BCS: The challenge of continuing to believe in peace

In Baja California Sur we are used to the wind that blows without warning.

In Baja California Sur, we're accustomed to winds that whip around without warning. But this week, it wasn't the Pacific breeze or the gusts of the Sea of Cortez that shook us, but rather a series of violent events that brought us back to a conversation we thought we'd put to rest: security .

Public transportation fires in Los Cabos . Narcomantas. Rumors, videos, uncertainty. People once again looked over their shoulders and wondered if we really are that peaceful state that boasts its peace so proudly. Was this an exception or a warning?

This isn't a time for panic, but rather for honesty. Baja California Sur is not an island removed from the national reality. And what has happened in recent days is a stark reminder of this. It's time to recognize that peace isn't sustained alone. It requires vigilance, strategy... but above all, willpower.

Not just political will, but citizen will. Because security isn't built through speeches or media operations. It's built through the fabric of the community, through schools, through homes, and also through the media, which has the responsibility to report accurately, without alarmism, but without cosmetics.

It's easy to fall into the Manichean narrative that everything is the government's fault or that "nothing ever happens here." But the truth is that the tranquility that characterizes this state cannot be taken for granted. Good intentions aren't enough. It requires resources, inter-institutional coordination, and a citizenry that demands things without fear, but also actively participates.

And that's where another challenge comes in: trust. How willing are we to trust our institutions? Our police? Our judges? Our local authorities?

The answer isn't easy, but it's necessary. As long as corruption goes unpunished, as long as structures remain opaque, as long as criminals have more resources than public prosecutors, it will be difficult to ask people to trust us.

Despite everything, Baja California Sur remains a state with extraordinary opportunities. Our geography, our biodiversity, our human quality—these are true strengths. But like any other resource, they are fragile. And if we don't protect them, we could lose them.

Violence doesn't appear out of nowhere. It's a symptom of something deeper: inequality, impunity, abandonment. Therefore, if we want to build lasting peace, it's not enough to react to events. We must ask ourselves what causes them.

And it must also be said: not everything is negative. This week, in parallel with the violent events, we saw hundreds of citizens organize to clean beaches, students win awards for scientific innovations, and young athletes prepare to represent the BCS at the national level. This is also the reality of our state.

So what's next?

It's time to demand, yes, but also to collaborate. It's time to inform ourselves, yes, but also to participate. It's time to defend peace not only as an absence of violence, but as an active condition, built by all.

Because if Baja California Sur has demonstrated anything throughout its history, it's that here we know how to endure. And we also know how to reinvent ourselves. Let's not forget that.

Who is Sebastián del Mar? A journalist passionate about Baja California Sur, the environment, and social development. With more than 15 years of experience in local and national media, his writing combines critical analysis, social sensitivity, and a deep love for the region. Each week, Sebastián offers a thoughtful look at the issues impacting life in southern Mexico on BajaSur360 .