking inertia

In the words of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, her state is “the gateway to America for drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping and crime.” More than any U.S. politician of late – perhaps ever – Brewer has mounted the most furious argument against the federal government’s relative inaction on border security. Securing ineffective border fences, providing additional manpower and getting Predator drones in the air are part of keeping Arizona residents safe, Brewer asserts. She believes that enforcement of Arizona immigration law SB 1070 will have a positive effect on border security and does not see it in racist terms. Mexico is suing Arizona for SB 1070, reports CNN, but border security is an issue that concerns all Americans. People who live in the borderlands have had enough of the government’s inaction; perhaps Obama’s emergency fund is a step in the right direction.

Sources:

Los Angeles Times

New York Daily News

CNN.com

Border security as bargaining chip?

Cinco de Mayo is all about the fiesta. Does that make Jan Brewer and la migra nervous? (Photo: Flickr)

Cinco de Mayo (the fifth of May) is a happy day celebrated across the United States and Mexico (primarily in the Puebla state) with song, dance, good food and even better beer, margaritas and tequila. Per Wikipedia, the fiesta celebrates the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. While not a federal holiday, Cinco de Mayo is wildly popular, particularly in the U.S. where Mexican-Americans take time to celebrate their Mexican heritage in a (mostly) family-friendly atmosphere.

Cinco de Mayo protest: an equal opportunity event

Rumors are circulating that Cinco de Mayo 2010 won’t be quite as family-friendly for the people of Arizona. Thanks to the new Arizona immigration law, a large Cinco de Mayo protest may be brewing, aimed at Gov. Jan Brewer. At the state capital on Cinco de Mayo, a political rally to end all political rallies is allegedly being planned. Payloan stores may have to lock their doors. The rally may even include Arizona police officers who are worried that the Arizona immigration law has provisions that could subject police departments to lawsuit if they do not enforce the law “strictly,” says Rumor Miller.

Speakers from both side of the Arizona immigration law aisle are slated for participation in the Cinco de Mayo protest, including political figures like Tom Tancredo, Marry Matlin, Roland Martin, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. In addition, some A-list celebrities may be there, including Salma Hayek, George Lopez, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Carlos Mencia and Perez Hilton. Hilton will, of course, be blogging the event. Potential attendees are being encouraged to wear green, white and red to show their support of what is supposedly “in clear violation of the principles of the U.S.” That supposedly solid assertion about Arizona immigration law is actually very much up for debate.

Don’t worry, Cinco de Mayo fans: It could be worse

In an alternate universe where parody sites like The Spoof report news, we see that Governor Jan Brewer has revealed that Arizona will no longer celebrate Cinco de Mayo. There will be no parades, block parties, low-rider hydraulics contests, “Eva Longoria-Parker lookalike pageants,” margarita fests, “frijole fandangos,” weddings or anything else that could vaguely fall on the wrong side of la migra. Gov. Jan Brewer is spreading some tough love and will not be swayed by the namby-pamby antics of an Obama, Hillary Clinton, belly-dancing Shakira or Los Lonely Boys. No, Jan Brewer is going to see this thing through, claims The Spoof. Speedy Gonzalez and Slow Poke Rodriguez will officially be replaced by Rapid Reginald and Moseying Mike.

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gail/ / CC BY-ND 2.0)

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8.4 earthquake prediction

After a 6.9 magnitude earthquake injured more than 8,000 people in Qinghai, China last night, Twitter, Facebook and text messages lit up with warnings of an 8.4 earthquake prediction for California. The 5.0 magnitude earthquake in Guerrero, Mexico seemed to confirm the 8.4 earthquake prediction. The rumor started with an email claiming that CalTech had sent its employees home with notice to “prepare for the big one.” CalTech has confirmed that no such e-mail was sent out.

Earthquake prediction

The 8.4 earthquake prediction claiming it will happen in the next 72 hours is simply not possible. The closest thing in existence to a reliable earthquake prediction is the seismic activity detectors that allow researchers to immediately warn areas that are seeing increased seismic activity. However, as Popular Mechnics outlined, true earthquake prediction is “still a long way off.”

The 8.4 earthquake prediction may eventually come true

The fact that an 8.4 earthquake in California has not been predicted does not mean that the big earthquake is not coming. California is a well-known earthquake zone. In 2008, the Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities predicted that a 6.7 or larger magnitude earthquake has a 67 percent likelihood of happening. In other words, an 8.4 earthquake prediction is generally true – it may very well happen. An accurate earthquake prediction is just not possible, though.

Preparing for an 8.4 earthquake in California

Any resident of an earthquake-prone area should always be prepared for a large earthquake, just as everyone should be prepared for a large disaster. A basic disaster kit is easy to put together, and getting a quick personal loan to finance one may be a good idea. Check with your local Red Cross to get help putting your emergency kit together. That way, when another earthquake prediction or major disaster comes your way, you will know you’re ready.

Sources:

KHTS AM 1220

Bakersfield Now

Los Angeles Times