Peru: Debate over tuna and liquor snafu

In the aftermath of the deadly August 15^th earthquakes in Peru two unusual stories have emerged:

* The Peruvian and Venezuelan governments quarreled over the handing out of tuna cans with the faces of Hugo Chavez and Peruvian opposition leader Ollanta Humala (image). Peruvian president Alan Garcia deemed the aid as “electoral propaganda” though the Venezuelan ambassador to Peru denied that “party politics” were involved in earthquake assistance from Venezuela.

* In the meantime, the Peruvian government has backtracked from a promotion of the country’s most popular liquor- Pisco. The drink’s label was changed to “Pisco 7.9” (the magnitude of the quake) and was meant as gratitude for international aid. Yet the initiative was stopped after a flurry of public and media criticism, particularly from the city of Pisco which suffered more than 300 deaths and major damage after the tremors.

Image- Living in Peru

Sources- Guardian UK, Seattle Times, UPI, BBC News, The Latin Americanist

Daily Headlines: May 25, 2007

* Brazilian Health Minister Jose Temporao is behind a new alcohol prevention policy that would limit beer ads.

* Could the border barrier between Mexico and the U.S. violate a 1970 treaty between both countries?

* An ex-Peruvian soldier convicted of his role in the 1985 Accomarca massacre pled guilty to falsifying U.S. immigration documents.

* Over 100 people were arrested in the U.S. and four Latin American countries for their part in a heroin smuggling ring.

* Colombian legislators want the removal of the head of the Organization of American States' peace mission to their country.

Sources- MSNBC, ABCmoney.co.uk, Forbes, APRODEH, Dominican Today, International Herald Tribune

Image- Gringo Guides (Brazilian print ad for Brahma beer)

Daily headlines: April 02, 2007

* Despite harsh rhetoric from Argentina, British officials expressed “continuing regret” over the more than 900 deaths from the Falklands War.

* No booze for you – Hugo Chavez banned sales of alcohol in Venezuela during Easter weekend.

* It’s not as bad as being accused of child abuse, but if you’re a top clergyman then you should know better than being caught shoplifting.

* Doctors at a Buenos Aires hospital said that soccer legend Diego Maradona will remain under medical supervision for at least one more week. (Correction- make that TWO more weeks.)

* Global Voices Online clues us in to what some Chilean bloggers have been saying over the Day of the Young Fighter.

Links- The Latin Americanist, BBC News, Monsters & Critics, SI.com, Global Voices Online

Image- World Nomads (Falklands War Memorial in Buenos Aires, Argentina)