EXPRESS YOURSELFIf all of the world’s cultural heritage (sports,

music, fashion, architecture, literature, painting, etc.) was contained in a time capsule,

what would you include to demonstrate the legacy of your country?

PERU

It is not easy to decide what elements would be important to preserve without having

the fear of leaving critical information aside. Peru is a country of ancient traditions and modern developments. It is a country

of big contrasts and also big achievements. Having played a significant role in the

historical, economic, political and social development of Latin America, these are

the things I considered should be salvaged to explain Peru in the 21st century.

I believe Peru is the country of tomorrow filled with determination, stability and eager for development. Thirty to twenty years ago there was no sense of patriotism and

nationalism. We experienced massive exodus in the decade of the 80s and 90s due to terrorism and bad economic choices. Today, Peru is one of the rising stars

in Latin America achieving outstanding growth rate in the last ten years. To better understand this subject I think it is important to include several charts that would

explain our accelerating economic success. A chart of economic growth will explain Peru’s economic and financial development vis-à-vis other countries in

the region. It will also provide visible data about our liberal functional policies and economic improvements. Another chart will show poverty reduction over the

years. This information will serve for demographic analytics. The importance of this chart will reveal to future civilizations Peru’s efforts to reduce the income inequality gap. It is also a proof of a demographic phenomenon in the region

called the ‘emerging middle-class.’ Peru’s legacy should not be shortened to its drawbacks, but we should recognize those who have worked so hard to build the

name and image of our country, for example Mario Vargas Llosa a writer and journalist who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010.

Mario Vargas Llosa

Inflation Rate over the last 10 years

Poverty Reduction over the years

Secondly, I should mention the Nazca Lines, a geoglyphs depict living creatures, stylized plants and imaginary

beings, as well as geometric figures several kilometers long. They are believed to have had ritual astronomical

functions. The complexity of these lines defies the evolutionary assumption of primitive ancestors. The Swiss

author Erich von Daniken suggests the Nazca lines and other complex constructions represent higher

technological knowledge than commonly believed to be existed when the glyphs were created. The Nazca, as an

ancient culture can be credited with having an impressive mathematical prowess. From the precision of the lines and

figures, we can ascertain that they had the necessary tools for surveying and construction and also had in-depth knowledge of mathematics and geometry. Taking a closer look at the Nazca Lines, it becomes clear the Nazcas were

not primitive at all but rather intelligent civil engineers.

Inca KolaThirdly, having worked in advertising, one of the most remarkable facts about the Peruvian market is our popular “Inca-Kola”, a soft drink

made from Lemon Verbena, which Coca-Cola (the lead soft brand

beverage in the world) has not been able to take down. This gives the

Peruvian population a feeling of Self Assurance, giving them the

confidence that we can compete, create, and develop something that

could place us at the same level comparable with the rest of the

world. After an aggressive advertising campaign, which place

Inca-Kola as the favorite drink in the Peruvian market, the Coca-Cola

Company was compelled to create a joint venture with Corporación Inca-Kola Peru S.A. to keep its leadership in the Peruvian market. Including an

Inca-Kola will show the power of Peruvian tradition and local

innovation.

Lastly, future populations should learn about the roots of Peruvian culture and cuisine, so I would include some potatoes (or pictures of potatoes). It would be

interesting to mention of how the human mind can have such a power of imagination, of how something so simple could become such an important element of human feeding. The Peruvian Potato was brought to Europe in

times of hunger. Potatoes in Peru have been cultivated for 8,000 years and more than just a source of food, they are an economic source for farmers in

the Andes, a business venture for intermediaries, and a policy target for politicians. With more than 2,300 different types of potatoes in Peru alone, this tuber has become a staple food and crop for Peruvians. Its legacy dates many civilizations ago and because of this diversity, Peruvian food is amongst the best in the world, winning the record Guinness in 2007 (491 dishes). Gaston Acurio is the ambassador of Peruvian cuisine and a revolutionary in bringing authentic and endemic products into the pallets of international customers.

Gaston Acurio