Introduction
What didn't I like?
Lima
"The fumes expelled by these old cars, microbuses and buses is horrendous."
Oh, so you think it's bad today (2008) do you? You should have been there 40 years ago, that was bad!
I remember sitting under the arches outside a coffee bar on the corner of Jiron de la Union and Huallaga in the Plaza de Armas facing the Palace; this was an experience.
The place was "buzzing". It was noisy, dirty. People bumped into each other as they hurried around trying to achieve their "objectives". Plenty of (old) cars and traffic jams. It took one ages to just drive down the Jiron de la Union.
Today, "down-town" Lima is a relatively quiet tourist attraction referred to as the "old town". Not that many cars and the "business community" has moved out to San Isidro. Even the old Central Bank is now a museum! I feel as though "the heart of Lima" has disappeared - unfortunately.
"Yeah, yeah. Of course it is for the better"; we really do need to reduce the existing level of pollution generated by cars etc. etc.
But I would suggest that there are much more serious priorities - like the pollution generated in the La Oroya mining towns.
Now, this is real pollution. But it is out of sight, and thus out of mind of the majority of people who live in Lima.
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La Oroya
La Oroya is a mining town approx 12,000 ft (3,700m) ASL with a population of approx 30,000.
I passed through this town on the train from Lima to Huancayo in 1967 and in 2008.
(BTW: In 1967 I remember that there were seranos (amerindians) on the train. Today, it is a tourist train owned by a Chilean company and a "must do journey". Travel by road is much faster and cheaper today).
My impression in 2008, as I stood at the rear of the train alone as we passed through La Oroya, was "that it had grown tremendously in the last 40 years" and that "it looked polluted". Yep, not very scientific!
It ranks as one the 10 most polluted places in the world. That's a BIG statement.
A 1999 study (conducted two years after Doe Run's acquisition) showed high levels of air pollution, with
85 times more arsenic, 41 times more cadmium, and 13 times more lead than amounts generally considered safe.
Aug 2009: Reuters: Peru must pick job losses or pollution at smelter
Aug 2009: La Oroya: sulfur contents in air exceed historical levels around Doe Run smelter
TIME: The Blacksmith Institute's "The World's Most Polluted Places"
Wikipedia: La Oroya
Huancayo
I was having a snooze next to the river and a local told me not to go into the water as it was polluted.
This is due to 17 active mining operations in the Mantaro river valley.
The river has been polluted for years!
The locals depend on this water to irrigate their plantations or for drinking water for themselves and their animals.
Huancayo is located in a really beautiful valley.
Despite it being situated some distance from the sea at 10,692ft (3,259 m) ASL, I was suprised to find "Made in China" labels on Peruvian looking garments!
Map: Huancayo (and La Oroya up river to the NW)
Joining forces to save the Mantaro river
Chimbote
What you can see is the smoke coming out of a fishmeal factory. (picture taken from my hotel window in the centre of Chimbote at 09.15 hours).
I had smelt it the previous evening as I arrived by car from Caraz.
However, this is only the "tip of the iceberg" - the link below is worth a read.
"Because of her outspoken activism, Foronda and her husband Oscar Solomon Diaz Barboza were falsely accused of belonging to the terrorist organization Shining Path and sentenced to twenty years in prison in 1994". She served 18 months!
Government Action
After years of limited or no action it appears that at long last action is being taken against pollution in some areas.
An example:
The 80,000 residents of Cerro de Pasco are to be moved at a cost of $322 million.
It will take 10 to 15 years to complete. (see link below).
Furthermore, In 2008 the Peruvian Government created its first Environment ministry.
I would like to think that this represents a new "social/responsible attitude" by Governments in Peru, especially as more and more mining rights are being handed out to mining/extractive companies.
I remain sceptical.
Governments in most countries need to be continually reminded that they represent all people and not a minority few. It is called "Democracy".
Map: Cerro de Pasco
Congress approves law to relocate highly polluted highland mining city of Cerro de Pasco
BBC 2008: Peru sets up environment ministry
Contact Me
Please use this "Contact Form" to contact me, especially if you are interested in supporting this project; to build the first of eleven State of the Art Community Learning/Cultural Centres across Peru specifically for the disadvantaged.
The first is to be located in a disadvantaged district of Lima - Villa María de Triunfo.
Help us to achieve social change
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