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Summary: Translated by CRIN
[LIMA, 6 June 2008] – International organisations have launched a campaign in Lima to save the mining town of La Oroya, the most polluted part of South America, to mark World Environment Day 2008. La Oroya, which lies 175 kilometres north of Lima, is considered to be the fifth most polluted city in the world by the Blacksmith Institute. Ninety nine per cent of the 12,000 children who live there have elevated levels of lead in their blood. Ninety seven per cent of the infant population suffers physical or mental impairments such as deformities or blindness as a result of air pollution; others have died. The campaign,’Let’s save La Oroya’, aims to raise awareness about the population’s predicament, using billboards, pamphlets and a web page with three short films which describe the problem from different viewpoints. “The only thing we are asking is that our rights are recognised and that environmental commitments are adhered to,’ explained Rosa Amaro, President of the La Oroya Movement for Health at a press conference. The Movement is working with US organisation Legacy 13 on the campaign. The population has fallen victim to pollution since mining in the area began in 1922. ‘The real problem began in 1999, and the statistics show that in 2002 pollution levels increased further,’ explained doctor Hugo Villa, a resident of La Oroya, ‘even though the US firm had bought the mining rights with the promise of reducing emissions.’ Although the operation was due to end in 2006, Doe Run persuaded the Peruvian government to delay the deadline a number of times, leading the local inhabitants to sue the Peruvian State. ‘We won the case at the Constitutional Court, which ruled in our favour because the State had reneged on its State responsibilities, affecting the human right to health,” explained Carlos Chirinos to the press. However, according to Chirinos, the Peruvian State did not comply with the judgment. Sixty five residents of La Oroya pursued the case at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights which also ruled in their favour. The Peruvian lawyer added that the recent creation of the Peruvian Ministry for the Environment that La Oroya should take a stand and has called for the new minister for the environment, Antonio Brack, to prioritise the area in his action plan. The largest shareholder, Renco Group, of Doe Run, has been called the ‘nation’s biggest polluter’ by the US agency for environmental protection. Further information
However, since 1997, when US firm Doe Run began its operations, pollution levels have risen, with daily emissions of a ton of sulphur dioxide, lead and arsenic.