BAJA News

09/07/2025

09/07/2025

San Antonio Del Mars Rainbow Pet Path..
A group of volunteers has created a lovely place for people to go and spend time remembering their deceased pet in a beachfront garden setting. About 2000 a group of pet lovers decided to create a place where " over the rainbow" pets could be remembered. Dragging and repainting old tires from the beach making gravel pathways lined with shrubs and flowers and even adding benches, volunteers created the Rainbow Pet Path Soon visitors arrived to add their pets name to a memorial often breaking into tears. The Rainbow Pet Path provided a special space for anyone to come and reminisce in a beautiful garden setting. The construction of the Pet Path ran into challenges: complying with the San Antonio Del Mars HOA regulations. Misunderstanding occurred but are apparently not serious enough to close the park. Many coastline communities have powerful HOAs that have final say on any projects and squabbles will erupt ..but good open communication can rise above this and allow wonderful projects like the Rainbow Pet Path can prevail
for more info, contact [email protected]

09/07/2025

Protest #3: Ensenada “NO KINGS”
Why We Take To The Streets Part 1
Alice Donenfeld-Vernoux
There is a stalwart group of friends in Baja California Norte, American Ex-Pats, many who live here along the beautiful coastline of beaches and mountains. Some are newly here in Mexico, months, a few years, many for decades. We love Mexico, and also love the USA from whence many of us came. Others are from all over the world, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Spain, France, Russia, Senegal and so many other parts of our planet. Most of us have left families in faraway places, they come here sometimes, and sometimes we visit them. We all have a vested interest in what is happening in the USA with the new government, and very few of us are happy. We have daughters, grandchildren and great granddaughters we fear about their lack of reproductive health care, elders who live in the shadow of Medicare and Medical threatened to be taken away. Social Security on which many live as their only income is wobbling at the edge of disaster. Those outside of the USA with families in other countries than in the Americas fear a third world war is in the making. There are almost daily plane crashes, the aftermath of Elon Musk and his jolly band of barely-drinking-age government agency-assassins firing air traffic controllers responsible for keeping the planes landing safely and not on each other. Women are dying without the medical care they need during difficult pregnancies. Prices on everything are skyrocketing better than Elon’s inventions, a bag of groceries that used to be $50 to $60 dollars is now well over $100. Steaks and seafood’s are far beyond our withering incomes. Those of us who don’t support the president are MAGAS, Make America Great Again. The guys and women in the red hats and kooky outfits with flags instead of clothes and guns of all sizes. And yeah, they are often fatter than the rest of us. I guess they can afford more groceries; the story is short. The MAGAS are giving all their money to the 1% richest people in the world and are doing it by paying taxes and not getting the free or affordable medical care they were used to, closing most schools and stopping feeding their kids at the schools that are left. Children around the world that the USA has fed for decades have been left to starve. The medications the USA also supplied has been stopped and is rotting at ports around the world. The MAGAS are taking that money to run the government and pay the interest on the loans the government has already borrowed. The USA has become divided. Two sides, clear demarcation. Side of the president to make sure the rich don’t have much tax to pay so they can keep collecting money they and their families don’t need and couldn’t begin to spend in 4 or 5 generations. The other side is filled with the people who are for airplanes landing safely, medical for everyone in the USA, feed and educate the kids in the USA and around the world, take care of the old folks, make sure everyone has a living wage and women have reproductive health care, potable water, air we can breathe, save the parks and endangered species. Those are a few of the things we had that the president is trying to take away. That is part of what we are protesting about. We will make our voices heard. All 16 million of us who took the time to protest wherever we live. We are still USA citizens and we still can vote. And to our president, stop trying to stir up World War III, insulting our allies, threatening countries that unless they become part of the USA you are going to send in the troops. We don’t like that. It is the bad behavior of a tyrannical King and we Americans won’t stand for that! As Patriots, our country and its constitution come first and in our history, our patriotism is to stand up and loudly let our governments know what we won’t stand for. Even if it means we protest around a small park in the mountains above Ensenada. We are part of the millions of voices expressing their distrust and distaste for the president of the United States of America. He is not fit to be president and NEVER A KIING!

09/07/2025

Rex 84B.....
by Vivian Marlene Dunbar: July 2025
The current state of affairs in America today is filled with tension uncertainty apprehension. and outright fear. Our news networks feature horrifying videos of armed masked military men marching thru our neighborhoods, grabbing anyone who registers positive in their Brown O Meter and whisking them away in unmarked vehicles. Gardeners, construction workers, farm workers, even occasional US citizens are caught up in these ICE " sweeps" victims of a Mass Deportation agenda enforced to " keep America safe." Safety, however, is not the result instead riots and protests are breaking out daily across the nation People are afraid. Could our nations lawmakers decide to bring this very volatile situation under control by enforcing Martial Law? What could that actually mean? Well, it may not be a surprise to anyone that our Federal Government does indeed have " special plans" to enact or protect what is called a " Continuity of Government " In other words...our US government has special plans in place to protect our nation’s cities, the constitution and the rule of law. One such plan is Rex 84, B, also referred to as " Reediness Exercise 1984 Bravo.' This is a top secret plan created to detain large numbers of citizens deemed to be security threats. At the time Rex 84 was created a proposed 22 military bases were readied to house these individuals whose numbers were expected to be in the hundreds of thousands. These facilities were to be run by US Federal Emergency Management or FEMA. Yes these were the notorious FEMA camps featured in countless conspiracy theories including rumors of Walmart’s being turned into Federally run detention centers. Over the years, rumors died down only to come to life once again as our nation appears on the verge of civil war. Private prison contractors like GEO Group and Core Civic reported " stocks skyrocketing," after Trump got elected Private contractors began to move into cities and take control of old unused detention facilities even discussing reopening the notorious Alcatraz. Florida has just made headlines by proudly building a prison in the heart of the Everglades where prisoners will be surrounded by snakes and alligators! Many congressmen have attempted to visit these jails but are routinely refused admission. Rumors of horrible conditions inside these places include over crowded cells, spoiled food, and very little medical care. GEO group and Core Civic both have decades long track records of human rights violations but this consideration is tossed aside as these places expand across America. San Diegans have held demonstrations a number of times in front of the Core Civic Detention Center in Otay Mesa. The Mass Deportation and private prison system is a billion-dollar industry growing far beyond the any limits that General Eisenhower imagined when he warned Americans of the dangers of the militarized industrial complex

09/07/2025

Mexico Officially Ends All Marine Animal Shows by Vivian Marlene Dunbar..June 27, 2025.
After months of legislative consideration, the Mexico Senate banned all sea mammal shows nationwide. This historic decision finally frees large sea mammals from a lifetime of captivity and exploitation. Dolphins, killer whales and other sea creatures have been used as tourist attractions without regard for their suffering in captivity for many years Dolphins for example are often born in captivity, forced to live in tiny tanks and forcefully bred, Marine animal experts say these captive dolphins and orcas suffer from stress, diseases related to confinement, and develop abnormal behaviors. A high profile case of an orca killing its trainer in the Orlando Florida Sea World made headlines and inspired an award winning documentary titled " Blackfish" This documentary, told the story of how a young Sea World trainer was killed by killer whale named Tillicum. The film brought attention to the plight of marine animals in captivity and resulted in new laws such as the Orca Welfare and Safety Act introduced by California state assemblyman Richard Black. Sea World suffered considerable financial losses due to the publics outrage at the cruelty the Blackfish documentary exposed World Animals Protection Eugenia Morales shared this quote; " This ( Mexico's new legislation,) is a major step forward step forward for animals and a historic milestone that other countries and regions should follow. At World Animal Protection we have documented the suffering dolphins endure in captivity in Mexico Spain and Beyond. It is time for this to be the last generation of dolphins held for entertainment. Banning sea mammal commercial exploitation is one of a few new laws and changes that have taken place in Mexico this past year. In July 2024 the Tijuana Greyhound racing track closed for good all dogs taken in by Greyhound Rescue of San Diego. In December of 2024, Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum had three new animal protection laws added to the Mexican constitution. Last but not least and not without a bit of fuss. Tijuana Revolution Donkeys were replaced with wooden replicas finally giving a break to the live donkeys forced to stand for hours while tourists snapped pictures or even sat on them. Mexico is emerging as a leader in animal rights legislation a welcome if long overdue position

20/06/2025

Cacoa ; The Story of Death and Reincarnation. by Laura LaBrie..
Cacao is the story of death and reincarnation. It is the story of love and sacrifice. It is the story of wit and determination. And it is your story. You see, the story of Cacao was written in symbols in the Maya holy book of the Popul Vuh. It is a hero’s journey where each challenge mirrors a step in the process of making cacao. (How cool!) From the burying of the seeds and the fermentation to the heating, crushing, and finding victory in rebirth and the final pouring of the sweet drink. Do you ever feel like you are in a dark place? Do you ever feel like you are in the fire? Have you ever sacrificed yourself? Have you ever experienced the crushing of your soul? The hero twins in the story entered Xibabla, the Maya underworld called The Place of Fear, to rescue their father. They faced challenges all along the way and eventually even gave up their lives in sacrifice to the Lords of Death. They were thrown into the fire and then their bones were crushed and thrown into the river of the Inframundo. But the next day they were reincarnated in the river as two fish. And the following day they appeared again as two men. But not just any men, men with superpowers. Then they defeated the Lords of death and rescued their father. (The Mayan glyph for cacao is 2 fish!) The story mirrors our own lives, and we enter the dark night of the soul, face challenges, feel crushed, sacrifice ourselves, and feel even our soul’s death. But then we are reborn and find the ability to be victorious and truly walk in our personal power. In the process of making cacao, the beans must be buried in the dark so they can ferment. Then they are heated on the fire and crushed, finally they are thrown into the water just as the bones of the hero twins were thrown into the water, and they result is a powerful, life giving drink! Here at Maya Harmony, our Cacao ceremony walks you through all the steps of the story and allows you to reflect on each part of the journey while finally bringing you into a place of power, rebirth and gratitude. It follows the story of the hero twins, of the cacao, because it is YOUR story too! So, as you drink the cacao offered the traditional recipe here, take a few minutes to reflect on this. What is your dark place? What crushed you? Can you feel your rebirth? Are you stepping into life and your personal power? Sip your cacao with gratitude for the process that brings you life. Cacao is your ally. Allow it to warm your heart, comfort and strengthen you. For this is the goal of the ceremony of the cacao. Here is a traditional recipe. Enjoy! 1 Tablespoon raw cacao paste OR 1 Tablespoon cacao powder and 1 teaspoon coconut oil (Most of the cocoa butter has been removed from the cacao powder so we add coconut oil. Of course, you can add cocoa butter if you have it) 1 cup of water A dash of each of the following spices Cinnamon, allspice, clove, black pepper (optional, cayenne pepper) Bring the water to a boil and add the cacao and spices. Boil for about 2 minutes then shut off the heat and steep for another 5 minutes. Add your natural sweetener to your liking For extra creaminess, you can put the mixture in the blender but be careful and do half of it at a time holding down the top of your blender firmly. Hot liquids cause pressure to build up in the blender. Enjoy your beverage thoughtfully, thankfully. And remember, you too are part of the story of cacao. Hugs and butterflies, Laura

20/06/2025

Volunteers at Cruz Roja Primo Tapia work to save lives!

Cruz Roja Primo Tapia is a volunteer organization duly authorized and chartered to operate under the auspices of Cruz Roja Mexicana. We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) Organization registered in California. Our Mission is to promote the general welfare of the community by providing financial support to Cruz Roja Mexicana and to maintain ambulance service in the Primo Tapia area.
Thrift Store
The mission of the Primo Tapia Cruz Roja Thrift Store is to generate income for the ambulance service in Primo Tapia, and secondly, to be a source of reasonably priced used clothes, shoes, accessories, household items and electronics for the residents of Primo Tapia; the entire staff are volunteers and are dedicated to this purpose. The store is located in the heart of Primo Tapia on Carretera Libre a Ensenada at KM 47 Loc 3, Ejido Primo Tapia, Rosarito, BC. We are open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 10:00 to 2:30.
How we got started
In October 2014, a group of Americans discovered that the local ambulance service in Primo Tapia had been cut back to part-time. They created a Primo Tapia chapter of Cruz Roja that would reinstate the 12 hours of service each day that had been defunded by Cruz Roja. A space for a thrift store was located on the free road in mid-town Primo Tapia. We painted it, laid new flooring, did some remodeling and opened our doors in January, 2015. The store plus memberships and events net enough each month to pay for our part of the ambulance service, the rent on our thrift store, miscellaneous store expenses and improvements.
Want to volunteer?
We are always looking for more volunteers for the Thrift Store so that we could expand our hours of operation. The volunteers have such a good time working together for a good cause. The friendships that have been formed and the camaraderie they enjoy is felt by everyone. If you would like to join our group of dedicated volunteers please stop by the store and fill out a volunteer information form or you can fill one out on our website at www.cruzrojaprimotapia.com.
There are other volunteer opportunities beyond the Thrift Stoe as well. Stop into the store and talk to us about other needs. For example, Oktoberfest is coming back by popular demand on October.11th.
Membership in Cruz Roja Primo Tapia
While ambulance service throughout Mexico is free to everyone, foreign residents have the opportunity to become a member for only $25.00 (USD) per year. If you wish to purchase or renew a membership, you can do so at the Thrift Store, or on our website at www.cruzrojaprimotapia.com, or you may send a check to our mailing address – 4635 Border Village Rd 6-2, San Ysidro, CA 92173. Make the check payable to Cruz Roja Primo Tapia.
Benefits of Cruz Roja Primo Tapia Membership
1. Be part of the community effort to ensure 24/7 ambulance availability in this area.
2. 50% discount on transfer to the border by Cruz Roja ambulance in life threatening cases. Triage must first take place at the Rosarito Cruz Roja hospital.
3. 10% discount on treatment (excluding the consultation fee) at the Cruz Roja hospital in Rosarito.
In Case of Emergency
DIAL 9-1-1 unless you live south of Alisitos. In that case, call the number on your Cruz Roja Membership Card! You must be a current member to use that phone number. The area from Alisitos south belongs to Ensenada Cruz Roja. Therefore, if you call 9-1-1 from that location, the ambulance will come from Ensenada and take you to Ensenada.
When you dial 9-1-1, a dispatcher will answer and ask whether you need an ambulance, police, or the fire department. Cruz Roja Mexicana makes every effort to hire bilingual dispatchers. However, this is not always possible. It is a good idea to try to learn a few words and phrases to help you explain the nature of your emergency. Please be patient. Remember, we are in a foreign country

Welcome to Cruz Roja Primo Tapia in Rosarito, Mexico where we provide ambulance service to the local community.