Latest news with #PeruvianAmazon
Mint
15 hours ago
- Health
- Mint
Mercury poisoning in Perus Amazon threatens health disaster
Illegal gold mines pollute Peru's Loreto region Nearly 80% of people have mercury unsafe levels Pregnant women and children most at risk LIMA, June 20 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Indigenous and riverine communities in the Loreto region of the Peruvian Amazon have "chronic exposure" to mercury, according to a new study by the Center for Amazonian Scientific Innovation at Wake Forest University in the United States. The test results released this month show nearly 80% of the people tested late last year had levels of mercury far above the safe limits in six communities on the banks of the Nanay and Pintuyacu rivers. "The majority of the population is contaminated," said Jairo Reategui Davila, the Apu, or leader, of San Antonio de Nanay, one of the tested communities. "We call on the authorities to take action on the matter because we are very concerned," he said. The results showed 37% of the 273 men, women and children tested had levels of mercury at more than 10 ppm (parts per million) in their hair, compared to just 3% under the 2.2 ppm 'safe' limit established by the World Health Organization (WHO). Gold prices have soared by nearly 50% in the last year, beating successive record highs, and encouraging a flourishing illegal gold mining trade that is damaging local nature and biodiversity, and raising significant health concerns. Illegal miners use mercury to extract gold particles from the river silt and then burn off the toxic metal, which turns to vapour and is absorbed by surrounding plants, soil and rivers, said Claudia Vega, head of the mercury program at CINCIA. Mercury poisoning is associated with several health issues, including cognitive impairment in adults and irreversible developmental delays and learning difficulties for children and babies in the womb. Gabriel Barría, regional coordinator for heavy metals for the local health authority, said it was "very regrettable that villagers were highly contaminated" and blamed the spread of illegal gold mining for the mercury levels in Amazon rivers. He said the health authority did not have the budget to carry out tests for mercury and had only tested 12 villagers on a recent health visit relying on blood and urine samples. CINCIA said tests revealed an average level was 8.41 ppm, exceeding the WHO limit by nearly four times. Given that illegal mining in Loreto is fairly recent, there are no comprehensive studies on its health impact on the local population yet. But the levels in these initial tests are already higher than those in the Peruvian Amazon region most impacted by illegal gold mining, Madre de Dios, where 2012 tests showed the majority of adults had average mercury levels of 2.7ppm. Luis Fernandez, executive director of CINCIA and Research Professor at Wake Forest University, said if illegal mining continued to spread in Loreto, then villagers with already high mercury levels might begin to approach those close to the worst recorded case of mercury contamination. This includes Minamata Bay, the renowned case in Japan in the 1950s, where children were born with congenital deformities and neurological disabilities caused by a chemical factory dumping mercury into the water supply for decades. Vega from CINCIA, who led the study, said the results showed worrying "background" levels of mercury in the Loreto riparian communities. She said it could not be fully determined if the mercury came from naturally occurring sources or human-caused activities like illegal gold mining, but it was mostly caused by the villagers' diet fish-based diet. However, "several studies agree that the entry of mining into a territory tends to significantly increase mercury levels in the environment", she said. The newly released study found that people were mainly exposed to methylmercury, a highly toxic form that accumulates in the body.
Time Out
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The South American restaurant just crowned best in the world for 2025
A couple of weeks after announcing their annual list of the world's 51-100 best restaurants, the much-anticipated guide to the best of the best has landed. World's 50 Best announced their winners at a ceremony in Turin last night, and Maido, a restaurant in Lima, Peru, was named the best restaurant on the planet. It's the 23rd edition of the awards, and restaurants from 32 cities across 22 different countries made the ranking, including 10 new entries. So, what's Maido doing that makes it better than all those brilliant spots? The restaurant takes its name from a Japanese phrase used by people to greet each other: 'maido', and is run by chef Mitsuharu 'Micha' Tsumura, the son of Japanese immigrants who formally trained in the US. Recommended: These are the best cities in the world for food, according to Time Out. He then spent time in Osaka mastering the techniques now utilised at this place, and it's resulted in a dazzling blend of Peruvian Amazon flavours cooked with Japanese methods. Think a miniature jaune parcel of pork jowl and palm heart, or yucca served up with Amazonian beans. 'I can't describe it in words really. It's a mix of feelings… All the hard work, all the difficult moments, making people understand what we were doing, and now seeing what we've done with Nikkei cuisine and Peruvian cuisine… with hospitality. Making people happy has always been what I've loved doing,' said Tsumura, after the win. 'I think the most beautiful act of love is to cook for somebody. It's the most beautiful thing that has happened in my life. It's been 11 years [being ranked on The World's 50 Best Restaurants] and it's a dream come true.' Three other restaurants in Lima made the World's 50 Best list – Kjolle, Mérito and Mayta. Read on for all of the outstanding inclusions for 2025. These are officially the world's 50 best restaurants Maido, Lima, Peru Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico Diverxo, Madrid, Spain Alchemist, Copenhagen, Denmark Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand Sézanne, Tokyo, Japan Table by Bruno Verjus, Paris, France Kjolle, Lima, Peru Don Julio, Buenos Aires, Argentina Wing, Hong Kong, China Atomix, New York, United States Potong, Bangkok, Thailand Plénitude, Paris, France Ikoyi, London, United Kingdom Lido 84, Gardone Riviera, Italy Sorn, Bangkok, Thailand Reale, Castel di Sangro, Italy The Chairman, Hong Kong, China Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler, Brunico, Italy Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan Sühring, Bangkok, Thailand Boragó, Santiago, Chile Elkano, Getaria, Spain Odette, Singapore, Singapore Mérito, Lima, Peru Trèsind Studio, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Lasai, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Mingles, Seoul, South Korea Le Du, Bangkok, Thailand Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy Steirereck, Vienna, Austria Enigma, Barcelona, Spain Nusara, Bangkok, Thailand Florilège, Tokyo, Japan Orfali Bros, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Frantzén, Stockholm, Sweden Mayta, Lima, Peru Septime, Paris, France Kadeau, Copenhagen, Denmark Belcanto, Lisbon, Portugal Uliassi, Senigallia, Italy La Cime, Osaka, Japan Arpège, Paris, France Rosetta, Mexico City, Mexico Vyn, Skillinge, Sweden Celele, Cartagena, Colombia Kol, London, United Kingdom Jan, Munich, Germany Did you see that the best pizzerias in Europe have been crowned for 2025?
Travel Daily News
13-06-2025
- Travel Daily News
Cruising the Amazon in style: Peru's most exclusive river expeditions
Gliding along the headwaters of the Amazon in a boutique river ship feels nothing like traditional cruising. Why the Peruvian Amazon? Northern Peru holds the confluence of the Marañón and Ucayali Rivers, the point that officially becomes the mighty Amazon. This sector is remote yet surprisingly accessible: a 90-minute flight from Lima lands in Iquitos, the world's largest city unreachable by road. From the private port at Nauta, guests board vessels designed to navigate narrow black-water tributaries and shallow lagoons unreachable by larger ships farther downstream in Brazil. For those seeking luxury tours Peru, this region offers an exceptional gateway to the Amazon, combining exclusivity, comfort, and deep immersion into the jungle's rich biodiversity. Floating Suites That Redefine Comfort Top-tier expedition ships resemble waterfront lodges pulled gently by an invisible hand. Aria Amazon and Aqua Nera lead the field, each carrying no more than 40 passengers. Suites measure up to 26 square metres, with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame dawn mist and moonlit riverbanks. King beds dressed in organic Peruvian Pima cotton, rain showers stocked with spa-grade products, and unobtrusive climate control ensure restful nights even during the humid green season. Delfin I raises exclusivity even higher, hosting just eight guests across four suites — two of which feature outdoor plunge pools where pink river dolphins occasionally glide past during afternoon tea. Service and Cuisine on Board Personalised attention begins before departure. Travellers receive a pre-voyage call from the ship's guest relations team to confirm dietary preferences, pillow choices, and special occasions. On board, a near one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio guarantees immediate service, yet staff maintain a quiet presence, so the rainforest soundscape remains undisturbed. Dining rivals top city restaurants. Menus by chefs such as Pedro Miguel Schiaffino elevate regional produce: paiche ceviche dressed with cocona fruit, yucca gnocchi in Brazil-nut pesto, and desserts built around aguaje ice cream. Wine cellars hold South American labels selected to pair with Amazonian flavours, while bartenders craft classics enlivened by jungle botanicals like sacha-citrus and camu-camu. Daily Excursions: Soft Adventure, Expertly Guided Each dawn launches a new programme tailored to river depth and wildlife patterns. Naturalist guides trained at Peru's best research institutes lead sunrise skiff rides beneath palm-fringed canopies where macaws glide overhead. Later in the morning, narrow creek paddles reveal sloths curled into Cecropia branches and scarlet-headed hoatzins flapping awkwardly across floating lilies. Afternoon walks along raised boardwalks trace medicinal plants used by local communities for generations. Because group sizes rarely exceed eight, guides can adjust pace and focus — pausing longer for photographers seeking the perfect anaconda coil or moving quietly past nesting herons to reduce disturbance. Night outings add another dimension: caiman eyes shine like amber beads in torchlight, and a billion stars crowd skies free of urban haze. Sustainability at the Core Operating in a fragile ecosystem requires rigorous stewardship. Leading vessels run on low-emission engines, treat greywater on board, and use advanced hull coatings that minimise drag and fuel use. Laundry services rely on biodegradable detergents, and kitchen teams source fish under strict quotas to protect breeding seasons. Partnerships with NGOs support manatee rescue programmes and fund ranger patrols in Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, helping to curb illegal logging. Guests hear briefings on these initiatives, turning holiday moments into informed support for conservation. Cultural Encounters with Respect The river is lifeline, highway, and pantry for countless Indigenous villages. Expedition itineraries include thoughtfully arranged visits that swap glass-bead souvenirs for genuine exchange. Community leaders demonstrate traditional fishing methods, artisans display basket-weaving using chambira palm fibres, and children perform ceremonial songs learned from elders. All commerce is conducted through a transparent cooperative model ensuring fair prices and ongoing benefit long after the ship sails on. Planning Your Exclusive Voyage Choose the Season Peru's Amazon sees high-water months between December and May, allowing skiffs to venture deeper into flooded forest. Low-water months from June to November reveal sandy river beaches and enable longer jungle walks. Wildlife viewing thrives year-round, though avid birders often favour the high-water period when migratory species arrive. Select the Right Vessel Couples seeking maximum seclusion gravitate toward Delfin I or the two-suite Zafiro Master Cabin, while multigenerational families appreciate Aqua Nera's connecting suites and plunge-pool sundeck. Review deck plans carefully: corner cabins often supply wraparound glazing for 90-degree panoramas. Book Early With capacity under 50 guests per ship, departures fill quickly — particularly holiday weeks and the July–August dry season. Six to nine months' lead time secures preferred sailings and allows for custom pre-cruise extensions such as Lima gourmet tours or Machu Picchu by luxury train. A Journey Beyond Ordinary An Amazon cruise through Peru offers refined comfort amid one of Earth's great wilderness regions. Floating spas administer massages scented with andiroba oil while the river drifts by, cocktail hours unfold on observation decks painted by sunset, and every dawn carries the potential for a first-ever wildlife sighting. For travellers seeking an experience defined by exclusivity, authenticity, and environmental care — all shaped by the hands of seasoned professionals — luxury tours Peru delivers the definitive answer. Photo by bilal findikci from Pexels
Los Angeles Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Cuts to USAID severed longstanding American support for Indigenous people around the world
NEW YORK — Miguel Guimaraes Vasquez fought for years to protect his homeland in the Peruvian Amazon from deforestation related to the cocaine trade, even laboring under death threats from drug traffickers. A leader in an Indigenous rights group, Vasquez said such efforts were long supported by financial assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development, which spent billions of dollars starting in the 1980s to help farmers in Peru shift from growing coca for cocaine production to legal crops such as coffee and cacao for chocolate. The agency funded economic and agricultural training and technology, and helped farmers gain access to international markets. But the Trump administration's recent sweeping cuts to the agency have thrown that tradition of U.S. assistance into doubt, and Indigenous people in the Amazon worry that without American support there will be a resurgence of the cocaine market, increased threats to their land and potentially violent challenges to their human rights. 'We don't have the U.S. government with us anymore. So it can get really dangerous,' said Vásquez, who belongs to the Shipibo-Konibo people and is vice president of the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest. 'We think the situation is going to get worse.' Several Indigenous human rights defenders have been killed trying to protect their land, Vasquez said, and in some of those cases U.S. foreign aid provided money to help prosecute the slayings. 'We really needed those resources,' he said. When Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, began dismantling USAID shortly after President Donald Trump began his second term, it all but eliminated U.S. foreign aid spending, including decades of support to Indigenous peoples around the world. USAID's work with Indigenous peoples sought to address a variety of global issues affecting the U.S., according to former employees. Its economic development efforts created jobs in South America, easing the need for people to work in illicit drug markets and reducing the likelihood they would migrate to America seeking jobs and safety. And its support for the rights of Indigenous peoples to steward their own land offered opportunities to mitigate climate change. That included Vásquez's organization, which was about to receive a four-year, $2.5 million grant to continue fighting illicit activity that affects Indigenous people in the region. Vásquez said that grant was rescinded by the new administration. In January, DOGE launched a sweeping effort empowered by Trump to fire government workers and cut trillions in government spending. USAID, which managed about $35 billion in appropriations in fiscal year 2024, was one of his prime targets. Critics say the aid programs are wasteful and promote a liberal agenda. Trump, Musk and Republicans in Congress have accused the agency of advancing liberal social programs. 'Foreign assistance done right can advance our national interests, protect our borders, and strengthen our partnerships with key allies,' Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement in March. 'Unfortunately, USAID strayed from its original mission long ago. As a result, the gains were too few and the costs were too high.' Musk last week announced his departure from the Trump administration, marking the end of a turbulent chapter that included thousands of layoffs and reams of litigation. Former USAID employees said political pressure from the U.S. often kept foreign governments from violating some Indigenous rights. In the three months since thousands of foreign aid workers were fired and aid contracts canceled, the Peruvian government has moved quickly to strip Indigenous people of their land rights and to tighten controls on international organizations that document human rights abuses. It's now a serious offense for a nonprofit to provide assistance to anyone working to bring lawsuits against the government. The National Commission for Development and a Drug-Free Lifestyle, the country's agency that fights drug trafficking, did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. 'The impact was really, really strong, and we felt it really quickly when the Trump administration changed its stance about USAID,' Vásquez said. The U.S. spends less than 1% of its budget on foreign assistance. Tim Rieser, a senior foreign policy aide in the Senate who works for Democratic Vermont Sen. Peter Welch, called DOGE's cuts to USAID a 'mindless' setback to years of work. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. USAID's work reached Indigenous communities around the world. It sought to mitigate the effects of human rights abuses in South America, created programs in Africa to enable Indigenous people to manage their own communities and led the global U.S. effort to fight hunger. One of the most recent additions to USAID's work was incorporating international concepts of Indigenous rights into policy. Rieser, for instance, was responsible for crafting legislation that created an adviser within USAID to protect the rights and address the needs of Indigenous peoples. The adviser advocated for Indigenous rights in foreign assistance programs, including actions by the World Bank. 'That provided Indigenous people everywhere with a way to be heard here in Washington,' Rieser said. 'That has now been silenced.' That adviser position remains unfilled. Vy Lam, USAID's adviser on Indigenous peoples, who said he was fired in March as part of the DOGE downsizing, said the idea of Indigenous rights, and the mandate to recognize them in foreign operations, was new to USAID. But it gained momentum under President Joe Biden's administration. He said concepts such as 'free, prior and informed consent' — the right of Indigenous people to give or withhold approval for any action that would affect their lands or rights — were slowly being implemented in American foreign policy. One of the ways that happened, Lam said, came in the form of U.S. political pressure on foreign governments or private industry to negotiate mutually beneficial agreements between Indigenous peoples and their governments. For instance, if an American company wanted to build a hotel in an area that could affect an Indigenous community, the U.S. could push for the deal to require Indigenous approval, or at least consultation. 'We had that convening power, and that is the thing that I grieve the most,' Lam said. U.S. foreign aid workers were also able to facilitate the reporting of some human rights violations, such as when a human rights or environmental defender is jailed without charges, or Indigenous peoples are forced off their land for the establishment of a protected area. In some cases, USAID supported travel to the United Nations, where Indigenous leaders and advocates could receive training to navigate international bodies and document abuses. Last year, under the Biden administration, USAID awarded a five-year grant to support Indigenous LGBTQIA people through the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous People, an agency that offers financial support to Indigenous peoples to participate in the U.N. At $350,000 per year, it was the largest grant from any member state in the U.N., fund Secretary Morse Flores said. The money would have paid for attendance at the U.N. and other international bodies to report human rights abuses and to testify on foreign policy. In February, the fund received notice that the grant would be terminated. The State Department does not plan to fulfill its pledge to fund the remaining four years of the grant. In most cases, people receiving assistance to attend major meetings 'are actual victims of human rights violations,' Flores said. 'For someone who's unable to come and speak up, I mean, it's really just an injustice.' Brewer writes for the Associated Press.
04-06-2025
- Business
Cuts to USAID severed longstanding American support for Indigenous people around the world
NEW YORK -- Miguel Guimaraes Vasquez fought for years to protect his homeland in the Peruvian Amazon from deforestation related to the cocaine trade, even laboring under death threats from drug traffickers. A leader in an Indigenous rights group, Vasquez said such efforts were long supported by financial assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development, which spent billions of dollars starting in the 1980s to help farmers in Peru shift from growing coca for cocaine production to legal crops such as coffee and cacao for chocolate. The agency funded economic and agricultural training and technology, and helped farmers gain access to international markets. But the Trump administration's recent sweeping cuts to the agency have thrown that tradition of U.S. assistance into doubt, and Indigenous people in the Amazon worry that without American support there will be a resurgence of the cocaine market, increased threats to their land and potentially violent challenges to their human rights. 'We don't have the U.S. government with us anymore. So it can get really dangerous,' said Vásquez, who belongs to the Shipibo-Konibo people and is vice president of the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest. "We think the situation is going to get worse.' Several Indigenous human rights defenders have been killed trying to protect their land, Vasquez said, and in some of those cases U.S. foreign aid provided money to help prosecute the slayings. 'We really needed those resources,' he said. When Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, began dismantling USAID shortly after President Donald Trump began his second term, it all but eliminated U.S. foreign aid spending, including decades of support to Indigenous peoples around the world. USAID's work with Indigenous peoples sought to address a variety of global issues affecting the U.S., according to former employees. Its economic development efforts created jobs in South America, easing the need for people to work in illicit drug markets and reducing the likelihood they would migrate to America seeking jobs and safety. And its support for the rights of Indigenous peoples to steward their own land offered opportunities to mitigate climate change. That included Vásquez's organization, which was about to receive a four-year, $2.5 million grant to continue fighting illicit activity that affects Indigenous people in the region. Vásquez said that grant was rescinded by the new administration. In January, DOGE launched a sweeping effort empowered by Trump to fire government workers and cut trillions in government spending. USAID, which managed about $35 billion in appropriations in fiscal year 2024, was one of his prime targets. Critics say the aid programs are wasteful and promote a liberal agenda. Trump, Musk and Republicans in Congress have accused the agency of advancing liberal social programs. 'Foreign assistance done right can advance our national interests, protect our borders, and strengthen our partnerships with key allies,' Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement in March. 'Unfortunately, USAID strayed from its original mission long ago. As a result, the gains were too few and the costs were too high.' Musk last week announced his departure from the Trump administration, marking the end of a turbulent chapter that included thousands of layoffs and reams of litigation. Former USAID employees said political pressure from the U.S. often kept foreign governments from violating some Indigenous rights. In the three months since thousands of foreign aid workers were fired and aid contracts canceled, the Peruvian government has moved quickly to strip Indigenous people of their land rights and to tighten controls on international organizations that document human rights abuses. It's now a serious offense for a nonprofit to provide assistance to anyone working to bring lawsuits against the government. The National Commission for Development and a Drug-Free Lifestyle, the country's agency that fights drug trafficking, did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. 'The impact was really, really strong, and we felt it really quickly when the Trump administration changed its stance about USAID,' Vásquez said. The U.S. spends less than 1% of its budget on foreign assistance. Tim Rieser, a senior foreign policy aide in the Senate who works for Democratic Vermont Sen. Peter Welch, called DOGE's cuts to USAID a 'mindless' setback to years of work. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. USAID's work reached Indigenous communities around the world. It sought to mitigate the effects of human rights abuses in South America, created programs in Africa to enable Indigenous people to manage their own communities and led the global U.S. effort to fight hunger. One of the most recent additions to USAID's work was incorporating international concepts of Indigenous rights into policy. Rieser, for instance, was responsible for crafting legislation that created an adviser within USAID to protect the rights and address the needs of Indigenous peoples. The adviser advocated for Indigenous rights in foreign assistance programs, including actions by the World Bank. 'That provided Indigenous people everywhere with a way to be heard here in Washington,' Rieser said. 'That has now been silenced.' That adviser position remains unfilled. Vy Lam, USAID's adviser on Indigenous peoples, who said he was fired in March as part of the DOGE downsizing, said the idea of Indigenous rights, and the mandate to recognize them in foreign operations, was new to USAID. But it gained momentum under President Joe Biden's administration. He said concepts such as 'free, prior and informed consent' — the right of Indigenous people to give or withhold approval for any action that would affect their lands or rights — were slowly being implemented in American foreign policy. One of the ways that happened, Lam said, came in the form of U.S. political pressure on foreign governments or private industry to negotiate mutually beneficial agreements between Indigenous peoples and their governments. For instance, if an American company wanted to build a hotel in an area that could affect an Indigenous community, the U.S. could push for the deal to require Indigenous approval, or at least consultation. 'We had that convening power, and that is the thing that I grieve the most,' Lam said. U.S. foreign aid workers were also able to facilitate the reporting of some human rights violations, such as when a human rights or environmental defender is jailed without charges, or Indigenous peoples are forced off their land for the establishment of a protected area. In some cases, USAID supported travel to the United Nations, where Indigenous leaders and advocates could receive training to navigate international bodies and document abuses. Last year, under the Biden administration, USAID awarded a five-year grant to support Indigenous LGBTQIA people through the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous People, an agency that offers financial support to Indigenous peoples to participate in the U.N. At $350,000 per year, it was the largest grant from any member state in the U.N., fund Secretary Morse Flores said. The money would have paid for attendance at the U.N. and other international bodies to report human rights abuses and to testify on foreign policy. In February, the fund received notice that the grant would be terminated. The State Department does not plan to fulfill its pledge to fund the remaining four years of the grant. In most cases, people receiving assistance to attend major meetings "are actual victims of human rights violations,' Flores said. 'For someone who's unable to come and speak up, I mean, it's really just an injustice.'
