Stories about Peru from May, 2009
Peru: Freezing Temperatures in Puno Result in Children Deaths
While much of Peru and the media has been discussing the 16 confirmed individuals with AH1N1 virus, very little has been mentioned about the 133 children that have recently died as a result of the freezing temperatures affecting the southern part of the country. Bloggers have been noting this difference in coverage, and have been criticizing the lack of planning by local and national governments for what has been become an annual tragedy.
Peru: Flooding in Iquitos
Floods continue to be a major problem in the city of Iquitos, Peru with the rise of the Amazon River and its tributaries. Juan Arellano of Globalizado [es] has photos of how the water is affecting houses built in flood-vulnerable areas in the Punchana district.
Peru: Indigenous Communities Continue Protests
For quite some time, the indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon have been mobilized due to attempts by the current government to infringe upon the rights to their ancestral lands. These lands are thought to be good for mining and oil exploration, and some say that is where the real intentions lie. Recently these protests have restarted throughout different parts of the Amazon region.
Peru: The Switch to Digital Television
Peru is making the switch to digital television, but the government chose the Japanese-Brazilian standard making it more expensive for the consumer. Eduardo Villanueva of Casi Un Blog Mk.II [es] wonder why the government made that decision when it indicated that cost will be a fact when deciding on the...
Americas: Region Responds to the H1N1 Virus
Even though the epicenter of the H1N1 virus outbreak has been in Mexico, other countries in the region are finding ways to prevent and combat it. Bloggers have been keen on taking a close look at what their governments are doing to alleviate fears, or whether they are responsible for adding to the panic by some. Others Latin American bloggers are observing the behavior of their fellow citizens, often using humor to cut through some of the tension.
Peru: Newspaper Questions Spanish Language Proficiency of Indigenous Congresswoman
The Lima newspaper Correo published a front page story about the low level of Spanish language proficiency by the indigenous Congresswoman Hilaria Supa. As a result, the Peruvian blogosphere put forth various opinions including agreeing that legislators should have a minimum level of education, and others put forth accusations of racism and discrimination.
