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Month: July 2018

Mexico Elects a Leftist President Who Welcomes Migrants

Bridge Agents

Mexico (Conversation) – Mexico’s next president will be Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a former Mexico City mayor and outspoken critic of the political establishment both in Mexico and the United States. The 64-year-old leftist, who had for months led a crowded presidential field, beat three competitors on July 1 to triumph in his third presidential bid. López Obrador won 53 percent of the vote, according to the latest official count. His closest contender, Ricardo Anaya – who formed an unusual right-left alliance late last year in a futile attempt to…

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For Texas ranchers living along border fence, talk of an illegal crossing crisis is exaggerated

Bridge Agents

Brownsville, TX (TT) – Crisis. Siege. Chaos. These are words the president and some of his supporters have used to describe the situation at the United States’ southern border, where every day migrants illegally cross into the country from Mexico. Jaime Portillo, one of the ranchers who farm the land near the U.S.-Mexico border, uses a different word to characterize the last few months in the Rio Grande Valley: “igual” — the same as ever. To the people living on the Old Military Highway, which stretches for 100 miles along the…

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#BabaeAko Campaign Unites Women in Challenging the Sexist Behavior of Philippine President Duterte

Bridge Agents

Philippines (GV) – Women’s rights advocates in the Philippines have launched the #BabaeAko (I am a woman) campaign aimed at calling out the “anti-women” remarks and behavior of President Rodrigo Duterte. The campaign recently mobilized social media support after Duterte was criticized for kissing a married woman on the lips amidst the cheers of his supporters in a public function in Seoul, South Korea on June 3, 2018. One aspect of the campaign encouraged women to post a video message addressed to Duterte followed by a pledge of “lalaban ako” (I…

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