2008
Within the vast, arid northeastern region of Mexico, the state of Sinaloa received an unexpected gift from nature: that of its eleven legendary rivers. A basic prerequisite for life in pre-Hispanic communities, in colonial times -under the rule of Jesuit missionaries- both the rivers themselves and agricultural activity, their natural derivation, continued to be the foundation of the region's social and economic network. Towards the end of the 19th century, however, agriculture was still a completely local, traditional activity geared towards subsistence. But very soon, this would change. Through investments promoted by the Porfirio Díaz regime, advances in communications, and the emergence of new national and foreign entrepreneurs with a modern vision of agricultural potential, Sinaloa was able to win the ranking it holds today as a leader in food production.
2008
Throughout the 20th century and today, Sinaloa consolidated its presence as a land of Mexicans and foreign immigrants committed to agriculture and livestock in Mexico. Separated on occasion by political differences brought on by the Revolution, or pushed aside either because they belonged to private enterprise or because they ran small-scale operations, the farmers of Sinaloa understood that further along down the road, their modern enemies and rivals would go by different names: a progressive lack of water, river pollution, technological drawbacks, and a lack of competitiveness on global markets. By accepting new challenges and preparing to meet them, Sinaloa stands today as a clear example of the capacity of Mexican agriculture to face the challenges of the future.
2008
Oil: Its contribution to Mexico's development and growth has been essential. What is the current status of oil in Mexico? What are the new global circumstances this industry confronts, and what is the best way to face them? Is there any guarantee that the so-called ''oil rent'' can be sustained at its current levels, in order to benefit future generations? Our oil is owned by the people of Mexico, by all of us. We are also the owners of Pemex. Therefore we have the right to fully understand the current status of the oil industry.
2008
Defined as a way of life rather than just an artistic or cultural movement, the Baroque developed in Queretaro with great singularity in terms of piousness, daily life, and the art that emerged from the fusion of two cultures: the pre-Hispanic and the Spanish. In order to follow the trail of the Baroque period, one need only examine its mythic origins, which tell how the capital city was founded in the 16th century. Or tour the intricate passageways to remote missions that penetrate the Sierra Gorda mountains. Or simply indulge in viewing the beautiful homes and majestic churches built in the Santa Rosa de Viterbo or San Agustin style -paradigms of New Spanish architecture and the boom experienced by Queretaro in the 17th and 18th centuries.
2008
This documentary reconstructs great moments in the history of the city of Queretaro, including: its legendary foundation (1531); economic development in the 17th and 18th centuries, which left behind the priceless imprint of Baroque art; the Queretaro Conspiracy of 1808-10; the city as capital of Mexico during the U.S. invasion of 1847-48; the Fall of the Second Empire; the Constitutional Congress of 1916-17; and last but not least, the culture Queretaro has to offer even today, which one and all are welcome to enjoy.
2008
The Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (AUNL) was founded 75 years ago. It seems like a long time has gone by since this house of higher education first opened its doors, thanks to a few young men who were ahead of their time. It was through them that science, technology, and the humanities took root in the state of Nuevo Leon. To truly understand the scale of their impact, we must go back to the early efforts made by the people of Nuevo Leon to overcome adversity and create a center of professional training they could rely on. Generation after generation, the university students of Nuevo Leon have blazed new trails into greater knowledge, strengthening their bonds with society and tailoring their teaching, research, and extracurricular activities to its needs. In light of the challenges posed by globalization today, the UANL continues to modify and modernize its educational portfolio, training the individuals who will drive national development and become more competitive worldwide.
2008
Oil is and will continue to be the world's main energy source over at least the next 40 years. Three decades ago, Mexico became a major oil producer. But now the era of cheap, easy-to-find oil is coming to an end. Major fields are becoming exhausted, and the cost of production is rising. In order to satisfy a constantly growing demand, oil must be sought out in more complex zones, in smaller fields found at greater depths. This constitutes a monumental challenge. Despite being a country rich in hydrocarbons, Mexico must face the inevitable decline of its vast Cantarell field. The oil industry, then, must adapt to the new reality of cheap, easy petroleum coming to an end. The businesses that are able to better adapt to this new reality will be the ones that prosper, grow, and develop. A failure to change would mean condemning ourselves to decay. What are the key factors for success faced by oil companies under these new circumstances?
2008
During the 1960's, Mexico's economic development began to attract international attention, as did its drive to become a modern nation. Being declared the host of the Olympic Games in 1968 -something never before achieved by a Spanish-speaking country- confirmed that progress was being made both at home and abroad. But this particular Olympic year coincided with major confrontations in Mexico and around the world. The suspicion that the Mexican Olympics would be a failure began to take hold in some sectors of the international community. The violent repression of the student movement on October 2 in Tlatelolco Plaza, as well as the tensions unleashed by the Cold War, were not an ideal setting for the Olympic spirit. And yet, on October 27, these fears were dispersed during the most emotional closing ceremony ever. By then, the world was certain that an unforgettable page of sports history had been inscribed by Mexico in the brotherhood of nations.
2008
In 1958, a store that went by the name Aurrerá opened its doors for the first time on Bolívar Street in Mexico City. Three years later, in 1962, the first Wal-Mart discount store was inaugurated in the city of Rogers, Arkansas in the United States. Both projects would play a leading role in the great revolution of self-service stores throughout the second half of the 20th century, and would join their destinies in Mexico to become our country's largest store chain. Today, nearly one billion people visit over one thousand, one hundred stores and restaurants across Mexico each year. An average of 1,680,000 crates of merchandise are moved through Wal-Mart's 13 distribution centers each day. Thanks to their their information systems, suppliers can learn on a daily basis how their items are selling, and plan their production accordingly. All this was made possible by the hard work, effort, and talent of thousands of associates, who over the course of 50 years made Wal-Mart Mexico what it is today, as well as over 160,000 associates currently trained to serve the needs of over 2.5 million customers each day.
2008
Today, going to the supermarket to buy whatever we need is a commonplace activity. It seems perfectly normal to us that in a single location, we can find thousands of different items. If we look around our homes, we can see a wide variety of products that facilitate our lives and make them more pleasant. How many different items do we find necessary to our daily lives? How many businesses are needed to produce these items? How much work has to be done be done in order to ensure that these products are available? Over the past two centuries, thousands of businesses have developed products with specific characteristics in order to satisfy the needs of our modern, complex society. These businesses have known how to take advantage of advances in science and technology, applying them to products used by millions of people. But, how do these products emerge? When and where do these businesses appear? Each of the items found on the shelves has a story, a business, and a brand name behind its product quality. Here are five of these stories.
2008
A look inside daily operations at Wal-Mart Mexico showing several aspects of how its units work, opening the door to all the other areas that are involved in making this happen. Human Resources, Systems, Purchasing, and Logistics reveal the ways they work together to achieve the mission of "Improving the quality of life of Mexican families." The program also shows how this potential is focused on bringing the best prices to those who have the least through Aurrerá Warehouses. Thus, the general public can appreciate not only the complex labor behind the simple act of buying the products they're looking for. They can also recognize the hard work of all those who make it possible.