Embark on an Exploration of Corruption, Catastrophe, and Courage in Mexico
In the wake of Hurricane Otis’ devastating strike on Acapulco, the beach paradise found itself thrust into a nightmarish ordeal. The storm’s destructive force triggered the vulnerabilities deeply embedded in Mexico’s disaster response mechanisms, exposing a complex web of stressors, including corruption and government inefficiencies. Cascade Institute’s Gabriela Vieyra-Balboa delves into the heart of the matter, peeling back layers of systemic issues that extend far beyond the aftermath of a single natural disaster.
Shedding light on the controversial decision to dismantle FONDEN, a critical resource meant for disaster management, the author reveals a paradoxical reality where, despite promises to combat corruption, the current administration under President Andrés Manuel López-Obrador (AMLO) seems entangled in a web of questionable business dealings regarding the allocation of resources and the aid reaching the disaster-stricken populace.
Against the backdrop of bureaucratic shortcomings and political maneuvering, Dr. Vieyra-Balboa interweaves stories of human resilience featuring the victims of Hurricane Otis, their struggles, and the promises of aid, which capture the stark contrast between official declarations and the ground realities. Follow the link and embark on an exploration that transcends headlines and challenges our perceptions.
Read Dr. Vieyra-Balboa’s full reporting and analysis: Acapulco’s Unending Nightmare (Full Article).
Gabriela Vieyra-Balboa has a BA degree in International Affairs, an MA degree in Educational Technology, an MA and a PhD in Humanistic Studies with an emphasis on ethics, from Tecnológico de Monterrey, in Mexico City. In a career spanning between 1999 and 2022 at her alma mater, she was an associate professor, program and department director, an ultimately head of the of the School of Humanities and Education in Campus Santa Fe. Currently, she’s a student of the Master´s in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University and the Operations Associate at the Cascade Institute.