Peru’s Population, Culture, Tourism, etc.

Annotated Bibliography by Yan Wang

21 September 2005

As a member of team 7, evacuation planning, my job was to do research regarding the population and culture of Peru in an effort to better understand who we would be evacuating and how to best do it. Additional information regarding tsunamis and disaster response was also obtained.

12th ISCO Conference. (2002). Disaster Risk Management as an Integrated Tool for Sustainable Resource Management in Rural Areas – Experiences from Peru . Beijing , China : Eger , H.

Eger uses Peru as a case study to demonstrate that countries bordering or in the Pacific Ocean are inadequately prepared for the effects of massive environmental disasters including tsunamis and earthquakes. He says that rural development must coordinate with higher levels of support to create sustainable methods of damage prevention and relief including practicing better land management techniques. Data is provided to show that the current situation leaves the rural poor in an unsustainable situation after disaster strikes.

A Country Study: Peru . (2005). Country Studies. Retrieved September 18, 2005 from Federal Research Division, Library of Congress http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/petoc.html

Information from this website regarding Peru was detailed and lengthy, covering almost all aspects of the country. In interest were the sections about education, language, and literacy in Peru . The people of Peru regard education as the quintessential path to economic and social success. Almost every hamlet has a school and by 1991, 85% of the population was literate. Most universities are concentrated in large cities including ones near the coast that could possibly suffer damage from a natural disaster.

Carranza E., Fernandez-Baca, J., & Moron , E. (2002, October 7). Peru : Markets, Government and the Sources of Growth. Department of Economics: Universidad del Pacifico.

Two questions are addressed in this paper. First, why has the Peruvian economy been unable to maintain an adequate yearly rate of growth in the last forty years, and secondly, why, with such a rich supply of natural resources and labor supply, has Peru been unable to sustain growth. The authors conclude that reforms carried out in the 1990s by the new administration have not been effective in sustaining significant growth. If coastal cities were destroyed, it could lead to an economic downfall.

Doucet, W. F., & Einarsson, H. A Brief Description of Peruvian Fisheries. Instituto del Mar del Peru.

There was no date of publication in this article but data in charts ended around 1963, which indicates that it may be outdated. Nonetheless, the article provides facts about fishing grounds, catch rates, and trends in the fishing industry of Peru . Basically, damage to the fishing industry due to a tsunami would have a large adverse economic effect.

Elo, Irma T. (1992). Utilization of maternal health-care services in Peru : the role of women’s education. Health Transition Review, 2-1.

This article hypothesizes that utilization of maternal health care services by Peruvian women is affected by education. The author also suggests that women living in more rural locations have less access to such conveniences and requires the government’s support. Thus, it shows that actively educating all Peruvians about evacuation procedures is necessary too. It is unacceptable to believe that people will learn about it themselves.

Esrock, Robin. (2005, March 26). Peru offers gastronomic, cultural high: From the bustling streets of Lima to the awesome spectacle of Machu Picchu , this country is breathtaking. The Vancouver Sun, p. 110.

Robin Esrock describes his travel adventures in Peru . The article provides a first person account of Peruvian culture including the divide between the rich tourism locales and the slums that can be seen from the green lawns of hotels. Esrock pays to go on a mountain trek, which shows that trails are available for evacuation to high grounds and can be led by highly experienced guides.

Menacho, Stefani. (2002, October 4). A day in the life. Time for Kids, S2, 8-4.

A day in the life of a Peruvian child is described in the first person from 7am to 9pm. Mandatory schooling dominates most of the child’s day so it seems necessary for all of the schools in Peru ’s large school system to have strict tsunami evacuation procedures and regular drills.

Mitchell, R. E., & Reid, D. G. (2001, January). Community integration - Island tourism in Peru . Annals of Tourism Research, 113-139, 28-1.

This article describes the socioeconomic benefits of community planning and cooperation in Taquile Island , Peru . Such planning was done to increase tourism and increase employment and control of the industry. It required participation and cooperation by the government and citizens and showed that a good relationship between both parties can lead to a successful situation. After a tsunami, working together would be a crucial requirement for recovery.

Modifications to Products and Procedures of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center . (2003, October). TsuInfo Alert, 13, 5-5.

This brief article lists what actions would be taken given an earthquake of a certain magnitude in the Pacific Ocean . Bulletins, in many languages including Spanish, reporting these earthquakes would be broadcast immediately. Another suggestion is for private property owners to open their tall buildings such as hotels to citizens during an emergency if it is earthquake and tsunami proof. The article also discusses preventative measures such as safe construction techniques and proper selection of building sites.

Oliver-Smith, Anthony. (1977, February). Traditional Agriculture, Central Places, and Postdisaster Urban Relocation in Peru . American Ethnologist, 102-116, 4-1.

This article describes relocation difficulties after Peru ’s earthquake in 1970. Survivors were reluctant to move for reasons such as sentimental ties to their home. Agriculture was disrupted when irrigation ditches crumbled and landslides covered fields. Homes were destroyed, but people did not move far.

Patrinos , H. A., & Psacharopoulos, G. (1997, October). Family size, schooling, and child labor in Peru - An empirical analysis. Journal of Population Economics, 387-405, 10-4.

This article describes the effects of family size and sibling activities on a Peruvian child’s educational progress and extracurricular activities. Data from this study was collected from Peru ’s 1991 Living Standards Survey.

Peru . (2005). Country Analysis Briefs. Retrieved September 21, 2005, from Department of Energy EIA http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/peru.html

This page from the Department of Energy shows that Peru is a major producer of oil and natural gas, industries that are vital to its growth, which has increased in recent years. However, widespread poverty still exists and unemployment is above 10%. Due to this disparity, evacuation procedures must consider all levels of access.

Peru . (2005). Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved September 22, 2005, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online http://www.search.eb.com/eb/article-9108535

Britannica describes Peru as a land of flat plains, typically 20-30 miles wide, near the coast and both gentle and rugged mountains to the east. The Peruvian coast is one of Earth’s driest climates and happens to be where most of the wealthier citizens live. Transportation in Peru is developed and there are many airports due to hard to reach places. The government is described as being unstable.

Peru . (2005). World Factbook, The. Retrieved September 17, 2005, from CIA http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/pe.html

The World Factbook, compiled by the CIA, comprehensively lists data that describe all aspects of Peru . The government is divided into 24 divisions including a bicameral legislature. The new president, Alejandro Toledo, who was elected after dissatisfaction with the previous regime, has been accused of corruption. Peru ’s military include an army, navy, and air force. There are over 50 airports in the country with paved runways (more than 150 unpaved) in Peru and complex highway and railroad systems.

Peru (country). (2005). MSN Encarta. Retrieved September 18, 2005 from MSN Encarta Online http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761570790/Peru_(country).html

According to Encarta, 74% of Peru ’s population lives in urban locations and 40% live along the coast. Due to economic growth, these numbers are steadily increasing, which means a greater proportion of the population would be affected by a tsunami. The total population of Peru is roughly 28 million people

Peru looks to wrap trade talks with U.S. shortly. Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, p. 1.

This story suggests that better economic relations between the USA and Peru might lead to other forms of alliance. The president of Peru also believes that increased trade would lead to further economic growth although poverty would not necessarily improve.

Schmidt, Charles W. (2005, February). Building a Tsunami Warning System. Environmental Health Perspectives, A90, 113-2.

This article discusses some of the necessary aspects of a warning system that a country would need after seeing the devastating effects of the December 2004 tsunami. Buoys and satellites would be needed to collect data in addition to planning for the worst case and then trying to minimize the overall damage. This is less of a problem in the pacific because of systems deployed by the United States, but is lacking in the Indian Ocean, which is one reason why warning for the December 2004 Tsunami was so delayed. Peru should have a simple and effective system for exchanging data and warnings with the United States .

The Americas : Ports in a storm; Peru ’s trade. (2005, September 17). The Economist, 60, 376-8444.

This article describes political arguments and agendas over how to reconstruct and repair Peru ’s crumbling ports. Peru ’s trade is quickly expanding, which necessitates better ports that are less crowded. If ports are to be rebuilt, it should be done with consideration for environmental impact and resistance to the destructive forces of tsunamis and earthquakes.

United Nations Environment Programme. (2005). After the Tsunami – Rapid Environmental Assessment.

This report provides a detailed analysis of the effects of the December 2004 tsunami. Of interest is damage to the coast, industry, coral reefs, water distribution systems, waste systems, power plants, housing, and infrastructure.

Wilson, Fiona. (2000, June). Indians and Mestizos: Identity and urban popular culture in Andean Peru. Journal of Southern African Studies, 239-253, 26-2.

Wilson provides a history of conquest in Peru and the natives affected by it. The article then analyzes different racial groups and their roles. Divisions in social and cultural classes affects the ability to reach all citizens.