Mexico’s drug war comes to Guatemala

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Mexican drug traffickers have worked their way south into Guatemala. The Guatemalan army has been trying to beat them back. But some Guatemalans there feel loyal to the drug cartels. Which have provided services – even security – that the Guatemalan government hasn’t delivered. Lorne Matalon reports. Download MP3
Slideshow: Guatemalan soldiers on patrol

Guatemala syphilis study still provokes anger

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Last month President Obama apologized to the people of Guatemala for an unethical study of syphilis. In the mid-1940s, hundreds of Guatemalans were unwitting subjects of the US study.Lorne Matalon reports that today, many Guatemalans are still outraged, despite the apology. Download MP3

US visa laws lightened for Cuban artists

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The Obama administration is easing restrictions on visas issued to Cuban artists who refuse to defect or renounce their loyalty to the Cuban Revolution. The World’s Lorne Matalon profiles two artists who’ve come to the US from Cuba because of this opening. (Painting: “Cada quien a lo suyo” (To each his own) 2010; Photo: Lorne Matalon) Download MP3

• See photos of Orestes Gaulhiac’s artwork
• Galería Cubana in Boston
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Colorado River water rights

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Under a longstanding treaty, the Colorado River irrigates 3 million acres of farmland and supplies water to 30 million people in the United States and Mexico. Between population growth and a decade long drought, the Colorado is under such stress that Western states – desperate to maintain water supplies – want to purify agricultural runoff currently diverted into Mexico. But as The World’s Lorne Matalon reports, Mexico covets that water, because it has given birth to a productive wetland. Download MP3

• Lorne Matalon’s Mexico stories
• See photos from the Colorado River

Saving a river along the US-Mexico border

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Arizona and the Mexican state of Sonora are divided by an international border. But they are also united by the Santa Cruz river. In recent years, the river has become dry and now government agencies and citizens groups on both sides are struggling to preserve this precious waterway. The World’s Lorne Matalon reports. Download MP3 (Photo: Lorne Matalon)

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Lorne Matalon’s Mexico Stories

Lorne Matalon has been reporting from Mexico for The World since November 2007. He has covered the Mexican ‘war on drugs’ from the frontlines, going on patrol with the Mexican armed forces. Lorne also covered immigration and economic stories from south of the border. He has also reported from Venezuela for The World.

Mexico’s drug war in the US

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US officials have announced the arrest, on American soil, of more than 300 members of a major Mexican drug cartel. The Mexican newspaper El Universal has been running a series this week focusing on drug-trafficking north of the border, in the United States. The newspaper reports that the drug cartels are increasing their operations inside the US. One of the reporters on the series is Evangelina Hernandez. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• El Universal coverage (en español)
• Lorne Matalon’s Mexico stories on the World
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Mid-term elections in Mexico

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has a high approval rating in his country, but his party isn’t expected to do well in this weekend’s midterm elections. The World’s Lorne Matalon reports.
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Collateral damage in Mexico’s drug war

The World’s Lorne Matalon reports from Mexico on rising complaints about human rights abuses by the military. Civilians are getting caught in the crossfire as the Mexican army battles drug lords. Listen

Drug cartels and corruption in Mexico

The World’s Lorne Matalon reports on the Mexican government’s battle against drug traffickers and official corruption in the central state of Michoacan. Listen

President Obama’s pick for Mexico ambassador

President Obama’s choice for US ambassador to Mexico has sparked some controversy south of the border. Carlos Pascual is a career diplomat with an expertise in the problems of failed states. That’s a sensitive topic in Mexico, given the violence and lawlessness associated with drug cartels there. The World’s Lorne Matalon reports. Listen

Mexico’s drug war continues

It was out of the headlines while Mexico struggled with the swine flu virus. But the war between the government and Mexico’s drug cartels continued without interruption during the outbreak. The World’s Lorne Matalon reports.

Mexico’s economy suffers from swine flu (3:30)

Mexico’s finance minister estimates that the swine flu is going to cost the country’s economy more than two billion dollars. The World’s Lorne Matalon speaks with a number of Mexicans about how the outbreak may not have hurt their health, but it certainly hurt their wallets.

Danger for Mexican journalists (3:30)

Mexican lawmakers recently passed a bill that says it’s a federal offense to threaten or murder a journalist. That says a lot about how dangerous it is for journalists to cover issues like corruption and drug-trafficking in Mexico. The World’s Lorne Matalon reports.

Mexico journalists

Mexico’s Congress has passed a bill that treats murders of journalists as federal offenses. Advocates say is necessary to end rampant impunity at the state and local level, where crimes against journalists are seldom investigated.