By Janett Chávarry García

PERU:Since the new Peruvian government took office, some Peruvians have been asking what route will Peru follow.

As it is, the economy is growing, more businesses are netting profits, we signed the Free Trade Agreement (TLC) with the United States that will benefit our agriculture and export sectors, especially in positioning new and original Peruvian products on the open markets around the world.

Yet, in respect to the agreement, corruption still exists in Peru. Fujimori’s trial continues, capturing the attention of thousands of people. And the corruption, which is at the center of it, proves it is still a difficult point in Peru to combat.

By Ana María Hanssen

ARGENTINA: I went to buy some groceries today at a nearby store and they gave me bananas as change.

“How many do you want? You have 1 peso left.”

“Don’t you have any coins?” I asked.

“No, no coins,” said the Korean guy.

I needed some real money for the bus and couldn’t get any from buying food. I stopped at a nearby wine store. “Where can I get change?” I asked the clerk.

“Nowhere,” he answered.

(Source: Diario de la Republica)

A few minutes later an old woman was buying some bread and cheese and the clerk asked her for coins.

“I have some, but I can’t give them to you,” she said.

“Come on, it’s not like you’re going to die,” he replied.

“Oh yes,” she said. “It is like dying. I need to take the bus three times tomorrow and no coins means I can’t go anywhere.”

By Rocío Arango Giraldo

COLOMBIA:Every one of the t-shirts worn by the people read, “Colombia is me.” February 4 will be forever remembered as a day that everybody in Colombia and around the World shouted: ¡Freedom, No More FARC!

A sea of marchers in Colombia take to the streets on February 4 to protest against FARC.
(Source: Rocío Arango Giraldo)

We, “The Generation of Fear,” Colombian youth who never have lived with peace; We, the daughters and sons of the 1960’s Hippies who fought for rights; We, our Colombian sons, came together and fought on Monday, February 4, in the name of peace. We took to the streets of every city and town in Colombia and every place of the world.

By Mayra Beltrán de Daetz

GUATEMALA: Last year, Guatemala received about 185,000 Guatemalans who were living in the United States illegally and deported by the U.S. government. In January 2008, 1,500 Guatemalans were deported from the United States.

Apparently, there is no possibility that the Congress of the USA will return to address the subject of my fellow Guatemalans immigrating illegally during 2008.

Many of those deported returned home with their dreams crushed. For these people, their stay in the USA may have been too short to turn the mythical “American Dream” into reality.

Others, as indicated in interviews with the press, returned to Guatemala satisfied. These lucky ones, after many years of arduous work were able to send money to their families, build a house and afford to pay for schooling for their children.

But what about the future?

How will these people be able to survive in a Guatemala that has 2008 beginning with a change in government?

It is something that worries everybody.