The brutal killing of Mexican researcher and environmental advocate Álvaro Arvizu has ignited demands for a thorough investigation. Arvizu was murdered with an axe or hatchet earlier this month, an act colleagues believe was directly linked to his environmental activism. Initial reports suggested a robbery motive, but colleagues dispute this, pointing to the targeted nature of the attack and the fact that valuable equipment was left untouched. The incident occurred at the environmental education center where Arvizu worked near the Iztaccihuatl volcano. Two of his colleagues were also severely injured in the attack. A state official claimed the attackers sought money and weapons, taking a small-caliber rifle used for pest control. However, the center had been robbed previously, and colleagues argue those incidents were vastly different in nature. Adding to the suspicion, the center's phone and electricity lines were severed just before the attack. This incident follows the murder of another environmentalist, Cuauhtémoc Márquez, just one day prior. Márquez, a beekeeper, was involved in campaigns against water pollution and had reported receiving threats. Authorities suggest robbery as the motive in his case as well. These killings highlight the increasing dangers faced by environmental activists in Mexico. A 2022 report revealed Mexico had the highest number of activist killings globally, with 54 deaths in 2021.
