What's going on these days in Curenavaca?

Well, its citizens just declared victory over Walmart by organizing to block the construction of a mega-store. The French and Mexican press is all over it, but American journalists don't have anything to say—excepting the reporters over at Narco News:

In the city of Cuernavaca, Walmart tried to build a Superama store near the Tlaltenango roundabout, only a kilometer from two stores owned by the same corporation. Besides the harm to the local economy, the project would have irreparable environmental consequences. For the construction of the megastore, the Walmart corporation would destroy 166 trees and two colonial houses. In an interview with Narco News, Francesco Taboada Tabone, a filmmaker and participant in the movement against the construction of the superstore, reported that official approval of the store was decided unilaterally, without consulting the local population, violating Article 45 of the Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection Law of the State of Morelos.

With the intentions of the US corporation, residents of the area in Cuernavaca and environmental groups rallied for 16 consecutive Saturdays in the square where they tried to build the store, as well as at other corporate stores nearby. The movement began to gain notoriety among the inhabitants of the region to disseminate the serious impact that the megastore would have on the area. Last October 8, almost unanimously by the mobilization of neighbors, the town council of Cuernavaca approved the purchase of two lots where Walmart sought to build the store. The decision was seen as a triumph of neighborhood organization, and according to a statement from the residents, “the acquisition…in the traditional urban village Tlaltenango is destined to be created into an environment-friendly public park and cultural center.”

And check out these photos of Cuernavaca. It's gorgeous!

Says Wikipedia:

Cuernavaca was nicknamed "city of eternal spring" by Alexander von Humboldt in the 19th century. The city is located in a tropical region but its temperature is kept fairly constant in the 70sF. It is located on the southern slope of the Sierra de Chichinautzin mountains. In the morning, warm air flows from the valley below and in the late afternoon, cooler air flows down from the higher elevations.

This climate has attracted royalty and nobles from Aztec times. Most of the Aztec emperors called Cuernavaca their summer residence. Foreign princes, archdukes and other nobles have been attracted to this place because of its flowers, sun, fruits, fresh-water springs and waterfalls. The Shah of Iran had a house here as well as sculptor, the late John Spencer, relative of Princess Diana.

But "the city of eternal spring" is as subject to the same narco-violence as anywhere else in Mexico—four executed men were found on the highway to the city just a few days ago.

Also, something about a gold and silver mine.

Cuernavaca!