RON MADER'S UNUSUAL MEXICO LINKS
(Mexico on the Web)

His Bio
His Home Page

Journalist and savvy webmaster Ron Mader sifts through the web to find the most interesting and unusual Mexico-related websites. Ron is the webhost of the popular Planeta.com: Eco Travels in Latin America website -- http://www.planeta.com -- and has written about the internet since the early 1990s.

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Gulf of Mexico
Although most sites can claim only a U.S. perspective,
the Web is a good place to get acquainted with the Gulf of Mexico

Shaped like an oval and bounded by the United States, Mexico and Cuba, the Gulf of Mexico covers an area of 1,550,000 square kilometers (600,000 square miles). The Gulf serves as a major source of food, minerals, and energy sources, and its role will probably expand in the near future because of agreements concerning its oil reserves as well as a greater awareness of its environmental fragility.

In June, the United States and Mexico finalized an accord giving Mexico 62 percent of an area within the Gulf that could contain significant hydrocarbon reserves. Unfortunately, most of the websites out there focus exclusively on the U.S. portion of the Gulf of Mexico. Worse, many are not updated on a regular basis. This is a double disappointment, given improved cultural and political relations between the two countries. U.S.-centric websites such as Coastal Fortification on the Gulf of Mexico (andy_bennett.home.mindspring.com/coastal.html) or Gulf Coast Lighthouses (www.ipa.net/~ltsr/) would be much more interesting if they emphasized what the region shares in mutual history, instead of how it’s been divided politically.

Río Grande/Río Bravo Basin Coalition

www.rioweb.org/
/5 Stars

A highly recommended bilingual site, the Río Grande/Río Bravo Basin Coalition showcases the work of a multinational, multicultural organization with leadership from the United States, Mexico, and the Pueblo nations that share the Gulf coastline basin. The Coalition has 50 partner organizations from the area that share a commitment to the health and long-term sustainability of the Río Grande/Río Bravo Basin. The site includes ample information about projects, as well as a message board, a photo gallery, a bibliography, publications, links, and a calendar. Mark October 21 on your agenda. The 6th Annual Día del Río Celebration will take place throughout the basin and volunteers participate in tree-planting, trail-building, and raft races.
Email contact: coalition@rioweb.org

EPA's Gulf of Mexico

pelican.gmpo.gov/
/5 Stars

Developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the mission of this site is “to facilitate the protection and restoration of the coastal marine water of the Gulf of Mexico and its coastal natural habitats.” It could do a better job, however, if it took a more holistic approach, covering Mexico’s portion of the gulf, too. The site index (pelican.gmpo.gov/site_index.html) could use more active links, but it’s a useful tool nonetheless. Another pleasant detail is the sound of pelicans and the surf in the background for users with advanced browsers. While the site appears to be updated infrequently, it provides relevant information, including an Atlas of Northern Gulf of Mexico Gas and Oil Reservoirs: www.utexas.edu/research/beg/gasoil.html. Other sections provide deadlines for proposals and awards. Bookmark this site!
Email contact: webmaster@pelican.gmpo.gov

Honorable Mentions

Gulf of Mexico Bioregion
www.wholeearthmag.com/ArticleBin/124.html
Whole Earth magazine takes a perceptive look at regional ecological issues.

Campeche Net
www.campeche.com/
One of Mexico's Gulf states.

Gulf of Mexico Foundation
www.sci.tamucc.edu/gmf/index.htm
- Interesting site, though it doesn’t appear to be updated frequently.

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