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- Th ! Mirhioan Dlv - Weekend. eIt.Maea~ine - Thursdav. September 28, 2000


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PERU

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Sam
Hollenshead

A farmer wields a hoe whFile han'f
of the Peruvian population are "at

Peru, with a population of 23 million, is a country of extreme cul-
tural and physical diversity. The country is home to Lake Titeaca,
the highest inland lake in the world, rainforests, Machu Picchu and
mysterious Nasca Lines. The Peruvian population is mostly rural
and split between coastal settlements, highland regions and inland.
areas.
Like most countries in the Americas, Peru has a colonial history
marked by European conquest, slavery, genocide and exploitation.
Several hundred years ago, when the Spaniards arrived in Peru, the
native population stood at nearly twelve million. Within 50 years of
colonization, ninety percent of the country's indigenous inhabitants
had been decimated. European conquest helped to dismantle a sus-
tainable socio-economic system that held human and environmental
needs in a harmonious balance.
Currently, Peru is in a state of political transition. Within the past
two weeks, many Peruvians have called for the immediate resigna-
tion of President Fujimori and that he stand trial on corruption
charg es. Although militairy leade ]rs hv ocdsupport o
[C Thi ayctzn erdmltr opo h oenet fis
D a?./11 pite its tum utltuous pa tI;and cui rent olitical problem s, Peru
reinjs a coutry h-replete itYatural and 91 E ,ctul beau 1 ty.

Lines akn the face of an "~agricola" demonstrate a life of hard
work in a d'ry, mount.Janus environiment.

Yolanda de Raz use:s mercury w ith
crushed rocks. MeIrcury is hlihly
and even death .

N icola >cauca teralo ights a candle during a vigil l0flme cros;s. K< ei g i s arge told ith i i P ceu filns.
(L'anv (at ol ic tradit ions iaxeheno mixed with Lal iid!''nous us t ont!)lox er th [e c oure the nt ion\ Stoy