Refugees

Does Peru have refugees?

Peru is beginning arrangements for receiving Syrian refugees seeking to settle in other countries. Peru announced that it will begin arrangements to receive Syrian refugees, after violence caused by the Islamic State has forced them to flee their country and resettle abroad. This humanitarian crisis requires an urgent international response, integrated and coordinated, necessary to realize a a dignified, efficient and responsible process of hosting or resettling the refugees, reads the first paragraph of the official statement by the Peruvian Foreign Ministry, reports El Comercio. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru regrets the “humanitarian crisis” that is requiring Syrian citizens to emigrate and seek refuge in other countries. The Foreign Affairs Ministry will “begin coordination with the Office of the High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) to assess the conditions for families of Syrian refugees through the resettlement process. To date, Peru has recognized the refugee status of 25 Syrian citizens and reaffirms its commitment to protection, settlement and sustainability as well as the right to apply for family reunification,” reads the statement. And the Peruvian State affirmed a commitment to “make more flexible and streamline the procedures for recognition of refugee status to citizens affected by the current humanitarian crisis.

Works Cited:

http://www.peruthisweek.com/news-peru-begins-evaluating-how-to-receive-syrian-refugees-107546

https://prezi.com/ur-qxyq-nm0g/the-acceptance-of-syrian-refugees-in-peru/

Environmental Effects

For decades, the Peruvian government has lacked serious oversight of these industries. It’s also seen corrupt politicians allow companies into environmentally fragile areas in exchange for bribes. In recent years, however, regulatory agencies have begun to crack down on pollution in Peru. Even so, there is still lots of work to do.Oil and gas exploration in the Amazon has led to deforestation, soil and water pollution, and the displacement of local indigenous groups. Producers are seeking oil and gas in increasingly remote areas and are threatening to disrupt the ecological balance of these pristine ecosystems. Habitat loss due to the installation of pipelines can seriously threaten biodiversity.

Fights have also erupted between native Amazonian and the Peruvian governmental resource extraction. In 2009, the Peruvian government allowed new oil and gas developers into the Peruvian Amazon without any input from local indigenous groups. A protest broke out that killed 33 people and injured 200. The Peruvian congress reversed the legislative decision afterwards.Mines have been also been an issue in Peru, having led to widespread water pollution. Copper, silver, gold, mercury, and zinc are all mined in Peru, and have polluted water supplies in central Peru and the Cordillera Huayhuash. In 2009, three big gold mines in Madre de Dios, in southern Peru, had claimed some 38,300 acres (15,500 ha) of forest.

Thousands of smaller mines – which account for at least half of the gold mining in this region – have also begun to negatively impact the land, polluting waterways and hastening deforestation. Sewage treatment is shoddy in parts of Peru and has led to water pollution in rivers and coastal areas. In fact, the beaches around Lima are sometimes deemed unsuitable for swimming. Waste disposal is also an issue, and recycling is virtually non-existent. It’s not uncommon to see plastic garbage stuck along the shores of some rivers. Population growth is at the root of many of Peru’s environmental issues. Trees are often chopped down for firewood and lands are overgrazed, both of which lead to soil loss and mudslides.

Work Cited:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kitconews/2014/07/04/illegal-mining-severely-impacting-peruvian-environment/#8d7f17f66c27

http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Peru-ENVIRONMENT.html

Is there war?

The Communist Party of Peru (Spanish: Partido Comunista del Perú), more commonly known as the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso), is a communist militant group in Peru. When it first launched the internal conflict of Peru in 1980, its stated goal was to replace what it saw as bourgeois democracy with “New Democracy”. The Shining Path believed that by establishing a dictatorship of the proletariat, inducing cultural revolution, and eventually sparking world revolution, they could arrive at pure communism. Their representatives said that existing socialist were revisionist, and they claimed to be the of the world communist movement. The Shining Path’s ideology and tactics have been influential among other Maoist insurgent groups, notably the Communist party of napal and other Revolutionary Internationalist Movement affiliated organizations.

Widely condemned for its brutality,including violence deployed against peasents, trade union organizers, popularly elected officials and the general civilian population, the Shining Path is classified by the Peruvian government, the U.S and the European Union, Canada as a terrorist organization.

Leader of the organization Abimael Guzman stated that “the triumph of the revolution will cost a million lives” – at a time when Peru’s population was only 19 million. To that end, the Shining Path attempted to eradicate elements of the political and social order, attacking community leaders, teachers and professors, and political leaders. The first case of “popular justice” was the assassination in December 1980 of Benigno Medina, a landowner. In January 1982, two teachers were executed in front of their students. Several months later, 67 “traitors” were subjected to public execution. In addition, they set about demolishing all government installations and infrastructure. In August 1982, they destroyed the Center for Agricultural Research and Experimentation in Allpahaca and killed the animals.Since the capture of its leader Abimael Guzman in 1992, the Shining Path has declined in activity.Similar to militant groups in Columbia, some factions of the Shining Path have functioned as a highly efficient cocaine smuggling operation, with an ostensibly paternalistic relationship to villagers

Work Cited:

https://modernlatinamericanart.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/civil-war-in-peru-1980-2000/

http://www.cfr.org/peru/shining-path-tupac-amaru-peru-leftists/p9276

 

The World System and Colonialism

Industrialism

Through the nineteenth century and into the mid-twentieth century, the great majority of the Peruvian population depended on agriculture and lived in the countryside. By 1876 Lima was the only Peruvian city with over 100,000 people–only 4 percent of the population. Much of the impetus for economic growth came from primary exports. In common with the rest of Latin America up to the 1930s, Peru maintained an open economic system with little government intervention and few restrictions on either imports or foreign investment. Such investment became highly important in the twentieth century, especially in the extraction of raw materials for export.

For many Latin American countries, the impact of falling export prices and curtailed external credit in the Great Depression of the 1930s led to fundamental changes in economic policies. Many governments began to raise protection against imports in order to stimulate domestic industry and to take more active roles in shaping economic change. But Peru held back from this common move and kept on with a relatively open economy. That put it behind many other countries in post-World War II industrialization and led to increasing pressures for change. Significant protection started in the 1960s, accompanied by both new restrictions on foreign investment and a more active role of government in the economy.

One of the country’s basic problems has been that the growth of population in the twentieth century outran the capability to use labor productively. The ratio of arable land to population– much lower than the average for Latin America–continued decreasing through the 1970s. Employment in the modern manufacturing sector did not grow fast enough to keep up with the growth of the labor force, let alone provide enough opportunities for people moving out of rural poverty to seek urban employment. The manufacturing sector’s employment as a share of the labor force fell from 13 percent in 1950 to 10 percent in 1990.

Work Cited

http://www.peruthisweek.com/search/industrialization/1

http://www.panamericanworld.com/en/article/peru-promote-industrialization-diversify-its-economy

Colonialism

The impact of the Spanish conquest and subsequent colonization was to bring about a cataclysmic demographic collapse of the indigenous population. The Andes would be no exception. Even before the appearance of Francisco Pizarro on the Peruvian coast, the lethal diseases that had been introduced into the Americas with the arrival of the Spaniards.

At key points throughout the interior in order to facilitate trade and communication with other Spanish territories. These towns and cities became the building blocks of colonization in Peru, from which the Spanish implemented a policy of ”pacification and colonization” that enabled Spanish military rule in the Andean regions, underpinned by a steady influx of Spaniards in search of land, wealth, and new opportunities. The new city of Lima would become the capital of the vice royalty of Peru and, when the discovery of Peruvian silver stimulated the development of a rich commerce with Europe, the largest and most important trading center in South America. Internal rivalries among Pizarro and his associates, however, would lead to civil wars among the Spaniards—and finally to the assassination of Pizarro in 1541.

Work Cited:

http://geography.about.com/od/perumaps/a/Colonial-Rule-In-Peru.htm

Conquest and Colony of Peru

Are there indigenous people in Peru?

Indigenous peoples in Peru, or Native Peruvians, comprise a large number of distinct ethnic groups who have inhabited the country of  Peru’s territory since before its discovery by Europeans around 1500. The first Spanish explorers called the indigenous people of the americas indios“Indians”, a name that is still used today although sometimes with a derogatory connotation. The 13,248,943 indigenous people in Peru formed about 45% of the total population in Peru in 2014.

There are 51 indigenous peoples in Peru. By far the most numerous are the highland Quechua. About 4.5 million Peruvians speak Quechua and 8 million identify themselves as Quechua.[3] The Aymara population of some 500,000[4] is concentrated in the southern highland region near Puno. Lowland indigenous groups include the Achuar, Aguaruna, Ashaninka, Huambisa, Quechua and Shipibo.Despite the historical lack of a ‘national’ indigenous movement in Peru and a notable emphasis on class identity among peasant communities in Peru, highland organizations have recently come together to form the increasingly ethnically minded Coordinadora Nacional de Comunidades Afectados por la Minería (CONACAMI).

Awajun people of Peru

Native leaders in the Amazon (from Aguaruna, Huambisa, Ashaninka, Shipibo-Conibo, Amuesha and Cocama-Cocamilla communities) formed their own ethnic federations as early as the 1970s. In recent years they have focused their efforts on protesting against oil company invasion and demanding government recognition of their territorial rights. According to the Asociación Inter-étnica para el Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana (AIDESEP), created in 1980, Aguaruna communities have successfully reclaimed land invaded by settlers for production of cocoa and coffee. Since the late 1990s umbrella organizations such as the Conferencia Permanente de los Pueblos Indígenas del Perú (Permanent Coordinator of Indigenous Peoples in Peru, COPPIP) have been established to unite Andean and Amazonian interests under one ethnic banner. In contrast to national and pan-national ethnic movements in Ecuador, indigenous activism is less visible in Peru, but it is no less present and manifests itself in multiple ways.

Peruvians of African descent tend to be concentrated in the southern coastal regions. In response to their experience of poverty, marginalization and racism, they have recently created organizations such as the Asociación pro Derechos Humanos del Negro and Asociación Palenque, which fights for the full achievement of equal rights.Peru was among the first Latin American republics to establish diplomatic relations with the Japanese empire, in 1877, and issued a decree authorizing the immigration of contract labourers in 1898. Manual labour at sugar plantations and mills was the principal work. By the 1980s, Peruvians of Japanese descent totalled 48,000, the majority of whom lived in Lima. In 1990 a Japanese agronomist, Alberto Fujimori, became president. Many Japanese are owners or operators of small shops and bars, and they have made a significant contribution to the Peruvian economy. Today they constitute one of the country’s most influential (both economically and politically) ethnic minorities.

Works Cited:

http://www.footprinttravelguides.com/latin-america/peru/culture/perus-indigenous-people/

http://countrystudies.us/peru/38.htm

http://www.native-languages.org/peru.htm

Art, Media, and Sports

Art

Art in Peru was very prominent. Much of the art in Peru expresses their cultural and religious beliefs of their society. With that said, Peruvians did not really have any scientific explanations of the world around them, so they worshiped gods by creating artifacts to explain their beliefs. Another art form the Peruvians practiced was their architecture. In Peru, they designed their buildings with pyramid like characteristics. These buildings were built with the strength to last five centuries.

Their architecture also consisted of wall carvings and paintings that symbolized the world around them as well. Like their artifacts and relics, these wall carvings would express their everyday lives, animals, and their religious beliefs.

Lastly, clothing in Peru was an art form that is still practiced today and is still considered the most important. In Peru, clothing to them was part of their survival so it was cherished. Most of the clothing in Peru were woven in vibrant colors. It is reported that their clothing textile techniques were adopted from the ancient Egyptians. Peruvians used wool from alpacas, llamas, and super rare wool found from Vicunas (which is an animal in Peru that is not common).

Freedom of Press

Freedom of Press was not yet established into Peru up until the 20th century.  In 1993, freedom of speech was put into the constitution. Communication is very valued in Peruvian’s everyday lives. One of the reasons why it was established into the constitution was because they did not like the feeling of oppression and being silenced. Like the U.S, although freedom of press and speech is in the constitution, many journalists and people who voice their opinions get threatened by others. Furthermore, even though it is in the Peruvian’s right to freedom of speech, there has been instances where the Peruvian government has silenced radio stations because it would hurt them politically.

 

Sports

The people of Peru love sports, that is why they play soo many. The two most popular sports played are soccer and volleyball while traditionally, they played cockfighting, bull-fighting, and racing. Their national soccer team has played in the FIFA world cup four times and has won two Copa American trophies. The country has also won in women’s volleyball. In the 1980s summer Olympics they won a silver medal. They also won twelve times in the southern american championship.

“Sport in Peru.” Sport in Peru. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2016.

Media

Peru relies on the radio and multiple tv networks for most of their information. The radio is a very important news source and media ownership is highly concentrated. Facebook has become very popular in Peru and is one of the top media social platforms.

Inca Art Forms

Freedom of expression threatened in Peru? Radio Uno claims government has list of “bothersome” stations it plans to shut down

News, BBC. “Peru Profile – Media.” BBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2016.

Religion

What are the main religions of Peru?

Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion in Peru as over 80% of the country’s population of 27.2 million identify themselves as Catholic. Catholicism has played a significant role in Peru’s society and culture as many follow the church’s established rules and rituals and have incorporated them into their lives. Up until the country’s reformed constitution of 1979, which brought the freedom of religion, Catholicism was the established religion of the country. Churches and cathedrals can be found in many Peruvian cities and towns along with established saints of the Catholic church that serve as the official saint to represent the local population. Catholic holidays and particular days of worship are greeted with festivals and rituals that the population takes a part of. The dominance of Catholicism in Peru and the surrounding countries can largely be tied to the country of Spain.  With the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors in the 1530’s, their intent of spreading Catholicism throughout the Americas was a priority. Many of the dominant empires such as the Incas and the Aztecs had their own form of religion that featured many gods and spiritual deities who they built many temples and cities as form of worship. The Conquistadors saw put to rid the population of their practices and beliefs and convert them to the Catholic church. Temples were destroyed and replaced with cathedrals that the population built with guidance from the Spanish that still stand to this day. It was during this time that the Incas and Aztecs saw their empires fall to the Spanish and were led to mixed in their old practices with the new religion the Conquistadors brought with them. Through this, many Peruvians today still celebrate some traditions and religious days left from the Inca empire alongside the Catholic ones.

Although Catholicism is the dominant religion in Peru it is not the only one as many other religions have found their way into the country. Protestantism is the second largest religion that is practiced in the country that includes Lutherans, Mormons, Baptists, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. With migration from various other countries in the last century brought other religions such as Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism. Even though these religion’s worshipers are small in number compared the the Catholic population, it’s a vital sign of the freedom of religion Peru has incorporated into the country as means of social growth.          

Works Cited:

“Peru-Religion.” Visual Geography. N.p. N.D. Web. 15 November 2016

“Peru Religion and Social Change|Religion in Peru.” Inside-Peru. N.P. N.D. Web. 15 November 2016

“Inca Religion.” Peru Explorer. PeruforLess. N.D. Web. 15 November 2016.

How does Peru practice their religion?

In 1532, the Spanish arrived in the Andes and began their campaign of conversion and colonization. Because of widespread Spanish rule over the following centuries, about 90 percent of the modern Peruvian population identifies as Catholic. But Catholicism in Peru is distinct from Catholicism anywhere else, blending with much older indigenous practices and holidays. An example is the near synonymous association of Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) and the Virgin Mary.The Peruvian Catholic Church hosts many festivals that are often combined and confused with native religious celebrations. In the Catholic tradition male priests, especially bishops and archbishops, still demand an enormous amount of respect and authority. Nuns come in second place and are well respected for their religious commitment to sexual abstinence, obedience, and poverty. Among Indian communities the shamans, or brujos/curanderas are deemed the local counterparts of priests in terms of religious and spiritual authority. Huacas (sacred mountain places) are still deemed sacred deity dwellings that demand the respect and veneration of the indigenous populations. The Spanish Catholic missionaries were very aware of these Andean practices, which is why many Catholic churches were built on top of huacas and other pre-Hispanic temples. Peru’s religious festivals are imbuid with faith and devotion, but at the same time color and noisy celebration, trading and amusement. The festivals draw people from all over the world, attracted by the gaiety and healing powers of an endless list of saints. The masses are determined to sing and dance in homage to life against a backdrop of magical enchantment.

Some rituals that are expressed in Peru are Inti Raymi, which when translated from Quechua means “Fiesta del Sol” (Sun Festival) is one of the most important festivals of the imperial city of Cusco. This marvelous spectacle which takes place on the Sacsayhuaman esplanade is celebrated every June 24th and is meant to pay homage to the Sun god, a supreme symbol of worship in Inca culture. Currently close to 750 actors participate, who portray their ancestors with the same fervor as the previous century. Or the Hatun Karpay is a 10-day spiritual journey into the heart of the Inka region and the ancient Inkan culture. It is the original initiation into the Inka tradition and allows for a deep connection with the living energy of the universe. Translated it means something like “Great Initiation” or “Great Transformation.” The Hatun Karpay consists of a cycle of initiations and rites that help participants to hone their spirituality and to discover and develop their personal power and their full potential. The “magic” in Peru is conducted by a Shamin.

Shamanism is a not a discrete activity like, say dentistry or ­aromatherapy, but a body of practices that have the effect of connecting the material and immaterial worlds, the worlds of man and God, matter and energy. These practices are performed by shamans who, by various means and methods (such as the use of San Pedro and ayahuasca in Peru, or a trance state arrived at by drumming in cultures like Mongolia and Siberia) are able to travel between these worlds to obtain solutions from their spirit guides and helpers, and in this way address the problems that are afflicting their patients or the community in general. These solutions may take the form of guidance, counsel, or direct and spirit-driven healing to ameliorate the sicknesses of the soul and restore balance and equilibrium. Some peruvian rite of passage are Munay-ki. Munay-ki comes from the Quechuan (native Peruvian), interpreted in English as “I love you” or “Be as you are.” The nine great rites of initiation of the medicine way are experienced in the form of energetic transmissions that transform our human energy field and help us to step into the fullness of our nature.

For young Peruvian girls, the celebration of the fifteenth birthday is a seminal event culturally meaning the end of childhood. In its traditional staging, mainly among popular classes, the role of nuclear and extended family is fundamental. This rite of passage announces marriage and marks the introduction into womanhood. On the contrary, its contemporary forms put emphasis on peers’ participation to the detriment of family and relatives. Current recreations of this celebration, particularly through juvenile parties, trips abroad and plastic surgery, highlight a greater individualization in the girls’ projects, socialization and in their relation to the body.

Work Cited:

http://www.countryreports.org/country/Peru/religion.htm

http://www.myperu.org/rituals_beliefs_peru.html

http://www.peru.travel/en-au/what-to-do/peru-of-living-cultures.aspx

http://www.peru-explorer.com/get.htm “Inca Religion”

Are there any fundamentalist movements?

Like many countries, the country of Peru has their fundamentalist with strong beliefs that cause friction with the law and religion. Peru has Catholic fundamentalist movements which cause conflict with government choices. These fundamentalists are politico-religious organizations in Peru that has power over the government in some cases. The Catholics believe that they hold power over government and have the right to stop change within government. The fundamentalist strongly believe that their beliefs and ways of living are true and meant for everyone to follow. An example would be the belief that a heterosexual man and women must marry to have children. To the fundamentalist’s dismay, the younger generation is stepping away from these beliefs. Movements against the traditionalists are taking action to gain the right to make their own decisions when it comes to their bodies. The fight for prochoice is a long one because the Catholic church is been and is the main obstacle for advocacy in the area of women’s sexual and reproductive rights. The traditionalists hold their ground by stating that life is sacred and belongs to God, that the life of an unborn child is protected and sacred.

The fundamentalist groups works against reproductive rights, gender perspectives, and sexuality. They work to promote and implement their perception of the natural law. This includes blocking policies that would protect women’s health and lives, and civil rights of anyone who identifies within the LGBT, and those who embrace sexuality free of risks and dangers. People who fall into this area get shamed and receive backlash for disobeying the supposed natural way of life.

Works cited:

Click to access feminists_on_the_frontliens_-_therapeutic_abortion_protocol_-_arequipa_peru.pdf

Click to access feminists_on_the_frontlines_-_peru_fundamentalist_groups.pdf

Families, Kinship, and Marriage

Who they consider family

In Peru no matter what their status is, they show a high degree of unity, purpose, and integration through generations and as well as in the nuclear unit.The average size for families per household is 5 people. The roles of the different family members and sexes follow  uniform patterns within social class and cultural configurations. The fathers are the head of the household, his wife follows him in this respect, but also exercises a reasonable amount of control over her own such as respect to property and marketing. families walk in a single-file to market, each carrying their bundles. The father leads the way then followed by the wife then their children.

Kinship 

They practice patrilineages which means the wives belong to their father’s lineage and their children to their father’s side of the family tree. The mothers kin is part of the extended family. They also practice god-parenthood taking on from the catholic religion they have ceremonies when the god parent is chosen. The people involved include the child in the ceremony, the parents, and the godparents who are the protectors over the child. The primary relationship in this triad is between the godchild and the godparents. The secondary bond is between the parents and godparents who after the ceremony will forever mutually call each other compadre or comadre.

Descent Groups

Most of the groups in Peru are of Spanish descent. There are Peruvians who are also of European descent. The Peruvians that are of European descent are called “Mestizo”. In Peru, there are also Peruvians of Japanese descent. The European and Japanese descent groups exist because of the Spanish conquests that occurred in the 16th century.

Marriage

Peruvians follow the historical pattern of marriage, where women become a part of their husband’s family. They define marriage as not only a ceremony, but the stepping stone to start a family. Peruvians cherish the idea of having a family and culturally the religious ceremonies matter to them the most compared to the fact that the government sees their marriage ceremony as a documentation. Marriage is also a way for the women to play their assumed role in the house, which is care taking and the man to be the financial support. Some groups, including the Incas, practice endogamy. One generation ago in a village, fifty percent of the families practiced endogamy and that is relative to the residential unit. Presently, most of the Peruvians are now marrying outside of their descent group and are practicing Exogamy. This is the case because urbanization has influenced Peru into changing their culture. The Divorce rates in Peru are as shown below.

As you can see, Peru has a 1.4% divorce rate which is really low. It is reported that most of the divorces are causes of bad pairing or unstable family problems. Again, some areas within Peru approve same-sex marriages and relationships culturally. On the other end of the spectrum, some areas in Peru even go as far as killing any LGBTQ person. Unions in Peru have formed to rally against those people who disapprove of their sexuality. In Peru, they do not practice polygamy. Marriage is considered as a link between a man and women. Culturally and religiously, it is wrong in Peru to marry and have more than one spouse.

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Works Cited

“Peru – FAMILY LIFE.” Peru – FAMILY LIFE. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2016.

https://books.google.com/books?id=DwgwGs__4c4C&pg=PA208&lpg=PA208&dq=peru+exogamy+or+endogamy&source=bl&ots=O5gye5uHzW&sig=AZ5_WkRxgAumacSrgAKFoZ8EvQU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_tvnBlJjQAhUK5SYKHcZGBeUQ6AEIHTAA#v=snippet&q=incas&f=false

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1525/aa.1960.62.3.02a00040/pdf

http://www.zonalatina.com/Zldata308.htm

 

Gender

Gender Roles

Gender roles in Peru differ between the urban and rural areas of the country. In the urban areas such as Lima, Trujillo, and Arequipa men are typically viewed as the head of the household with complete control over the family and their finances. Men are expected to go out and make the money in order to support the family with material goods and a place to live in while protecting them from harm. They are also given higher positions of power in the community and in politics over women as men are usually regarded as quick decision makers and natural born leaders.  Being emotional is seen as a sign of weakness and is a huge blow to their manliness or machismo. Women on the other hand typically take care of domestic duties within the household to provide for her family. They cook, clean, and take care of the children while the husband makes the money. Women are typically paid less in wages than men are and through this it forces them to stay home and maintain the household. While maintaining the household women are expected to also be more emotional, modest, pure, and submissive. These traits are often referred to the idea of Marianismo and it is important that a woman maintains this image. In the rural areas of Peru such as the Andes and the countryside most of these roles are maintained but with more specific roles expected from women as poverty and food shortage is common. Women work alongside men, usually through farming and herding, to provide income and food for domestic use. Through this, women are regarded as almost equal to men as they do as much physical labor as men do in order to provide for the families and community.  

Works cited

Hudson, Rex A. “Peru: A Country Study” Countrystudies. Countrystudies.us. 1992 Web. 25 October 2016

Saenz-Ochoa. “Gender Roles in Peru” Amsaenzoperu.weebly. Weebly. 17 February 2014. Web. 25 October 2016

Won-Kang, Jung. “Gender Roles and Rural-Urban Divide in the Peruvian Andes: An Analysis of the District of San Marcos” Ajlas. Latin American Studies Association of Korea. 11 May 2010. Web. 25 October 2016

Gender Stratification

Women in Peru represent a minority in both numbers and legal rights. Although historically somewhat equal to men, after the Spanish conquest the culture in what is now Peru became increasingly patriarchal. The patriarchal culture is still noticeable. Women receive less pay than men, have fewer employment and political opportunities, and are at times abused without repercussion. Contraceptive availability is not enough for the demand, and over a third of pregnancies end in abortion. Maternal death rates are also some of the highest in South America. Due to Peruvian society’s prejudice and discrimination, women historically have suffered disproportionately from the country’s pervasive poverty and unemployment. Although human rights issues affect many sectors of the population, there are some violations which are gender-based, or affect women to a greater extent due to prevailing patriarchal systems.

In addition, race and class may worsen women’s position in Peruvian society.Girls and women are well behind boys in educational terms. In rural areas, 33.7% of women are illiterate, against 10.9% of men. In urban areas this is far lower, with 7.4 % of women and 2.4% of men not being able to read and write. This clearly indicates the rural-urban divide. This has also an effect on rural women’s ability to speak Spanish, and hence on their ability to engage with institutional structures. Apart from poverty, which affects women disproportionally because of their caring roles and their lesser access to paid employment, violence is probably the most concerning problem. While there is not much current data, the comparative WHO study of 2005 cites that 61 and 49% percent of rural and urban women respectively have suffered domestic violence in their lifetime. Men in general have the highest authority within the house, although women also have much of the decision-making power, especially concerning children and family matters, even though it tends not to be explicitly recognized.

Works Cited

http://www.perusupportgroup.org.uk/article-560.html

http://www.peruthisweek.com

amsaenzoperu.weebly.com

http://www.genderindex.org/country/peru

Peru LGBT

Homosexuality is legal in Peru, according to Equaldex, the new penal code adopted in 1991 did not mention if homosexuality was illegal. Same sex marriage is unrecognized in Peru. (Article 5 Chapter 2 of the Peruvian constitution defines marriage to be a “stable union” between a man and a woman.) When a marriage is unrecognized it is difficult to handle day to day situations. These situations being things such as obtaining a mortgage, tax issues, and so on. Peru gives legal recognition of sex reassignment by permitting a change of legal gender on an individual’s birth certificate. The right to change gender is legal, but requires surgery and sterilization. The lgbt is still behind on receiving respect and protection to this day.

Hate crimes continue to be committed with and police do little to fix anything. Police take part in abusing members of the lgbt, many were attacked by police with batons and water guns at this year’s public demonstration “Kisses Against Homophobia”. Violence against the LGBTIQ community happens every day, and the state of Peru needs to work on legal protection and rights for the lgbt community. Change needs to start in the legal system where a huge part of the discrimination continues to exist leaving the community to feel unprotected and unsafe. Peru hopes for change with their new president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski had tweeted: “Trabajemos por un país donde tengamos la libertad de ser felices. #LoveIsLove” ( Let us work for a country where we have the freedom to be happy. #LoveIsLove), after the shooting in Orlando, Florida.

Video Regarding Gay Rights in Lima, Peru 2011

sources

@equaldex. “LGBT Rights in Peru | Equaldex.” LGBT Rights in Peru | Equaldex. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2016. “Peru LGBTI Resources.” Rights in Exile Programme. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2016. AmerQuarterly. “Peru’s LGBT Community Frustrated By Violence, Presidential Election.” Americas Quarterly. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2016. Herrera, Sandra. “Peru’s New Political Climate Prompts Change for LGBT Rights.” OutRight Action International Formerly Known as the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC). N.p., 7 July 2016. Web. 25 Oct. 2016. President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s Tweet | https://twitter.com/ppkamigo/status/749790852998987776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etf w

Political Systems

Political System and Leader

The head of state is vested in the President of Peru, who is elected to a term of five years; incumbents can not be re-elected for a second consecutive term. Family members may also not immediately succeed another family member’s presidency.The executive branch, in addition to the legislative branch, may propose legislation. After legislation is passed by the congress, the President may promulgate the legislation, giving it the force of law.
In addition to the president, the executive branch contains the Council of Ministers, which, in addition to the Prime Minister, are appointed by the president. Peru is ultimately a democratic republic. The current president of the republic is Pedro Pablo Kuczynski; He was newly elected this year on July 28th 2016 succeeding Ollanta Humala who had been in presidency since 2011. Along with the New president, Fernando Zavala was appointed as his new Prime minister succeeding Pedro Cateriano.

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Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (President Elect)

Fernando Zavala Lombardi (Prime Minister)

 

State Systems 

Peru currently is a democratic republic, therefore, their government and state are separated but each state has their own legislative laws. “Its government is structured following the principle of the separation of three autonomous and independent powers: the Executive, whose maximum representative is the President of the Republic; the legislative power; and the Judicial power” (Peru.travel).Peru’s states are distinguished as provinces. The president of the Republic and the 130 members of the congress are elected every five years.

Social Control

Hegemony definitely takes place in Peru as the government and political leaders are accepted as being the higher ups. Peru has their states divided into many provinces in order to maintain control. It is just easier that way and it becomes harder for the provinces to gather or assemble. Another tactic the Peruvian government used to control society was fear. The “Peruvian regime was an agent of fear itself, deploying state power to silence and intimidate opponents” (Burt).

Peru has faced the serious challenge of one of the most ruthless guerrilla groups on the continent, popularly known as the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso). Since erupting in the early 1980s, the armed struggle between the Shining Path and the Peruvian state has cost over thirty thousand lives and has helped to justify the increasing police and military repression. This has meant a greater military presence in the cities and a significant increase in the incarceration of both males and females.

Works Cited

Portal, International. “About Peru.” Peruvian Government. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.

News, BBC. “Peru Profile – Leaders.” BBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.

http://www.peru.travel/about-peru/peruvian-identity/government.aspx , About Peru. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.

“Political violence and the Authoritarian State in Peru: Silencing Civil Society”

http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Peru.html#ixzz4Si0bC09Z

Food and Making a Living

Adaptive Strategies

Peru’s means of cultivation rely heavily on farming crops and in certain areas of Peru such as the Andes rely on pastoralism due to the higher climate making it difficult to grow crops. Peru uses about 3.2% of total land or 10.4 million acres just for agricultural production, making it the one of the lowest per captia in the world. The means of production is divided into the three main regions of the country such as the coastal, Andes, and the amazon regions. In the coastal regions, many of the crops are harvested just for export to other countries while the Andes are used for domestic use and supply. The Amazonian regions have various crops as well but some of the natives who live in the jungle tend to practice horticulture for means of survival.

The coastal region crops consist of cotton, sugar, rice, soybeans, pulses, fruits, tobacco, and flowers with Peru producing two of the world’s finest strains of cotton: Pima and Tanguis. This region uses the most irrigation from the water being supplied from basins located in the Andes as the country aims for this particular part of the country to increase the exportation of the crops grown here. Along with the crops there’s also various cattle and dairy farms scattered throughout the region to support the country.

Throughout the Peruvian Andes region many of the crops are grown to support domestic consumption. This region crops vary as the rising altitude of the mountains makes it more difficult for crops to be grown due to its land being inferior and impractical to till. To counter this, many farmers turn to raising herds of llamas, alpacas, guanacos, cattle, and sheep as means of a stable income as crop production is unpredictable in this climate. The production of fine wool is one of the largest means of cultivation in the region. At the lower levels of the Andes where the valleys have irrigation from rivers and glacial runoff farmers have better luck of growing crops. The crops here consist of wheat, rye, asparagus, and other various vegetables. The biggest crop of the region and one of the most important in all of Peru are potatos. The very origin of the world’s potato production can be linked here and Peru is home to over 3800 various types of potatoes. Peruvians utilize this crop in many ways to support their lifestyle.

The Amazonian region is dominated by jungle so the majority of cultivation here is dominated by horticulture. The dominant form of farming here is logging along with the growth of cocoa, fruits, tea, coffee, and tobacco crops. In order to grow and maintain these crops, specifically the cocoa crops, farmers utilize the slash-and-burn method to restore fertility to the soil. They use cattle to plow the land and make it ready for planting crops. Cattle are also used for milk production and meat. Farmers here grow their food to support their families and to trade with others in neighboring villages for various supplies and other means of survival.

Work Cited

Vera, Raul R. “PERU”. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. FOA. May 2006. Web. 9 October 2016.

“The 3800 Different Types of Potatoes in Peru”. LimaEasy. LimaEasy. 2006. Web. 9 October 2016.

Economy

The type of economy in Peru is very unestablished and is known as a “free market society”. However they currently do not even have a stock market. Peru’s economy is not very stable at all. The government is very unstable and a lot of economic changes often occur within the nation. Domestic problems are also a major factor with decreasing the stability in the Peruvian government. For example, here is a graph that portrays how Peru’s economy fluctuates:

 

Peru’s economy today reflects like centuries ago its varied geography; the different climate zones facilitate widespread agriculture, the Andes rich in natural resources allow mining and the Pacific Ocean with its fishful waters makes commercial fishing possible. Economic growth continues mainly to be driven by exports of minerals (mainly gold, copper, zinc), textiles, chemicals, agricultural products (garden produce and fruits), fish-meal, services and by energy projects making the country’s economy vulnerable to fluctuation in world market prices. But liberalization of the goods and labor markets, opening up trade through multiple recent international trade agreements, direct foreign investments and the maximization of the revenues resulting from its rich natural resources paid off with increasing markets, a growth in domestic consumption and the development of the country’s financial sector. Peru is one of the world’s fastest growing economies with a dynamic GDP growth rate, stable currency exchange rates and low inflation in recent years. Peru’s GDP tripled in the past 10 years as a result of its economic growth and rapid expansions. Although more and more Peruvians benefit from the continuous growth and the poverty rate declined to about 24%, inequality persists and the distribution of the country’s growing wealth to all Peruvians seems difficult. You can either be rich or poor in Peru.

Since GDP decelerated sharply in 2009, the economy has built on solid growth fundamentals. Domestic demand has been the main driver of growth as an overall improvement in confidence in the economy has boosted domestic consumption and investment. Moreover, the steady fiscal consolidation that led to a number of budget surpluses in the past decade has increased confidence in public finances and allowed for productive public expenditures. A period of relatively stable inflation and the progressive appreciation of the national currency, the sol, have helped the economy overcome periods of nominal volatility. Although the external sector’s contribution to economic growth has been diminishing, exports have remained strong. The main detraction from the external sector’s contribution to growth has stemmed from increasing imports, although capital goods imports have remained at healthy levels, which bodes well for the country’s productive capacity, economic growth and employment in the coming years. The combination of economic modernization, natural resource abundance and continued improvements in economic governance and political stability that have been taking place, are helping Peru to emerge as one of the most stable economies in Latin America.

Work Cited

Peru. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. www. infoplease.com/encyclopedia/world/peru.com

Peruvian Economy. (Finance.mapsoftheworld.com)

The Global Property Guide Story, (www.theglobalpropertyguide.com/economy/peru.)

Distribution/Exchange Techniques

Peru distributes and exchanges many goods with countries such as China, the US and Switzerland. These countries being Peru’s top trading partners as of 2014. “The top exports of Peru are Copper Ore ($6.93B), Gold ($5.86B), Refined Petroleum ($3.1B), Refined Copper ($1.85B) and Animal Meal and Pellets ($1.41B), using the 1992 revision of the HS (Harmonized System) classification”

Agriculturally, products being coffee, cocoa, quinoa, and blueberries have become popular trade. Peru’s most traditional and popular trade is coffee. On occasion, Peru’s trade in coffee will face problems such as leaf rust and beetle infestations. Peru recently started receiving certain meats from the US. Peru took loosened trade restrictions with the US, allowing some beef exports into Peru. After removing restrictions pork imports to Peru increased. Peru is known for their huge numbers of Alpacas. Many of the indigenous farmers make a living raising Alpacas for wool trade. Early this year over 50,000 Alpacas froze to death due to the temperature dropping immensely in the Andes. Over 120,00 families depend on Alpaca wool trade, the Alpaca deaths affected them economically, effecting their earnings.

Works cited

Country, By. “Global Insights.” Peru: Trade Statistics GlobalEDGE: Your Source for GlobalBusiness Knowledge. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2016.

Products Imported by Peru (2014).” The Observatory of Economic Complexity. N.p., n.d. Web. 8Oct. 2016.

Site Designed and Built by Hydrant (http://www.hydrant.co.uk). “Agricultural Exports on the Risein Peru.” Oxford Business Group. N.p., 21 Feb. 2016. Web. 9 Oct. 2016

Rousseau, Oscar. “Full Access to Peru an ‘opportunity’ for US Meat.” GlobalMeatNews.com.N.p., 28 Mar. 2016. Web. 9 Oct. 2016.

Cheng, Selina. “50,000 Alpacas Have Frozen to Death in Peru.” Quartz. N.p., 22 July 2016.Web. 9 Oct. 2016

 

Ethnicity and Race

Cultural Background

Peru is best known as the home of the Inca, but long before the Incas arrived there were many diverse cultures who settled there. Evidence has shown that once upon a time there was human habitation in Peru. Though, Not until 2500 BC was when researchers found organized village life. This was the time when climatic changes in the coastal regions arrived, moving toward the new fertile interior river valleys. Peru developed into a number of organized cultures such as, the Chavin and Sechin. Chavin are known for their stylized religious iconography. They used depictions of various animals to express their religion specifically the Jaguar. The Sechin are more about their military hegemony, rather than their cultural achievement. Peru’s population is about 23 million and is divided between the highlands, the population of the centres of the coast. This division provides a sharp cultural as well as a geographic divide. Most inland regions live in poverty while those who lived in fertile river valleys on the lower land tended to be wealthier.

“Peru – History & Culture.” Peru – History & Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2016.

Racial issues

Indigenous and mixed race communities in Peru have faced discrimination since the independence of Peru. These communities are socially and economically secluded and result in them to typically live in poverty. It is hard for these communities, especially the indigenous people of Peru to obtain a status as they are ascribed a status already as “savages” or “people who do not belong in Peru” because they don’t act Peruvian or were live in a civilized area. “Under authoritarian government, indigenous and peasant communities  became the targets of population control that resulted in 300,000 women being forcibly sterilized”. Since these communities are discriminated and stereotyped, the Peruvian government’s solution is to just stop their reproduction and i believe it is unfair for any ethnic group to be hated for the way they live or even not being pure Spanish.

“Peru Society and Conflict: Discrimination and Inequality” “Discrimination and Inequality”. Peru Support Group.  Web. 03 Oct. 2016.

“Amazonwatch.org”. Web. 03 Oct. 2016.

Genocide/Ethnocide

Genocide and ethnocide is a controversial and occurring issue in Peru. In the 1980’s members of the Nahua tribe in Peru came into contact with the company “Shell” who were in the works of searching for oil and gas. Contamination of these workers resulted in tribe members catching illnesses and diseases. Following the expansion of foreign workers entering the lands of the Nahua, there have been up to five gas leaks which affected the land and waterways killing more of the tribe members. Reportedly in 2014, Peru has approved of a project to allow  oil workers to enter the lands near the Nahua tribe to search and drill for oil. This project is known as “Camisea Gas Project” and fortunately was halted by the United Nations and other international human rights organizations. It is quite heartbreaking that the Peruvian government would allow this project to be done without the consent of the tribe on their own reserve. This project resulted in the death of “nearly half of the Nahua tribe” due to the oil leaks and contamination. In 2003, a supreme decree was placed to protect the Nahua-Nanti tribes and the reservation by the Inter-American Development Bank.

“Peru Approves Genocide for Uncontacted Tribes” Earthfirstjournal. Web. 03 Oct. 2016.

“Camisea Gas Project” Survivalinternational. Web. 03 Oct. 2016.

Plural Society and Multiculturalism

“Multiculturalism is the view of cultural diversity as valuable and worth maintaining”. All of the unethical killing of Peruvian tribes lead to a spark of outrage from Peruvian citizens and even international groups who believe that everyone is equal. Just because the tribes in Peru are culturally different, does not mean they don’t have rights. Protests in Peru were held to stop the expansion of foreign contamination of the lands of indigenous people and many supporters sent a message to Peru’s President Humala demanding to end the project. Another form of multiculturalism being practiced in Peru would be the 1993 constitution of Peru which was created by the Peruvian government during Alberto Fujimori’s time in the office. This constitution states that “The defense of the human person and respect for his dignity are the supreme purpose of the society and the state”. In article 2, the constitution gives rights and condemns discrimination on the basis of origin, race, sex, language, religion, opinion, economic status, or any other distinguishing feature.

“Political Constitution of Peru. Congreso. Web. 03 Oct 2016.