Juan Arellano
Stories
June 13th, 2008
Peru: Pointing Out Errors in the New Indiana Jones Movie
· 02:24 · AmericasThe latest in the Indiana Jones series revisits the odd relationship between these films and Peru. I say odd because this relationship is based on a type of serendipitous, incorrect and strange combinations, not at all in keeping with a fictional well-known archeologist like Indiana Jones. Those who've seen the first film in the series, Raiders of the Lost Ark, will recall those beginning scenes that, supposedly, take place in the Peruvian jungle, but that symbolically recall cultures like the Maya, among others. Additionally, two of Jones' guides are named after Peruvian towns: Barranca and Satipo.
This most recent film in the series, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, partly takes place in Peru (although, the scenes were really filmed in Hawaii). As mentioned earlier, there are geographical and historic errors abound. You can well imagine this has been quite the subject of discussion amidst Peruvian bloggers. I will attempt to extract the best from their posts.
Antolín Prieto, from Cinencuentro [es], a Peruvian blog devoted to film, quotes in his post, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Lies About Peru, one of the foot-in-mouth lines fast becoming a classic faux-pas, in which Jones said, “I learned Quechua from Pancho Villa.” Quechua, a native indigenous language from the Andean region of South America would not have been the language spoken by the Mexican revolutionary.
Pedro Ortiz Bisso, from Notas desde el lado oscuro [es], comments on the matter in his post, I was wrong: Indy 4 is a good film and points out the error where the southern city of Nazca is said to be in the Cusco region.
Dinorider, from El Pensieve de Dinorider [es], recommends that executive producer George Lucas irmprove his research skills in the post Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: UNCLE GEORGE USE GOOGLE!!
Eso sí NO me gustó eso de que acabaran metiendo en medio de la Amazonía un templo alienígena con look maya mezclado con tiawanaku conteniendo restos de Sumeria, Grecia, China, Egipto, Tiawanaku, etc. para que saliera el platillo volador aquel. Sólo faltaba Mel Gibson y el tipo del casco de papel de aluminio. Creo que con Indiana debieron evitar ese tipo de cosas.
A propósito el cuadro de Orellana es el que suele salir en las enciclopedias escolares locales como ¡Francisco Pizarro! Por cierto, las imágenes de Nazca parecían más bien las de un mercado de las alturas de la Sierra con gente vestida con trajes de diferentes sitios de Perú (a grandes rasgos reconocí de Huancayo, Cajamarca, Chincheros, Cuzco) y Centroamérica! hasta la música era ¿ranchera mexicana? Me recordaba en algo al del pueblo de El Zorro. Sólo faltó alguien gritando “Joder! weon, vos sabés que coño fue del pinche wey del libretista po!?”
This is something I did NOT like, the fact they ended up placing an alien temple resembling from the Mayan culture with Tiwanaku, containing elements from Sumeria, Greece, China, Egypt, Tiwanaku, etc., in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, just so that flying saucer could take off. The only thing missing was Mel Gibson and the guy with the aluminum helmet. I think Indiana should avoid those type of things.
In fact, the Orellana painting is the one that usually appears in local school encyclopedias like Francisco Pizarro! By the way, the images of Nazca looked more like a marketplace in the Andean highlands, with people dressed in clothing from different parts of Peru. In general terms, I recognized [the traditional clothing of] Huancayo, Cajamarca, Chincheros, and Cuzco. And, Central America! Even the music was Mexican ranchera-style! It reminded me somewhat of El Zorro's hometown. All that was lacking was someone yelling, “Bloody hell, dude! D'you know what ‘appen'd to the whack bro' who was the scriptwriter, eh?”
Roberto Bustamante in El Blog del Morsa [es], provides a number of links to interesting posts about the film and in his post, Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, comments that Peru's appearance in the film has not been fully taken advantage of by Peruvian politicians:
la visión exotista del Perú (¿por qué Big Meche no dijo nada sobre esto? ¿qué? ¿nadie va a capitalizar la aparición de nuestro querido país en la última entrega de Indy? ¿no que pensaban en grande?)
the exotic vision of Peru (Why did Big Meche (Tourism Minister) not say anything about this? What? No one is going to capitalize on the appearance of our beloved country in the latest Indy fare? Didn't they say they thought big?)
However, not everyone has a sense of humor. Ronald Vega, a Peruvian currently living in Bolivia who has the blog Voz Urgente [es], did not like the film at all, explaining himself in his post, Indiana Jones and the denigration of a culture:
Alguien podría decir que el cine es ficción, y como tal no esta en la obligación de estar estrictamente ligado a la historia de los hechos que narra, y claro, tendría razón, pero no deja de resultar algo sumamente curioso que siempre los discursos al respecto sean elaborados en ciertas partes del mundo y construyan una imagen, con clara intencionalidad, sobre personas de ciertas “otras” partes del mundo. Pero más allá de estas inconexiones ex profesas presentadas en la película, está un asunto de fondo. La deslegitimación del conocimiento histórico y ancestral producido en esta parte del mundo. Claro, el hombre occidental, con la historia soplando a su favor durante siglos, al pertenecer a civilizaciones como Grecia y Roma que alcanzaron altos niveles de desarrollo, sí fue capaz de realizar grandes y complejas construcciones para su época, construcciones que hasta hoy continúan asombrando al mundo, pero, el hombre andino – amazónico, el hombre perteneciente a aquellas culturas americanas que por carecer de escritura (Que sí la tenían pero resultaba incomprensible para la concepción del colonizador), en el caso Quechua Aymará, fueron condenados a la postergación histórica, ellos, esos hombres no pueden ser capaces de crear, de construir su propia cultura, su propio conocimiento, y es por eso que, en la película y muchos otros textos producidos por occidente, la construcción de todo este conocimiento se relaciona con seres de otros mundos, con extra terrestres, negando así el reconocimiento a la sabiduría de las culturas americanas, la misma que en gran parte fue destruida durante el proceso de colonización.
Someone could say films are fiction, and as such, are under no obligation to be strictly linked to the history of the stories they tell. That person would be right. But, that doesn't lessen the interesting fact that these discussions are carried out in certain parts of the world, where they construct a clearly intentional image about persons in certain “other” parts of the world. But beyond these clear disconnects presented in the film, there is a background issue. The de-legitimization of the historic and ancestral knowledge produced in this part of the world. Of course, Western man, with history in his favor for centuries by belonging to civilizations like Greece and Rome which reached high levels of development, was able to create great and complex constructions for the period, constructions that until now continue to awe the world. But, the Andean-Amazonian man, belonging to those American cultures who due to the lack of writing (which he did have, but incomprehensible to the minds of the colonizer), and in the case of the Quechua & Aymara peoples were condemned to historic postponement. Those men were not considered capable of creating, of constructing their own culture, their own knowledge. That is why,
in the film and in many other texts produced by the West, the construction of all that knowledge is related with beings from other worlds, extraterrestrials, that way denying the recognition of the wisdom of the American cultures, the same ones that were destroyed during the colonization process.
Carlos Quiroz in Peruanista [es] highlights the racism he sees and discusses it in his post, Indiana Jones movie about Peru is boring and racist:
Esta película presenta al Perú como un lugar miserable para vivir. Quizás muchos norte americanos que nunca van al extranjero puedan pensar que somos así: La ciudad de Nasca con un desastroso aeropuerto y pollos corriendo por ahí, y la bella Cusco con un sucio y desagradable mercado con gente loca tirada en el barro de calles asquerosas. Y de alguna manera los dos sitios son el mismo.
No pudo evitar pensar en el racismo luego de ver a gente cobriza presentada por esta película de un modo tan ofensivo, no una sino varias veces. Somos los malos por supuesto, y al final del film y luego que Indiana Jones logra reunirse con su familia -incluyendo un hijo que nunca había conocido- se casa en una iglesia blanca llena de gente blanca. Era la escena victoriosa luego de vencer a las malvadas y oscuras criaturas,
This film shows Peru as a miserable place in which to live. Perhaps most Americans who never travel abroad might think Peru and Peruvians are the way we are shown in this movie: the city of Nazca has a trashy airport full of chickens running around it, and beautiful Cuzco has a chaotic and filthy market with crazy people lying on the mud of tiny streets. And somehow both are in the same place.
I couldn't avoid thinking about racism when brown people are presented in such offensive ways, not once but several times. We are bad, mean, stupid and evil. Good thing there is a happy ending: after Indiana Jones gets reunited with his family -including a son he never met before- he gets married in a white-walled church with an all-white crowd. What a victorious scene after defeating all dark-skinned evil creatures!
A well-known film critic, Alberto Servat, writes a post titled, Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, in his blog La Soga [es], from which we republish part of the comments made by Daniel, one of many comments his readers left him:
¡Cuando mencionaron a Perú la gente aplaudió! Todo iba bien hasta que sonó la música mexicana en el mercado inca. Allí la emoción de la audiencia se desplomó y empezaron los susurros de críticas a detalles. Ojálá que para la versión en DVD corrijan ese error.
When they mentioned Peru, the audience clapped. Everything was fine until Mexican music started playing in the Inca market. From then, the audience's spirits began to fall, and whispered criticisms about the details began. Hopefully, they correct those errors for the DVD version.
In a more informative vein, Arturo Gómez of Amautucuna de Historia [es] provides us some facts about the existence of a stone skull in his post, A crystal skull in Peru?:
las calaveras de cristal de cuarzo no son peruanas y ni siquiera son originalmente mexicanas. Pero ¿existen reales calaveras líticas en el Perú? Recuerdo que durante las excavaciones hechas en la Huaca Huallamarca en Lima, la arqueóloga Clide Valladolid y su equipo descubrieron en 1992 o 1993, una pequeña calavera tallada en piedra (¿sería cuarzo lechoso?, no recuerdo bien). Clide me la enseñó por esos años y estaba muy contenta con el hallazgo. Lamentablemente no se publicó nunca un estudio de la misma y no podría asegurar a que cultura pertenece. Así, que después de todo, el Perú tiene una calavera tallada en piedra original. Si quieres verla, está en exhibición en el Museo de Sitio Huallamarca ubicado en la Av. Nicolás de Rivera 201 a espaldas del Centro Comercial Camino Real, San Isidro.
Quartz crystal skulls are not Peruvian and are not even originally Mexican. But, do real stone skulls exist in Peru? I recall that during the excavations at Huaca Huallamarca in Lima, the archeologist Clide Valladolid and her team discovered in 1992 or 1993 a small skull carved in stone (was it milky quartz? I don't remember). Clide showed it to me at the time and she was very happy with the find. Unfortunately, a study of the skull was never published and I am unable to say the culture to which it belonged. So, after all, Peru does have a skull carved in original stone. If you want to see it, it is exhibited in the Huallamarca Site Museum located at Avenida Nicolas de Rivera 201, behind the Camino Real Shopping Center in San Isidro.
And, in conclusion, the opinion given by Jorge Moreno from El Reportero de la Historia [es], in his post Jones is Heston, Heston is Jones, tells people to lighten up:
sigo sin entender a muchos que critican acremente las inexactitudes culturales e históricas de la película, olvidando que se trata sólo de una película de acción y aventuras, puro divertimento. Tomarse en serio al doctor Jones resulta no sólo una tontería, sino también arrebatarle al cine el aspecto mágico y de ensoñación que tiene. Se va al cine a ver este tipo de películas para divertirse, a pasar un buen rato, con la novia o con los hijos, a disfrutar con aventuras y situaciones que por inverosímiles resultan atractivas, sugestivas, contagiante. Pretender querer aprender en ellas arqueología o historia es tan tonto como aquello de descalificar los libros, y películas, de Harry Potter con el argumento de que en ellos los niños aprenden hechicería. Una reverenda tontería que olvida que el mundo de fantasía que ellos presentan sólo está ahí para entretener y no para enseñar nada a nadie.
I still don't understand those who sharply criticize the cultural and historic errors in the film, and forget it is only an action and adventure film, sheer entertainment. Taking Dr. Jones seriously is not only stupid, but also removes the magical and dreamy aspect of the film. One goes to see these type of films to be entertained, to have a good time, with a girlfriend or the children, to enjoy adventures and situations that, due to their unlikeliness, appear attractive, suggestive, contagious. Trying to learn archaeology or history through them is as stupid as as discrediting the books and films of Harry Potter with the argument that in them, children learn witchcraft. It's really stupid to forget that this is the world of fantasy which is only there to entertain and not to teach anyone anything.
Translated by Alejandro García.
Thumbnail photo by H20 Alchemist
4 comments · »»June 4th, 2008
Peru: President Says Country Closer to Overcoming Poverty
· 03:51 · AmericasAmong the varied and recent controversial statements by Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez, and one that has provoked commentary from the most diverse political sectors, not to mention ordinary citizens, is that Peru is a step away from overcoming poverty and, moreover, soon will no longer be a developing nation.
The Lima daily, El Comercio, published the President's statement:
The President of the Republic, Alan Garcia, highlighted the reduction of poverty in 2007, affirming this decrease is a sign of the country's correct economic management, and predicting that by the year 2015 poverty will be reduced to less than 10% [of the population]. “This is good news and means that Peru is on the right path, following a good economic and social model. And, if we keep it up, in 2008 and in 2009, poverty will continue to diminish (.) My goals is to go beyond so that by 2015, we will have less than 10% [of the population living in] poverty,” he said. Based on the figures [provided by] the Peruvian National Institute of Statistics and Information (INEI), he sustained that poverty had decreased by 5.2% in the last year, meaning that one million, 380 thousand Peruvians are no longer poor.
Roberto Bustamante, writing in El blog del Morsa [es], is skeptical and cautious, recalling criticism regarding the methodology employed by civil servants in the current government and, although he recognizes there is a decrease in poverty rates, he highlights that this reduction in poverty is not across the board and there still exists much inequality. Let's read more from his post, Less Poor People in Peru:
La verdad, a estas alturas del partido, no sé si creer. El anuncio de la reducción de la pobreza en de 44% a 39% se da en un contexto, marcado por una alta desaprobación presidencial, y justo cuando los precios de los alimentos se están estabilizando de una forma u otra. … desde donde tengo entendido por lo que se dice, lo que se ha hecho es bajar la valla de la pobreza. De ese modo, evidentemente, hay menos pobres en el Perú. La pobreza también tiene varias caras. Para empezar, si vemos el problema de la desigualdad en términos relacionales, podremos darnos cuenta que existen accesos inequitativos inclusive entre hombres y mujeres en espacios rurales pobres. Como se afirmó en su momento, las mujeres rurales quechuahablantes son más pobres entre los pobres. Otro tema, ya para que me acusen de derrotista, es la desigualdad económica. Como señalé, en efecto, a nivel macro Chile pudo haber crecido económicamente, pero eso no lo hace un país menos desigual que Perú, donde el quintil superior es enormemente más rico que el quintil inferior, en términos de ingreso económico per cápita. Seguimos apostando por el chorreo como modelo, pero no para acortar las brechas entre los que ganan demasiado y los que ya se están ganando alguito.
Truthfully, at this stage of the game, I don't know whether to believe it or not. The announcement of the reduction in poverty from 44% to 39% [es] is given in a context marked by a high presidential disapproval rate [es] and just when the price of the food items is becoming somewhat stable. …as far as I understand, according to what is being said, what has happened is that the threshold of poverty has been lowered. Given that fact, clearly there are now less poor people in Peru. Poverty also has different faces. To begin with, if we look at the problem of inequality in relative terms, we would see there exists inequitable access even between men and women in poor rural communities [es] . As was mentioned, rural Quechua-speaking women are among the poorest of the poor [in Peru]. Another issue, so I can be accused of being a defeatist, is economic inequality. As I mentioned, in fact, at a macro level Chile may have grown economically, but that doesn't make it a less unequal country than Peru where the top fifth of the population is enormously wealthier than the lowest fifth, in terms of per capita income. We're still betting on the trickle-down theory as a model, but not to diminish the gaps between those who earn much and those who are just now earning a little.
Dennis David in Psicosociales [es] doesn't hesitate to categorize President Garcia's declarations as demagogic and illustrates his post, Complete demagogy: By 2015 we will no longer be Third World, with explanatory photos:
Unas cuantas fotos que muestran el abandono de los niños y damnificados del terremoto, que aún esperan apoyo; mientras el presidente García, los medios de comunicación adeptos y sus instituciones celebraban la disminución de la pobreza. ¿Por qué no muestran a esas personas que dejaron de ser pobres?. ¿Dejar la pobreza significa conseguir un trabajo con un salario de 500 soles en una service? ¿Qué significa realmente la expresión de Alan García que el Perú en el 2015 dejará de ser del tercer mundo?. ¿Moriremos todos, desaparecerá, sera un territorio de otro país? ¿Cada peruano ganará la lotería?….
[Here are] a few photos showing the abandonment of children and the survivors of the earthquake who are still waiting for aid while President Garcia, [his] supporters in the media, and his institutions celebrate the decrease of poverty. Why don't they show those people who are no longer poor? Does not being poor mean finding a job that pays a salary of 500 soles a month in a service? What does Alan Garcia's statement that by 2015 Peru will no longer be a Third World country really mean? Will we all die? Will Peru disappear? Will it become the territory of another country? Will every Peruvian win the lottery?
Cesar Vasquez in his blog, Perú: Política y Economía [es], quotes statements made by Farid Matuk, former director of the INEI (National Statistics and Information Institute) during the Toledo government, (Matuk is also quoted in the post at El blog del Morsa). The post is titled Farid Matuk explains how Alan's regime manipulated the poverty figures in Peru – Calibration: Science or Art?:
El día de hoy, martes 27 de mayo de 2008, me enteré de una característica no documentada de la medición de la pobreza que explica como se logra esta acelerada reducción de la pobreza en base a un artificio matemático, que a comienzos de 2006 había documentado para un artículo de la Revista Coyuntura de la Universidad Católica. En dicho artículo explicaba que existen cinco pasos matemáticos críticos para distorsionar la medición de la pobreza, y como en la medición del año pasado y en la del presente año se ha manipulado –con absoluta certeza– dos de los cinco pasos críticos que determinan la línea de la pobreza, y por ende el total de pobres. El primero de ellos ha sido modificar el centro de gravedad de la población de referencia, es decir donde esta el centro de la sub-muestra que determina la línea de pobreza. Desde el año pasado, el centro de gravedad son los hogares ubicados en el 38% de la distribución del ingreso, mientras que todos los estudios anteriores tenían por centro de gravedad el 40% de la distribución del ingreso. El segundo de ellos ha sido modificar el rango de referencia de la población que determina la línea de pobreza. Desde el año pasado, el rango de referencia son dos quintos de la población, mientras previamente era únicamente un quinto de la población. Ahora se tiene como rango de referencia los hogares ubicados entre el 18% y el 58% de la distribución del ingreso, mientras que antes eran los hogares ubicados entre el 30% y 50% de la distribución del ingreso.
Today, Tuesday, May 27, 2008, I learned about a non-documented characteristic in the measurement of poverty that explains how this accelerated reduction in poverty is attained via mathematical artifice, which at the beginning of 2006 was documented in an article in Coyuntura Magazine, [published by Lima's] Catholic University. That article explained there are five critical mathematical steps to distort the measurement of poverty, and how last year's measurement, [as well as] this year's, has –with absolute certainty- manipulated two of the of those five critical steps which determine the poverty threshold, and as a result, the total number of poor people. The first of these [manipulations] has been to modify the center of gravity of the population in reference, that is, where the center of the sub-sample that determines the poverty threshold is. Since last year, the center of gravity has been those households in the 38th percentile in the distribution of income, while all the previous studies had their center of gravity at the 40th percentile in the distribution of income. The second one has been to modify the range of the population reference that determines the poverty threshold. Since last year the range of reference has been two-fifths of the population, while previous it was only one-fifth of the population. Currently, the range of reference is those households between the 18th and 58th percentile of income distribution, while previously it was households between the 30th and 50th percentile of income distribution.
President Garcia mentioned, among other thing, that soon Peru's growth would surpass Chile's. I would like to quote Giovanna Aguilar of El Gran Combo Club [es] who coincidentally touched on the subject recently in the post, Peruvian Growth, Chilean Worries?
La revista chilena quépasa ha publicado, en su edición del 24 de mayo, un interesante artículo de Andrés Benítez titulado Por que Perú nunca alcanzará a Chile . En este artículo se analiza la situación de Chile y Perú en cuanto al crecimiento obtenido en los últimos años y las posibilidades que tiene el Perú de superar a Chile. Luego de cuestionar si efectivamente, el crecimiento que viene experimentando el Perú (7.1% promedio anual en los últimos años) es suficiente para superar el crecimiento y desempeño de los chilenos, reconoce que Chile ha perdido ritmo, pero que Perú no está en condiciones de alcanzarlos: “La respuesta corta es simple: estamos perdiendo el ritmo, pero de ahí a que nos alcance Perú es otra cosa”
Por otra parte en su análisis revisa cifras importantes que permiten hacer rápidas comparaciones entre países como el PBI per cápita (el de Chile es de alrededor de US$ 10,000 mientras que el de Perú es cercano a los US$ 3,500), periodos que le tomaría al Perú para alcanzar a Chile con supuestas tasas de crecimiento promedio por año, etc., para concluir que a pesar de que Perú tiene un crecimiento más acelerado que Chile en estos momentos, no lo alcanzaría. Y no sólo porque el tiempo que necesitaría para ello es largo (56 años, según sus cálculos) sino por las razones que anota, y que creo que son las que más deberían llamar nuestra atención: Perú no es un país estable económicamente y El Perú no tiene una institucionalidad estable ni eficiente.
On May 24, The Chilean magazine quépasa published an interesting article by Andres Benitez titled, “Why Peru will never surpass Chile.” In this article, he analyzes the situation between Chile and Peru with regards to its recent [economic] growth and the possibility that Peru would surpass Chile [economically]. After questioning if, in fact, the growth Peru has been experiencing (on average, annually 7.1 % in recent years) is enough to surpass the growth and performance of Chile, he recognizes that while Chile has lost its rhythm, Peru is not in condition to surpass it: “The short answer is simple: we're losing our rhythm but that Peru would overtake us is another thing.”
On the other hand, in his analysis he reviews important figures that permit quick comparison between [the two] countries; for example, their Gross Domestic Income (Chile's is around US$ 10,000, while Peru's is close US$ 3,500), the time period it would take Peru to overtake Chile with assumed rates of annual growth, etc., concluding that while Peru currently is experiencing a more accelerated growth than Chile, Peru will not overtake Chile. And not just because the time needed to do so is lengthy (56 years, according to his calculations) but for the reasons he notes [below], which I think should be the ones that we [Peruvians] should notice: Peru is neither an economically stable country nor does it have stable or efficient institutions.
In conclusion, I am going to once again quote El blog del Morsa [es] , who expands on this matter, writing in a new post, Poverty and inequality:
Seguramente en los próximos días se aclarará mejor de qué trata esta singular reducción de la pobreza en el Perú. Con el riesgo de cometer algún traspié, al no ser economista, lanzaré algunas hipótesis. 1. Efectivamente la pobreza se ha reducido en la cifra que comentó el gobierno. Lo siguiente es preguntarnos en qué zonas y por qué motivos. Al parecer, según comentarios de los propios ministros, la reducción de la pobreza se ha dado principalmente en regiones como la costa rural (tal cual lo ha dicho el ministro etnotravestido, Ismael Benavides). Esto puede deberse, de hecho, no solamente a la inversión privada, sino también al buen momento que tiene el maíz y otros productos destinados a la producción de combustibles. 2. No ha disminuido la pobreza significativamente en los departamentos donde hay minería. Esto va de acuerdo al incremento de la desigualdad económica en el Perú en las últimas décadas. ¿Por qué si estos sectores van tan bien (en términos de generación de riqueza para el país), la pobreza apenas ha disminuido ahí? Aquí la hipótesis puede ir más bien por la redistribución del gasto, cómo se gasta en el país y dónde hay mayor acumulación de riqueza.
Surely, in the upcoming days it will become clearer what this singular reduction in poverty in Peru is all about. Despite the risk of making a blunder, since I am not an economist, I will throw out some hypotheses: 1. Indeed, poverty has been reduced by the figures provided by the government. What is left is for us to ask ourselves in what regions and why. Apparently, according to comments made by the Ministers, the reduction of poverty has been seen primarily in regions such as the rural coast (as the much criticized Minister Ismael Benavides has said). This can be due, in fact, not only to private investment but also the current strong price of corn and other products destined for the production of food items. 2. Poverty has not decreased significantly in the departments where there is mining. This is in keeping with the economic inequality in Peru in recent decades. Why, if these sectors are doing so well (in terms of generating wealth for the country) has poverty barely diminished there? Here the hypothesis may have to do more with redistribution of wealth, how the country consumes, and where there is the greater accumulation of wealth.
And well, another point to note is that the media harshly refuted the government of ex-President Toledo and his head of the INEI, Farid Matuk, when they announced the country was growing and poverty was beginning to diminish. It seems that not all the presidents receive the same treatment. As demonstration of this, I invite you to read the post Article in the BBC, which Carlos translates in his blog Peruanista. In any case, there are still two years of the APRA-led government. Let's hope they don't end like Garcia's previous government with rampant inflation.
Translation by Alejandro García
Thumbnail photo by Phoosh
1 comment · »»May 25th, 2008
Peru: Lima Plays Host to Regional Summit
· 18:24 · AmericasRecently the 5th Latin American - European Union Summit (ALC-UE for its initials in Spanish) [es] was held in Lima, Peru. The gathering brings together heads of state from the different countries in those regions and is held in May every two years. Based on the strategic and bi-regional association outlined in the Declaration and Plan of Action adopted during the first summit held in Río de Janeiro in June 1999. This meeting evaluates the progess in the fields of economic integration, poverty reduction, equality, and social justice in Latin America. Lima will also be the site of another international summit: the Asian-Pacific Economic Forum.
Bloggers are obviously writing about the topic, such as Laura Arroyo of Menosacanas [es] who writes about the advantages and disadvantages of holding such a summit in Peru.
Un buen porcentaje de la ciudadanía se encuentra indiferente frente a estos acontecimientos, otro grupo (significativo también) se siente algo enojado pues además del hecho de percibir que el desarrollo de estas cumbres nada tiene que ver con ellos, encima crean caos y desorden; finalmente, hay algunos pocos que se identifican con ambas y las ven como algo positivo.
Creo que debemos ver las cumbres como una oportunidad. Las cumbres causan impacto pese a que muchos sientan que no hacen la diferencia y se trata de eventos protocolares que se quedan justamente en eso: el protocolo. Es preciso no simplificar el asunto. El hecho de que el Perú sea sede implica, justamente, que los ojos del mundo estén prestando atención a nuestro país. Por otro lado, la cantidad de jefes de estado que vendrá al país, ha fomentado que muchos hoteles se adecuen a estos inusuales e importantes huéspedes.
A large percentage of the citizens are indifferent to these types of events, another group (also significant in numbers) feel rather angry because in addition to the perception that these summits have nothing to do with them, they also create chaos and disorder; finally, there are some that feel the same, but see it as something positive.
We must look at these summits as an opportunity. The summits cause an impact even though many feel that they do not make a difference and they are just protocol events in nature. One must not simplify things. The fact that Peru is the site of the summit justly implies that the eyes of the world are focused on our country. On the other hand, with the number of heads of states that come to our country, many hotels must adapt to these unusual and important guests.
But not everyone has a favorable opinion, for example, Carlos Mejia of El Gran Combo Club [es] is a bit skepitcal about the summit and about how much work can actually be accomplished in such a short time:
¿Puede alguien sostener que en tres días los presidentes de tantos países pueden alcanzar algún acuerdo realmente significativo? Una hipótesis: los poderes fácticos, aquellos que definen las políticas que afectan realmente a los ciudadanos no se reúnen en estas cumbres de prensa internacional y alfombras rojas. Los presidentes o mandatarios que aún detentan un poder soberano son precisamente los que menos vienen a negociar o deliberar a estas Cumbres. Están para el show y nada más (…) En ese sentido, uno no puede esperar cambios o giros en espacios como esta Cumbre.
Can anyone say that in three days that the presidents of so many countries can actually reach a significant agreement? A hypothesis: the current powers, those that define policies that really affect people, do not gather in these summits with the presence of the international press and red carpets. The presidents or leaders that still hold soverign power are those that are least likely to come to negotiate or deliberate at these summits. They are here for show and nothing more. (…) In this way, one cannot expect for changes or grand changes in direction in these summits.
Juan Sheput of Mate Pastor [es] summarizes the criticisms of President Alan Garcia's opening speech, and also collects some of the criticisms regarding the organization of the summit.
El País, el principal diario de España, indica respecto a la V Cumbre ALC-UE lo siguiente: “Un clima devaluado por importantes ausencias europeas, como la del francés Nicolas Sarkozy, el británico Gordon Brown y el italiano Silvio Berlusconi. Y muy enrarecido tras los reiterados ataques personales del presidente venezolano, Hugo Chávez, contra la canciller alemana, Angela Merkel, y la entrada en la escena del boliviano Evo Morales, que ha lanzando duras acusaciones contra Colombia y Perú, el anfitrión de la cumbre, por su política internacional.” La noticia completa la pueden leer haciendo click aquí. En tanto Clarín de Argentina da cuenta de la protesta de Greenpeace en Machu Picchu.
El País, the most important newspaper in Spain, writes the following about the V Summit ALC-UE: “A devalued climate due to the important absences of European leaders, such as Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Gordon Brown of Britain and Silvio Berlusconi of Italy. And very unsupportable for the repeated personal attacks from Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez, against the German foreign minister, Angela Merkel and entrance into the stage by Evo Morales of Bolivia, who had launched harsh accusations against Colombia and Peru, the host of the summit, for their international policies.” The entire note can be read here [es]. The Argentine newspaper Clarín also writes about the Greenpeace protest in Machu Picchu [es].
José Talavera of Bloguiarquía [es] posts his opinion and about his experience as a volunteer during the summit.
Cuestión aparte es lo que tuvieron que pasar varios voluntarios (entre ellos yo), que más que ser parte de la desorganización, la sufrieron: algunos sin acreditaciones hasta el día miércoles, otros sin uniforme, o uniformes no hechos a la medida. En plena cumbre, la duplicidad de funciones, el desperdicio de horas-hombre, horarios inhumanos (vg. 13 horas parados en la entrada de un hotel), sin siquiera un pequeño refrigerio: muchos tuvieron que poner de su propio dinero para comer, y las zonas aledañas a los hoteles y al Museo de la Nación no se caracterizan precisamente por ser baratos. En conclusión, muchos voluntarios que fueron con ganas de ayudar se sintieron simplemente defraudados.
This is what some volunteers (including myself) had to go through: in addition to the disorganziation, others did not receive their accreditation until Wednesday, others were left without uniforms, or uniforms that did not fit. In the middle of the summit, there was the duplication of tasks, a waste of time, inhumane hours (for example 13 hours standing at the entrance of the hotel), without even a small snack: many had to spend their own money in order to eat, and the area around the hotels and the National Museum is not known for being inexpensive. In conclusion, many volunteers that went with the desire to help came away simply disappointed.
Finally, Giovanni Lamarca of the blog Natua [es] compiles what the different media and blogs have been publishing about the summit. It is worth mentioning that while the summit of leaders has been taking place, there has been a 3rd Summit of the People ALC-UE or Anti-Summit. Luis Orihuela of Pedro Vilcapaza [es] posts the final declaration of the summit:
Exigimos a los gobiernos atender efectivamente las demandas de los pueblos por construir otro tipo de relaciones entre las regiones, basadas en la superación del modelo de mercado. Hacemos un llamado a la población a no dejarse engañar más por gobiernos autoritarios que pretenden criminalizar la justa protesta civil. Instamos a los habitantes de América Latina, el Caribe y Europa a sumarse a la fuerza cada vez mayor de organizaciones que buscan un mundo mejor para todos, y así estar a la altura de los desafíos que hoy enfrenta la humanidad.
We call on the governments to effectively attend to the demands of the people by constucting another type of relations within the regions, based on the the superation of the market model. We make a call to the population to not allow themselves to be fooled by authoritarian governments that attempt to criminalize the just civil protest. We call on the residents of Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe to join growing forces of organizations that look for a better world for all, and to rise to the challenges that humanity currently faces.
May 11th, 2008
Blogger of the Week: Claire Ulrich
· 21:56 · Western EuropeToday's Blogger of the Week may not be known by her blog, but she is widely known by her labour at Global Voices Online in French. Until recently, she has been the only translator for that Lingua site, which owes its existence much to Claire Ulrich's drive and desire to see the project on track. Juan Arellano catches up with Claire in this interview, who kindly shares with us her views on a number of issues.
How did you get involved with GVO?
I first got involved with citizen media through Ohmynews, the South Korean veteran citizen reporting website, where I covered French news (in English) as an experiment in global citizen reporting. As a professional journalist, I wanted to explore new forms of media. During the 2006 Ohmynews international conference in Seoul, I first heard about Global Voices from its co-founder, Ethan Zuckerman, who attended the conference. This led to a profile written for the weekend supplement of Le Monde (sorry, no website). While checking information, I met (via email) Alice Backer, who was in charge of the then new Lingua project. Global Voices in French was about to be launched and needed a volunteer to help out with translations. It was supposed to be temporary. I am still around.
How did you become interested in new forms of media?
I have advocated citizen media since 2004 as much needed new blood in the realm of news. After 20 years in traditional media, I felt tired and disillusioned by the elitism and short sightedness of news. The Web and citizen media was a wonderful and refreshing discovery.
Why Lingua, then, which is “only” translating posts ?
I write professionally, so I don't feel the urge to contribute as an author. Translation is a personal pleasure, since I pick up posts that I find interesting, or important for our local readers. Within the last couple of years, the issue of localizing websites has gained a lot of momentum in the industry (corporate, news) and the experience accumulated by Lingua sites is, according to me, extremely valuable. The multilingual web is just around the corner. In that light, the Lingua project is a fascinating experimenting ground, and a very sophisticated one. I am also amazed at the vitality of Lingua. GVO is probably the only news outlet in the world to boast a Macedonian and Albanian edition!
In all the time you have been collaborating with GVO, what is your most memorable experience?
My defining moment was the Burma (Myanmar) uprising, in both good and bad. Good because it was urgent and important to translate the trickle of citizen news in French as fast as they were published on the GVO main site. They were the only news coming out of this country. And bad because the risks and consequences on Burmese citizen reporters in the following repression were terrible. Can we congratulate ourselves on breaking news to audiences all over the world if citizens with no official accreditation and protection, and their family, suffer from it ?
How do you see the future of citizen reporters?
As a collaboration with “traditional” journalists when bridges between the two universes will finally be established. I believe in teams mixing professionals and bloggers.
You discussed your relationship with Lingua. How is the French site of GVO doing?
It maintains a presence for GVO in the vast Francophile web (Africa, Canada, Europe) but it's slow burning. There is, as always with localization, an image problem. GVO tends to be categorized as a human rights advocacy site by French audiences and not as a news site because it is extremely Anglo-Saxon in its “philosophical” positioning and feels “foreign” to a French eye. Above all, French readers have difficulties understanding the concept, sorting out who is the original post author, the GVO author role, who is translating what from which languages, for whom and why. Let's admit it ! It's difficult to grasp a work flow where a Palestinian blogger reviews blogs in Arabic about something happening in London or New York, writes about them in English, and then someone else pick ups his post to translate it in, say, Malagasy or Bangla. People can get dizzy!
What are you doing, in GVO French, to change this?
Bridging cultural gaps is an issue every website in the world has to face when facing local audiences. Right now, I listen/read to conversations between GVO authors, translators, Lingua sites in preparation for the Global Voice Summit in Budapest, next June. How GV-Lingua sites could evolve has to be a collective decision because it is important, and tricky.
Tell us a little bit about your experiences as a journalist apart from GVO?
I worked as a staff writer for French news weeklies for 10 years, then as a TV reporter for eight years (yes, I am old). I now work for off line and on line publications as a freelancer and I localize English websites for the French market. There is still a lot of defiance from French journalists towards bloggers. I try to be the go-between and introduce them to each others.
Are there many people doing what you do among the French media?
Very few… Newspapers now all have websites and Web 2.0 widgets but the mentality is still very far from the web 2.0 spirit.
There aren't many French journalists in the local French blogging community. What do the main French bloggers think about this?
French journalists now have blogs on their newspaper websites, as part of a general Web 2.0 effort. But they do not consider bloggers as colleagues or comrades. French bloggers, on the other side, spend quite a lot of time criticizing “regular” journalists. We are still in the midst of “What is journalism?” and “Is blogging a form of journalism?” debate.
What can you tell us about your personal experience as a blogger here?
For professional reasons, I do not blog about news or my personal opinions. I have opinions, but I feel that blogging about them under my name (I don't want to use a false name) would create a conflict of interest with my professional writting. I have fun blogs : a photo blog and a tech blog.
How do you prefer to spend your free time? Any hobbies?
The Web is my favorite sandbox. With my cat sitting beside the desktop screen.
So.. what are your favourite blogs?
I like nothing more than surfing and discovering by chance personal blogs about anything and everything, cattle raising or children litterature. I remember spending hours browsing Indian matrimonial websites that I stumbled upon by chance. It was absolutely fascinating, and a lesson in contemporary India.
Last but not least, tell us about your cat?
3 comments · »»Her name is Pioum. White cat. Green eyes. Lovely soul. I've a met of lot of cat lovers in the GVO community (we exchange photos of our cats !). Which made me wonder why cats are the totem pets of bloggers around the world. Probably because bloggers spend a lot of time at their desktop. Only cats can stay silent, focused and beautiful for hours on end around a computer ! I discovered that Pioum loves YouTube. Select a few YouTube videos featuring lab mices, rabbits, birds, play them for your cat, and you'll see what I mean !
April 11th, 2008
Peru: Understanding the Emo Youth in Lima
· 04:23 · AmericasSimilar to the recent post about the incidents of attacks on emo youth in Mexico, there has also been much written about these youth in Peru. There was a recent controversy in Lima and some Peruvian bloggers provide their thoughts on these often misunderstood youth, as defined by Wikipedia. The local media has played a part in devoting more airtime at trying to understand, but more often, and to make fun of these youth.
Photo by Amy Wong and used under a Creative Commons license.
About a month ago, on the local television program Close Enemies, there was a program dedicated to emos, which ridiculed and treated them poorly. The blog Descarga Directa [es] published a video, which showed part of the program, on his post “Emos on the television: Noooo!! [es]” However, what had added to the controversy was the discovery that part of the program was made with emos especially created for the occasion. This is what El Blog de Cayo [es] said on his post “False Panelists… False Emos [es]“:
Hace unos días, Beto Ortiz y Aldo Miyashiro presentaron un panel de emos en su programa nocturno … Pese a que este es un blog abiertamente anti-emo, nos parece que Beto Ortiz y sus compinches son definitivamente más asquerosos e impresentables. En su programa, presentaron algunos emos reales, asiduos de las galerías Brasil, vendedores de ropa y pines para pastrulitas de la PUCP que se sienten abiertamente diferentes. Sin embargo, también presentaron pastrulitas de la PUCP que no eran EMO, pero que se vestían y supuestamente “actuaban” como tales. Estos falsos emo no solo no eran emo, sino que también eran miembros del taller de teatro de Aldo Miyashiro.
A few days ago, Beto Ortiz and Aldo Miyashiro presented a panel of emos on their nightly program…Even though this blog is openly anti-emo, we believe that Beto Ortiz and his pals are definitely more disgusting and unpresentable. In his program, they presented some real emos, regular visitors to the Brasil galleries, clothes vendors and hipster girls from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) that openly feel different. However, they also presented some hipster girls from the PUCP that were not EMO, but they dressed and supposedly “acted” like ones. These false emos not only were not emos, but they were members of Aldo Miyashiro's theater troupe.
Mouse of Pueblo Vruto [es] on his post “Emo Enemies [es]” provides basically the same opinion, but reflects on what this means for local television:
Tal como muchos lo notaron oportunamente, los “Enemigos Íntimos” dedicaron un programa no para conocer a los Emo (que personalmente no me caen bien) sino para burlarse de ellos. Pero, al estilo de la señora Bozzo, resultó que recurrieron al montaje y al engaño. ¿Tan desesperado estaba Aldo Miyashiro por que encajen sus chistes? El montaje de falsos casos es una práctica muy arraigada en la producción televisiva, como que la mímesis y sus tensiones con la realidad son su razón de ser. El asunto es que Ortiz y Miyashiro no necesitaban de falsos panelistas para hacer lo suyo. De nuevo tenemos que preguntarnos cual es el verdadero problema de nuestra producción nacional: ¿economía o falta de creatividad?
Just as many have noted, the people from “Close Enemies” dedicated a program, not to get to know the emos (who personally I am not fond of), but to make fun of them. In the style of Mrs. Bozzo, it turned out that they resorted to a sketch and to foolery. Is Aldo Miyashiro so desperate to insert his jokes? The sketch of false cases is a practice very deep-rooted in the television production, just as the MIMESIS and her tensions with the reality for her reason of being. The issue is that Ortiz and Miyashiro did not need false panelists to do what they wanted. Now we have to ask ourselves what is our real problem on national production, economic or the lack of creativity?
In spite of everything, emos are not very common in Lima, and it may be more of a question of fashion than of actually being emo. Marco of Andando Sin Caminos [es] wonders whether these youth are just “poseurs”, and writes about them and references some explanative videos:
Lo cierto, es que yo no conocía de esta extraña especie viviente, sino hasta que fui un día al Centro Cultural España, que se encuentra ubicado en Lima, y me detuve a observar el parque de enfrente. Me llamó la atención, en primer lugar ver a tanto “chibolo” vestido de forma extraña, entre una mezcla de ropa negra punk, mezclados con un rosado chillón, y con peinado de personaje de anime japonés. A simple vista, se les nota indefensos, por lo delgados que son, y por lo niños en su aspecto. Y al parecer si son indefensos, porque un amigo me cuenta, que ha visto a muchos de ellos ser golpeados por su apariencia, por pandilleros y por punks que circulan cerca del Centro Cultural España.
It is true that I was not familiar with such a strange living species until I went to the Spanish Cultural Center, which is located in Lima and I stopped to observe a park located in front of the center. It attracted my attention, in the first place, to see so many youth dressed in a strange manner, somewhere between black punk clothing, mixed with a bright pink, and with a haircut of a character of Japanese anime. Upon first glance, they appeared to be defenseless for how skinny they are and for looking childlike. And they are defenseless because a friend told me that he had seen many of them beaten by gangs and by punks that hang out around the Spanish Cultural Center for their appearance.
Julio César of Explorando en Mi [es] writes about his experiences with the emo youth:
En todas las calles de lima podemos ver a jóvenes que pintan sus ojos de negro (en algunos casos rozados y se ponen gotas de agua para parecer estar llorando) usan zapatitos de cuadros, pantalones y polos pegados. Pero 5 de cada 10 no saben por que se visten así y asta saben que se visten como emos pero no saben que es emo y eso yo lo eh verificado personalmente en varios lugares. … Se que hay muchos punk que desearían golpear a cualquier emo que este caminando por la calle, si quieres hazlo, pero recuerda que tu también tienes problemas y que también eres hijo del rock al igual que ellos y que también te desfogas al escuchar tus canciones, entendamos y respetemos su forma de pensar. Y esto es todo lo que tengo que decir de los emos.
In all of the streets of Lima, we can see teenagers who paint their put on black eyeliner (in some cases pink and they put water drops in their eyes to look like they have been crying), use square shoes, pants and tight polo shirts. But 5 out of every 10 do not know why they dress that way, and they know they dress like emos, but they don't know what emo is and that is something I have personally verified in several places… I know that there are many punks, who would like to hit any emo that they see walking down the street, you can if you want, but remember that you also have probems and that like them, you are also the son of rock, who vent when you listen to your songs, we understand and respect your way of thinking. This is everything that I have to say about the emos.
Other posts related to this topic include the post New Waves and Youth in Conflict [es] written by Dego in his blog Nadie Lee Lo Que Escribo [es], which is not specifically about emos, but places the rest of the groups (punks, metalheads, etc.) in context and attempts to explain about some of the conflict among them.
Translated by Eduardo Ávila
0 comments · »»April 10th, 2008
Global Voices in Spanish and Canal Solidario
· 17:48 · Western Europe
Readers of Global Voices in Spanish and Canal Solidario will have recently noticed a small widget showing on both webpages. The one on Global Voices in Spanish displays the latest articles from Canal Solidario. The gadget that appears in Canal Solidario feeds readers all new posts on Global Voices in Spanish.
This partnership allows more people to have access to both websites and the chance to be informed about subjects related to activism and the international blogosphere.
So, what is Canal Solidario? Let's hear it in their own words:
Canal Solidario-One World is a media project that has offered access to news and resources about solidarity, cooperation, peace, human rights and social dialogue through the internet since 1999. It is promoted by the Fundación Chandra, with the support of Fundación Un Sol Món de Catalunya.
The Canal Solidario-One World project is developed by a team of journalists committed to the idea of media as the engine of change towards a more inclusive and free society. Canal Solidario-One World belongs to the OneWorld international network, with 11 local branches all over the world and more than 1,700 subsidiary organizations.
It is worth mentioning that Canal Solidario has very interesting sections such as the Entrevistas (Interviews) with people who play an active part in social movements and other areas of similar interest, La Lupa de los Conflictos (The magnifying glass of conflicts) that analyses controversial subjects, and the Blogosfera (Blogosphere), where posts from the international blogosphere are outlined on a weekly basis.
We are certain this partnership between websites will benefit readers who will see their information and reading options increased in this way.
0 comments · »»March 28th, 2008
Peru: Puno Leader Seeking Greater Autonomy for Region
· 20:22 · Americas
Region of Puno. Map from the Wiki Sumaq Peru
The Regional President of Puno, Hernán Fuentes, is seeking that the region become an autonomous or federated state, in which it is given financial, administrative and political autonomy. This announcement attracted a lot of interest in the media, as well as in the blogs. Bernd Krehoff of Perú Politico [es] writes in his post “Autonomy and Decentralization“:
La descentralización en el Perú es aún incipiente. El Perú tiene una clara tradición centralista, muy diferente a la estructura política de Estados federales como los Estados Unidos. En los últimos años ha habido una serie de impulsos hacia la descentralización que culminaron en la creación de gobiernos regionales y la asignación de cierto nivel de autonomía para la administración de servicios públicos y la ejecución de obras públicas.
A esta autonomía política corresponde una creciente autonomía fiscal, pero esta es aún insuficiente si consideramos que solamente el 20% del presupuesto de este año es destinado a las regiones. Además del tema fiscal están los problemas de implementación y de capacitación. El gobierno central aún no ha cumplido con transferir las competencias que por ley corresponden a las regiones. Por su parte, las regiones carecen de capacitación para realizar una buena gestión pública que se ajuste a los estándares nacionales. Hay, pues, mucho pan por rebanar.
Decentralization in Peru is still young. Peru has a long tradition of centralism, very different than the federal political structure in the United States. In the past few years, there has been a series of steps towards decentralization that saw the creation of regional governments and the asignation of a certain level of autonomy in public services and the implementation of public works.
This political autonomy corresponds to a growing fiscal autonomy, but it is still insufficient when we consider that only 20% of this year's budget is destined for the regions. In addition, the topic of fiscal matters is related to the problems of implementation and training. The central government still has not completed with the transfer of job duties with correspond to the regions according to the law. For their part, the regions lack training so that they can fulfill a proper public administration that coincide with national standards. There is a lot of bread to slice up and distribute.
Laura Arroyo of Menoscanas [es] puts things into context:
Bueno, no podemos culparlo del todo pues, para comenzar, la presencia del Perú en Puno (curiosa la expresión) es mínima. Pero, por otro lado, Fuentes es un gran admirador de Chávez. Tal vez por ello no advierta que no está en la misma posición que el ídolo. Para emprender aventuras como las que Fuentes tiene en mente, necesita primero contar con un apoyo popular significativo, ¿es esto así? No. La cantidad de irregularidades registradas en su gestión y, desde luego, el levísimo margen por el cual ganó las elecciones regionales, indican que este personaje no despierta precisamente, las palmas más sonoras. No está contemplando la importancia de este factor en sus soñadas intenciones. Por otro lado, si bien el Perú se encuentra alejado de Puno, cierto también es que Fuentes no es cercano. La población no lo mira con mucho cariño y, por ello, se puede presumir (como de hecho, hago un poco) que sus intenciones son enteramente “suyas” y no la intención de toda la región que él representa.
We cannot blame him for everything, to begin with, Peru's presence in Puno (funny the expression) is minimal. However, on the other hand, Fuentes is a huge admirer of Chávez. Maybe because of that there is no warning that he is not in the same position as his idol. To start adventures like the ones Fuentes has in mind, one must have significant popular support. Is this the case? No. The amount of documented irregularities in his administration, and later, the small margain in which he won the regional elections. On the other hand, if Peru is far from Puno, it is true that Fuentes is not close. The population does not see him with much affection and, for that, it can be assumed (almost as a fact, I say), that his intentions are “his own” and not the intention of the the entire region which he represents.
Guille of Pueblo Vruto [es] provides his thoughts regarding what is happening in Puno, as well as his opinion of Mr. Fuents in his post “Puno State“:
Personajes como Hernan Fuentes merecen que se rían de él en su cara como el payaso que es. ¿Sabe lo que es “independencia”? Pues para alguien que sigue -mal- un libreto, la “independencia” y “autonomía” no pasan de ser bonitas palabras destinadas a pescar ingenuos y coger desprevenidos a los ignorantes. Si acaso abundan estas especies en su región no nos consta pero es algo con lo que él y sus compañeros de viaje, los esbirros del chavismo y sus casas del ALBA, cuentan. Al menos en Lima sí logran captar algunos “inocentes” (con el anzuelo de lo “cultural”). Pero no caigamos en el rechazo automático de la idea “autonomista”. Una cosa es la torpeza de un personaje adscrito al proyecto totalitario “bolivariano” (que en el colmo de su ignorancia llama “democracia”), y otra es lo que verdaderamente necesita Puno. Siendo una de las regiones más pobres del país, lo menos que podemos hacer es pensar si acaso los puñenos estan siendo dueños de su destino o no. Siendo un importante centro ganadero y minero pero que cobija también actividades como el contrabando y la explotación ilegal, sus altos niveles de pobreza indican que los puneños no son “autónomos” como deberían serlo, por su condición de “Región”. Lo que le puede sobrar de autonomía política (como para optar por autoridades regionales mediocres como las actuales) le falta en libertad económica. Algo que no está en los planes de la Alternativa Bolivariana (basada en el clientelaje político y, por ende, en la corrupción), ni en los del estado central.
Characters like Hernan Fuentes [es] deserve to be laughed at for being the clown that he is. Does he know what “independence” means? For someone that follows a guide incorectly, “independence” and “autonomy” are more than pretty words destined to trick the naive and surprise and pick up the ignorant. If there are more of these individuals in that region does not surprise us, but it is what he and his companions [es], the thugs of Chavism and the ALBA houses [es] talk about. At least in Lima, some “innocents [es]” have been won over (with the bait of being “cultural”). But let us not fall by automatically rejecting the idea of “autonomy.” It is one thing the clumsiness of a person who follows a “Bolivarian” and totalitarian project (which ignorantly is called “democratic.” and the other is what Puno truly needs. Being one of the poorest regions in the country, at least we can do is think whether the residents of Puno are owners of their own destiny or not. Being an important cattle and mining center, which is also participates in contraband [es] and illegal exploitation, its levels of poverty indicate that the residents of Puno are not “autonomous” as they should be, for being a “Region.” Political autonomy may be what they have (to choose mediocre regional authorities that they have now), but not economic liberty [es]. This is something not in the plans of the Bolivarian Alternative (based on political clientisim, as well as corruption [es]), nor in the central state.
Silvio Rendón of El Gran Combo Club [es] has the same opinion, although in different words.
No es la primera vez que ocurre algo así en nuestro país. Ocurrió en Loreto, más de una vez. Arequipa es una “República Independiente”, como bien sabemos (y el mundo no se cae). He oído a pobladores de Tumbes en 1983 pedir su incorporación al Ecuador porque el gobierno de Belaúnde no les enviaba ayuda durante las inundaciones de ese año. El máximo representante de Madre de Dios, muy en oposición a Daniel Estrada del Cusco, planteó también, a fines de los ochentas, la independencia de su región para incorporarse al Brasil, pues no quería formar parte de la región inca. Las declaraciones del presidente regional puneño continúan pues una historia de insatisfacción, tensión y frustración regional.
En el contexto actual, tampoco creo que se trate de las declaraciones de alguien que no razone bien o sólo con delirios de grandeza. Lamento decir que tales propuestas calzan perfectamente dentro de la geopolítica chavista de debilitar a nuestra entidad nacional, como ya manifesté en este post. Por eso mismo, toca reaccionar con cabeza fría, sin caer en ninguna provocación. Pisar el palito sólo podría provocar convertir el conflicto con una persona en un conflicto con todo el pueblo puneño. Ojalá que prime la calma en el gobierno central.
This is not the first time that this has happened in our country. It happened in Loreto, on more than one occasion [es]. Arequipa is an “Independent Republic,” as we know (and the world did not end). In 1983, I have heard residents of Tumbes ask to be incorporated into Ecuador because the government of Belaúnde did not send help during the floods that year. The top leader of Madre de Dios, who in opposition to Daniel Estrada of Cusco, also proposed during the late 1980s, the independence of his region to become a part of Brazil, because he did not want to be part of the Inca region. The statements by the regional president of Puno continues a history of insatisfaction, tension and regional frustration.
In the current context, it also does not have to do with statements from someone that is not thinking straight or with delusions of grandeur. I am sorry to say that these proposals fit perfectly within the geopolitics of Chávez of destablizing our national unity, as I have already referred to in this post. For that reason, one must react with cooler heads, without falling into any provocation. Stepping on the trap could provoke this and convert the conflict with one person into a conflict with the entire population of Puno. Hopefully the central government remains calm.
It is interesting note that of the four blogs quotes, three relate the declarations made by the Regional President of Puno with the regime of Hugo Chávez. There are other opinions in foreign blogs, including this one “Separatism in Peru?” in the Argentine blog, Blog Bis [es], as well as another blog that discusses a similar process taking place in Bolivia.
Translation by Eduardo Ávila
2 comments · »»March 7th, 2008
Peru: Bloggers Provide Thoughts on U.S. Elections
· 00:22 · AmericasThe primary elections in the United States has aroused interest all over the world. Peruvian blogs are not foreign to that interest and are concerned with the subject in many ways, such as simple references, casual commenting, analysis of the situation or just by reproducing things that have appeared on the web. In this post, I'll talk about some of the original content I've been able to find about it:
Melisa Marin, a Texas-based Peruvian, tells us about her experiencies with the ongoing campaign, as well as the comparison, with quite a bit of humor, of both the U.S. and Peruvian electoral systems in her post Obama-tar de un Susto from her blog Crónicas de Tripas y Frambuesa [es]:
Ayer fueron las elecciones primarias aquí en Texas, el “pre” de las verdaderas elecciones, la pregunta es pa’ qué? que si igual nadie vota? Ni se sabe joven, ni se sabe! El tema es que esta reñidísimo entre mi zambito sacalagua Obama y la tía cachudita Clinton. Ambos están que pasan comerciales como aburridos tratando de cautivar a el voto latino, que por cierto, aquí en Texas es súper importante; hasta han aprendido sus tres palabritas en Español para dizque “dentrarle” a la Hispanidad. Por otro lado, los republicanos un tanto piconcillos, dijeron que los Latinos son muchos en Texas, pero que la mayoría son ilegales y no votan je-je! Que bueeeena!
El tema es que fuí a un supermercado y de pronto ví a gente votando en unas cabinitas con un lapicero unido a la mesa por un alambre enclenque, es decir para nosotros los Peruchos la cámara secreeeeta amiguitos!. Mi amiga Charlotte me pregunto si yo quería votar,y como consideré demasiado para explicar junto a la sección de toallas higiénicas el tema de las visas, residencias y ciudadanías, simplemente le dije que no me provocaba. Bueno la cosa es que mis ojitos buscaban como locos el pomito de tinta morada pues señores! Caracho, no hay dereeeeecho! Donde esta la tinta indeleble para no votar dos veeeeeces!, aquel científico y electroniquísimo método Peruano! además donde estaba el papelito higiénico de preferencia rosado carmesí o verde hospital militar?, ese papelito que con alevosía y desprendimiento nos lo entrega una mano amiga llamada”personero” después de la votación. No señores así no se pueeeeeede!
Yesterday here in Texas, the primary elections were held, the preview of the real election, the question is what's that for? anyway nobody votes? Don't know, man, don't know! The thing is pretty-much tied between my knock-kneed Obama and that cheated-on ma'am Clinton. They are both broadcasting boring ads trying to capture the Latino vote, which by the way, here in Texas is greatly important; they have even learned their three Spanish words in order to, supposedly, enter into Hispanity. On the other hand, Republicans in a not-knowing-how-to-lose mood, said that there a lot of Latinos in Texas, but most of them are illegal, they don't vote, ha, ha! That one was gooood! The thing is I went to a supermarket and all of a sudden I saw people voting in some little booths with a pen linked to the table by a puny wire, which is for us, Peruchos, the secret voting cabiiiiin, my little folks! My friend Charlotte asked me if I wanted to vote, and as I felt it was too much to explain alongside feminine pads, the visas issues, residence permits, and citizenships, I simply didn't fancy doing so. Well the thing is my eyes went crazy looking for that purple ink little flask, my dear fellows! Hell no, that's not fair! Where is the indelible ink to prevent us from voting twice!!!, that is the scientific and electronic Peruvian method! besides, where was the toilet paper, preferably crimson pink or militar hospital green? that piece of paper which is handed to us with treachery and open-handedness by a friendly hand called “solicitor” after the election. No man, that is not the way to go!
Carlos, better known as Peruanista, is another US-based Peruvian, and in this post: Video - Obama and Clinton have a say about illegal immigrants he expresses what he expects from the election process, regardless of who the winner is:
As a migrant in USA, I know one or two things about the tragic problem of illegals in this country. That's why I hope there may be soon a reform to that obsolete American immigration law system. Today I wrote about it in my English blog. Good thing about the current US election process, both possible Democrat candidates support a reform to the immigration law. Even the Republican candidate may support it too. But the success or failure of this true revolution falls on the hand of the American people. The candidates are talking about change, but as it has happened in the biggest human steps, a real change depends on the people itself, their communities and the leaders of this nation.
On the other hand, Nomadandrea in the post Election in the US.: Why to vote or not to vote for a woman? Opinions from two young feminists shares her views about this dilemma:
Entonces, ¿el ser mujer o el ser miembro de una minoría étnica da la garantía de un gobierno justo? Yo creo que no y Condoleezza Rice es un buen ejemplo de ello. … En ninguna eleccion se debería apelar a un “victimismo” de minoria, como es el ser mujer o el ser “negro” (o inmigrante, minusválido, etc.) pues se estaría cayendo en el primer caso en una especie de sexismo, y en el segundo ( Obama), en una especie de “endo racismo victimista” ( racismo hacia adentro). … Por lo tanto la mayor encrucijada en la que se encuentra el hermano pueblo estadounidense es el evitar tener un presidente regido por pasiones religiosas o belicistas que nada bueno traerán al mundo en que vivimos, en donde la postura de la feminista/activista pro Obama Aubre Carreon Aguilar, resulta ser la postura mas realista y objetiva, pues antes de ver el “color” o el sexo de los candidatos, se deberia ver las propuestas y en qué creen, para dar cara así a las elecciones definitivas entre republicanos y democratas.
So, being a woman or being a member of a ethnic minority assures us a fair government? I don't think so and Condoleezza Rice is just a good example of that… In no election, no one should appeal as a “victim-like” minority, such as being a woman or being “black” (or immigrant, handicapped, etc.) because they'be falling into some kind of sexism in the first case, and in the second (Obama), is some kind of “endo-racist victim” (racism inside). … So, the biggest crossroads, in which our fellow U.S. residents are in is to avoid having a president ruled by religious or belicose passion, which does not help the world we live in, where the stance of feminist activist pro Obama Aubre Carreon Aguilar, happens to be the most realistic and objective, and before seeing the “color” or the gender of the candidates, one should consider their positions and their beliefs, in order to face the definitive election between Republicans and Democrats.
José Talavera of Bloguiarquía on his post Elections in the US.: pause for the trade agreements, briefly mentions the consequences that the election process is having in the trade agreements signing process with other countries.
El libre comercio, una de las banderas de las dos gestiones de Bush, es un elemento a tener en cuenta también en las elecciones de este año. Y más todavía si tenemos en cuenta el contexto actual, en que la gran potencia parece entrar definitivamente en una recesión, y el tema de la economía es un punto sensible para el electorado norteamericano. … Si bien para el Perú no conlleva grandes efectos, si para otros países, como Colombia, o incluso una economía importante como la surcoreana.
Free trade, a banner of both Bush admnistrations, is a element that must also be considered in this year's election. Furthermore if we consider the current context, in which the biggest power seems to be entering into a recession, and the economy is a sensitive matter for the American electorate. … Although for Peru this may not represent big effects, it may for other countries, such as Colombia, or even an important economy, such as South Korean.
Journalist César Hildebrandt in the post A brilliant mind, comments statements by Nobel Prize winner John Forbes Nash about the future Democrat presidential tandem and the real Republican danger:
es evidente lo que Nash ha querido decirles a Obama y Clinton: sigan así y el “fiscal” McCain se saldrá con la suya. El matemático, que contribuyó a la aplicación de la Teoría de Juegos a la guerra fría desde la ultraconservadora Corporación Rand, ha llegado más lejos todavía y ha propuesto que Obama y Clinton junten sus figuras en una sola fórmula, de modo que la vicepresidencia norteamericana “esté asegurada en cuanto a su idoneidad”. La verdad es que cuando uno escucha a los candidatos demócratas decir lo mismo con distintas inflexiones y afirmar cosas semejantes con ademanes de otro color, existe la impresión de que este es un ardoroso debate entre una Coca Cola en lata y una Coca Cola en vidrio reciclable. O sea, el dilema del prisionero encarnado del modo más vivaz. Y es bueno que un hombre como Nash haya echado un chorro de sentido común al avispero inexplicable del partido que Franklin Roosevelt llevó a la gloria y Bill Clinton condujo, puro en mano, a la promiscuidad con lo peor de los republicanos.
it is evident what Nash wanted to tell Obama and Clinton: continue what you are doing, and “sheriff” McCain will get his own way. The matematician, who contributed with the application of the Game Theory on the Cold War from the ultraconservative Rand Corporation, has gone beyond and suggested that Obama and Clinton must join each other in one only tandem, “is assured” of the vice presidency. The truth is that when you listen to the Democratic candidates saying the same things with different inflections and asserting similar things with another colorful gestures, there is the impression that this is a debate between a can of Coca-Cola and a Coca-Cola in a recyclable bottle. This is the prisoner's dilemma embodied in the most lively way. And it is good that a man as Nash has poured some common sense into the wasp's nest of the party that Franklin Roosevelt took to the promised land and Bill Clinton drove, with a cigar in one hand, to promiscuity with the worst of the Republicans.
And it is interesting what reader richardaqt comments on this same post:
Que tan malo podia ser un gobierno de McCain? Siendo republicano ha sido un critico de Bush y a diferencia de él es un heroe de guerra veterano de Vietnam, y precisamente los presidentes que fueron a una guerra son los menos propensos a iniciar una. En cambio Hillary Clinton apoyo la infame invasion de Irak y no mira mal un ataque a Iran, podria ser la Thatcher americana. Barack Obama es muy idealista e ingenuo como Kennedy que desconocia el lado oscuro del poder americano, por eso fue asesinado. Realmente los democratas, que tenian todas las de ganar, debieron escoger un candidato menos polarizador que una mujer o un negro para enfrentar a los republicanos. Si MaCain aprovecha esta debilidad democrata y se distancia de Bush bien podria llevarse la presidencia.
How bad could a McCain administration can be? As a Republican, he's been critical of Bush and unlike him, McCain is a war hero, Vietnam veteran, and precisely those presidents, who have participated in a war are the ones less prone to start one. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton supported the infamous invasion of Iraq and is not against an attack on Iran. She could be the American Thatcher. Barack Obama is too idealistic and naive, just like Kennedy who wasn't aware of the dark side of the American power, and that's why he was murdered. Really the Democrats, who had everything to win, should have chosen a less polarizing candidate than a woman or a black to confront the Republicans. If McCain takes advantage of this weakness of the Democrats and distances himself from Bush he can take the presidency.
In the blog El contraataque de Woody [es] they are rather concerned with lesser-known candidates than Obama and Clinton in the post Two freaks in the primary elections:
Las elecciones primarias de Estados Unidos me provocan cierto tedio: entre azules y rojos, los pre candidatos más populares se empeñan por suavizar las diferencias y hacerse presentables entre los electores del bando opuesto (en los años ochenta, Devo satirizó esta rara manera de elegir y los nostálgicos o los que nunca entendieron a qué se refería aquella canción, lo pueden recordar o notar aquí). En Estados Unidos los candidatos punteros no buscan la polarización. Comprendo la táctica política, pero no deja de resultarme aburrido. No todo, sin embargo, es tan monótono. Hay al menos dos auténticos “raros” en uno y otro bando y cuyos nombres no son visibles: Ron Paul, por el Partido Republicano y Mike Gravel (pronúnciese “gravél”), por el Partido Demócrata. Como la información que tengo sobre ellos es bastante superficial, prefiero no entusiasmarme. En todo caso, es interesante anotar que ambos responden a tradiciones libertarias (una conservadora, otra ‘liberal’) con notoria presencia en la cultura estadounidense.
Primary elections in United States bore me: between blues and reds, the most popular primary candidates insist on softening the differences and make themselves presentable among the voters from the other side (in the eighties, Devo satirized this strange way of electing, and those nostalgic or those who never understood what that song meant, can recall or see it here). In the United States, the top candidates don't search for polarization. I can understand that political tactic, but it is still boring to me. Not all, though, is that monotonous. There are at least two authentic “freaks” on both sides and whose names are not that visible: Ron Paul, for the Republican Party and Mike Gravel (accent on the last syllabe) for the Democratic Party. As the information I have about both of them is quite superficial, I'd rather curb my enthusiasm. Anyway, it is interesting to note that both have traditions of libertarianism (one conservative, the other one ‘liberal’) with important presence in the American culture.
Well, I'll keep on looking more posts on this matter.
Translated from spanish by Gabriela García Calderón.
0 comments · »»February 8th, 2008
Peru: National Treasures - Pisco Sours, Ceviche and Cumbia
· 04:46 · AmericasPeru is often known for its archaeological treasures such as Machu Picchu. Others point to its natural and ecological treasures of the Amazon Jungle or Andes Mountains. Some bloggers have taken a different course, and pick national treasures that appeal mainly to the 5 senses.
Laura of Menos Canas [es] takes advantage of the day of the pisco sour to reflect on diverse issues that in one way or another are in the limelight. Let's read some of her post, Let's drink pisco!
Hoy se celebra el día del Pisco Sour y, muchos hacemos planes que involucren esta bebida como debe ser. Esta vez, antes de partir a “piscosourlandia”, comparto algunas ideas que surgieron en una conversación con amigos cercanos. Hace algunas semanas escribía en este espacio, algunas líneas alusivas a cierto espíritu antichileno en el país. No me retracto en lo absoluto, al contrario, aprovecho el acontecimiento del día de hoy para reforzar algunos puntos muy particulares.
Si hay algo de lo que los peruanos nos hemos lamentado durante los últimos meses fue de la compra de los supermercados WONG por Cencosud. Al respecto se ha dicho mucho, no solo sobre la pertinencia de dicha compra, sino además sobre las motivaciones que pudieron subyacer a la venta; sin embargo, lo cierto es que el corazoncito peruano reclamó y, ello es lógico. Ahora bien, se ha mencionado también que tal vez si la compra la hubiera realizado una compañía que no fuera chilena, el dolorcito hubiera sido menor pues habría originado, por así decirlo, la herida en lugar de reforzarla. No exageramos cuando afirmamos que el rencor ante Chile se encuentra a flor de piel y temas delicados como el de WONG o, ahora el de la demanda peruana ante La Haya lo evidencian.
Today we celebrate the Day of the Pisco Sour and, as we should, many of us have made plans involving this drink. This time, before heading to Pisco Sour Land, I'd like to share some ideas that came out in a conversation with close friends. Right here, a few weeks ago, I wrote a few lines alluding to a certain anti-Chilean spirit in the country. I absolutely do not retract myself; on the contrary, I take advantage of today's event to reinforce specific points.
If there is something Peruvians have lamented during recent months, it was the purchase of Wong Supermarkets by Cencosud. Much has been said about this, not only about the appropriateness of that purchase; but, also about the motivation that could underlie the sale. What is clear, nonetheless, is the Peru