The Mexican Federal Government detained ten mayors of small towns and communities in the Pacific State of Michoacan today, dealing a setback to the dreaded La Familia drug cartel. 18 other officials were also detained, including two police chiefs. After six months of investigation, it was determined that these officials had routinely protected La Familia interests in their communities, including allowing them to set up and operate methamphetamine labs. The State of Michoacan has been plagued recently by drug-related violence. The arrests show just how pervasive the cartels are and how high their protection extends. Travelers in Western Mexico may want to be a little more wary in coming days in the event of retaliation from La Familia on law enforcement officials.

Relax, Scorsese: it looks like your next script has already been written. Except unlike Casino, this one is real. We all know Guatemalan politicians are about as trustworthy as a gangster in a bank vault. However, even these latest developments take the biscuit: the ordered hit of a human rights lawyer by none other than the President of Guatemala himself. Throw in a video from beyond the grave implicating the President in the murder and Scorsese will be rubbing his hands with glee.

A haunting recording surfaced on Monday from lawyer Rodrigo Rosenberg, where his first words tore the reputation of the democratic government to shreds:  “If you are watching this message, it is because I, Rodrigo Rosenberg, was assassinated by President Alvaro Colom with help from Gustavo Alejos,” the President’s private secretary.  Rosenberg was shot to death by unidentified assailants on Sunday while riding his bicycle.

Made in the week before he was murdered, the video was made public after Rosenberg’s funeral and was subsequently aired on news channels in and around Guatemala. In the video, Rosenberg calmly and purposefully informs his audience of the orchestrated murders of his clients, Khalil Musa and his daughter in March. He identifies the President, Alvaro Colom, as responsible for the murders after Musa refused to launder drug money for the government at state-owned bank Banrural. He then indicates his own murder as being in response to his public declarations of Colom’s involvement in the Musa assassination.

Rosenberg had previously received numerous threats from the government to keep quiet on the case, and saw the video as his final plea to “rescue (his) country from thieves, murderers and drug dealers.”

Rosenberg´s allegations have thrown Guatemala into chaos. Despite Colom’s vehement rejection of the allegations, many are calling for his dismissal as President or at the least, a step down until the murder has been investigated.

Only in Guatemala would a man have to die to make his claims heard. Amid all the allegations and implications of Rosenberg’s video, one part of his speech remains ingrained in my memory: “He who is silent, yields.” A powerful point to ponder as we watch this case unwind.

Abigail Foulkes, V!VA Staff Writer

It´s official. The nominees of the New7Wonders of Nature have been shortlisted, and it’s time to raise our voice. With only 2 months to go, choose between canyons and caves, waterfalls and volcanoes, islands and jungles. All the holes and crannies you never knew existed are finally delving into the spotlight. And of course, all good for the tourism too!

There´s a list of 261 qualified nominees from over 200 different countries from which to choose. A piece of advice though. Do your research because you only get 1 chance to cast your vote.

Voting continues until July 7 2009, when the top 77 nominees will be eligible for consideration by the New7Wonders of Nature Panel of Experts. The selection will be announced on 21 July 2009, and the 21 Official Finalists will then enter the third and final phase to vote and choose the Official New7Wonders of Nature. The final declaration of the New7Wonders of Nature will be in 2011.

To help you make up your mind, check out what V!VA has to say about some of the nominees.

Could the Iguazu Falls be a New7Wonder of Nature? Currently ranking 7^th in the Lakes, Rivers and Waterfalls group, Iguazu still has to contend with the likes of Niagara Falls and Lake Titicaca. As one of the world´s largest waterfalls surrounded by subtropical rainforest, Iguazu passes two hundred and forty thousand gallons of water over the falls every minute. Pretty amazing.

http://www.vivatravelguides.com/south-america/argentina/iguazu-falls/

How about the Galapagos Islands? They are currently holding second place in the Islands group to Bora Bora Island. As the islands where Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution, the Galapagos are a beautiful remnant of prehistoric times, where species not seen anywhere else on earth can be observed in a tropical setting.

http://www.vivatravelguides.com/south-america/ecuador/the-galapagos-islands/

Or the Colca Canyon? Currently ranking 4^th in the Caves, Rock Formations and Valleys group, the Colca Canyon´s lunar-like landscape is famous for its natural beauty and frequent condor sightings.

http://www.vivatravelguides.com/south-america/peru/arequipa/colca-canyon

Let the voting commence.

For more information on how to vote, check out the official New7Wonders of Nature website:

http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/about_the_campaign/

Abigail Foulkes, V!VA Staff Writer

If you’re looking for straightforward travel in Brazil, the northeast probably isn’t the best place for you to be. Severe flooding has left 19 people dead and 186,000 homeless. The flooding comes after several months of heavy rain in the Amazon, where 7 states have been affected. The worst hit of these is Maranhao, which is located along the Atlantic coast and south of the mouth of the Amazon River. Sao Luis, the state’s capital, is a popular tourist destination.

Emergency shelters have been set up to house displaced families, and residents are using boats to get around the many underwater towns and villages.

The northeast has been declared a natural disaster zone, so any travel in the region should be done with extreme care and patience. Six major highways have been affected by the flooding, as well as train lines and bus routes. The best thing to do is check the situation at local bus stations to determine which routes are still possible. Getting from Jericoacoara to Sao Luis, although not easy in the first place, is now even harder as many of the towns usually traveled through are cut off. Mudslides are also frequent. Upon arrival, expect Sao Luis to be hectic as humanitarian aid arrives to be flown to smaller towns and villages that have been affected by the floods. If in doubt, it may be better to avoid this region all together.

Abigail Foulkes, V!VA Staff Writer

At last, an age has come in Brazil to honor ethnic purity! An operation is currently underway in the northern indigenous zone of Roraima to remove non-indigenous residents from the Indian Raposa Serra do Sol reservation. The operation comes after a Supreme Court decision in March to uphold indigenous land rights and boundaries. Illegal occupants and farmers are currently being relocated from the territory and compensated, although there are fears of violent outbreaks and disputes over the land. The ruling marks a huge victory not only for Indians in the Raposa Serra do Sol reservation but for Indians in conflicted reservations all over Brazil. Rights of indigenous people are at last beginning to hold some significance in a world of white aggressors.

For more information on this issue, visit

http://www.vivatravelguides.com/south-america/brazil/brazil-overview/indigenous-rights/

Abigail Foulkes, V!VA Staff Writer