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December 2000
December 1st
- Mexico opened a new era on Friday, during a solemn ceremony, as President Vicente Fox, received the tri-color presidential sash and took power, ending 71 years of one-party rule and immediately turning upside down some of the country's most enduring political traditions. In his inaugural address, President Fox summarized and reiterated his commitment to bring about change, including, as Maria Eraņa explains, measures to improve the conditions that drive millions of Mexicans to emigrate.
- Days before being sworn in as Mexico's new president, Vicente Fox introduced the nation to the members of his cabinet. Fox's appointments to his administration caused an almost immediate stir. Especially controversial was the presence of so many corporate figures in his so-called "gabinetazo." Our correspondent in Mexico, Lenica Avila, has this report.
- Ana Castillo, one of the pioneers of the Chicano literary movement, has just completed a national tour to present her newest novel, "Peel My Love Like an Onion." In the course of her career, Ana Castillo has tried to confront and to break the stereotypes that define Latino women in the United States. Our contributor in Philadelphia, Carli Bracuto, spoke with Castillo about these efforts during a stop in her tour.
December 8th
- In a surprising decision, Florida's Supreme Court today ordered an immediate vote recount in all counties where hand recounts were not previously performed. In a divided decision with a four to three ruling, the state justices directed that all ballots showing a clear intention by the voter must be included in the final tally for the presidency of the United States. Our correspondent in Florida, Lourdes Alcaņiz, has the details.
- After a little more than five months, the Zapatista Army for National Liberation (EZLN) broke its silence and called a press conference in the jungles of Chiapas, Mexico. In the name of the rebels, the Zapatista leader Subcomandante Marcos staked his position before Mexico's new president and stated his conditions to resume negotiations for peace. Our correspondent Citlali Saenz traveled to the town of La Realidad, in Chiapas, and has this report.
- In his first official act in the presidential residence of Los Pinos, Mexico's president Vicente Fox met with Mexican community leaders from the United States and with representatives of the country's main Mexican-American organizations. During their meeting, the new president offered to promote economic projects aimed at reducing emigration, improved conditions for sending money from abroad, and a foreign policy to better respond to the mistreatment experienced by immigrants in the U.S. Our correspondent in Mexico City, Raul Silva, reports.
December 15th
- After five weeks of uncertainty and legal battles, the Supreme Court finally brought the disputed presidential election to a close this week with a ruling against any further recounts in Florida. With that, Vice President Al Gore conceded the presidential election Wednesday night and Texas Gov. George W. Bush was declared president-elect of the United States. Despite a highly contentious and divisive battle, however, both Gore in his concession speech, and Bush in his acceptance speech, echoed the same sentiments of unity and reconciliation. Maria Eraņa has the details.
- While a controversial Supreme Court ruling put an end to the disputed presidential election, it also brought to light the need for electoral reforms. Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), spoke with Noticiero Latino executive producer Samuel Orozco about changes that could insure that in future elections every citizen is able to vote, and that their vote will count.
- In recent years, more that 220 women have been killed or have disappeared in Ciudad Juarez, in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Although authorities have announced progress in their investigations, various women's groups have expressed dissatisfaction with the results. Now that Mexico has gone through a transition in political power, marches have been organized on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border to call to the new government's attention the need to finally resolve this problem. Our contributor in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Kent Patterson, has this report, voiced by Guadalupe Carrasco.
December 22nd
- This Monday, members of the Electoral College met to elect the next president of the United States. With only one vote over the required minimum electoral votes, George W. Bush officially became the nation's president-elect. In the course of the week, Bush made known his choices for his cabinet. In a conversation with Noticiero Latino director Samuel Orozco, Dr. Juan Andrade, president of the National Hispanic Leadership Institute, commented on how this administration is shaping up.
- Despite the modernization of everyday life, the celebration of traditional posadas in Mexico, from December 16th to the 24th, is still very common. During these posadas, revelers recreate Joseph and Mary's search for a safe place for the birth of Jesus. Originally, the posadas were held in churches, but over time they were moved to the neighborhood streets and patios. Our correspondent Citlali Saenz reports from one such neighborhood in Mexico City.
- Today, the seed of the amaranth is internationally recognized for its nutritional and healing properties. However, few know that this seed was already being used in religious ceremonies centuries ago. Ancient Mexicans regarded the amaranth as a deity and used it as an offering in a type of communion. Despite the passage of time, the amaranth today is prepared in almost the same manner as it was in centuries past. Our contributor Raul Silva has the details.