Another steps up

We can proudly add one more to the list of women stepping up to the forefront of societies to make changes for a better world. Latest on this notable list is Marisol Valles Garcia, a 20 year old woman studying criminology in Cuidad Juarez in the northern state of Chihuahua, Mexico. She and her husband and son live in the nearby town of Praxedis G. Guerrero a long time battleground for drug cartels fighting over lucrative smuggling routes across the US border.

Mrs. Garcia has become the police chief of this community of about 98 thousand people. She accepted the job because she says she is tired of people living in fear. \"Valles Garcia sees a non-violent role for her 13-member force, which will be mostly female and unarmed.\" (CNN.com 10/20/10) Her goal is \"security and tranquility\" for the people of the town. \"The weapons we have are principles and values, which are the best weapons for (violence) prevention...Our work will be pure prevention. We are not going to be doing anything else other than prevention.\" (Ibid)

She is being hailed as the \"bravest women in Mexico\" and that she is. More than 28,000 people have died in Mexico in drug-related violence since 2006 when the Mexican government began deploying troops to combat the cartels.

Cheers for Marisol Valles Garcia. May she lead the way for Mexico.