Historical Inca Walls Destroyed in Peru to build JW Marriott Hotel in Cusco: Protests continue [Photos & VIDEO] PLEASE TAKE ACTION

The construction of a luxurious J. W. Marriott hotel in Cusco, Peru has caused the destruction of Inca and pre Inca stone walls and other historical objects. Some of the findings were thrown away to a nearby river.

The historical remains include walls, ceramics, human and animal bones, which were found during the construction of the hotel, in what used to be a Catholic monastery built on top of Inca walls, in the center of Cusco.

Inca and Kilke walls were found under the convent of San Antonio along with human bones and ceramics.

The exclusive J. W. Marriott hotel will be located in the historical center of Cusco, the capital city of the Indigenous civilization of Tawantinsuyu. Cusco is a unique city of such importance that is included in the UNESCO's World Heritage list, and is the most important tourism destination in Peru

This inexcusable destruction has been done with knowledge of the Peruvian owners and government authorities, but it was kept secret until it was denounced by civic organizations in Cusco including a neighbors association, an attorneys group, independent media reporters, and local residents.

Lima-based company Inversiones La Rioja SA has excavated and destroyed the walls built by the Indigenous civilizations Kilke and Inca, and architectural structures from the Colonial and Republican times of Peru’s history. So far, local authorities haven't acted strongly enough to enforce their heritage protection legislation or to correct or stop the destruction.

The historical remains were discovered last April and October 2009, after the construction work begun in January. Inside the abandoned convent of San Agustin, Archaeologists found several walls along with 25 kg. of ceramics, and human and animal bones. Later on by mid October some of those remains were found dumped at the nearby Huatanay river.

Construction continues after destruction of historical heritage.
(*) Photos posted at SkyscraperCity. September 2009

After months of protests and suspensions, last Friday December 25, a group of Council members of the Municipality of Cusco ordered the revoking of the construction license for the hotel J. W. Marriott, due to allegations of destruction of the heritage, however the initiative lacked of support from local authorities, and the Executive branch in Lima.

The non profit groups Juntas Vecinales del Centro Historico de Cusco [Neighborhood Boards of the Historical Center of Cusco] (JVCHC) and the Center of Population Research Documentation and Consulting (CIDAP) have asked the General Attorney to appoint a special Prosecutor to protect the heritage of Cusco. These groups have organized vigils, dialogues and protests before but were widely ignored especially by the local media.

I contacted the Provincial Municipality of Cusco and I was told that the construction was suspended partially but in general they will continue. Also I called Inversiones La Rioja S.A. but a message said they are in vacations until January 4, 2010.

Future hotel located only two blocks from Cusco's main square

Plan shows existent walls before the construction started, color shows antiquity

Map of the city of Cusco and location of the convent of San Agustin
Google Maps

The planned J. W. Marriott hotel will have 150 rooms in a seven-stories building, with a 3-level underground complex. This requires excavations that are usually forbidden by the law in a city that was built on top of rich unstudied archaeological remains, left mostly by Native civilizations thousands of years ago. The old convent of San Agustin is located in downtown Cusco, and it was declared a historical monument in 1994 by the National Institute of Culture (INC) of Peru but it was neglected for years until the INC approved the privatization of the property.

The J. W. Marriott in Cusco was announced in March 2008 by representatives of Marriott International in Peru. The first stone was laid on January 19, 2009 by the then Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mercedes Araoz (today’s minister of Economy), the current INC director Cecilia Bakula and by the directors of La Rioja SA who promised they would respect the historic heritage of the site.

Months later the Provincial Municipality of Cusco ordered the suspension of the project on June 5, under the recommendation of the Judiciary’s Anti-Corruption Attorney office after the April discovery and after local protests, and recommendations from professionals including the Cusco branch of the Association of Architects of Peru. But the construction has continued, and the Peruvian government seem to have little interest to enforce a restoration and protection process.

This week I contacted architect Virginia Mendigure-Sarmiento, who is a member of the "Neighborhood Boards of the Historical Center of Cusco", and she confirmed that Cusco residents have witnessed the destruction of the historical walls. Most importantly, architect Virginia Mendigure mentioned that because of the recent tourism industry boom, Cusco is becoming a segregated city where the local residents are facing economic and racial discrimination, as a result of the privatization of historical sites.

Most of the jobs created by the tourism industry are benefiting workers that come from other cities, and we the people of Cusco have limited access to most of the new private businesses opening in the city. Also she lamented that there is not enough awareness among the Cusco population about the importance of their historical heritage, and the destruction it faces.

As a result of the lack of response from the authorities in regards of the J. W. Marriott case, -especially from the INC- the Neighborhood Boards of the Historical Center of Cusco has requested the Provincial Municipality of Cusco (PMC) to declare the city’s cultural heritage in a state of emergency, but both the PMC and the UNESCO have not supported the initiative. Meanwhile most local and national media are ignoring the crisis in Cusco.

Priviledge and discrimination

There is a reason for the privileged treatment that private investors are receiving from the Peruvian authorities, and that has to do mostly with economical benefits and the corrupting influence that powerful corporations have in a country like Peru. The powerful Inversiones La Rioja S.A. (ILR) -which owns the J.W. Marriott hotel in Lima– is a corporation well connected to the economic and political elites of Peru.

The ILR directors have close ties with the current Peruvian government, the Catholic church and the elites of Peru. This might explain the silence of the Peruvian media and press in regards of the protests and vigils organized by the Cusco population in the last several months. Also, this might have to do with the extraordinary support of the National Institute of Culture (INC) to the investors.

Inversiones La Rioja SA has a franchise agreement with Marriott International, and they claim that the new hotel will create more than 300 jobs during construction and more than 1,000 when completed at the end of 2010. Attempts to suspend the project have caused social unrest among the few benefited in Cusco, but opponents see it as a necessary measure to protect the city’s heritage.

Professionals in charge of the construction site have said the findings of historical remains were a surprise, because the old convent of San Agustin was located in "an agricultural area" during the Inca times. This is difficult to accept, considering that the project is located two blocks away from the main square of Wajaypata where is located the famous cathedral. In that same area the horrendous ‘Sumaq Ima’ Mall is being built.

Last September 2009, the mayor of Cusco Luis Florez Garcia, accompanied a delegation of the CVCHC for a meeting at the Congress of Peru in the capital Lima. In that meeting, Florez told Congress members that "Peru requires builders and not destructive people, predators that are secretly preparing laws against our cultural heritage."

More photos

Systematic privatization of the historic center of Cusco

The destruction and looting of historical Indigenous sites in today’s Peru is nothing new. It’s been happening for centuries since the European invasion of the XVI century. For instance, when Machu Picchu was rediscovered in 1867 by the German treasure hunter Augusto Berns, he signed a secret deal with the government of Lima to extract the treasures and then ship them off to Europe, with a 10% commission for the Peruvian elite.

Cusco's rich historical and cultural heritage has become a curse to its residents, who are the descendants of the Indigenous peoples who built and created it. In the last decades, the historical center of Cusco, the surrounding towns and historical sites are undergoing a radical change that has changed the lives of its mostly Indigenous residents.

This is the result of a quiet process of privatization of the cultural heritage in the region, led by the government of Lima. The Peruvian Executive has the last say on the management of cultural and tourism resources. This has led to a property speculation market promoted by the tourism industry and also sponsored by the local Catholic Archdiocese which owns almost 50% of the historical downtown area. Today, big parts of the city of Cusco and many of its attractions are tourists-access only and the demand for properties in the historical center has caused the displacement of poorer neighbors to the hilly edges of Cusco.

Being Cusco the main destination of over 2 million foreign visitors that arrive to Peru every year, the important economic impact of the tourism industry is not benefiting the region, represented in the 56-70% poverty level of Cusco’s population. Most tourism companies in the city are either foreign or from Lima, including the only train that goes to the world-famous citadel of Machu Picchu.

Meanwhile, new projects like the hotel in Cusco like the J. W. Marriott and the Ima Sumaq Mall are destroying the historic character of the area. This also occurs in the outskirt neighborhoods of the periphery, where both formal and informal constructions copy the worst of Lima’s architecture creating ugly streets without a local identity.

Money, power, religion, and the Indigenous heritage of Cusco

The people of Cusco are mostly Indigenous and mestizo (mixed Indigenous). They are witnessing in horror as their historical heritage is being privatized and destroyed by people that come from outside of their territory, their cultural, racial and religious heritages. For the newcomers it’s about making profits, for the locals is about is a source of monetary gain. For others it’s a matter of pride, identity.

The city of Qosqo was one of the greatest rewards for the Hispanics during the invasion of the Inca civilization in the sixteenth century. After murdering Inca Atawualpa in Caxamarca, those led by Francisco Pizarro arrived at the Inca capital and destroyed much of it in early 1534. Then they looted everything they could.

The supervisor of the looting representing the Hispanic monarchy was Jeronimo de Aliaga, Pizarro’s personal treasurer and one of the first Spanish who arrived to Peru. More than 475 years later, one of his direct descendants, Agustin de Aliaga Fernandini is one of the directors of the destructive Inversiones La Rioja SA.

ILR’s directors also include mining investor Alfonso Brazzini Diaz-Ufano, corporate attorney and mining lobbyist Ricardo Harten Costa, mining corporate owner Alberto Benavides de la Quintana (co-owns Yanacocha the second biggest gold mine in the world), and Chilean business mogul Eduardo Elberg. All of the Peruvians come from elite families in Lima of European origin.

Obviously, in a country as racist as Peru, the ILR ‘investors’ lack of any historical connection with the Indigenous and mestizo heritage of Cusco. They do not feel the moral and historical duty of first protecting the cultural legacy of Cusco, before his business interests.

The same way it happened in 1534, the outsiders came to Cusco to steal and make money from the Native’s resources and hard work. Some came for the gold; others came to evangelize the Indigenous peoples, by all means necessary.

Opus Dei in Cusco

Opus Dei is a conservative, right-wing Catholic congregation, created with the support of fascist dictator Francisco Franco in Spain. The Opus Dei has grown rapidly in the last decades, with the strong support of the Vatican. The "Work" aims to gain political and economic power as means for evangelization, their members don’t tolerate religious or cultural diversity, they believe in one only God and faith. This group is seen as a dangerous cult by progressive thinkers in the world, but it was blessed by Pope John Paul II and currently by Pope Benedict XVI.

In some way, the Opus Dei has been the response of the right-wing Catholics, to the leftist movements within the Church especially in Latin America. Pope John Paul II promoted the movement to oppose the Liberation Theology of Peruvian priest and philosopher Gustavo Gutierrez. The Opus Dei doesn’t favor the resurgence of Indigenous movements in the continent; much less they would care about preserving our cultural and historical heritage.

The Archbishop of Cusco, Juan Antonio Ugarte is a member of the Opus Dei, he is white and was born and raised in a rich family of Lima. He is also a close friend of the Cardinal of Lima, Juan Luis Cipriani one of the only two Opus Dei cardinals in the world. The director of the National Institute of Culture, Cecilia Bakula, is also a member of Opus Dei, like several of the leaders of the INC staff members she personally hired.

Religion and money

After re-founding Cusco; the Catholic Spaniards built their churches and palaces over the charred and half destroyed walls of the Indigenous civilizations. Underneath remained buried thousands of years of human knowledge. Ever since, religion has played an important role in the cultural genocide of our Indigenous cultures in the Americas.

The founder of the Marriott corporation, J. Willard Marriott was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Mormon church, and he once said that "a man should keep being constructive and do constructive things" before his death. His son Billy Marriott, the current head of the corporation, wrote recently in his blog,

"I love the Bible as it teaches me about honesty, integrity and unconditional love for all people. But beyond that, I am very careful to separate my personal beliefs and how we conduct our business. [...] Marriott was built on the basic principles of respect and inclusion."

So I had to wonder if the Marriott family knows about how their partners in Peru are doing business. Would they support the destruction of Cusco's heritage? I called Marriott headquarters in Maryland, and I got a call back promising that they will find out more information. Sure, they didn't know. We'll see what happens.

Take Action to Protect Cusco!

Watch this video and share it:

An independent journalist in Cusco asks the Archaeologist of the J. W. Marriott hotel construction, why is she allowing heavy machinery and trucks in a site where historical remains have been found. She responded embarrassed that if it were under her control, she wouldn’t have ordered it.

Contact Inversiones La Rioja SA in Peru:

• 011-511-215-8200
• 011-511-217-7000

Contact Marriott International:

Corporate Headquarters
Marriott International
10400 Fernwood Road
Bethesda, Md. 20817
Phone: 301.380.3000

Leave a comment at Bill Marriott's blog.

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Destruyen patrimonio histórico en Cusco durante construcción de hotel JW Marriott: obras continúan a pesar de protestas [Fotos y VIDEOS]

Invalorables restos históricos han sido destruídos durante la construcción del hotel J. W. Marriott en Cusco, Perú.

Los restos afectados incluyen muros, cerámicas y restos óseos de las civilizaciones indígenas Inca y Kilke, así como estructuras coloniales y republicanas.

La empresa peruana Inversiones La Rioja S.A. realiza la construcción del hotel J. W. Marriott dentro del antiguo monasterio de San Agustín el centro de Cusco, un complejo histórico de tal importancia que es parte del patrimonio mundial de la UNESCO.

La destrucción de los sitios históricos en Cusco expone la corrupción de grupos empresariales privados y de las autoridades de Perú. La apropiación del patrimonio histórico en Cusco es liderado por grupos empresariales desde Lima.

Ubicación del futuro hotel J. W. Marriott a solo dos cuadras de Wajaypata, la plaza principal de Cusco.

Este plano muestra la estructuras existentes antes de la construccion del hotel, con datos de antiguedad de las mismas. No se incluyen muros descubiertos luego bajo el convento.

Mapa de la ciudad de Cusco. El punto 'A' muestra el convento de San Agustin.
Google Maps

La construcción del hotel J. W. Marriott fue anunciada en marzo de 2008 por los representantes de Marriott International en Perú. La primera piedra fue colocada el 19 de enero de 2009 por la entonces ministra de Comercio Exterior y Turismo, Mercedes Aráoz; y la actual directora del INC Cecilia Bákula, así como por los directores de Inversiones La Rioja S.A. quienes aseguraron que respetarían el patrimonio histórico.

Los restos fueron descubiertos en abril de 2009 dentro del antiguo convento de San Agustín que fue declarado Monumento histórico en 1994 por el Instituto Nacional de Cultura (INC) de Perú. Estos incluyen muros de las civilizaciones indígenas Inca y Kilke, estructuras coloniales y republicanas, cerámicas, y restos óseos humanos y animales. Muchos de esos restos fueron encontrados en octubre pasado, abandonados en el río Huatanay.

Inversiones La Rioja S.A. es una empresa bien conectada a los grupos de poder económico y político de Lima, es además la propietaria del hotel J.W. Marriott de Lima en asociación con el chileno Eduardo Elberg. Esa empresa peruana tiene un acuerdo de franquicia con la estadounidense Marriott International.

La Rioja asegura que el nuevo hotel empleará a más de 300 personas durante la construcción, y a más de 1,000 cuando esté culminado a fines de 2010. La suspensión de las obras ha causado protestas de los pocos beneficiados en Cusco, sin embargo los oponentes consideran que es una medida necesaria para proteger la ciudad. El Consejo Regional de Cusco del Colegio de Arquitectos de Perú se ha pronunciado oficialmente advirtiendo del peligro que representa este proyecto.

En este video la arqueóloga de la construcción del hotel, asegura que la presencia de maquinaria pesada en esa zona histórica no es su decisión, pero que ella no lo hubiera aceptado si la obra estuviera bajo su control.

Luego de meses de protestas e intentos de suspensión de las obras, el viernes 25 de diciembre pasado, una comisión de la Municipalidad de Cusco ordenó la suspensión de la licencia de construcción del hotel J. W. Marriott. Esta medida respondió a las denuncias de destrucción del patrimonio hallado en el antiguo convento de San Agustín. Sin embargo las obras continúan, debido a la oposición de seis regidores.

Ante ello la agrupación civil Juntas Vecinales del Centro Histórico de Cusco ha solicitado al Ministerio Público la designación de un fiscal ad hoc para proteger el patrimonio de Cusco, sus quejas principales son el hecho que se permite a Marriott excavaciones ilegales en el subsuelo, así como la destrucción de muros y estructuras antes existentes.

En junio pasado se realizó una inspección con autoridades de la Municipalidad Provincial de Cusco y representates de los vecinos:

La Municipalidad Provincial de Cusco ordenó la suspensión de las obras el 5 de junio, bajo la recomendación de la Procuraduría Anticorrupción del poder Judicial en esa ciudad, y por protestas de la población cusqueña, como las Juntas Vecinales del Centro Histórico de Cusco que incluye a los cuatro barrios principales de Santa Ana, San Blas, San Pedro y San Cristóbal; y el CIDAP Centro de Investigación Documentación y Asesoría Poblacional. A pesar de ello las obras no se detuvieron, pero la ubicación del proyecto permitió que los cusqueños sean testigos de la destrucción del monasterio agustino.

Los responsables de la obra dijeron que el hallazgo de los restos históricos era una sorpresa, porque el antiguo monasterio de San Agustín se hallaba en “una zona agrícola” de la época incaica. Esto es difícil de aceptar, considerando que el proyecto se ubica en la esquina de las calles San Agustín y Ruinas, a solo dos cuadras de la plaza mayor de Wajaypata donde se ubica la catedral de esa ciudad. En esa misma área se encuentra el proyecto del Centro Comercial Ima Sumaq.

El antiguo monasterio de San Agustín fue abandonado por varios años por negligencia de la Arquidiócesis de Cusco, a pesar que fue declarado Monumento histórico por el INC. Sus estructuras fueron dañadas por terremotos y sublevaciones militares, y continuaban deteriorándose. Sin embargo habían restos históricos intactos en el subsuelo, incluyendo huesos humanos, 25 kilos de cerámicas y elementos arquitectónicos.

Esta es una característica de todo el centro de Cusco, un lugar con restos históricos donde no se pueden hacer excavaciones sin permiso ni la asesoría profesional adecuada. Pero los constructores del hotel J. W. Marriott han hecho excavaciones de hasta tres pisos de altura.

Lo que se está haciendo el convento de San Agustín se trata de excavaciones inmensas, como lo denuncia el arquitecto Humberto Palacios Miró Quesada en una carta pública a la directora del INC. Para prueba vean este exclusivo video:

Una delegación de cusqueños viajó a Lima, para presentar un informe ante el Congreso de Perú a fines de setiembre de 2009. En esa reunión, el alcalde de Cusco Luis Florez García dijo a los congresistas que “Perú, necesita constructores y no destructores, menos aún depredadores que andan ocultos por allí proyectando leyes en contra del patrimonio cultural.”

Los congresistas acordaron una visita al proyecto de J. W. Marriott para mediados de noviembre, y el 3 de octubre se descubrieron los restos históricos arrojados al río Huatanay. Finalmente a mediados de octubre se descubrieron más restos arquitectónicos incas, restos humanos y de animales.

Recientemente la organización cívica "Comisión de Juristas de Cusco" ha presentado una denuncia judicial contra "los funcionarios del Instituto Nacional de Cultura de Cusco y Municipalidad Provincial [de Cusco], por haber autorizado la demolición del antiguo Monasterio de los Agustinos" ante la Fiscalía de Nación así como la Fiscalía de Patrimonio.

Privatización sistemática del patrimonio histórico de Cusco

Desde hace varias décadas el centro histórico de Cusco y el patrimonio de la región, incluyendo a Machu Picchu y el Valle Sagrado de los Incas, están sufriendo un proceso de privatización que ha cambiado la vida de sus ciudadanos y les ha arrebatado el acceso a su propio patrimonio cultural, construído por sus antepasados. Como resultado, una especulación inmobiliaria promovida por la industria del turismo ha dividido sectores urbanos y regionales, para acceso solo de turistas y aquellos para los cusqueños.

El patrimonio histórico de Cusco se ha vuelto una maldición para los cusqueños, cuando debería ser al contrario. En Cusco la mayoría de empresas del turismo son extranjeras o de Lima, por eso el impacto económico de esa industria en la ciudad y la región Cusco no es significativo, a pesar que se trata del principal destino turístico de Perú la población enfrenta una pobreza entre 56-70%.

Proyecto de hotel J. W. Marriott. via Peru21

Esta semana conversé con la arquitecta Virginia Mendigure Sarmiento, de las Juntas Vecinales del Centro Histórico de Cusco, quien confirmó que hay testigos que han visto la destruccion de los restos en el convento augustino; pero sobretodo lamentó que Cusco se haya convertido en una ciudad museo, donde los cusqueños ya no tienen acceso a su ciudad y su patrimonio, menos al progreso de la industria del turismo, siendo discriminados económica y racialmente.

La demanda por propiedades en el centro histórico está causado un desplazamiento de los vecinos más pobres hacia barrios de las periferias de Cusco. Esto es apoyado por el principal propietario de la ciudad, el Arzobispado de Cusco que hace unos meses expulsó al histórico café Ayllu de la plaza principal.

Mientras tanto nuevos proyectos en Cusco como el hotel J. W. Marriott y el horrible Centro Comercial Ima Sumaq están destruyendo el carácter histórico de la zona. No solo no se respeta el límite de altura de los edificios, pero además utilizan materiales de construcción y estilos ajenos a la arquitectura histórica del lugar. Esto hay que reconocerlo ocurre igualmente en los barrios de la periferia, tanto formales como informales, donde el afán de copiar lo peor de Lima ha creado barrios sin identidad propia.

El proyecto del hotel J. W. Marriott en Cusco incluye una estructura de siete pisos, un sótano de tres niveles, 150 habitaciones y espacios de uso comercial. Inicialmente se esperaba que el hotel iniciara operaciones a fines del 2010, pero todo parece indicar que no será posible, debido a la suspensión de las obras.

La corporación Marriott Internacional incluye a más de 3,200 hoteles en 66 países del mundo a través de unas 17 cadenas de hoteles, siendo J. W. Marriott la más lujosa teniendo en su lista a cerca de 40 hoteles en el mundo. Marriott International obtuvo más de $13 mil millones de dólares en ganancias en 2008.

Los beneficios parecerían ser muy convenientes para Cusco, pero Marriott exporta casi todo su mobiliario e instalaciones, así como sus empleados mejor remunerados. Los cusqueños reciben usualmente los empleos de servicio de poca remuneración.

Por ejemplo, en el famoso hotel Monasterio, adecuado dentro del antiguo monasterio y seminario de San Agustín de la plaza Nazarenas -a unas pocas cuadras del futuro J.W. Marriott- la mayoría de empleos no son ocupados por cusqueños precisamente. Además por los precios -el cuarto más barato cuesta $528 la noche- casi ningún cusqueño puede usar ese extraordinario y hermoso hotel de la cadena británica Oriental Express, propietaria del único tren que llega a Machu Picchu gracias a la privatización forzada desde Lima.

A propósito, el antrópologo cusqueño Guillermo Salas denuncia que para la empresa inglesa Oriental Express la "responsabilidad social" de esa empresa implica comprarles papas y artesanías a los pobladores de Cusco.



El fundador de la cadena Marriott, J. Willard Marriott, miembro de la iglesia Mormona o de Jesucristo de los Santos de Ultimos Días, dijo alguna vez que “un hombre debe mantenerse siendo constructivo y hacer cosas constructivas” antes de fallecer. Por cierto, los mormones consideran que los indígenas de las Américas somos descendientes de una tribu perdida de Israel, y que tenemos la piel oscura como castigo divino. Por algo soy agnóstico.

Billy Marriott, hijo de J. W. Marriott y actual cabeza de la corporación, escribió recientemente en su blog que “la Biblia que yo adoro me enseña sobre la honestidad, la integridad y el amor incondicional para todas las personas. Pero más allá de ello, soy muy cuidadoso de separar mis creencias personales y la forma como dirigir nuestros negocios. […] y Marriott se construyó en los principios básicos de respeto e inclusión.”

Me pregunto si la familia Marriott conoce sobre la forma cómo sus socios peruanos están haciendo negocios en Cusco, en su nombre.

Ayuda a proteger el patrimonio de Cusco:

Contacta Inversiones La Rioja SA:

• 215-8200
• 217-7000

Contacta Marriott International:

10400 Fernwood Road
Bethesda, Md. 20817
Phone: 301.380.3000

Más Fotos

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Racism in Peru: locally produced TV presents Indigenous and Black Peruvians through Insulting Characters and promotes White supremacy

Almost all of Peru's television stations, publicity agencies, printed newspapers and film producers are based in Lima and are either owned by white Peruvians or white foreigners. Perhaps that is the reason why the Peruvian TV and most media promote a vicious racism and white supremacy in their every day programming.

Even though most of the programs and publicity included in Peru's TV channels are imported from the worst producers in the United States, and Latin American countries like Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela among others, but the few local productions are proven popular among Peruvians.

However, all of the Peruvian and Latin American television shows are produced by Hispanics and other European descendants, not by Natives or Afro descendants. In Peru this is very contradictory since we Indigenous and Blacks make up about 90% of the country's population, included the mixed communities.

As a result of this racial divide and lack of equal access to the mainstream media, the TV of Lima not only fails to present the cultures of all Peruvians, but they purposely creates shows that always include racist characters that extremely offensive to non-white Peruvians.

..

The racist TV of Lima is watched in all Peruvian regions, and it presents insulting characters that make fun of our Indigenous and Afro descendant populations, our traditions and ways of living presented in demeaning ways. These characters are part of TV shows created by racist script writers, and although some of them aren't white but money can buy almost anything in a poor, divided, white folks-loving Peru.

These are some examples of racist characters in the TV produced in Lima:

Paisana Jacinta

This "Country woman Jacinta" is an example of how popular is the mockery of the Andean women in Peru. Jacinta is a poor migrant from the farmland to the big city of Lima, where she always gets involved in complicated situations -due to her "ignorance"- while she is portrayed as ignorant, needy, teeth-less, ugly, unclean, outdated, stupid, naive.

This program has been banned after protests by human-right activists in Peru, but its video are still available online posted by Peruvians!

"Paisana Jacinta" was produced by Frecuencia Latina, a channel owned by an Israel-born Jewish man; and America TV today owned in part by El Comercio (Peru) and El Tiempo (Colombia) newspapers.

In the following image an ignorant Paisana Jacinta confronts an educated librarian, a 'white' woman as part of a "comedy" show in Lima. This sad and offensive character is still celebrated by many Peruvians many of whom are of Indigenous heritage as funny.

Tongo

This character makes fun of the urban Indigenous population that who grew up in Lima, the children of rural migrants. Tongo is what some call "cholo" or a Native man who adopts urban westernized manners. In real life, Tongo is a Chicha singer (Peruvian Cumbia music) but his character was brought to TV by Frecuencia Latina, a channel owned by a Israel-born Jewish man, and by a TV commercial produced for Telefonica, the Hispanic telecommunication corporation.

Tongo became famous also with the support of Jaime Bayly, a racist TV host with programs in Lima and Miami. Especially when Tongo launched a song titled "I'm in live with a Pituca". Pituca are white rich women of Lima and as an Indigenous man, Tongo is presented by Peruvian media as the opposite symbol of the progress of white Peruvians (or Americans). In other words, contemporary progress vs. backwards poverty.

It's common to see "jokes" about Indigenous peoples in the Peruvian media. Tongo is a mixed Indigenous man or "mestizo" but he would never admit it publicly of course.

Negro Mama

A mixed Indigenous actor (Jorge Benavides) of Lima plays this "comedy" character that makes fun of Black Peruvians, in a very, very offensive way.

This character shows an ignorant, slow minded, retarded man who speaks with an exaggerated accent of Afro Peruvians. The "Black Faced" Negro Mama has exaggerated sized lips and nose features, and he opens his eyes widely every time he speaks.

"Negro Mama" was also produced by Frecuencia Latina, created by Benavides and the racist actor Carlos Alvarez, who by not a coincidence is the most popular comedian in Peru. This is explained by the fact that sadly in Peru is also very common to hear jokes about Black people, who are called names like Zambo, Mulato, Betun, Choro, etc. and the media reinforces this racism very often.

Chola Chabuca

"Chola Chabuca" is an example of how accepted is racism in Lima's media. This is a character that makes fun of Andean women, by exaggerating the accent, traditional regalia and physical appearance of our Indigenous women from the Andes region. It's like a white-looking one "Paisana Jacinta".

This celebrated drag performance is presented by Ernesto Pimentel, an openly-gay Peruvian actor who is not Indigenous and tries to white-wash his racist acts by presenting a "Native-friendly" Chabuca.

But "Chola Chabuca" exaggerates everything about the Indigenous women of Peru, from the clothing, shoes, ways of living and speaking. She is basically a clown, and she is loved among Indigenous peoples of Lima.

Ernesto Pimentel is also a popular TV host in Lima and he has been invited to the U.S. to perform as "Chola Chabuca" in Peruvian festivals.

This is another example of how in Peru is common and widely accepted to make fun of women period, but even worse when it comes to Native women, in ways that even urban Native people of Peru accept it as funny.

Al Fondo Hay Sitio

This is a soap-opera produced in Lima, which presents a Native family and a White family as the examples of both extremes of poverty and progress in today's Lima. They are joined by ridiculously silly love stories that could hardly happen in real life.

The Gonzales family (in the photo) migrates from the Andean city of Ayacucho to the capital Lima. Most of Ayacucho population is of Indigenous heritage.

The problem is that the only Indigenous actors in the "provinciana" Gonzales family have dyed their hair blond, or are light-skinned. And they force their "serrano" accent so much that sounds very offensive. Not in Lima though where the children of Indigenous migrants tend to pass as whites.

In the contrary, the Italian-Peruvian family of the Maldinis is presented as a symbol of progress, sophistication and class even if some of their members are evil, arrogant and openly racist. Of course, some of the all-white Maldinis will befriend the Gonzales family with a protective, superior attitude of racism and class division, and even pitty.

At the end, the Gonzales are seeing as the needy, innocent and uneducated "new Limans" while the Maldinis are seeing as the "classic" Lima rich family, who are better-off in every possible way. This happy-end sitcom has become one of the most populars in Lima television. Terribly.

Cholo Cirilo

Cholo is a racist slur that was created by the Hispanics in the XVI century, to classify slaves who descended from Indigenous and Spaniard parents. This character, Cirilo is an Indigenous immigrant who arrives from Cusco to Lima, and he becomes a "acholado" man, which is someone who tries to adapt the manners of urban peoples but he is seeing as a weak, ridiculous man, ready to do anything to make money in the big city.

Although "Cholo Cirilo" is an outdated character in today's Lima TV but he is popular among Indigenous festivals in Peru and in other countries where Peruvian migrants live.


Break them

We know already the consequences of having communities with low self esteem, they end up being conformist, self loathing, divided, passive and oppressed. We know of the role of cultural genocide and imposition that colonial powers have promoted on their slaved populations: this sense of racist superiority has allowed so many injustices in human history. It's happening in Peru today.


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Censorship and Blogs in Peru: Heavy Metal Rock fans attack blogger Peruanista - Hateful Youtube Videos demand for “Punishment”

Heavy Metal Rock fans who read this blog got really offended by my post about the upcoming Metallica concert in Lima. I have received dozens of hate emails and comments in my blogs and videos posted online.

Peruvian Youtubers ThunderWarrior7 and PowerMetalWarriors have created three videos to promote "a crusade" that aims to the censorship and deleting of my blogs Peruanista, Carlos in DC and Two Spirits One; and my Youtube channels, my Facebook y mi Twitter. Although the videos are posted by both channels, I suspect that is only one person behind this attack. However I am getting dozens of hate emails and messages already.

The first video is titled "Invocation to Defend the Greatness of Our Metal Culture" has a violent content that includes images of a man being threatened at a gun point, while its recorded voice asks viewers to visit my blogs and Youtube channels and report them as offensive, illegal, violating copyrights, offensive content and to post hate comments.

In the video description, the author says - I translated the original text into Spanish:

I call upon all Latin American Metal-heads to join me in a crusade to show this shitty ignorant hypocrite that we Metal fans are strong, and that nobody can insult the Metal without being punished.

Death to blasphemers, long life to Metal.

Attention warriors get the troops together now. On Saturday December 26 begins the attack and I will let you know who is this moron so we will humiliate him, so stay attentive to my channels.

Two weeks ago, the same user Thunderwarrior7 who is the creator of the mentioned video, sent me this threatening message:

Metallica is coming to Peru, this will be another great event for the entire Peruvian Metal community, we will fulfill another dream, and POOR any IGNORANT GROSS ABNORMAL who dares to be criticizing or making bad comments against this magnificent event, JAJAJAJA

I remind you hypocrite asshole Peruanista, when you to criticized [the concert] of Iron Maiden in Peru, saying that we adored the gringo capitalists, JAJA when in fact you are the [gringo lover] capitalist who went to work for the gringos, and abandoned our beautiful Peru. (Shameless capitalist agringado) [...]

Hey what happened to your other [Youtube] account? JAJAJAJA well done, that's what happens when you have blasphemed against METAL; Just so you know, I have many friends and subscribers in my 2 channels, and I can invoke an attack against you, we all come and can leave comments and flag your videos so they can close your channel again Jajajaja

So you've been warned, don't you ever make any comments against Metallica!

Obviously, this user (s) needs to calm down. This blog has been taken as a threat to its musical taste and even his pseudo-religious beliefs. Also, he is being following my blog for a long time as he is referring to my previous channels being censured by Youtube, read my article in Ground Report.

This is what I wrote him this week:

DC, 24 December 2009.

Hello ThunderWarrior7

Two days ago, some readers of my blog let me know of your video "Invocation to Defend the Greatness of Our Metal Culture" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-y6-fpFEQg] in which you promote violence and even death-threats to someone. I have reason to believe that you are referring to me. So I'm writing you this message.

First, remember this is the internet and my blog includes my opinion, one of millions of blogs. I don't know you personally and I have nothing against you nor your musical tastes, so you shouldn't take my articles in a personal level.

In my blog I have written clearly what is my personal opinion about Metallica and the heavy metal music genre, which shouldn't represent the absolute truth nor I'm trying to force anyone to change its musical taste. I only share my opinion on topics that interest me, and I use the Metallica concert in Lima as the focus of my article.

I am a writer, a blogger, an artist and I love to share ideas, discuss them and learn from them. That is why I blog. If you see it as something more seriously deep, then you're being affected by your overreaction.

Merry Christmas,

CarlosQC Peruanista

To respond to this note, the user have posted two videos last night, with instructions on why and how attack my blogs and channels, here and here.

Sad unhealthy obsession

This is a very instructive example of how the Internet has become for many people an apparent refuge to express their destructive tendencies, and or even like a therapy.

For many, the internet can become an unhealthy habit. In this case, so much energy is being applied to offend me, that I wonder why these individuals don't use this efforts in order to make a positive difference in this world. Instead of attacking a blogger.

My original article about the Metallica concert in Lima, is here. The English version might be posted soon.

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Metaleros amenazan a Peruanista: usuario de Youtube dice “nadie puede insultar al metal sin ser castigado”

Aficionados del rock metal pesado se han ofendido por mi artículo sobre la visita de Metallica a Lima. En estos días he recibido una gran cantidad de insultos no publicables por email y por comentarios en mis videos.

En Youtube, el usuario peruano ThunderWarrior7 ha creado tres videos para promover una "cruzada" que tiene como objetivo el censurar y cerrar mi blogs Peruanista, Carlos in DC and Two Spirits One; mis canales de Youtube, mi Facebook y mi Twitter.

El primer video es titulado "Invocación para Defender la Grandeza de Nuestra Cultura metalera" es una amenaza a Peruanista. Ese mismo video ha sido publicado por el usuario PowerMetalWarriors y supongo que se trata de la misma persona. Puedes ver el video en este link, aunque puedes ver los posteriores dos videos que incluyo en este post.

El audio, texto e imágenes incluidos en los mencionados videos hacen referencia a una amenaza contra mi blog y canales. Como dice el autor se trata de “demostrarle a un ignorante hipocrita de [***], que los metaleros somos una potencia, y que nadie puede insultar al metal sin ser castigado."

Este es el texto incluido en la descripción del video:

Invoco a todos los metaleros de latinoamerica a que se unan a mí en un cruzada para demostrarle a un ignorante hipocrita de mierda ,que los metaleros somos una potencia , y que nadie puede insultar al metal sin ser castigado.

Por ahora no puedo decir quien es este idiota, pero paciencia hermanos metaleros ; primero juntemos nuestras fuerzas y llegada una fecha, iremos todos a decirle sus verdades a este energúmeno hijo de [***] .

MUERTE A LOS BLASFEMOS
VIVA EL METAL

Atencion guerreros: Por ahora juntemos las tropes. El sabado 26 de diciembre comienza el ataque; ya les avisaree quien es este webon y como lo humillaremos atentos a mis canales.

Hace dos semanas, el mismo usuario Thunderwarrior7 creador del video mencionado, me envió este mensaje:

Se viene METALLICA a Perú , esto será otra gran fiesta para toda la comunidad metalera peruana, cumpliremos otro sueño, y POBRE DE AQUEL IGNORANTE BRUTO ANORMAL que se atreva a estar criticando o dejando comentarios en contra de este magnifico evento, JAJAJAJa

Te recuerdo peruanista hipocrita conchudo, venias a criticar el sueño de iron maiden en Perú, diciendo que adorabamos a capitalistas gringos , JAJA cuando en realidad tú eres el agringado capitalista que se fue a trabajar para los gringos, y abandonaste nuesto bello Perú.(conchudo capitalista agringado) […]

Oe ¿qué pasó con tu otra cuenta? JAJAJAJA bien hecho, eso te pasa por haber blasfemado en contra del METAL; Para que sepas; yo tengo muuuuchos amigos y suscriptores en mis 2 canales, y puedo invocar un ataque en contra tuyo, que vengan todos te dejen comentarios y marquen tus videos hasta cerrar otra vez tu canal Jajajaja

Asi que estas advertido, ni se te ocurra hacer algún comentario contra Metallica!

Este usuario(s) necesita calmarse. Obviamente ha tomado a este blog como una amenaza a sus gustos musicales o incluso creencias pseudo religiosas. Por eso le escribí esta semana:

DC, 24 de diciembre de 2009.

Hola Thunderwarrior 7

Hace dos días unos lectores de mi blog me comentaron acerca de tu video "Invocación para Defender la Grandeza de Nuestra Cultura metalera" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-y6-fpFEQg] en el cual promueves la violencia -incluso la muerte- de alguien a quien tu piensas atacar. Tengo motivos para pensar que te refieres a mí. Por eso te escribo esta nota.

Primero, recuerda que esto es internet y mi opinión es una de millones de blogs. No te conozco en persona ni tengo nada contra ti ni tus gustos musicales, por ello no tienes porque tomar mis artículos a nivel personal.

En mi blog he escrito claramente que mi opinión personal acerca de Metallica y la música rock metal pesado, no debe representar la verdad absoluta ni intento forzar el gusto de nadie. Solamente comparto mi opinión acerca de temas que me interesan y utilizo el concierto de Metallica en Lima, como punto central de mi artículo.

Soy un escritor, un bloguero, un artista y me interesa compartir ideas, debatir y aprender. De eso se trata mi blog. Si tu vez algo mas serio, entonces te estas afectando porque estas exagerando tu reacción.

Felices fiestas de Navidad,

CarlosQC Peruanista

La respuesta a mi mensaje, han sido estos dos videos que ThunderWarrior7 / PowerMetalWarriors publicó anoche:

Triste obsesión. Este es un ejemplo bastante aleccionador de cómo el internet se ha convertido para mucha gente en un aparente refugio para sus tendencias destructivas, a lo mejor es una terapia. Pero en realidad el malgastar tu tiempo en internet se puede convertir en una afición poco saludable. Tanta energía que estos individuos podrían aplicar en otras cosas que logren una diferencia positiva en este jodido mundo, la desperdician en atacar a un bloguero peruanista.

Si quieres leer mi artículo sobre Metallica en Lima, aquí está el link.



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[VIDEO] Recorrido por Newseum el museo de prensa y medios de comunicaciones de Washington DC

Foto Dcist

Estos videos muestran un recorrido que hice al Newseum el museo de la prensa, los medios y telecomunicaciones, ubicado en el centro de la ciudad de Washington, DC. Se trata del “museo más interactivo del mundo” con siete niveles de exhibiciones, tiendas, auditorios, estudios y áreas de servicio a los visitantes. Este museo inauguró su nuevo edificio el 11 de abril de 2008 y estas son imágenes que pude grabar gracias a una invitación especial.

Más información sobre el Newseum
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Zambo o Sambo en Perú: un insulto racista

Arroz zambito, zamba malato, zambazo, zamba tamalera, sambos, samba, zamba clueca, zamacueca, zambita, Zambo Cavero. La palabra zambo -también escrita sambo- se ha vuelto parte del vocabulario del castellano peruano y de otras regiones.

Sin embargo, en Perú y otros países de Sur América, muchos ignoran el origen racista, esclavista y despectivo del término Zambo.

Aunque algunos, como los editores de la revista peruana Caretas [foto adjunta] saben muy bien como usar esa palabra racista.

Desde el siglo XVI los esclavistas europeos crearon palabras usadas como clasificaciones racistas. Esos términos tenían la intención de separar a los esclavos de acuerdo a su raza, y a la mezcla de estos, para efectos de comercio y trata humana.

Los hispanos crearon las "castas" para describir a los esclavos de "sangre manchada" que no eran de raza pura. Así se crearon palabras como mestizo, zambo, cholo, mulato, lobo, castizo, etc. los que eran usados tambien para determinar la clase y posición social, creando barreras discriminatorias de por vida a quienes no eran de origen europeo puro, o criollo al menos.

En este video, la activista afro estadounidense Marian Douglas-Ungaro, periodista, escritora y asesora de organismos internacionales, explica por qué la palabra Zambo o Sambo sigue siendo un insulto para los afro descendientes en el mundo.

Como el insulto racista cholo, la palabra zambo nació envenenada de racismo y siempre sera símbolo de esa enfermedad social. Recientemente, el legendario cantante afro peruano Arturo Cavero se fue de este mundo aclamado por un pueblo que lo quiere, pero que no conoce su propia historia. Adiós zambo le gritaron.


Relacionados:

• Significado de cholo y la choledad en Perú
• Afro estadounidense describe racismo que vivió en Perú [VIDEO]

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Qhapaq Raymi: solsticio de verano en hemisferio sur es día de vida nueva y juventud para indígenas andinos

Hoy ha sido el día más largo en el hemisferio Sur del planeta. Los rayos del sol se han proyectado directamente hacia la Pachamama [madre tierra] justamente en el Trópico de Capricornio, que en Sur América cruza el norte de Chile y de Argentina; el centro de Paraguay; y el sur de Brasil.

Desde hoy comienza la estación del verano en el lado sur del mundo y las temporadas de lluvia en los Andes. Esta es una fecha para agradecer por la vida y por el año que terminamos, es un momento para comenzar el próximo con fé en un futuro mejor, con esperanza.

Image por Nevazon.cl

Hoy es la navidad de los indígenas andinos, es el Qhapaq Raymi, o Capac Raymi es la fiesta de la vida nueva. El blog Ceremonias Indígenas explica:

La festividad [...] de Qhapaq Raymi estaba dedicado especialmente a la juventud masculina, de ahí que se llamaba “Fiesta de Fortalecimiento” y era “para los jóvenes entre los 15 y 21 años de edad”. Es la razón de que en el Qhapaq Raymi se efectuaba especialmente el evento denominado Warachikuy, o sea la medida o pruebas que pasaban la juventud masculina. En su aspecto interno las pruebas eran ante todo para verificar las capacidades y potencialidades espirituales innatas de los muchachos.

Para recibir esta fecha andina se recomienda hacer una buena limpieza psico-física del hogar, así como de nuestras personas; y si alguien desea hacer ayuno pleno o parcial puede hacerlo. En el día del Solsticio de Verano uno debe hacer una introspección psicológica profunda en silencio a fin de auto-evaluarnos sobre nuestras potencialidades internas que traemos desde el nacimiento, y a su vez en qué medida lo estamos acrecentando a través de una proceso de evolución consciente o Wiñay.

Pero si de repente lo estamos descuidando, entonces es la época más propicia para retomarlo o iniciar este trabajo individual.

Este video muestra una ceremonia hecha en Lima, Perú, celebrando el Qhapak Raymi con un ofrecimiento a la pachamama, la madre tierra:

¿Qué Celebramos? ¿Qhapaq Raymi o Navidad?

Qhapaq Raymi o la gran fiesta de la nueva vida, ancestralmente se la celebraba con mayor majestuosidad que en los tiempos actuales. Pues como se trataba de una festividad dedicada a la continuación de la vida, estaba explícitamente dedicada a las nuevas generaciones, a los niños y jóvenes, que luego del gran ritual pasaban a formar parte viva, activa y sujetos de la sociedad en sí.

Mapa por waysouthtravel.com

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Alerta: Tormenta de nieve más grande en décadas cubre noreste de Estados Unidos [FOTOS - VIDEO] Reportes desde Washington DC

Una de las tormentas de nieve más grande en la historia reciente en Washington, DC, ha detenido la vida de los residentes de esta ciudad, al igual que casi toda la costa noreste de Estados Unidos.

La nevada comenzó anoche alrededor de las 9:30 PM de ayer 18 de diciembre de 2009, de acuerdo a lo que he visto en la sección noreste de esta ciudad.

Anoche, los copos de nieve eran pequeños pero secos. El clima era a punto de congelación, es decir cero grados centigrados pero la acumulación no comenzó hasta alrededor de las 10:00 PM.

Estas fotos muestran imágenes de mi barrio, ayer por la noche y esta mañana entre las 7:30 AM y 8:05 AM.



La nieve sigue cayendo, algunos dicen que seguirá nevando hasta las 6:00 PM. Ahora mismo es 9:40 AM.

El tren del Metro está funcionando solo en los tuneles bajo el suelo, dicen los trenes salen cada 10 minutos, pero no confio en ellos. Tengan en cuenta que mucha más nieve se viene.

Algunos hospitales locales están solicitando voluntarios, comprobar en su barrio haciendo una busqueda con Google "hospital --- agregar su código postal".

Mantenerse abrigados y seguros. No conduzcan hoy a menos que realmente sea una emergencia.

Actualización 4:00 PM

Estoy escribiendo desde la zona noreste de la DC junto al condado de Prince George. Acabo de regresar de caminar por este barrio. Casi no podía permanecer allí durante 30 minutos, el clima es extremadamente frío y la nieve sigue cayendo, los vientos son moderados, ahora hay como 25 cm. de nieve acumulada. Esta noche hará una temperatura de congelación.

Inmigrantes desinformados

Mientras estaba afuera me encontre con un hombre que estaba caminando desde una bodega ubicada a mas de 2 kilómetros de distancia. Llevaba ropas que no eran apropiadas para este clima frío, sus piernas estaban mojadas y llevaba dos bolsas de comida. El hombre era un inmigrante de El Salvador, y dijo que no sabía nada acerca de la tormenta hasta ayer por la noche, así que tenía que conseguir algo de comida. Dijo que ha visto a varios autos abandonados en las carreteras.

Por la calle, un grupo de autos se quedaron atrapados en la nieve. Uno de ellos era un coche que pasó por donde estaba, manejando hacia atrás, era un padre y su hijo -inmigrantes de Honduras- que regresaban a casa luego de trabajar, arriesgando su vida a pesar de que las autoridades en el condado de Prince George han pedido a todos los conductores que se queden en casa. Les pregunté también si habían tomado disposiciones para hacer frente a este clima, pero dijero que tenian muy poca información acerca de esta tormenta de nieve.

Pienso que una crisis de abasto de alimentos y problemas de salud podrian ocurrir en esta region, se prevee que la nieve estara en las calles por una semana.

Tenemos alrededor de 35 centímetros de nieve aquí.
Estas son fotos que tomé alrededor de las 3:00 PM de hoy.

Actualización 8:50 PM

He grabado este video hace unas horas. Las calles de esta ciudad lucen de esta manera, en las calles hay medio metro de nieve acumulada, no exagero:

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Tragedies Waiting to Happen in Andes of Peru: Global Warming and Bad Urban Planning caused 10 Deaths and Hundreds Affected by Flooding in Ayacucho

More than 10 people were killed and about 23 people were injured by a flooding in the city of Ayacucho, located in the south central Andes of Peru. The tragedy occurred after heavy storms of rain and hail fell this week, in this impoverished city of about 150,000 people.

More than 700 people were affected directly, with hundreds of homes, streets and other property destroyed. Many of the victims were survivors of the civil war that affected the region less than a decade ago.

Climate change caused by global warming has already caused changes in local weather in many regions of the Andes of Peru, and the tragedy in Ayacucho is assumed to be one of its consequences.

Floods started in the evening of Wednesday December 16, destroying streets in the old town section of Ayacucho, and poor outskirts neighborhoods in the surrounding hills. People were dragged down the hills along with cars and other objects, by the fast currents of water, mud and stones. Watch video:

Peruvian blog MiGeo has posted a complete report about the tragedy, including documents that prove that this tragedy could have been prevented by simple actions from the government and city residents. There is official information posted in 2003 and 2004, about the possibility of floodings in Ayacucho but nothing was done to prevent it.

MiGeo insists in the fact that the city of Ayacucho doesn’t meet mandatory regulations, when it comes to rain water drainage and evacuation plans. To make it worse, poor Indigenous migrants have occupied creeks and small rivers in order to build their shanty towns.

Thousands of people are exposed to this type of catastrophe any given time not only in Ayacucho, but in almost every big city in the Andes of Peru. This rendering image was created by MiGeo showing the curse of the mud flooding coming into the city:





This is what the city looked like after the floodings:

Very often in Peru, people have to die before the authorities do their work, especially Native peoples. Local regional and central governments have ordered now the construction of channels and walls to protect the city from future floods, and relocation of shanty towns.

Perhaps politicians in Peru prefer not to prevent tragedies because they can use a needy population better than a safe, educated one. Edwin Donayre, a shameless retired military general born in this city and a potential presidential candidate, showed up in Ayacucho yesterday, giving away food and medical help while campaigning for his political party. Locals let him know of his terrible mistake:

Tragedies waiting to happen in the Andes of Peru

Global warming and climate change have affected the Andean region of South America in a very drastic way. Hundreds of glacial areas are disappearing quickly, therefore lakes and rivers that feed farm land and big cities are carrying less water every day. Also the change of temperatures and rain precipitation is making an impact in the lives of millions of people. In Peru only, about 40% of the population lives in the Andean mountain regions, most of them are Indigenous peoples.

Most cities of Peru are a bit chaotic like the country's history. The biggest Peruvian cities were re-founded and renamed by the Hispanics, on top of Indigenous cities and settlements. The Spaniards used the Roman urban model: a squared array of streets oriented towards the four directional points, with a main central plaza or square -often called Plaza de Armas- from which the city spread around, without much urban planning, except by the murallas or walls, for the biggest cities only.

In the XX century, most Peruvian cities grew up out of control, especially since the 1940's when rural populations migrated leaving small towns and their impoverished farms to look for jobs at cities like Lima, Arequipa, Trujillo.

This migration wave grew even more after the 1970's earthquake, and the civil war between guerrilla groups and the government in the 1980's and 1990's. Most regional capital cities saw by a big migration of Indigenous and Afro descendant farmers mostly, who settled in occupied land often in areas that are not appropriate for housing, like this neighborhood of Ayacucho built around a small creek:

Photo by MiGeo

Ayacucho

Ayacucho is a city located in the central southern Andes of Peru, in a semi-dry valley surrounded by dry hills with small forests and valleys. It's also the site were the last battle between the libertador Simon Bolivar forces and Spanish troops fought the end of the "Independence War" of South America.

In Ayacucho –meaning ‘land of souls’ in Quechua language- also started the insurgency of Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path in 1980. The people of Ayacucho are known to be proud, strong minded, with a strong sense of regional identity and a rich cultural heritage that mixes traditions from the Indigenous civilizations of Wari, Chanka, Nasca, Huarpa, Quechua, and the European migrants traditions that arrived since the XVI century.

Aerial View of Ayacucho. Photo by www.peru-ayacucho.com

There are over 33 Catholic churches in old town Ayacucho, built by the Hispanics in order to exterminate the strong spirituality of the local Indigenous populations. Today, its architecture, art crafts and religious festivities show a rich mixture of Indigenous and European traditions, especially during the Holly Week holiday celebrations.

Most of people in Ayacucho are Indigenous, about 71% of the population speaks the Indigenous language Quechua but most are bilingual speaking Spanish as well. The 2007 poverty rate [INEI] is about 68% in the Ayacucho region; the illiteracy rate is 8% in the city and 28% in the surrounding areas. The life expectancy is 69 years old.

In 2009 the United States sent a “military humanitarian mission” to Ayacucho, where a community hospital was built by U.S. soldiers and unsupervised vaccines shots were given to local children. However, there are news about the existence of a secret U.S. military base in that area. Ayacucho is located next to the VRAE valley, a region where is grown most of the coca leaves used for cocaine production in Peru.

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