Week # Air Date

For the past six months, since 9-11, much of what we have heard or seen about President Bush is in some way tied to the new war on terrorism. Later this month, President Bush will switch focus and veer south. On March 24 the president will attend a United Nations development conference in Monterrey, Mexico. Mexico's President Vicente Fox plans to hold private meetings with President Bush to discuss several key issues which fell to low priority after September 11, such as border security and immigration. Fox and Bush will also review plans for aiding the 40 million Mexicans who live in extreme poverty.

After meeting with President Fox of Mexico, President Bush will attend a gathering of Central American leaders in El Salvador to discuss trade issues. One group that Bush will not be meeting with is the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, or FMLN. Recently the United Nations asked representatives of the FMLN to go to New York City to discuss the ten year anniversary of the country's peace accords. Joining me now in the studio are FMLN leaders Schafik Handal and Hugo Martinez.

Along the U.S.-Mexico border, migrants who are determined to make into the United States face extraordinary challenges. In the last decade at least 3000 migrants have died trying to cross. Journalist Ruben Martinez has put a human face on this reality in his book 'Crossing Over: A Mexican Family on the Migrant Trail.' Martinez follows the story of three bothers from Cherán, Michoacán hoping to find work in the strawberry fields of Watsonville, California. Recently "The Savvy Traveler," Benjamin Adair took a road trip with Ruben Martinez back to the place where he first had the idea for his book.

If you're a young Latino, growing up in these United States, and in these times, more than likely you are listening to a lot the same music as your peers are, whatever is on the Top 40, or VH1, or MTV. But many young Latinos are also checking out hot new Latin bands -- roots bands that get their inspiration from the music their papas listened to. One of those bands is recent Grammy winner Ozomatli which won for best Latin rock alternative album.