Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Illegal Logging Thriving In Peru

The frontier town of Satipo, on the edge of the Central Amazon, is a prime example of how illegal logging thrives, not only in Peru, but around the world. Satipo is a place where disputes are often settled by the gun, and international concerns over conservation and climate change are of no interest to those with the power here - the illegal logging barons. (Sky News - click here to read complete article by Catherine Jacob)


Peru's Stand on Bolivia Questioned

Two renowned Peruvian analysts criticized their government's position towards Bolivia, and agreed such policy is aimed at serving US interests. The issue was raised by the director of La Primera newspaper Cesar Levano and commentator Carlos Reyna, amidst an intensive controversy around the alleged intention of the US government to establish a military base in Peru. (Prensa Latina - click here to read complete article)


Peru, China reaffirm will to negotiate FTA

Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) said Thursday that Peru and China have reaffirmed their political will to continue negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Mercedes Araoz made the remarks after the 4th Round of FTA Negotiations between the two countries concluded here Thursday. (Xinhua - click here to read complete article)


Union support slips for Peru mining strike

Union support sank for Peru's nationwide mining strike on Thursday, while workers from other mines said the walkout would go on until Congress passed a bill to give them a bigger slice of corporate profits. Since the strike started on Monday, global copper prices have risen to record highs on worries it would crimp supplies from the world's No. 2 supplier. (Reuters - click here to read complete article)


Peru Meteorite could have survived descent if it lacked internal cracks and irregularities

Scientists have said that a meteorite that crashed in Peru in September last year may have survived the descent towards Earth if, by a one-in-a-million chance, it lacked internal cracks and irregularities. According to a report in New Scientist, the Carancas meteorite struck the town of that name in Peru last September, blowing a hole in the ground 13 metres wide. (ANI - click here to read complete article)


Peru-trek gran raises £3,000 for hospice

A GRAN has trekked across Peru in South America to raise more than £3,000 for Bolton Hospice. Cancer survivor Jean Partington, aged 65, spent four days walking the Inca Trail - and even reached its highest point of 14,000 feet above sea level. The grandmother-of-three was determined to complete the challenge after losing her father and sister to cancer and beating the disease herself 17 years ago. (Bolton News - click here to read complete article by Jane Lavender)


Seizing Native land in Peru, one parcel at a time

Activists in Peru are mounting various legal challenges to that nation's recently passed package of legislation, called ''forest laws,'' which they say will make it easier for authorities to break up indigenous communities and prevent indigenous people from obtaining titles to their land. ''These measures taken by the current government attempt to take away our collective property and intend to destroy indigenous people, who are people with rights that have existed long before the formation of the Peruvian state,'' asserted Robert Guimaraes, an indigenous leader from the Amazon, regarding the controversial laws that were decreed by President Alan Garcia May 20. (Indian Country - click here to read complete article by Rick Kearns)