Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

According to Transparency International’s 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released in Berlin this week, Peru has 3.7 points in a ranking that ranges between 0 (highly corrupt) and 10 (least corrupt).

Peru ranks better than some of its neighbors, like Argentina (2.9) , Bolivia (2.7), and Ecuador (2.2), and has the same score as Brazil and Colombia.

Chile is perceived as less corrupt than all its neighbors, scoring 6.7, and Venezuela ranks lowest in the region, with 1.9.

Corruption is seriously widespread in Latin America, said Sylvia Schenk, president of Transparency International in Germany.

On the other hand, the world’s top five countries perceived to be the least corrupt are New Zealand (9.4), Denmark (9.3), Sweden and Singapore with 9.2, and Switzerland with 9.0.

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

According to the information disclosed in a press release issued by Survival, several indigenous peoples all around the world condemn the the Peruvian government’s attempts to destroy the Amazon Indian movements.

A few weeks ago it was reported that Peru's government has plans to disband Peru’s national organization for Amazon Indians, known by its Spanish acronym AIDESEP, by means of legal and political actions.

"Peru’s government should sit down and talk respectfully to AIDESEP as the legitimate representatives of the country’s Amazonian Indians, not try to attack them through the courts," said Armand MacKenzie, from the Innu Council of Nitassinan in Canada.

"If you target AIDESEP you’re targeting all indigenous people –all over the world," said CAOI, an organization representing indigenous people in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, which also considers that the Peruvian government runs ‘racist’ policies.

AIDESEP, which has been opposing the government’s attempts to open the Peruvian Amazon to oil, gas and mining companies, was founded in 1980 and represents 350,000 indigenous people in the Peruvian Amazon.

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.

Surfline.com

Small surf in the one-foot (0.5 metre) and onshore winds have forced event organizers to call competition off for the day at the Movistar Peru Classic presented by Rip Curl.

Event No. 5 of 7 on the 2009 ASP Women's World Tour, the Movistar Peru Classic is dealing with the challenging logistics of running at the ideal venue of Lobitos, whose sand-bottom left handers have been referred to as the "Superbank in reverse," while staff and surfers stay over an hour's drive north in Mancora. Despite today's less-than-ideal conditions, a good swell is expected Friday.

"There are some small waves out there this morning, but we've opted to call competition off for the day," Richie Porta, ASP Women's World Tour Head Judge, said. "Obviously, with the swell coming, we're opting to wait for much better conditions."

When competition commences, up first will be Melanie Bartels (HAW), 27, Rebecca Woods (AUS), 25, and Alana Blanchard (HAW), 19, doing battle in Heat 1 Round 1 of the Movistar Peru Classic. Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 7am for a possible 7:30am start.

The Movistar Peru Classic presented by Rip Curl will host the ASP Top 17 from November 3 - 8, 2009.

The event will be webcast LIVE via www.aspworldtour.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

According to the calendar set for the modernization project of PetroPeru's Talara Refinery, a public ceremony was held on October 30th for the official reception of Envelope Nº 1 (Technical Proposal) and Nº 2 (Economic Proposal), and the Opening of Envelope Nº 1 as well.

The Ad-Hoc committee in charge of the development of this process will proceed to the evaluation of the technical proposals received, and then, on November 20th, 2009, will inform about the results of the Technical Evaluation, carrying out in the same ceremony the Opening of Envelope Nº 2 (Economic Proposal).

The final choice will be officially announced on December 11th, 2009.

The contractor selected will be in charge of the manufacturing services and also of basic engineering, detail engineering, estimating costs, and finally the purchasing of equipment and the required construction for Talara Refinery Modernization Project.

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 Limenian district of Miraflores agreed to donate a 8,301 m2 lot, located near Cuartel San Martín (Saint Martin Fort), to be used for the construction of the future Museum of Memory.

The decision was taken by a general assembly that was closely followed via the Internet by Mario Vargas Llosa, the President of the special high-rank commission in charge of the project.

He said this is a “generous, idealistic and patriotic” gesture.

The novelist said that the Museum of Memory will be an institution that will allow Peruvians to remember the cruelty, the fanaticism, the intolerance and the violence, and also emphasized that it will not have any bias regarding any political preference.

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.

Bloomberg
James Attwood

Chile, Colombia and Peru signed a memorandum of understanding to work on the integration of securities regulation to enable cross-border trading.

Guillermo Larrain, Chile’s chief regulator, announced the accord at a press conference in Santiago today with Nahil Hirsh and Jorge Castano from the regulators of Peru and Colombia, respectively.

The countries’ three securities exchanges signed an agreement Sept. 8th formalizing their intention to integrate operations by the end of next year.

The exchanges seek to increase liquidity and attract investment by allowing cross- border stock trading, while remaining independent entities.

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 a global-scale initiative, Kraft Foods wants to convoke more than 10,000 workers in a volunteer program to donate their time in a one-week program called “Make a delicious difference.”

128 Krafts Foods Peru workers are mobilizing in Lima, Trujillo and Arequipa to give conferences on nutrition, hygiene, safety at home, care of the environment, etc.

The activities also have the participation of nutritionist Julizza Pezo and the popular cook Lalo Martins, who prepared lunch for all the attendees to the most recent events, with the help of volunteers.

Volunteer workers even substituted mothers who had to cook in the 'comedor popular' (communal kitchen) and took care of the kids so that mothers could attend the conferences and workshops instead.

“We thank the communities for welcoming us,” said Cynthia Cavero, an active volunteer of this program, 'Alimentemos Corazones,' while Teodora Flores, from the popular kitchen 'Santa Ana' (in Lima) thanked the volunteers for allowing mothers to learn new things to improve their daily lives.

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 US based “Spa Magazine” has appointed “Unu Spa Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel” as the winner in the category Favorite Resort / Hotel Spa - Central / South America, in its award Silver Sage Readers' Choice Awards 2009.

It is worth noting that the readers of that magazine vote for their favorite spa worldwide, according to a press release issued by Inkaterra.

The full list of winners will be announced in the  November-December edition of this magazine.

Unu is an innovative concept of SPA that Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel offers, combining the Andean mysticism with the services of an urban spa.

All the products used in Unu Spa are 100% natural, derived from local organic products, to offer a relaxing, sensual and spiritual experience to the guests.

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.

Andina

Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez will travel to the northern city of Jaen in Cajamarca region to inaugurate a 138- kilowatt transmission line from Carhuaquero to Jaen.

According to government sources, this event will take place at 09.25am (14.25pm GMT).

Later Tuesday, President Garcia will swear in the country's new housing, construction and sanitation minister at 1pm at Lima's Government Palace.

At 5pm, the Head of State is scheduled to meet with the president of Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Luis Alberto Moreno.

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

More than 100 original masks, created by several artists and other renowned personalities from Peru's cultural, political, social and sports scenes, will be auctioned this September 22nd, so that more children with life-threatening diseases can realize their most wanted wishes and regain hope, strength and joy, according to Aida Vurnbrand, president of Peru's Chapter of Make-A-Wish Make Foundation.

These extraordinary objects will be sold in an original “Silent Auction,” that will be held at Corriente Alterna Visual Arts School.

Some of the Peruvian artists that are collaborating with this noble cause are Fernando de Zsyszlo, Jose Tola, Venancio Shinki, Rafael García Miró, Jaime Higa, Denisse Mulánovich, and Carlos Revilla, among others.

The Silent Auction will take place on September 22nd, at 7pm.

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.