While the U.S. news media is primarily focused on what is happening in the Middle East, the presidential election campaign, the planned deportation of Central American refugees, and armed militias taking over a federal park facility, there seems to be so much of the news that falls through the cracks that we simply miss. In this case, I shall report a few things of what happened recently in Peru. The city of Cuzco has become the most visited holiday destination in the country, according to the Peruvian news media. A major city since the 13th Century when the Incas had it as their capital, Cuzco is a very historic city that goes back centuries. An estimated 5,000 visitors and local residents gathered in Cuzco for the celebration of the New Year.

In village communities not far from the city of Piura, village residents of Mala Vida have planted carob trees in an effort to help reforest the area which is being quickly claimed by the desert. Carob is a natural substitute for chocolate, and was an important plant helping to protect the region from the desert. According to the news. illegal logging had greatly damaged the eco-system, and local residents are trying to help restore the area to what it was. At the same time, the Peruvian government is trying to stop illegal logging which has caused the damage to the eco-system. Of course, this is just a snapshot of what is happening in Peru. There are many other things happening in the Americas we almost never hear about. I just thought I would present a small sample.