The incredible art of the Shipibo people - Part 1
UN wants to ban ancient Andean traditions of chewing coca This month the UN’s International Narcotics Control Board recommended a ban on coca chewing and the use of coca in mass-consumption products such as tea in Peru and Bolivia. This is part of an attempt to crack down on cocaine production. Both Andean countries have defended the use of coca which has been used for medicinal and religious purposes for centuries and is part their cultural identity.
The Peruvian and Bolivian governments criticised the UN report for only concentrating on coca cultivation as the basis for cocaine production and that it lacked respect for indigenous cultures. To protest against the UN recommendations, dozens of Peruvian Congress members chewed the coca leaf publicly. Indigenous activists led by the Congress woman Hilaria Supa also gathered in central Lima to raise awareness about the spiritual and cultural uses of the coca leaf.
Click to view aticle on Andean Shamanism and Traditional use of the Coca leaf.
Visit our website for info on our Andean Shamanism Retreats in Peru
I'm currently in Peru, and the other day I wanted to book a flight from Pucallpa to Lima. As it was raining (a lot) so avoiding a hike into town, I logged on to the LAN Peru website (www.lan.com), and discovered when I tried using my UK credit card, the price was UK Pounds 88, looking at what it would cost using a US$ credit card the price was $88. So the UK price was DOUBLE....I could also assume that it would be similar for the Euro Zone......so Caveat emptor!
So if you are planning to book internal flights before you arrive in Peru, you would save a heap of money by doing that when you get to Peru.
Good Luck
Howard
Click for information on our Ayahuasca and Yoga Retreats in the Amazon, Peru
Ayahuasca Retreat - Amazon Rainforest, Mishana, Peru. March 2008 A video collage of Eagle's Wing Ayahuasca Retreat at our dedicated centre in Mishana.
