MEXICO CITY // On the mean and traffic-choked streets of Mexico City, a fearless superhero is fighting to protect the planet from the worst the internal combustion engine can throw at it.
The mighty Peatonito (Little Pedestrian) pushes cars blocking the path of pedestrians, creates crosswalks with spray paint, and climbs on vehicles parked on sidewalks — though his mother has begged him to stop stepping on them.
“Pedestrians are happy because they finally have a defender,” Peatonito said, his face covered by a wrestling mask adorned with a pedestrian symbol and wearing a striped cape (sewed by his grandma) adorned with the black and white stripes of a pedestrian crossing.
“We live in a car dictatorship. Nobody had fought for pedestrian rights until some activists emerged a few years ago.”
Meanwhile, below the city streets five clowns are on a similar mission to send up urban incivility, barging into a metro carriage making monkey noises and holding a sign saying “It’s better without pushing.”
Peatonito and the clowns from the civic association the Claustrofobos (Claustrophobes) are among a wave of activists fighting uncivil behaviour and bad urban planning in this metropolis of 21 million people, four million cars and five million daily metro commuters.
In 2013, around 30 groups from across the country formed The Pedestrian League, which published a “Mexican Charter for Pedestrian Rights” and lobbies against public policies that favour cars.
Some groups post pictures on social media to shame drivers illegally parked on sidewalks or in handicapped spots. With buckets of paint, they create crosswalks or trace sidewalks.
But humour is the weapon used by Peatonito and Claustrofobos.
They face a city where drivers only need an ID and 704 pesos ($46) to get a license and joke that red lights are a “suggestion”. Underground, moody metro riders battle to enter and exit trains like rugby players in a scrum.
Six philosophy graduates founded the group “Ponte la del Metro” to restore metro etiquette in 2010, and later created Claustrofobos.
“We think that giving information through art and culture makes information more fun,” said co-founder Aldo Giordano, 27, who works at a film-production company.
This year, the city gave them one million pesos ($65,000) to fund the clown troupe, conduct research and make a short film.
As the clowns entered one of the orange metro trains, some riders stared blankly at their phones, but many smiled and took pictures, happy to see something other than illegal sellers of CDs or other contraband.
A curly-haired clown moaned and pretended to faint while holding a “baby” (her purse) wrapped in a purple scarf, mocking the unwillingness of younger commuters to give up their seats.
“There are no gentlemen like before. Now they act like they’re half asleep to avoid giving up their seats to women or the elderly,” said Susana Hernandez, a 53-year-old housewife whose frown turned into a smile during the brief show.
The performances can have an immediate effect. At escalators, they convince people standing still on the left side to move to the right and let others pass.
The clowns also bring smiles at ticket booths, where sellers and customers are often rude to each other.
“We’re trying to break a vicious circle,” said Julio Cesar Ortega, the 27-year-old artistic director of the Clownoscopio troupe, which works with Claustrofobos, after dabbing white make up on his face with a red dot on his nose.
But changing attitudes will take longer than the daily commute.
“Many people congratulate us but also tell us that nothing will change,” Mr Giordano said. “I think we are planting the seeds, and another generation will obtain this change.”
Claustrofobos and Peatonito both say they were partly inspired by former Bogota mayor Antanas Mockus, who deployed mimes to mock traffic violators.
Peatonito aims to reduce traffic deaths in a city where pedestrians account for more than half of around 1,000 annual road fatalities, according to health ministry statistics.
On a recent weekday morning, Peatonito policed a side road of the capital’s iconic and congested Reforma boulevard.
“We need you,” said a driver who sheepishly reversed after Peatonito pushed his car back with both hands on the hood, both laughing as they waved goodbye.
Peatonito’s real identity is Jorge Canez, who works in non-governmental urban policy group. But twice a week, he puts on a black mask with a green pedestrian symbol.
He even has a business card. People contact him on Facebook and Twitter, asking for help to improve their streets. He spray paints circles around holes on the pavement and sends pictures to city officials.
In a country where wrestlers are national heroes, he got the idea two years ago after watching a lucha libre (Mexican wrestling) event.
“You have to be creative for people to be entertained and want to help you in this pedestrian revolution,” Peatonito said.
With his newfound fame, he gets invitations to urban planning events abroad.
“I’ll keep doing this until nobody is run over,” Peatonito said, as he removes his mask and cape and turns to walk away, blending in with ordinary Mexicans walking to work.
* Agence France-Presse
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Greatest of All Time
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Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
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