Initial Interest research project last semester on Ciudad Juarez El Paso border city

Drug cartel violence has internally displaced 1.6 million people in the last five years, where have they gone? **Change slide: Drug Cartels 2011 Spheres of influence

** Change Slide : Increasing Violence In 2007 President Felipe Calderon launched a crack down on drug related violence in the outerlying states the violence has followed a trail into the US starting in the southerly states and working its way North. Attacks have been unpredictable with seemingly no explanation of why and where. Described as a tornado skipping over the field. Due to local police corruption, the military has used to reinforce and tackle the illegal drug cartels. However, this resulted in an explosion of violence in the outerlying states most of the killing has resulted from fighting between rival groups, but numerous bystanders have also died in the crossfire. In addition, the military has been frequently charged with human rights abuses. The

army itself has admitted that its actions put civilians at risk (CNN, 2011).

** Change slide: Gradual Displacement Illegal activities have also touched virtually every sphere of public life, from extortions of small businesses to blockades of major highways; from closures of schools to nighttime curfews; from mass kidnappings to assassinations of public officials... The impact on Mexican society has been profound In numerous municipalities, local government officials have fled after receiving threats of assassination or reprisals for their actions against cartels. Perpetrators of attacks have rarely been brought to trial, with police departments understaffed, under-resourced and often accused of corruption and collusion with the cartels (New York Times, 2011, 2011b).

There have been instances where there were mass exoduses where people migrate in large groups i.e. in Michoacan and Guerrero, but for the majority people have been leaving at an individual level. Overall estimates of the scale of displacement caused by drug-cartel violence are incomplete, and much more needs to be done to gather national figures. It is much harder to establish the scale of gradual displacement. Research in some locations has provided insights into displacement there. In 2010, researchers at the Universidad Autnoma de Ciudad Jurez estimated that 220,000 people had abandoned Ciudad Jurez and its surroundings since 2007 as a result of the violence, of which half had reportedly remained in the country as IDPs A private consultancy firm estimated in 2011 that 1.6 million people had been internally displaced as a result of the violence and insecurity in the past five years report is not public so methodological basis is unknown. ** Change slide: Impact States High impact states: Chihuahua, Tamaulipas Also affected: Nuevo Len, Durango, Guerrero, Sinaloa and Michoacn ** Change slide: Finding refuge in Mexico City

Towering buildings line Mexico City's Reforma Avenue. Once dogged by a crime-ridden reputation, the city is now a refuge. More than 6,500 companies set up shop in Mexico City in 2010 after moving from violence-plagued locations elsewhere in Mexico, the capital's business owners association says. "Other parts of the country are just so unsafe that people are sending their families to Mexico City," Salazar says. "The anonymity of such a large city provides you a higher sense of security than in your hometown.

Anecdote: Viloro owned a grocery store in Michoacan but fled in 2006 when gangsters threatened to kill him in a row over extortion payments. He left a big house and decent living, to rent an apartment and get by driving a taxi."It worries me a lot when I see news about La Familia and Zetas on the edge of this city. That was how it started in Michoacan and it just got worse and worse," Viloro says."I don't want my children growing up around that fear and bloodshed. That was why I moved here." ** Change slide: Why Mexico City? Many country-siders have retreated here from violent enclaves, the wealthier ones setting up new businesses and helping to boost property prices. Poorer families have fled from the bloodshed around the country to shanty towns on the city edges. Why Mexico City -Perceptions of strength in numbers and anonymity -Stronger police force and less corruption

** Change slide: Narco Culture Drug culture is often glamorized by Mexican cinema resulting in youth becoming more enticed by this type of life style. Here director Antonio Herrera films a scene for "Vida Mafiosa" -- Mafia Life -- a low budget film glorifying the culture. "This is the only thing selling at the moment for me," Herrera said at the time as he worked to complete his seventh narco film. (Shaul Schwarz / Reportage by Getty Images Tijuana, April 2010: Los Angeles gangsters hang out at the production of a narco film. One of the gang members (not pictured) was an extra in the film. "That was a good excuse for them to come down to TJ and party where the drugs and women are cheap," Schwarz says. "It's common for gangsters/narcos to want to appear in these films."

** Change slide: Encroachment A series of incidents in Mexico City have led to speculation that there may be a wave of violence yet to hit the capital city, although daily life remains relatively peaceful and safe, the drug war has made its impact known, In May of last year 90,000 protested in Zocalo plaza urging Calderon to pull out his troops. - Mexico's drug and gang culture has a strong religious streak. Thousands of devotees seen here attend a mass for Santa Muerte -- Saint Death -- a mythical figure condemned by the Catholic Church but embraced by many poor and criminal elements. This gathering is outside a shrine in Tepito, a gritty neighborhood famous for its street markets brimming with pirated and stolen merchandise

** Change slide: Threats and attacks against journalists have been widespread; making Mexico the most dangerous country in the Americas to practice journalism (OAS, 2011; UN 2011). The attacks have prompted self-censorship and silence throughout the country, 1. People fleeing drug-cartel violence have often not found security in their place of displacement. Another main challenge has been the physical and legal protection of their housing, land and property. Some IDPs have lost their identity documents as a result of their sudden displacement, and have subsequently been unable to access social services. While no proper assessments of IDPs access to basic necessities have been conducted, it has been generally assumed that they support themselves or rely on extended family networks.

2. IDPs have struggled to protect the housing, land and other property they have left behind. Homes abandoned by displaced people, particularly in Chihuahua, have been destroyed or vandalised (El Universal, 2010). There are no specific mecha- nisms to ensure physical or legal protection of this property. Thirdly, people have lost their personal documentation as a result of their sudden displacement. It was reported that a group of 79 people displaced from Guerrero who

lost their identity documents were not able to access social benefits provided by local authorities (Movimiento por la Paz con Justicia y Dignidad, 2011). Fourthly, no assessments of IDPs access to the basic necessities of life have been conducted. It has generally been assumed that they support themselves or that they rely on extended family networks. However, IDPs have reported losing their livelihoods, often based on agricultural pro- duction but also on small businesses, and falling into poverty (Caravana para la Paz, 2011).