A spokesman for Lopez Obrador says that a basket of necessities has risen by about 35% in the last year. In 2006, it was 10%. They have risen from 51% of the minimum wage to 73% of it. For that minimum wage worker, a pound of beef required 4 hours and 20 minutes of labor at the beginning of 2006. Now it takes 5 hours and 15 minutes. (via Sdp)
Mexico Solidarity News reports that
Four leaders of Opddic (Organization for Defense of Campesino and Indigenous Rights) were charged this week with attempted murder for an attack against two Zapatista supporters on August 10 in the municipality of Chilon. Opddic is a paramilitary group affiliated with local and state PRI leaders.
The US State Department announced this week a 31% increase in the cost of temporary visas, to take effect in 2008. The price will increase from US$100 to US$131. Mexicans applying for a visa must deposit the funds in a bank in advance of a required interview, and the money is not refunded in the case of a failed interview. Nearly two-thirds of Mexicans who apply for visas are denied after the interview process. Mexicans who schedule a second interview appointment to present additional information must pay an additional US$131.