Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Facebook has become an excellent platform to develop computer videogames.

Some days ago the Peruvian Institute of Computing and Information Technology (Cibertec) launched Chancon Fighter, an application that combines entertainment and learning.

This is a simple game where users have to choose a character first, and then select an option: to play alone or against other players.

The game includes some general knowledge questions: there will be three options falling down and the player must type the right one before they hit the top bottom. It's intended to be a way to speed up the mind and learn.

Chancon Fighter also has a chat box allowing players to talk and challenge each one. To try it out, enter to: apps.facebook.com/chanconfighter

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The International Monetary Fund estimates that Peru may grow by 6.5% this year, according to a report quoted by Semana Económica.

The report, which also praises Peru's economic management, states that Peru is “in a good position to stand still through an eventual new global crisis” thanks to its “prudent management.”

In addition, Scotiabank foresees that Peruvian economy may by 5% during the first quarter of 2010, and that there will not be inflationary pressures in the short term.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Within a year, people who need to validate their Peruvian passport may do so via Internet, filling an online form with their data and the code of the voucher of the paid fees.

Peru's Immigration and Naturalization Office (Digemin) explained that this is the first step of a project that seeks to modernize and facilitate the acquisition and renewal of Peruvian passports and ID cards for foreigners.

During this first stage, Digemin will not need any extraordinary investment; it will work with its own staff, their own resources and their own computers; however, moving to the next stage will require a special budget to be allocated.

The next stage, which will require an investment of US $1 million, will involve using passports with chips, which will keep all the passenger's data and improves security.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Today at noon, President Alan Garcia will swear in Victor Garcia Toma, former head of Peru’s Constitucional Court (TC) as Peru's new Justice Minister, replacing Aurelio Pastor.

Garcia Toma, who is an attorney specialized in constitutional law, told the press that he will focus on improving Peru’s justice system: “We must begin a strong campaign to improve the justice system. It is a necessity,” he said.

Garcia Toma, who has a very good professional reputation, holds a Masters Degree in Constitutional Law from San Martin de Porres University, and has been President of Peru’s Constitutional Tribunal, from December 2005 to December 2006.

He has also been the dean of law at the University of Lima, where he also taught constitutional law.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peruvian film Lucanamarca won the prize Best Prime Opera Award at the International Festival of Documentaries Santiago Alvarez in Memoriam, held in Santiago de Cuba.

This work is based on the facts that took place in the town of Lucanamarca, when representants of the Comission of the Truth and Reconciliation came to look for information about the slaugter that happened there in April 1983.

The film, directed by Carlos Cardenas and Hector Galvez, shows the commotion generated in the population, along the emotional and psychologic consecuences as a result of the opening of the tombs of the 69 persons killed in that massacre claimed by Shining Path.

Lucanamarca won the prize to the best documentary at the Fourth Festival of Documentary Cinema Documenta, held last year in Caracas (Venezuela), and has been seen in festivals in Australia, Colombia, Buenos Aires, Germany and Ecuador.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Makro, a chain of home improvement stores from the Netherlands, reported that they will invest US $50 million to open five new stores in Peru, as part of their expansion plan.

Pieter Boone, the General Manager, said that three of these stores will be located in the Limenian districts of Santa Anita, Surco and Cercado de Lima; while the other two will be built in Arequipa and Trujillo.

This way they would be starting a plan to open 15 stores in four years.

Boone also reported that last year Makro managed to surpass by 30% the results it had expected.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The Peruvian government should halt all activities related to exploration and exploitation of natural resources affecting indigenous peoples in the country, said today the International Labor Organization (ILO) in a press release.

The recommendation, made by ILO Committee of Experts, says that this suspension should be in effect until Peru can ensure "the participation and consultation of affected people through their representative institutions in a climate of respect and trust."

This recommendation is to include farmer communities and indigenous communities as well, and also non-contacted tribes.

Exploitation works usually generate concerns and reject among local communities, who are afraid of the collateral effects in the environment and demand a bigger slice of profits.

The mining sector is one of the pillars of the Peruvian economy, since this country is the second largest producer of copper, first producer of silver sixth producer of gold.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Shares prices of Peruvian cement company Melon have risen almost 400% in Santiago’s Stock Market, boosted by the expectations generated by the reconstruction of Chile, reported analysts from Celfin Capital consultants.

“The expectations on possible massive purchases intended to rebuild the second most important Chilean city has benefited the cement sector,” said Sebastian Blondet, from Celfin.

Melon shares have registered a 392% profit since the earthquake, which until yesterday represented a 1.35 billion dollar increase in its stock market capitalization.

The Chilean market has no restrictions for increasing share prices, unlike Peru.

Melon is the largest cement company in Chile, and was acquired some months ago by the Peruvian group Brescia through Minsur mining company.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Trade surplus in Peru will reach US $ 7.9 billion during 2010, while the current account deficit will be of US $600 million, or 0.4% of the Gross Domestic Product, estimates investment bank Credit Suisse.

Carola Sandy, from Credit Suisse, told the press that this trade surplus should benefit from the recovery of metals prices and the increase in mining production.

She also foresees that the income for exports may reach US $33.8 billion during 2010, more than US $26.9 reached in 2009.

She also expects a 23% increase in the imports, corresponding to the increase in consumption and in the higher investment spendings.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional, or TC) declared that the lawsuit filed by Cementos Lima had grounds and was sustained, and voted for the reestablishment of the 12% tariff for cement.

The court explained that the norm given by the government in October 2007 “affected the principle of equality,” that is, it was discriminatory in favor of some companies.

Attorney Joseph Andrade, from Rubio, Leguía, Normand and Associates, explains that the Constitutional Court considers that the equality in the market of both producers and importers was not respected by the Decree 158-2007-EF, so it should not be applicable.

Andrade thinks that the real issue with this sentence it is not the convenience or inconvenience for certain companies in the sector, but the fact that the Constitutional Court is becoming a activist judge of economic policy, in this case of the tariffs policy.

“Now anyone that may feel affected by a law could react and protest,” says Andrade.

Finance Minister Mercedes Araoz remarks that the sentence issued by the Constitutional Court “undermines legal security and endangers free trade agreements,” adding that that same logic could be used to question the decisions took by the Peruvian state.

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