NAIM construction costs/Artists against Mayan Train

Felipe Angeles International Airport construction. On Monday, March 21, the Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA) was inaugurated. Due to the unsustainable saturation at Mexico City´s International Airport (AICM) plans for the opening of a new airport has been in the works for the past twenty years.  During Enrique Peña Nieto’s term, the new airport was set to be built in Lake Texcoco, nevertheless, its construction was cancelled by President López Obrador and the lake has been declared a Natural Protected Area.  

López Obrador’s AIFA project was inaugurated last Monday and authorities reported the airport´s total cost would be MXN$74 billion (approx. US$366 million), a lesser figure than was previously estimated MXN$100 billion (approx. US$495 million) and it was assured that during the process of construction the costs and construction price tags would be transparent. Nevertheless, the new AIFA has been criticized because, according to experts, it does not solve Mexico City´s international airport saturation problem.

Mayan Train. AMLO accused the opposition of hiring celebrities and “pseudo environmentalists” to attack the projects of his administration, especially the Mayan Train.

One month ago, the section five of the Mayan Train traveling from Cancun to Tulum was altered without consulting experts about its environmental impact. From that and in light of the International Water Day, Mexican artists organized a campaign voicing their concerns calling it “Save me from the Train” that the government is building. In the video the artists explain that the new route of the project will destroy the largest subterranean lake system in the world and many plants and animal species will disappear.

The Mayan Train is set to be inaugurated in 2023 and is one of the signature projects of the current administration. The train will connect the main regions of the Yucatan Peninsula and is conformed of 7 sections. It is supposed to start from Palenque, Chiapas and finish at Bacalar, Quintana Roo. Nonetheless, many experts have warned about the great environmental impact it could have since many trees will have to be cut and many different ecosystems will be intervened. 

Journalists will receive medical attention.  The president mentioned that negotiations with the Social Security Institute (IMSS) have already started in order to destine part of the federal budget to guarantee medical attention to journalists. Nevertheless, he clarified that this initiative is only for those journalists that do not yet have social security, since the majority of media outlets are responsible to guarantee medical benefits to its workers.

The number of journalists killed in Mexico continues to rise, and since the beginning of the López Obrador’s administration close to 30 journalists have been murdered Many countries, NGOs, families and journalists have protested against the matter. 

Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish