52 reasons to celebrate Peru's investment grade

Let all bear in mind that a society is judged not so much by the standards attained by its more affluent and privileged members as by the quality of life which it is able to assure for its weakest members.

His Excellency Javier Perez de Cuellar
Peruvian statesman
5th Secretary General of the United Nations

According to this official Peru Ministry of Health press release today, a total of 52 children under the age of five have died due to the combination of cold weather and pneumonia in the Puno region of Peru this year. Of those 52 children now dead, 33 were from the city of Juliaca.

The regional director of health, Percy Zela Campos said that the death of the infants doesn't happen due to simple health questions. "The children who die are from a very poor socioeconomic situation, and this is a big influence."

Here's another one from Zela Campos, and you'll note I'm linking the original quotes here; "..The Ministry of Health supports us with medicines.......the problem is that our stocks run out at this time of year (the Andean winter)."

And then there's this report that has President Alan García asking for "....the solidarity of his compatriots to offer help to the residents of the regions in the South of the country." The only problem with this is that this quote is from winter 2007 when another 50 children died from exactly the same thing.

Is it just me, or do you think there's something totally fucked up with this picture, too?