Author Archives: johnhaigh

98 – Watering the desert for a thousand years

Ten million people living on a coastal plain where it never rains – that is the paradox of Lima – the biggest desert city, some say, after Cairo, after Las Vegas. And yet there are green parks in every district. … Continue reading

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Time to pay for the duck say Brazilians

17 April 2016 – Paulista, the main business street in the centre of Brazil’s commercial capital Sao Paulo, is packed with thousands wearing green and yellow shirts and facepaint, or draped in Brazilian flags, and gathered at the focal point … Continue reading

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Still seeking justice on state sterilisations

“They falsified the signature of my husband and it does not match his identity card.” says Felicitas from Cuzco. “They lied that they authorised the sterilisation that took place without my consent. I never accepted. They put me under anaesthetic … Continue reading

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No stopping Brazil’s Car Wash clean-up

For three days here on the streets of São Paulo the people have been expressing their views on the future of Brazil. On Wednesday street demonstrators called for the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff. On Thursday another crowd gathered to say “No … Continue reading

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Time for a change in Buenos Aires

At one end of the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, within sight of the Presidential Palace, Pablo is discreetly offering passers-by “change…cambio…dollars”. “You understand this is the “blue” rate, not official,” he explains as we walk down a narrow … Continue reading

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Fish murals fighting gang warfare

The Plaza del Matrix is a tidy little paved square with benches in front of the cathedral church in wedding cake pink and white. The square is flanked by colonial buildings with freshly painted yellow plaster walls, colonnades and upper … Continue reading

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Time to tango for Argentine business

The Tango, invented in Buenos Aires, is a taut, teasing, intricate dance for two. And foreign businesses looking for opportunities in Argentina can soon find themselves taking the first steps in their own version of Argentina’s national dance. Because in … Continue reading

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Drought hit Brazil seeks solar power

For three years Brazil has been hit by power cuts, hurting business and creating headaches for the government. The reason – Brazil put all its energy eggs in the hydroelectric basket. 65% of its energy should come from hydroelectric power, … Continue reading

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Clock ticking for lead fuelled crime wave

Crime levels in Lima will start to fall in six to eighteen months – whoever wins next the upcoming elections. Between end June 2016 and end June 2017, the wave of shootings, street attacks, house robbery and murder will decline. Whether or … Continue reading

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Cusco heritage protest snares tourists

20,000 people marched through the streets of Cusco last week to protest a new law enabling private enterprises to take over the management of archaeological sites in Peru. Thousands of tourists were left stranded as PeruRail closed the railway to … Continue reading

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Vulture sky patrol to clean up trash

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it Captain Huggin? The citizens of Lima, Peru have ten new heroes patrolling the city skies with super powers – 150 cm wingspan, ultrapowerful eyesight spotting waste from high in the … Continue reading

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Out and about in Peru

As a freelance journalist in South America I travel to many amazing places, meet great people, see historic events – and this blog is where I can put words and pictures about some of my experiences – not finished pieces, … Continue reading

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