Peru

Peru, once home to the powerful Inca empire, is a country known for its rich history and culture. Since gaining independence from Spain in 1821, it has struggled through many corrupt authoritarian governments. Today, Peru is a democracy, but continues to suffer economic and social problems and remains divided along racial and class lines. Indigenous people and those of mixed indigenous descent compose more than 80% of the population, but represent the poorest and least educated sectors of society. Peruvian descendants of colonial Spanish rulers represent about 15% of the population, ... more

Peru, once home to the powerful Inca empire, is a country known for its rich history and culture. Since gaining independence from Spain in 1821, it has struggled through many corrupt authoritarian governments. Today, Peru is a democracy, but continues to suffer economic and social problems and remains divided along racial and class lines. Indigenous people and those of mixed indigenous descent compose more than 80% of the population, but represent the poorest and least educated sectors of society. Peruvian descendants of colonial Spanish rulers represent about 15% of the population, yet own most of the wealth and have the highest level of formal education in the country. In 2001, Peru elected its first president of indigenous descent, Alejandro Toledo.

Indigenous Communities

Most of Peru's Quechua and Aymara groups live in remote parts of the country, deep in the Amazon Rainforest or high in the Andes Mountains. In these regions, health care and access to education is very limited, and over 60% of the population live in poverty. Most of these communities do not have clean water and sanitation systems. As a result, many contract cholera, typhoid, dysentery and other preventable waterborne diseases. In recent years the government has dedicated resources to improving the standard of living for all, but progress has been slow and indigenous peoples still lack many opportunities. The indigenous communities in the Amazon Rainforest face additional challenges, as the destruction of the environment threatens their habitat and traditional lifestyle.

Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon Rainforest covers almost 60% of the land in Peru, but with each passing year, more and more of it is destroyed, taking with it rare plants and animals and threatening the survival of many indigenous groups. Deforestation occurs because of activities such as logging for hardwood and paper, commercial agriculture, cattle grazing, mining, and road building. Today, only about 5% of the rainforest in Peru is protected by national parks and reserves; the remainder is under constant threat. Fortunately, Peru has begun to take notice of this problem. In March of 2007, The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued a strong warning to the Peruvian government, demanding that it protect isolated indigenous groups living deep in the Amazon. With the help of the IACHR and various nonprofit organizations that campaign to save the rainforest, Peruvians are beginning to take the necessary steps to appreciate and protect their natural treasures. In Peru, protecting the rainforest means caring for the environment, saving thousands of plants and animals from extinction (some of which may have undiscovered medicinal value), and preserving indigenous life and livelihoods.

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