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Brett Gundlock: It’s amazing how life goes on, despite the crazy situation they face. People still smile, and the world continues to spin, but the residents are obviously affected. Business is affected due to the extortion, as well as the lack of tourism. The cartels have worked themselves into everyday life in many areas. We’ve heard there is a tax on everything from the meat to the tortillas.The people I am photographing do not support the Mafia, obviously. I think a pretty small percentage of the population actually supports the cartels, and those who do are directly involved with these criminal organizations. That said, they don't necessarily support the Federales or the Ejército. They have brought some security to the area but they aren't exactly making high-profile arrests on a regular bases, nor stopping the problem at its root.
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I’m not sure that the media is intentionally manipulating information (although I am sure in some cases they are). The main problem is the current structure of the media—they don’t give proper context to most stories they report on. When a news story can be summed up in 140 characters, most people will read that and move on. This is a major problem in our society.Local newspapers, such as El Cambio de Michoacán, are doing a very good job on covering the news in Michoacán. But internationally, these brief wire stories are not contributing much to the overall conversation, which is vital in solving these problems.

Not being fluent in Spanish is the hardest part, but I’m studying Spanish now so that will be less of an issue in the future. Security is another challenge; every decision you make is important. Knowing where you can and can't go, who you can and can’t photograph, who you can talk to and who you need to avoid, wondering what’s happening outside your door at night, having an escape route at all times… it's a bit more stressful than working in Toronto.

It was very good. I connected with a photographer, Alan Ortega from Morelia, and he drove me around that time. He also introduced me to Juan Jose Estrada Serafin, a local photojournalist. Both of those guys were fundamental in my ability to produce this series.
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The war has progressed. By organizing, these pueblos have created a new frontline directly between the people and the cartel. This war has evolved past the traditional cops-versus-bad-guys dynamic. In a way it can be conceptually viewed as a civil war, or the start of a widespread revolution.I have my fingers crossed for the people of Michoacán and Mexico.










