Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's National Police (PNP), based on information from the Secret Service of the United States, is warning that during the recent months Peru has become the largest manufacturer of counterfeit dollars in the world.

Scammers are not limited to counterfeit U.S. currency, but also print Chilean, Bolivian and Peruvian banknotes, which are distributed within the country.

Regarding to this, Commander Segundo Guevara Chavez, from the Research of Scam Criminal Investigation (Dirincri), explains that counterfeiters use travelers to take the false money outside the country.

According to the Peruvian Police, each month they seize almost 10 million of counterfeit dollars, just in Lima.

However, it is estimated that this would be a tiny percentage compared to what the criminals can take abroad.

Reportedly, the quality of the illegal merchandise is almost perfect, which complicates the work of the authorities.

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 hospital of Peruvian Air Force in Lima discharged Ecuador's Vice President, Lenin Moreno, one day after he was rushed in due to an urinary tract condition, reported the Ecuador Embassy in Lima.

“Ecuador's Vice President was discharged early in the morning. He is in very good condition now, and his health problem has been successfully overcome,” said María de la Paz Donoso, Business Attaché at the Embassy.

Moreno, who is 55 years old, had a hemorrhage last Wednesday, but the medical staff at Peru's Air Force Hospital was able to stop it.

Moreno is a paraplegic since 1998, and due to his condition he is very prone to suffer from urinary tract infections.

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

Juan Karlo Cisneros, a Peruvian-born sound technician that currently works for the famous TV series “Dr. House,” has just been awarded an Emmy prize, under the category “Best Sound in a one-hour TV SitCom or Drama.”

Cisneros, who has worked in the US for the past 20 years, has also worked for Britney Spears and for Ironman, but says he never thought his work would be so highly acknowledged.

According to El Comercio, he didn't think he would win because his competitors were the sound technicians working for “Lost” and “24,” who are his idols, and the ones who taught him all he knows.

Cisneros revealed that thanks to this prize, his contract with Universal Studios has been renewed.

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 Newark Public Library explores the history and cultural traditions of Peru and its people, including those who now call New Jersey home, this September in its yearly tribute and celebration of Hispanic Heritage.

The four‐month salute featuring an exhibit, "A Journey from Ancient Times: Peruvians in New Jersey", which opens at 6 p.m., Thursday, September 17th, with a reception in the Main Library’s Centennial Hall.

"This fall we will share the fascinating history of Peru and pay tribute to the growing number of New Jerseyans who trace their roots to this ancient land," said Library Director Wilma Grey .

The Peruvian Exhibit Organizing Committee is chaired by Daniel Jara, a native of Lima, Peru, who immigrated to Paterson when he was 14. He is currently the Founding President and CEO of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey; he is also President and CEO of the Peruvian American National Roundtable (PANR).

New Jersey has more residents of Peruvian background than any other state, noted Ingrid Betancourt, curator of the exhibit and director of the Library’s Sala Hispanoamericana.

The Newark Public Library is located at 5 Washington Street, Newark. For more information, please call 973‐733‐7772 or click here.

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.

Los Angeles Times
Josh Meyer

A flood of high quality counterfeit U.S. money from Peru is perplexing federal authorities, who say the shadowy networks that are responsible are also engaging in other criminal activity that poses a threat to national security.

Over the last year, authorities and banks have recovered at least $7.8 million in fake notes across the United States that they believe were manufactured in Peru, according to Secret Service statistics.

Another $446,280 in fake U.S. cash from Peru was seized before it was spent during that same period, and more than $18.2 million more in raids in Peru, the Secret Service said.

"And that's just a fraction of the notes that we can ally to Peru," worldwide, said John Large, the assistant special agent in charge of the Secret Service's Criminal Division at its headquarters in Washington. "It's a form of economic terrorism."

The Secret Service launched a special task force in February in partnership with the Peruvian National Police, and stepped up training for Peruvian officials and bankers in how to go after counterfeiters.

The State Department issued a warning to travelers last month, saying that "counterfeit U.S. currency is a growing and serious problem in Peru."

In one raid in April, U.S. and Peruvian officers seized $8.4 million in counterfeit $100 bills, eight lithographic printing presses and numerous plates and negatives used in the manufacture of counterfeit currency. They also arrested five suspects

(The complete article is here)

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

Thanks to a new $116 million global fund established this summer by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA),  Quechua Indians are being paid to maintain their rare potato varieties.

The Quechua people, who live in the high mountains of Peru, are one of 11 communities chosen around the world to work with a project which aims to maintain a reservoir of essential species for all our major food crops.

Having a broad variety of agricultural crops is essential for the future of agriculture, because different species of plants are often able to cope with widely differing environmental conditions and have a higher resistance to plagues.

The ITPGRFA has two major aims: to prevent the loss of underused crops and ensure the full diversity of common crop species is maintained.

(Condensed from CNN)

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 group of seven Roxbury Latin School students came to Peru, accompanied by two Roxbury Latin faculty members, for a two-week trip that led them through deserts, tropical jungles and some of the world’s highest mountain peaks.

Dr. Ernesto Guerra, who teaches a course on Latin American history, has been visiting Peru annually since 1994, and was the chief architect of this trip along with history teacher Steve Ward.

The group toured Lima and explored the archeological sites of the Moche, Lambayeque, Chimú, and Sicán cultures; they also explored Cusco and went to Tambopata National Reserve (Madre de Dios region), one of the most bio-diverse places in the world.

The group made several spontaneous stops to talk with villagers, which was a great opportunity to practice their Spanish and to learn the culture.

“Foreign trips like this one allow students to finally experience firsthand what they have been learning in the classroom. They are an invaluable part of their high school education,” said Mr. Guerra, who joined the Roxbury Latin’s staff when the school started offering Spanish last year

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

Stephen Corry, NGO Survival Director, has asked the Peruvian government to stop granting oil and gas drilling concessions in Amazonian territories “without resident peoples' informed consent,” according to a press release issued a few hours ago.

The formal petition, backed another NGOs, was made in a statement by the UN’s Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), published on Monday.

This would mean that no drilling could take place in rainforest inhabited by uncontacted Indians (provided Peru listens to UN's call), since they are unable to give their consent.

The Committee expresses its concerns about the ‘serious tensions in the country, which have even triggered violence, and has been generated by the exploitation of the sub-soil resources traditionally belonging to indigenous peoples.’

The CERD also urged Peru’s government to create an independent commission (including indigenous representation), to carry out an objective investigation on the events that took place in Bagua last June, in which more than thirty policemen and civilians died.

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

Miguel Palacin, the current leader of the Andean Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations (CAOI in Spanish) reported to press agencies that the indigenous leader Daysi Zapata's request of a visa was denied by the Embassy of Switzerland in Peru.

Zapata was supposed to testify before the United Nations Commitee Against Racial Discrimination, on the violent events in Bagua, Palacín explained.

"We did the formal procedures in the Swiss embassy in Lima, but Daysi Zapata was not issued a visa, so she could not be present in Geneva,” he said.

Palacin denounced this is “a discriminatory attitude," because Zapata's trip to Switzerland as a member of the Peruvian delegation was officially announced days ago.

Zapata was chosen as the new President of the Interethnic Association for Development of the Peruvian Jungle (Aidesep) right after its former leader Alberto Pizango was granted asylum in Nicaragua.

The United Nations Commitee Against Racial Discrimination heard Peru's Justice Minister Aurelio Pastor version on Monday.

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 currently in Spain and Italy are celebrating today their "Fiestas Patrias" (anniversary of Peru's Independence) with traditional drinks, foods and dances.

The Peruvian Embassy organized several activities which will gather numerous compatriots living in Madrid.

Early in the morning, a group of Peruvians put a flower arrangement on Jose de San Martin’s monument located at Parque del Oeste park in Madrid, while an homage mass dedicated to Peru was held at non in the Los Jeronimos church located in Madrid.

Tonight, thousands of Peruvians are expected to attend the gastronomic festival to be held at Madrid's Fine Arts Circle.

Approximately 150,000 Peruvians llegally live in Spain; 50,000 have Spanish nationality, and among 8,000 and 15,000 are illegal immigrants.

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