Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Newspapers and magazines from all over the world are recognizing Peru for its excellent gastronomy and fantastic tourist destinations. In the past two weeks, four prestigious North American media outlets, such as the New York Times, and National Geographic Traveler, have featured Peru in their principle articles.

Many of these features are due to the influence of PromPerú, or the Commission of Promotion of Peruvian Exports and Tourism.

At the end of the month, an international delegation of media outlets, including food critics and tourism specialists, will visit Peru to undergo various tours. First of all, they will experience a gastronomic tour of Lima, a tour of specialized institutes and hotels and many of Peru’s marvels. This delegation will consist of media such as Time (USA), Western Living (Canada), El País (Spain), El Tiempo (Colombia), and many others.

This week women of Peru celebrate 54 years of having the right to vote. The law allowing women to vote was passed on September 7th of 1955, under the government of Manuel Apolinario Odría. Law number 12931 modified articles 84, 86 and 88 of the Political Constitution of 1933, and incorporated women as eligible, upon reaching the age of 21, to vote.

In the first election in which women were able to vote, which took place in 1956, women represented 34% of the national electorate. Lima was the department with the most votes placed by women. Women had solicited the government for suffrage rights since 1910, according to El Comercio.

On July 28th, 1956 nine women were elected for the first time to Parliament. This week celebrates the 54th anniversary of the power of women’s suffrage in Peru, a fact that has most definitely changed the face of Peruvian politics.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The handicrafts exhibition “Hecho a mano para hoteles” (Handmade for hotels), intended to showcase the best among the best in this area, is to be held between August 27th and 28th, at the Casa Berrocal (Barranco district) according to Madeleine Burns, the the National Director of Handicrafts.

The event is organized by Peru's Hotel Society (SHP) and the Peruvian Exporters' Association (Adex), and will unique designs that are not common in the world.

“This is the first time we organize a “Hecho a mano para hoteles”. We will see the level of reception, in order to increase the volume of the exhibition in future events,” said Burns.

Tibisay Monsalve, General Manager of SHP, informed that many Peruvian companies will take place in this exhibition, such as Allpa SAC,  R. Berrocal SAC, Raymisa S.A., Mertrade SAC,  Isabel Rejtman, Full Art Perú,  Jallpanina S. A., Vigady SAC, Wayra, Plumas, Kunckel SRL y Arte & Artesanías Colla SAC, Proart SRL, Gabel 950, y Acacia Peruana.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The Peru's Production Minister, Mercedes Araoz, reported that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will invest S/. 70 million soles (almost US $23.7 million dollars) in the construction of 6 new docks along the Peruvian coast.

The Minister stressed that JICA’s contribution is would finance almost 80% of the resources needed for these works.

She also announced that the Production Ministry is elaborating the technical files of the docks, including the study on environmental impact, since the authorities intend to finish this work by the end of the year.

One of the first docks to be built is located one kilometer away from the done in Pucusana, in the area called Grano de Oro (south of Lima.)

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

In order to enhance the security and to avoid bothersome paperwork and administrative procedures, the National Registry of Identity and Civil Status (Reniec has just announced the launch of the electronic National Document of Identity (DNI in Spanish.)

This new format of the DNI may be requested at the same cost as the current one since May 2010, according to Reniec.

The new document will be made of polycarbonate and will also offer multiple benefits, such as authentication of identity in electronic transactions and the use of digital signatures and certificates.

The electronic DNI will also have a technology similar to that of credit cards and will be capable to store information in a chip, including the fingerprints, so make it more secure.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peruvians living abroad will not have more troubles to renew a Class A Category 1 driver's license, thanks to the international agreement signed this afternoon in Torre Tagle Palace by Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde, and Transport Minister Enrique Cornejo.

This will greatly reduce the time and cost required to grant such permission or undertake the necessary procedures in Peru.

Through this agreement, not only the paperwork is a lot easier, but also many undocumented immigrants will be able to work abroad.

According to this norm, the paperwork for revalidating the license will require only to present an ID cards, to submit the expired license and to undergo a medical examination.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The group for neighborhood actions “Salvemos Barranco” (Let's save Barranco) announces that they are organizing a pacific public demonstration for Thursday August 6th.

Barranco is a traditional old Lima district, and its residents are currently very disturbed and upset because the new city transportation's route crosses right in the middle of its historic area.

Barranco neighbours are protesting about the unwillingness of Lima's Municipality to set start talks with them, so they will install a symbolic one at the intersection the Republic of Panama with El Sol Avenue.

The demonstration will be a cultural event, and several artists currently living in the district will be present to expressed their discomfort due to have been allegedly ignored in decisions that directly affect the district.

The participation of unions, associations and residents of Barranco is also expected, as well as people from Chorrillos and Surco districts. For more information contact Daniel Olivares (996986669).

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Today, Lima Downtown streets will be taken today by demonstrators from different backgrounds.

In the morning, the a march called “For The Equality Of Religions,” summoned by seven groups of Christian denominations, will to Peru's Congress in demand of the approval of a law that would guarantee the equality of economic rights to non-Catholic churches.

In the afternoon, a huge demonstration in support of the Amazonian natives protests will start at 3pm, and it is supposed to take the main downtown avenues, such us Colmena, Abancay an Emancipación.

We are publishing here a map showing the probably routes of today's demonstrations.
 


Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

A collective which started as group created in Facebook, is calling everyone for a pacific demonstration this afternoon in the Limean district of Miraflores.

“As citizens concerned about peace and environment, we must tell our governments, the current one and the ones yet to come, that continuing with the present oil exploitation model is damaging the environment and our health, and our Amazon brothers' culture as well” states the group's manifesto in its Facebook page, which can be visited in this link.

This group has organized a pacific demonstration for today (Wednesday) at 6pm, at the Ovalo de Miraflores (Miraflores Roundabout), to express their wish for peace and development of clean alternative technologies in Peru.

For further information email erickgarciacerna@hotmail.com

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Although the general media has been focusing on the scant cases of AH1N1 flu in Peru, there is still very little coverage (with the exception of a few brave TV reporters such as Monica Cepeda) of the approximately 140 children who have died this year of pneumonia.

Pneumonia is a treacherous complication of the seasonal flu caused by the low temperatures in the Southern part of the country, especially in the Puno region.

According to Peru's Health Minister (Oscar Ugarte), the region with the highest death rate is Puno, followed by Cusco, Loreto and Huancavelica.

In Imata, a village located in Puno at 4,500metres over sea level, the temperatures recently dropped to -19°C (-2.2°F) and the winds were recorded blowing at up to 60kph.

Most families in these Puno and Cusco highlands make their living by farming, especially llamas and alpacas. But the extreme temperatures are killing even these strong animals, and causing acute respiratory infections (ARI's) among the children.

Since most of these children are chronically malnourished, they are very vulnerable to pneumonia, which can easily prove to be fatal.

Now, after a few very good TV reports on the matter, many Peruvians are expressing their willingness to help the children in the highlands. However, due to previous bad experiences, many people are uncertain as to the best way to get their donations to legitimate organizations.

There is a way in which Living in Peru readers can help.

Please join us in donating winter clothes to Caritas Felices Association, which will send a truck to Cusco and Puno with the items collected around the 20th of June.

If you have some old jackets, sweaters, hats, blankets, etc., cluttering up your closet space, now is the time to put these items to good use! We all have articles of clothing that we haven't used in years, why not donate these articles and maybe save a life in the process?

Donations can be taken during normal business hours (10AM-5PM) to:

-Condor Travel Agency (Armando Blondet 249, near Canaval y Moreyra in San Isidro).

-San Isidro: Ugarte y Moscoso 710 San Isidro (behind Salaverry Pharmax)

-Monterrico / La Molina: Las Amatistas 151 - dpto # 201, altura cdra. 7 Av. Circunvalación El Golf Los Inkas (in front of the club, next to the Vivero)

Money Donations can be made through:

Asociación Civil Sin Fines de Lucro Condor Travel- Wings accounts:

BBVA Continental Bank
SOLES            0011-0910-0100127897-75
DOLLARS      0011-0910-0100127889-72  

Living in Peru and the Children of Cusco and Puno thank you!

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.