Selling sweets

Selling sweets, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

I am coming to the end of my Peruvian photos. This is strange because this blog has only been centered around that part of my life for so long that I am not quite ready to let go of it and allow US photos to begin to fill its space, but I also have lots of new thoughts and experiences to begin to share through text and more photographs.

So first, I want to thank my readers. I have been so blessed to have people who were committed to reading my random thoughts and trying to live a little bit of my life. Thank you to those who made my experience a reality and a great season of my life. And thank you to those who continue to shape my life. You have helped this to happen and will continue into the future.

I do need to note that this will not be my final, last, never again Peruvian photograph, but I'm going to begin to try new things. I started a new job yesterday (customer service at Big Fish Games) and so it is time to really dive into this new season. So thanks to everyone and keep reading and viewing the photographs that are changing my life, no matter where I am.

La Oroya Somos Todos

La Oroya Somos Todos, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

"We are all La Oroya." The slogan for those seeking a just end to the ecological issues plaguing this city. Every visit I made to this city where I was constantly presented with the difficulties and joys of those who live there made me more and more appreciative for the clean air that I am blessed to breathe. As I walk through the streets of Seattle and cough when a semi drives by spewing smoke all over me, I realize that this is not that bad. My lungs will recover in two breaths. But Esther (the woman holding the sign) has spent so many years living in la Oroya and her body is daily dealing with the extra weight of heavy metals. Her continued devotion to the women and kids of this city to guarantee that they grow up in a cleaner environment is remarkable. As 2 days ago was Universal Children's Day and tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I ask that you take the gravity in both of those holidays and seek ways to give them the necessary depth and understanding.

Stitching in the Streets

Stitching in the Streets, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

Every Andean city that I visited always had women on every street corner knitting hats, socks, and other warm articles of clothing. I loved seeing their dedication to keeping warm and knowing that all the yarn came from local sheep and alpacas. It was a look into the how these hearty people survived the deathly cold nights in high altitudes.

La Comunidad

La Comunidad, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

During my final tour through the Andes with the Red Uniendo Manos, we visited a fair put on by CEDEPAS Centro about organic farming. This photo was the community in their element waiting for lunch. I just love how normal everything feels in this photograph. It is really something that I am proud to have been allowed to be close enough to take.

What did she say?

What did she say?, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

Today it has been one year since this photo was taken. I really cannot believe how that time has flown and how much these photos are still affecting me. I am slowly putting together a photo book of my best photography during my year in Peru and telling the story behind each photograph. I was working on this one and when I entered the "taken on" date, I realized that is today. The book is long from completion, but here is the caption for this photograph that I believe to be one of the more important ones of the year. (I should note that this is what it says now, when the book is printed, it may read different, but this is what I feel now):

The word that I believe best describes the Peruvian life is juxtaposition. This is a country whose indigenous heritage ran straight into its Spanish heritage. The city of Lima rides the line between sea and mountains but in a desert. This the world’s largest fountain park resides within this city where only 8mm of rain falls every day.But one of the biggest juxtapositions is how history and modernity are fighting each other to be the guidepost as the country moves forward.

This photo was taken during an event put on by the Urban Development Institute – CENCA for the presentation of their one-year diagnostic of a small part of San Juan de Lurigancho, a neighborhood of Lima. After the presentations, a group of local high schoolers presented cultural dances. These girls were waiting for the dancing to begin, but just like so many other teenagers around the world, were waiting for that time by texting. These two worlds are colliding but yet everything is so familiar too.

Voting

Voting, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

During my last trip through the Andes with the Red Uniendo Manos, we were privileged enough to go to an event put on by CEDEPAS. This was a summit for local organic farmers to come together and share their experiences and best practices. This photo is the members of the event voting to officially open the day which is a tribute to the extreme formality of Peruvian NGO work. It was impressive to see these workers and the way that they lived their lives both individually and as a community and is very inspiring to see what CEDEPAS is doing to promote healthy farming practices in the region.

Proud of Fair Trade

Proud of Fair Trade, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

There are photographs that I have taken that I love and then there are those that I truly adore. This falls into the latter category.

These four women are some of the leaders of the Fair Trade organization, El Murcurio or "Murcury." I have talked about this group before, but this was my last encounter with them. During the year I went to their artisan workshop 3 or four times and was welcomed with open arms, but I will never forget this experience because I was translating. One of the group that was traveling with us asked them, "how has Fair Trade changed your life?" and their response has forever become a part of who I am.

"When we started, our husbands didn't want us to do this because they wanted us to be in the house cooking, but once they saw how much money we were making they changed their minds. We now have enough money to send our kids to school and to make our homes a little better. But we now, even more than the money, we have more faith in ourselves and more pride in who we are. That is how Fair Trade has changed us."

La Puerta

La Puerta, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

The afternoon commute

The afternoon commute, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

When we visited the Amazon, I was amazed at how many people were out on the river. I love this photograph because it really shows the normal life that existed in that region. I don't know much about this guy, but it just seems like he is enjoying is afternoon commute home after a day of work. It is something that looks so different than the hours spent in gridlock on I-5, but such a strong example of just life.

Menu

Menu, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

This is one of those photos that I almost forgot to take, which would have been tragic since the menú was a daily part of my life. In Peru, the menú is the normal lunch or dinner meal that everyone gets. It usually comes in 2 parts, an apatizer and then the main course. They were usually the common food for the part of the country that you were in and were 6 soles ($2) at most, usually cheaper. So, this sign shows what a normal person, who was eating on their lunch break in Iquitos would eat.

Inca Kola

Inca Kola, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

Inca Kola is the national pop of Peru. It used to be its own company and was one of the only national brands in the world that could stand up against coke in popularity. For a long time, no matter what kind of marketing or ads that Coke put in the country, it could not outsell Inca Kola. So, in order to fix this problem, Coke just bought it. Coke and Inca Kola are generally the only options at a restaurant. It is not unheard of for a Peruvian to say, "Quiero Inca, no queiro el imperio" or "I want Inca, I don't want the empire." Peruvians still hold on to Inca Kola as theirs and think of Coke as the carbonated Galactic Empire. It hard to describe the taste of Inca Kola. It kinda tastes like the child of bubble gum and cream soda, but extremely sweet. When I first got to Peru, I hated Inca, but by the end I found it tolerable and a good partner to ceviche because the sweetness of the drink really helped to balance the bitterness of the lemon cooked fish.

Amidst the treats

Amidst the treats, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

Everywhere in Lima there are these little stands that are entirely full of snacks. They were the easiest and cheapest option for a little something to eat on the way home. But I always enjoyed seeing the people who work in these booths. They are so often sleeping like this woman. I just as I took this one, she looked up, but I am glad to see that I captured her nap.

On Camera

On Camera, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

This photograph of Vanesa was from one of our early trips to La Oroya, long before CAMBIALO took on that name. She is recording a personal bio. She was so nervous then but was so glad to be in front of the camera by the time I left. That just warms my soul to see the kids grow.

Walking

Walking down the Coridor, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

During our Christmas vacations, all the YAVs and Erika and Stacie went to Arequipa for a few days. I was amazed by the architecture and the lifestyle of the city. Also the sunsets were truly incredible. It is a must see city for anyone who visits Peru.

The Rememberance of Putis is Almost Forgotten

The Rememberance of Putis is Almost Forgotten, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

During the Peruvian period of violence, there were many atrocities. One of the most horrendous was in the town of Putis, near Ayacucho. The government believed the village to be supporters of the Shining Path, the communist revolutionaries. One day, soldiers came into the town and told everyone that they were together going to dig new latrines or a foundation. So they happily gather everyone together to start working. All day the town worked to prepare the plot. Then when it was dug, the soldiers opened fire, killing an estimated 123 people, many of whom were children. Then they quickly filled it in and Putis was forgotten in the mass grave of horrible memories from this period.

As part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's work, the mass grave in Putis was unearthed and many were identified. Last August, a mass burial was held for the community as a healing. This poster is an advertisement for the event. For more information, click here for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Wikipedia.

Jobs

Well, I have been back for a little over a month now and life is looking toward settling.  I will move into my new house in Ballard next week.  It is a great house with an awesome view.  I will be living with 5 other guys with the aimed goal at intentional community.  We will see what that works itself into meaning, but I am really excited.  Also it has a hot tub.

There is this thing in life where you generally have to have money to buy food and thus survive.  Therefore I am in the job market.  So, if there are any readers out there who know of job opportunities, please do not hesitate to let me know.  I would love to keep speaking Spanish or to work with a NGO, but I am realistic in that the market in Seattle is difficult.  Therefore, please, if you know of anything, let me know.  I love you all.

Funeral for a little one

Funeral for a little one, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

I really wish I knew more of what was going on in this picture, but all you can see is all I know. I was helping the CAMBIALO kids film each other in La Oroya and looked up to see this small group of people carying these flowers and the smallest coffin that I have ever seen. It was one of those moments that shows what life is really like.

Unused Scales

Unused Scales, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

In November, 2009, I got to visit Erika in Ayacucho while she was volunteering for the Casa Hogar Los Gorriones. This was just too picturesque for me to pass up.  I don't know what brought this situation to be set up for me.  But for me it represents the way that Peru and especially Ayacucho, just stopped the world and had it ripped away during the period of violence between 1980 and 2000.  Life was hard, but it just disappeared and there are only fragments which are being used to be the building blocks for the future.

Stateside for 2 weeks, where did it all go?

I case you haven't heard, I came back to the US on July 27th.  If you read this, I would love to hang out with you at some time.  My cell phone is the same as before.  If you don't have it, just send me an email.

But it is strange to be sitting at my parent's house writing this email looking out on my Mom's garden and listening to the newest Vampire Weekend album on my stereo which I set up in the family room upon returning.  This led to this short exchange:

Mom: "having music is great, I should have used it more often."
Joe: "It has only been set up for an hour and a half"
Mom: "oh......"

Joe and Erika after Sounders game

Since getting back to the US, I have gone out to Mexican food at El Charo (the best Chicken Mole ever!), had friends over for an epic welcoming, relaxed, family reunion, a week in Seattle, more friends over, a Peruvian dinner, a Mariners game, a Sounders game, hung out in Seattle and tomorrow head off to Vancouver for Cherise and Cory's wedding.  My life has been pleasantly busy.

But where did it all go?  I have this sentiment often when I travel where upon return, I feel as if it were all a dream.  I know that it isn't.  I know that the memories are real.  I can hold the negatives which prove that I took this picture, but it just went so fast.  And it is strange that it is the same season as when I left because it feels as if the world just paused here.  This is compounded by the fact that I am not in Spokane or at Whitworth now.  I am spending more time in Seattle.  My college friends are around, but not down the hall.

Vanesa, Lady, and Jhohana from CAMBIALO

But there are the things that make me remember it all.  I use a picture of Vanessa, one of the kids from the CAMBIALO project as my bookmark to remember those kids and what they mean to me every time I sit down to read.  Every article of clothing I purchased in Peru brings back memories whenever they slip over my extremities.  I was blessed by 14 people coming to a small celebration of my year at my parent's house last weekend of which I got to go through pictures, music, stories and some food (still eating those leftovers).  Of course my facebook is every other between english and spanish comments and photos.  It is still real.

So that is the dichotomy that I get to sit between.  I have said before that, to me, "home" is not a location, but rather the place where you feel connected to your community and now my "home" spans 2 continents.

So, I will continue to blog off and on.  I will not send the email updates as I have during my time in Peru, with exception of more important things.  This blog will still be full of my thoughts and experiences and pictures.  Thank you for yours this year.  Lets keep it up!

Smiles

Smiles, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

La Oroya, Peru, Kentmere B/W 400 film

Children in the city of La Oroya crowd around the camera. 97% of them have elivated blood lead levels. To see how they are trying to move out of that situation, please check out www.kidsforlaoroya.org/

In the doorway

In the doorway, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

On our way back from the III International Youth Congress on Water and the Environment, we were walking through the town of Desaguadero on the Peru/Bolivia border and this little girl just stood out with he happiness. I forgot about this picture until the other day. That is one of my favorite things, to take a picture and forget how good it is until way later and then be blown away by something you did. Some of my other favorites are the same. This picture will probably adorn my wall in Seattle next fall and I didn't even know it existed 3 days ago.

Speaking

Speaking, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

A local priest speaks out against Doe Run and the Peruvian government´s handling of it at a rally in Lima, Peru.

Coke Bottles

Important note: On Saturday August 7th, I will be holding a thank you dessert and slide show at around 8:00.  This is times where I want to share with all of you wonderful people who care about my life what this year has meant to me.  It will be held at my parent's house (map).  If you use google calendar, click the button below, if not please send me an email if you can come  Just FYI, I am still working raising money for this year.  Thank you to all of you who have done so this year, but I am still a little short.  If you are able click here for  my fundraising or to the Kids for La Oroya project (if you do this, just send me an email to let me know you helped out, I will want to say thank you).  Thanks for this year and I am happy to say it continues!

Vicuña

It is a nice relaxing Sunday afternoon, but I am quite aware that 3,000 miles north of here, everyone is getting ready to blow up the night sky (and hopefully not themselves) with fireworks, feast on hot dogs, microbrews, laughter and bumping music.  So happy 4th of July to everyone.

I am still so blessed to be here in Peru.  My life is something that I truly treasure.  Whether it is a Saturday of world cup soccer, bathroom cleaning (the year as a janitor has come in handy), more futbol, cebiche, a pirated copy of the new Karate Kid move in spanish, and then a night out on the town with great people or it is a 4 hour ride up into the Andes for a 2 hour meeting of video taping with kids and then 4 hours back or it is just working in my office, I am blessed.

Speaking of the World Cup, in the center of Lima, there is a big screen and stage.  This fan fest goes on during every game and so Ginna, Liz and I decided to go watch the US Ghana game there.  As I have previously mentioned in this blog, just being in main squares usually brings awesome things into my life and this was no different.  I was standing around watching the game and a guy in a coke t-shirt came up and just said "sigueme" or "follow me."  I have learned that when these situations come up, it is something you just have to do.  So before I knew what was happening, I was on stage being interviewed by a local newscaster about who I am, my favorite food in Peru (Tacacho con Cecina), and the US' chances in the up coming game.  Then Ginna, Liz, a few other americans, a couple dutch guys, and I found ourselves dancing around with a brass band trying to get the crowd ready (and they kept giving us more coke to keep our energy levels up).  The game of course did not end in the way we all wanted and I am sure that they got some great photos of me being sad about the overtime loss.

Watching the world cup in the Plaza

But these situations always make me feel strange because I do believe that because I stand out, because I'm from the culture I represent, this stuff happens to me.  It is strange because I always want to blend in.  I have been here long enough that I can answer the phones at the office (and open the door from my phone).  I can navigate myself anywhere in Lima by bus.  I can complain about the Metropolitano, am always cold, can handle room temperature beer, but I am still 1.85m (6' 1"), white, blond, and have a horrible north american accent (so much so that taxis occasionally don't recognize my street because my vocal difference between Bolivar and Bulevar is hard to hear) and that is after the surprise that I actually speak Spanish.  I still surprise people when I say my name is José but that is because if I say Joe, people think I say John, Jeff, and a slew of other names.  So it annoys me that I am constantly the one who is given loads of free coke (or some equivalent experience) while there is a woman 2m away who is having her son run around our feet picking up the empty bottles so that maybe they can eat today.

This year, I have been blessed to get to know wonderful people, to be involved in projects and to try to be Peruvian.  But I still look like I am of privilege and therefore am often treated as such.  I don't have a point to make from this, they are just some thoughts.  I hope the the Coca-Cola empire flooded the Plaza de Armas with enough bottles that the bottle lady ate well.

Alianza Lima

Alianza Lima, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

Since it is world cup time, I figured it would be good to show off a little bit of soccer in Peru. This is Estadio Alejandor Villaneuva, the home of Alianza Lima, my adopted home team.

CAMBIALO

All Smiles, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

These kids are three members of the group CAMBIALO (Building a Better Environment in La Oroya). They have joined together to work for a cleaner La Oroya. Follow their work at their web site, blog, facebook and even twitter!

Graphing my life

There is a blog called GraphJam.  The author creatively makes graphs to describe his life.  I thought it would be fun to do the same for mine.

Amount of food eaten at meals

Contact with alpacas

Lima buses

Computer use

Likelihood of when parties held in the office end

I finally made it out of Huancaveica with all of my cameras

I know this title comes as a surprise.  Take it in.  I didn't get anything stolen.

Machu Picchu

This year has really blessed me in the form of how much travel I have been able to do and the wonderful people that I have gotten to know.  The end of May and early June brought me back on the road once again.  It started with a wonderful week of vacation which included the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the town of Paracas, and an Alianza Lima game.  What made this even better was that my wonderful sister Callie and buddy Scott came down to do those with the other YAVs and me.  It was great and if you want more stories, check out Baja, Ginna, or Alissa's blogs and more pics as always on my flickr and facebook.

the destroyed catheral in Pisco

Immidiately following vacation, I headed out on the road again with a group from the Hudson River Presbytary in New York (for their blog of the trip, click here).  They had come to get to know the work being done by the Red Uniendo Manos and its partners.  This meant that we were going to do the same tour we did in September with another group.  Have I really been here long enough to be leading the same trip again?  Is my time really starting to close out in the same way it began?  They started in the city of Chincha and saw how it is slowly rebuilding after the 2007 earthquake and once again we slept in a hotel in the shadow of the condemned cathedral in Pisco where more than 200 people lost their lives during mass because of the same earthquake.  But, even in my short time that I have been in this country, that town has begun to rebuild (including meetings with partner organization CEDEMUNEP which is quoted in this article on peruvian racism by the BBC).  It seemed much less desolate than it did 8 1/2 months ago.  The central square seemed more put together.  There was a new foot traffic only street that was a lighted brick path away from this town.  I hope that some day I can go back again and be surprised once more of the change that is happening in this devestated town.

The next day was travel.  Just travel.  On a good day, it is 10 hours from Pisco to Huancavelica.  It took us a little more.  This trip rises up from sea level to 16,000 ft before dropping back down to the town at 13,000.  We got stuck trying to visit a village that was unifying to fight for their water rights.  We stopped for cocoa tea in a random town on the side of the road where the patrons of the restaurant were surprised to see 13 gringos walk in and interrupt their evening soap operas.  I was also struck with how much I have traveled this year by the ease of this trip.  16,000 feet, no problem.  14 hrs in a bus, so what?  Un-paived roads, that is just a butt massage. 

Our day in Huancavelica was spent in meetings.  Once again we had the opportunity to share the work being done by our partner ATYPAQ on local economic growth and environmental rights.  We also met with the women of the artisan group "El Mercurio" (meaning "mercury," a nickname given to the town of Huancavelica during its early mining years because of the high amounts of mercury used to extract the ore).  I have had the opportunity speak with the women of this organization a few times and it never ceases to amaze me to hear their response to the question "how has working with fair trade changed your lives?"  Translating this answer back from the president of El Mercurio, Yodi, to the group almost brought me to tears:

"It has done three things for us: First, it has brought more financial opportunitites to our families.  Before we didn't have any extra money, but now we have more to use for the futures of our family.  Secondly, it has made our husbands respect us more.  At first they didn't want us to be involved in this project because they thought we couldn't do our domestic work, but now they see the value of our work and value us more.  And finally, it has taught us to value ourselves more.  We now see our own worth and our self-esteem has greatly increased because we know that we can do this work.... It is also a place where we can come together to share the jokes, stories, joys and pains with each other."

I am truly impressed by the work of these women and the difficulties that they have overcome to become what they are now and who they will continue to become.  Also, they make really awesome stuffed llamas.

From there, we went on to the city of Huancayo for meetings with Red partner CEDEPAS.  As so often happens in this world, it was more than we could have hoped for.  The day we happened to be there, was also a farmers celebration put on by CEDEPAS to celebrate organic farming with a fair, dance, and lunch held in the middle of a field.  We had no idea this was going to happen, but it allowed us to show the real work and connections being done by local NGOs here in Peru.  We also got to see the operations of the Archbishop of Huancayo and the Catholic Church's local involvement in seeking a healthier environment in the region.

A member of CAMBIALO, her name is Lady

Our last day of the trip brought us back to La Oroya.  This city will forever have a special place for me because I have gotten to know so many wonderful people who have dedicated their lives to the struggle to make it a better place.  This day we were blessed to meet with the members of Filomena and a few of the childrens group CAMBIALO and discuss their pasts, presents, and futures.  This is a city that has good people working for good reasons.  I know good changes will come and you will hear about it when they do.

But this was my last group.  I have gotten to see a lot of Peru through the four that I have had the opportunity to travel, live, laugh, translate, and work with.  So to each of you that have made the pilgrimage down here, thank you.  You all have helped me become who I am becoming and I hope that we have helped you grow too.  It is strange writing the word "last" into any blog, but time is coming to an end which is sad, but for now I must just be grateful.

Good question

First, I cannot figure out the problems with the formatting of my blog, please deal with it and continue reading. On my previous post about our survey on La Oroya, "Alice" posted very valid questions on the situation with the company.  I started to reply, but realized that in order to truly and acuately reply, I needed the capabilities of links that making a new post altogether allow.  So, I will first post "Alice"´s thoughts and then my replies and I encourage you to become involved in this discussion.  Please post and I will be happy to try my best to respond.

Hi, Joe!

The "fill out THIS SURVEY" link near the bottom is broken, but the others seem to work.

Also, though it's pretty clear that the company doesn't DESERVE any extensions, waiving of fines, etc., it still might be in the best interest of La Oroya to keep cutting them a little slack. What would happen if the State dug in its heels, refused all the contract changes and extensions requested by the company, and then it turned out that the "financial crisis" wasn't a fake excuse so they could escape responsibility? What if it turned out that the company was truly unable to meet the demands put forth by the various laws and contracts? Would the company go under, and if so, what would that mean for their workers and for the cleanup effort? Would the government receive enough collateral/compensation from Doe Run to take the plant over and modernize it? Probably not, if Doe Run didn't have the cash to do it themselves. If the plant closed indefinitely because no one had the money to modernize it, would that be enough to fix the environment in La Oroya, or would additional cleanup be needed? Would simply closing the plany be an improvement at all?

Obviously, the State can't grant extension after extension indefinitely and expect to get anywhere, and obviously Doe Run doesn't deserve any favors. But fixing the situation may not be possible without the company being involved and continuing to be profitable. And that might not be possible unless they are cut some more slack.

I answered the survey assuming that Doe Run can bear the burden of sticking to the original agreements. But my actual advice to the State would be, give Doe Run the minimum amount of slack you can. Get someone in there to verify the financial situation, and then hold the company to as many of its contracts and responsibilities as you can without sending it under - unless you're willing to see it go under.

Now - as someone who knows way, way more about this than I do - let me have it. What are the problems with my reasoning? But please remember that I in no way think that the company deserves to be cut any slack. If justice alone was the only question, I'd be all for the State digging in its heels and, if need be, squeezing Doe Run for every cent they can legally get, to atone for the damage the company's done. I'm just not convinced that this approach would be enough to actually fix the problem.

 And my response:

First you do make a valid point in emphasizing the importance of having the Doe Run smelter open in La Oroya.  There are approximately 3,500 people who work at the plant and in a town of a little under 20,000 residents, that is a very important population (espicially when you take into account that the 20,000 includes families).  We do NOT want the plant closed.  We want it open.

Your next question was whether the company would actually go under.  I do not believe so.  Doe Run Peru (DRP) is a subsidiary of the RENCO group who, according to bnet.com had $3.5 billion in sales last fiscal year.  Click this link for another assessment of RENCO during a point in which they were interested in purchasing SAAB  On Doe Run Peru´s website, the boast that in 2007, they were Peru´s fourth largest exporter with net sales of nearly $1.5 billion.  The owner is a man named Ira Rennert who, according to a Forbes 3/2010 report, named him the 144th most wealthy person in the world with a net worth of $5.9 billion.  I understand that Mr. Rennert would not want to put his own money into the company, and there would be no legal framework that would make him put his personal fortune out to fix the problem (though that would really make life nicer).  DRP operates by purchasing the unrefined materials, mostly from peruvian mining operations, then refining and reselling the refined material on the open market.  The company claims that the current situation is blamed upon the fall of world wide zinc prices (the prices is the blue line).  That is true, the prices fell (as did prices for lead, copper, alluminum and other metals) and in 2009, they hit their lows (after having been at all time highs in 2007).  But these prices have gone back up.  DRP has a deal with another mining operation, the Swiss Glencore.  News of this came out in march, but little has been published since then.

So when it comes down to it, Doe Run Peru did take a hit financially during the world financial crisis, but the numbers do not suggest that it is a hit that should cripple the company nor be something that their previous gains should be able to sustain.  A business should not be allowed to reap the gains when they are winning and then throw up their arms in defeat as soon as hard times come by.  There is still money in the pipeline but DRP is using this time to try and eliminate their responsibilities.  This is the letter sent by DRP to the Minister of Energy and Mines about their "requests."   Please click this link and read the letter before continuing

1) Indemnification - I don´t know the framework of what this means.  I wish I did (and if anyone out there does, please respond)
2) tax - DRP is asking to pay their massive tax debt back over time instead of at once.  They owe over $760 in taxes.  It is understandable that this company cannot pay them back at the moment.  They have recieved some economic hits and it would be unreasonable to ask for it all at once, but according to ministers, the company is asking for a schedule to pay it back in unreasonable amounts of time.  Also, how did this even happen?  How did the Peruvian government fail at getting these taxes?  I wish I had an answer to these questions.
3) Environmental Standards - the company is asking to not be placed under environmental laws that exist for post-PAMA companies, something that they should have attained in 2004 ( please read my blog on the history of Doe Run to understand this).  The letter is very unspecific about this.  I don´t know to which rules they are referring.
4) This is the most troubling.  I read that the government is asking for the company to follow its timeline that the company received in Oct 2009, but it is not and the government is levying fines.  The company´s argument is that these fines can only be levied at the end of the new 30 month PAMA period that was approved in Oct 2009.  This is asking the government to leave the company alone to do what they wish until the end of that period.  That is not acceptable.

I do agree that it would be against the state and country´s interest to have the state "squeezing Doe Run for every cent they can legally get" but it would not be prudent for the state to bend again and allow for the company to evade paying what they owe and completing promises that they made 13 years ago.

I hope that this helps, but even more opens the conversation.  Please comment.  Also, scroll down and take the survey! Thank you.

La Oroya Survey

Go to Survey

Dear friends,

This is a critical time for the people of La Oroya, Peru, and we need to hear YOUR VOICE in order to help them. 

Here is a 5 QUESTION (YES/NO) SURVEY regarding demands being made to the government of Peru by the company Doe Run Peru that will negatively affect the people and environment of La Oroya. Please take 3 minutes to fill it out. For an introduction to the issue, please read below:

La Oroya is one of the ten most contaminated cities in the world (according to Blacksmith Institute). The population finds itself gravely effected by the contamination produced by the Metallurgical Complex operated by the mining company Doe Run Peru. This company belongs to the North American billionaire, Ira Rennert. Thirteen years ago the company committed itself to investing in the modernization of the metallurgical complex through the state mandated Environmental Clean-Up Program (known in Peru as the PAMA). To date, the company has not finished its commitment despite the fact that the mandated time frame has expired and despite that various extensions have been provided. 

In the United States, the holding company, Renco Group, for Doe Run Peru has invested in new technologies at its smelter in Herculaneum, Missouri in order to meet the regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States (www.doerun.com).  

After many years of economic profit (the net gains of Doe Run Peru by the end of 2008 were $508 million – La Republica 28/03/2009), the mining company inexplicably declared itself in a state of economic and financial crisis.   In June of 2009, it then halted the operations of the Metallurgical Complex in La Oroya, ceasing to fulfill its contracted obligations with its workers and creditors. In the face of this situation, the Peruvian State has tried to help the company through various opportunities to escape this crisis. Nonetheless, the company has taken advantage of the State in order to escape its responsibilities. And today, the start up of the plant comes with conditions placed by Doe Run Peru, which has placed new demands before the State.   

IF the Peruvian State consulted with you about these demands by Doe Run Peru, what would you say? 

Please take 3 minutes to fill out THIS SURVEY.

THANK YOU!

also, to hear more about la oroya, check out our podcast or my blog

6 weeks of Lima

It was strange because after so much traveling that I had been involved in during the first 3 months of 2010, I finally had time to settle down and live a my limanian life.  I started that with lots of blogs to catch you all up on my life, but haven´t been so good about it since then, mostly because I was just doing my daily life and I was actually busy.

I truly did enjoy my time just being in my life.  It was a great time where I really felt more and more a part of my family.  I got to play soccer with Germán and his coworkers a few times.  We intently followed Alianza Lima during their short tenure in the Copa de Libertadores (the South American Club championships) and together delt with their crushing elimination and the controversy over whether their elimination goal should have been annuled because of 2 players in an offside position. See the video and read the rules (specifically the passive offside part) and decide for yourself.

Aside from that, it was good just to be in one place for a while.  That is something that I forgot about and really enjoyed.  I think my sleep schedule, Spanish, and sanity all benefited from it.

I did make a few pilgrimages out of the city limits of Lima to La Oroya.  I am proud to say that the project there is getting stronger by the day.  The kids now have flip video cameras and are getting having lots of fun practicing using them and getting more and more confident.  We have had a great conversations with our partner class in NYC (EcoTech School out of Brooklyn web site, blog).  I am so proud of these kids to see how they have embraced this technology, friends, and most importantly their futures.  They are fighting for their city, but also developing skills and confidence that would have been hard to teach otherwise.  One of the projects that we worked on was giving them a name.  After a long process, they settled on CAMBIALO which is an acronym for "Construyendo un AMBIente Adecuado en La Oroya" which comes to mean "Constructing an adequate environment in La Oroya" or "change it."  We still have a long way to go, but these kids give me hope about where this is all going.  So as we are moving forward with this project, we want people to be involved.  What do you think?  Send me an email if you want to be involved, and if not, I´ll probably send you one.

I also attended an earth day celebration organized by CENCA.  I summed it up in the lastest edition of La Retama, the newsletter from the Red Uniendo Manos as this:

For 40 years now, Earth Day has been celebrated all around the world to commemorate the different ways that we as humans interact and can hurt or help our planet. This year I got to see how that was celebrated in San Juan de Lurigancho, the largest district of Lima. San Juan de Lurigancho is a very dusty place. There is very little water and many dusty roads, so I was very surprised to walk around the corner and find green and white cloth surrounding the futbolito court (basketball court, but with soccer goals). Inside it was completely different.

The organizers, from the NGO CENCA, had filled the square with tables of artisans, property rights booths, food from local cafeterias and a sense of global health. Over the course of the day, I shared with many people the ecological sanitation systems that CENCA promotes while local school children performed folkloric dances from all through the country. Local communities also performed skits that emphasized the importance of unifying to promote the rights that they have as citizens and the day ended with local rock bands showing their skills. The best were awarded “the best of the zone” and went home with smiles on their faces. When the sun set and the tables began to be torn down, it was very apparent that though this day had not changed the world and was far from being a true answer to the grave environmental problems that plague this world, something had happened that day which hopefully will lead to a cleaner future for everyone.

Boys

Boys, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

After completing their flour throwing traditional dace at the 2nd Earth Day Fair in San Juan de Lurigancho, two boys smile. They were part of a day of dances, rock bands, food, skits, and general merriment. For more information, please read the latest edition of La Retama, the newsletter for the Red Uniendo Manos Peru.

All Smiles

All Smiles, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

Kids from our Kids for La Oroya group (called CAMBIALO) smile. They are participating in projects in La Oroya, but also have skype dates with kids from New York and other places in the US. For more information on the project check out kidsforlaoroya.blogspot.com

El Mecurio

El Mecurio, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

This Saturday (May 8th) is World Fair Trade Day. Please check out this link to the Eco-Journey Blog by my friend Katie Holmes of the PC(USA) on the need for Fair Trade. This picture is of the women of El Mecurio, an artisan group based out of Huancavelica, Perú. You can read a little bit about their lives in the last edition of the Red Uniendo Manos´ Newsletter, La Retama (English, Español) or buy some of their stuffed animals at Partners for Just Trade. So this saturday, please take a second to sit down and think about whether your trade is fair and how to make it even mroe so.

Barefoot

Barefoot, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

On May 2nd, CENCA held an Earth Day Fair (Earth Day was a week earlier, but the date didn`t work so well with schedules). At this fair, there were various contests from the best meal (cooked by local women), sketches about the need for community activism, bands, artisan work, and dances done by local schools. This was one of the dances. I believe it origonated from the Ayacucho region. It was truly beautiful.

Tejiendo

Tejiendo, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

A woman knits leg warmers in the village of Huanayay near Huancavelica, Peru. She is a member of the Huanayay artisan group who partners with the Bridge of Hope Fair Trade Program and I took this picture during a visit in Feb. 2010.

Telando

Telando, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

A boy from the village of Huayanay works on a blanket on a loom. These looms were built by the community and are used to produce blankets, shalls, scarfs and other the like out of sheep and alpaca wool. They can be purchased from the Bridge of Hope program (http://fairtradeperu.com/). They are some of the softest blankets and scarfs that I have ever felt.

Dresses

Dresses, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

The classic andean woman wears 3-7 layers of dresses. During my travels, I have seen so many women dressed like this, but had never seen them for sale. So when we were in Ayacucho for Good Friday, I walked into the market and found these hanging and couldn't not take a picture. It is another of my film shots taken on Kodak 100 film.

Call for help in La Oroya

As many of you know, I have been working on a project in La Oroya for quite some time, but now we would love you to join in if you can.  If you are a teacher, student, youth leader or just work with kids, please read this blog entry by my team member Anna Gray and consider joining up.  Also, below there is lots of data explaining more of why we are doing what we are doing.

http://annainhuancayo.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/la-oroya-needs-your-attention/#comments

The Doe Run Plant in La Oroya

Holy Week

Baja holding a Cuy

I have now had the opportunity to spend 2 Holy Weeks in countries catholic countries.  In 2008, I was in San Jose, Costa Rica with CASP and then this year here in Peru and both have been experiences that are so completly different than the way that I have grown up celebrating the holiday.

Alissa and her host sister Pricila

On Tuesday night we all piled back into a bus on our way to Huanta to see Alissa's placement and town.  When I say "pile" I do mean that we ride these 2 story buses and sit on the first floor in veritable lazy boys all night.  I usually sleep the entire time.  It is quite wonderful.  After a long ride, we arrived in Huanta which is home to Radio AMAUTA (a partner of the Red Uniendo Manos Peru) and Alissa King (YAV).  Our first day was actually her birthday and so we celebrated by seeing the sights of Huanta.  We climbed up to the Cristo Blanco, went out to pizza, saw a procession of the virgin Mary coming to meet Jesus and then had her not so "surprise" birthday party.  It was a really great day.

The fair at Pampa de Quinoa

Thursday we went to more traditional "tourist" locations around the Huanta/Ayacucho area.  We visited the Pampa de Quinoa which is where the Battle of Ayacucho was held.  This battle was extremely important because it was the last battle between the South Americans and the Spanish and basically gave freedom to the entire region.  It kinda blew my mind to stand in a place that was so decisive for the history of so many people.  I have never visited any of the battlegrounds from the US Revolutionary War, but it was interesting to stand in a place where this country and region had stood up and owned their independence.  At the site there is a huge monument to the battle made of a white stone and it stands out from wherever you are in the Ayacucho valley.  Also being as it was Holy Week, there was an artisan fair.  I recommend visiting.  We made a few more stops that afternoon and then took a nap for the record books.

making an Alfombra

Friday morning, we left Huanta for Ayacucho itself.  The city has been declared the Latin American Capital for Holy Week.  We missed the morning processions of Jesus.  So had a leasurely morning of looking at the mirador of the city, doing a little shopping, lunch, drinks, etc.  Then we went to the main square where people were making Alfombras.  These are elaborate pieces of art that are done on the streets with tinted sawdust, sand, and flowers.  Then in the evening, Jesus and Mary are carried in a procession over them and thus blessing the makers.  These alfombras were AMAZING.  The detail and the skill absolutly blew my mind.  Then in the evening we came back to see the procession.  All the lights in the square were turned off and as Jesus (in a glass coffin) and Mary and their hundreds of assistants with candles through the square.  It was truly amazing to see the emotion, the intricacy and beauty of the moment.  Everyone was there for a reason.  Many argue that it is a show or political or whatever, but if you stand in that park that night, it is a beautiful moment that I will never forget.

a high school makes an Alfombra

That night we headed back to Lima and spend Saturday with former YAV and fellow CASPer Emily Fletcher and a '05 CASPer Chelsea Peterson.  It was really fun to see the city and show off my home.

Then Sunday morning, the YAVs went to Catholic Mass at a church near my house.  It was a nice service and the joy of the resurrection was definitely there (something that I did not feel at the national cathedral in San Jose 2 years ago).  We sang songs of justice, peace and of a God that is working in our world.  So now as I look back at this week that defines the christian faith, I am so thankful for the experiences I had and more thankful for the one that we are celebrating.