Journal of Haiti and the Americas

Mexico: High voltage fishing in the Gulf of California

Audio 7:30 p.m.

The Mexican Navy said Tuesday, July 5, 2022, it has launched a controversial plan to drop concrete blocks at the bottom of the Gulf of California to snag illegal nets that drown endangered porpoises (vaquita marina). .

(Illustrative image) © AP - Paula Olson

By: Mikael Ponge

2 mins

Fishing area recognized for the richness of its biodiversity, the Gulf of California, in northern Mexico, today crystallizes the tensions between fishermen, authorities and environmental protectors.

Between respect for endangered species and economic imperatives, interests diverge.

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At the heart of activity of many fishing towns, the Gulf of California has become the scene of tensions in recent years.

At the heart of the conflict: the protection of certain species, such as the Pacific porpoise, the last specimens of which are now highly threatened.

Gradually, many restrictions were put in place to ensure the survival of the species.

Measures that force fishermen sometimes to the point of prohibiting them from certain areas.

“Everything is done for the environment, but no one is interested in the social aspect of the problem.

What does the fisherman live on?!

What does his family, his children live on?!, how will he be able to give them access to school?!

There are so many prohibitions on the work area!

», 

explains one of these fishermen.

Report by Gwendolina Duval in San Felipe where all these tensions crystallize.

Haiti: the economic consequences of gang wars

Cité Soleil for nearly 15 days, but before that Martissant or the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac: the deadly clashes between gangs in Haiti paralyze the capital Port-au-Prince, which finds itself gradually isolated from the rest of the country.

However, the metropolitan area concentrates the majority of businesses and shops.

Foodstuffs from the provinces also pass through Port-au-Prince.

Exchanges that have now become almost impossible.

And the chronic war between armed groups in the Artibonite department in northern Haiti, which claimed several victims again last weekend, only increases the problem.

In Gonaïves, capital of this department, the economic consequences are felt.

Merchants and entrepreneurs are in dire straits.

VS'

Leonor Zalabata Torres, Representative of Colombia to the UN

A dentist by profession and human rights activist, she is the first Amerindian woman to hold the post of Colombian ambassador to the UN.

She had participated in the constituent assembly of 1991 to which she refers in the extract that we have just heard.

The Colombian press recalls that she is " 

one of the rare natives who was able to go to university in the 1970s

 ".

She also took part in peace talks with the FARC in the early 2000s. Peace with armed groups is also one of her main missions at the UN.

And on the front page of the newspaper of the 1st

 :

The recycling of used oils and lubricants, a real problem in Guadeloupe.

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  • Mexico

  • Haiti

  • Colombia

  • UN

  • Guadeloupe

  • Agriculture and Fishing

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