In this monthly series, we republish a few of the headlines from our December editions 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago.
1978
Amsoc membership reaches 2,000
The American Society of Jalisco passed a significant milestone this month when James H. and Juanita Reed of Ajijic pushed its membership to a record 2,001.
At the time of Amsoc’s inception in 1945 there were about 90 North Americans living in the area, with only 25 of them becoming Amsoc members. United States Consul James E. Henderson initiated the organization of United States citizens in the Guadalajara area. In the following years, the membership and its activities and enthusiasm were governed largely by the interest shown by U.S. Consulate leadership.
In 1954, a membership of 400 was attained, but it declined severely until 1959, when Amsoc, with other organizations, established its headquarters at Avenida Vallarta 2029. Amsoc hit another low in 1963. Office space was discontinued when membership fell to 25. A Fourth of July party at the Consulate General and occasional potluck suppers in members’ homes were the only activities during this year.
Under the leadership of two-term president Adolfo R. Horn Jr., a membership drive begun in 1964 resulted in renewed interest and an increase in membership to 236. Another membership drive almost tripled Amsoc’s membership rolls in 1970-1973. The most recent membership increase is under the helm of President Charles E. Hoskin III, who has been in office since October, 1977.
1988
Fireworks banned in Guadalajara
In Mexico, fuegos artificiales are a major element in Christmas celebrations.
The fireworks explosion which killed 62 people in Mexico City’s La Merced market December 11 has prompted Guadalajara officials to increase enforcement of anti-fireworks laws. The laws, which are already on the books, ban all those fireworks made of gunpowder or that are explosive. The regulations, say police officials, are aimed at preventing a disaster such as the La Merced explosion and fire, which was caused by some five tons of illegal fireworks being stored and sold at the market. More than 150 people were injured as fire swept through adjacent stalls, stores and apartments. In the first two days after the explosion, police found 144 tons of “heavy” fireworks in warehouses around La Merced and needed several dozen trucks to carry the pyrotechnics away to storage.
The Guadalajara laws prohibit the sale of almost all fireworks, including the widely popular cohetes (rockets). Only sparklers and similar non-explosive fireworks are permitted by the regulations.
Even before the La Merced explosion, the city’s Office of Inspection and Vigilance of Regulations had confiscated a large quantity of rockets and other items containing gunpowder after a 45-day inspection of 20 markets and 120 different establishments. The fire department keeps these under wraps until they can be destroyed.
1998
US journalist dead in Jalisco Sierra Madre
A U.S. journalist who went missing while hiking in the remote Sierra Madre region of northern Jalisco and Nayarit was found dead December 16, possibly from strangulation. An autopsy carried out the next day in Guadalajara on Philip True, 50, the Mexico City bureau chief for the San Antonio Express News, concluded that he had died from strangulation.
However, late Thursday the Jalisco State Judicial Police released a statement saying that True’s body would be taken to Mexico City for a second autopsy. True’s body was found in a stream at the bottom of the Chapagana Canyon between the communities of San Miguel Huaixtita and Poptita in the Jalisco municipality of Mexquitic on the border with Nayarit. He had been dead for about nine days.
It was True’s intention to write a story about his hike through the area and take photographs, his wife Martha told this newspaper. She said he was an experienced hiker and had visited the Huichol region twice before. The body was discovered by a group of Huichols who contacted a radio station in San Miguel Huentitan with the news. Mexican soldiers recovered the body in an operation by helicopter that took more than 12 hours. First reports indicated that the writer died from a fall. A source at the coroner’s office in Guadalajara said True died from indirect strangulation, meaning that he had been killed with a cord, belt or similar instrument, but not with hands. Jalisco Attorney General Javier Ledezma said that it was probable that robbery was the motive for the crime because True’s camera equipment was missing.
2008
Passive mercy killing law passed by Mexican Senate
After a two-year debate, the Mexican Senate has passed a law obliging doctors to obey the wishes of patients with incurable diseases who want to have life-prolonging treatments suspended.
Patients and their families will now be allowed to check themselves out of hospital and die with dignity in their own homes, said Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) legislator Lazaro Mazon, one of the authors of the bill.
Under the law, doctors are still obliged to provide patients with pain killing medicines and psychological help.
National Action Party (PAN) legislator Ernesto Saro Boardman, president of the Senate health committee, said the measure made economic sense as doctors often push expensive treatments on patients, despite knowing full well that their condition is incurable.
Patients and their families who wish to end life-prolonging treatment will have to make their request to doctors in writing and can rescind their decision at any time.