"63 Year Old Activist Murdered in Mexican Surf Town", 04 March 2025

...The murder of 63 year-old Cristino Castro Perea, a community elder and environmental activist, has rocked the small surf town to its core.

Serge Dedina, founder of WILDCOAST, said this on LinkedIn, “We are mourning the loss of Cristino Castro Peres, a coastal defender from Barra de la Cruz, Oaxaca, murdered for his strong defense of one of the world’s most important leatherback sea turtle nesting beaches, a RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance and National Sea Turtle Reserve and a globally known surf spot, renowned for its perfect waves.”

“We stand in solidarity with the indigenous community of Barra de la Cruz, who have resisted efforts to develop their communally owned coastline, but have suffered violence at the hands of speculators and would-be developers“...

There have now been two murders of activists in recent months, a clear sign that speculators and would-be developers have major interests in the area. Although developing the land is illegal, foul play could continue until the communities feel pressured to vote against their own interests. Land grabs can happen quickly when developers have dollar signs in their eyes, the international community that loves Oaxaca needs to stay vigilant to support the preservation of the land...