OPEN LETTER TO AL GORE

Mr. Gore,
It is a pity that you didn´t travel outside of Lima. Particularly to Huancavelica or Ayacucho. There isn´t any "miracle" in those regions. More than 70% of the population still lives under extreme poverty, in a situation worse than in times of the Inca Empire. They suffer from hunger, deseases, illiteracy. They don´t have acceptable roads, electricity nor medicine. In these and other regions of Peru there are still children who die frozen during the winter days or from hunger. This endeed is a real miracle in the XXI century ¡
You think that Peru´s tremendous growth is an example for the other latin american countries. However, what President García didn´t let you know is that this advance benefits only the national and transnational companies. They have gainned thousands of millions of dollars during the mineral boom, whereas salaries in this "miraculous" country are the lowest of Latin America. Perhaps you know that the minimum vital salary in this "earthly paradise" , which so amazes you, is under $200.00 ? Strangely enough, gas, light, water, phone and cable fares in Peru are the highest in Latin America.
And what did they tell you about education in Perú ? In case they didn´t, let me tell you that about 12% of peruvians can´t read and write, and Peru is considered in the last place in Latin America as far as results of education are concerned (only over Haiti). This must be another miracle for our President, for you, too ?

Mr. Gore: if you want to see the reality of our country, you should travel around it. You can´t listen only to government authorities if your intention is to have an exact picture of this country. Lima is not Peru. If you don´t have time, take a look at some "miraculous" suburbs of Lima, such as La Victoria, El Agustino, Huaycan. It won´t take you long, but you´ll see how peruvian old men and children fight with dogs for some food in the garbage. After that, you¨ll probably won´t believe in miracles any more.
Thank you for visiting our country, but, please, don´t talk about unexisting miracles.
Truly yours,

Julián Calderón Echenique.