Thoughts and Experiences

Decay

2011-10-26T13:29:00.001-05:00

Decay, a photo by JTobiason Photography on Flickr.

Part of a set from a photo walk that focused on walls in Seattle, WA. For a complete viewing of the photos, see the link below:

jtobiason.com/blog/2011/10/24/walls/

Hiking out

2011-10-24T12:01:00.001-05:00

Hiking out, a photo by JTobiason Photography on Flickr.

Welcome Home Mandy!

2011-10-22T14:01:00.001-05:00

Welcome Home Mandy!, a photo by JTobiason Photography on Flickr.

Sunny fall days

2011-10-21T10:41:00.001-05:00

Sunny fall days, a photo by JTobiason Photography on Flickr.

Lucky

2011-10-18T18:46:00.001-05:00

Lucky, a photo by JTobiason Photography on Flickr.

This is one of the best dogs in the world. There are few who are so kind, dumb, fun, happy and keep the deer away from your vegetables. Lucky has guarded my parent's neighborhood since we moved in over 10 years ago. He is still the godfather, though he can't see beyond his nose and generally lacks hearing. We are grateful for his service.

Administration

2011-10-02T12:19:00.001-05:00

Administration, a photo by JTobiason Photography on Flickr.

End of Summer sunset at Ray's Boathouse

2011-10-01T13:18:00.001-05:00

End of Summer sunset at Ray's Boathouse, a photo by JTobiason Photography on Flickr.

The Ballard fleet waits for their season.

2011-09-30T11:38:00.001-05:00

The Ballard fleet waits for their season., a photo by JTobiason Photography on Flickr.

If you have an iOS device and haven't checked out Instagram, I highly suggest it. I've been having lots of fun sharing photos with this tool and would love to see yours as well. If you use it, look me up at JTobiason. If not, keep watching Flickr because many of my favorites end up here as well.

Where friends tread

2011-09-29T18:53:00.001-05:00

Where friends tread, a photo by JTobiason Photography on Flickr.

Sunset lights

2011-09-27T16:15:00.001-05:00

Sunset lights, a photo by JTobiason Photography on Flickr.

Web

2011-09-26T13:09:00.001-05:00

Web, a photo by JTobiason Photography on Flickr.

I love photo walks. It is such a great experience to go through the neighborhoods that I know so well and look for elements that are unseen or un-recognized. How do you capture a flower, shadow, or spider's web that would otherwise be missed by everyone else? It is the eternal question that will keep me shooting.

Stoic

2011-09-23T15:04:00.001-05:00

Stoic, a photo by JTobiason Photography on Flickr.

It is rare that my friends actually sit down and let me take portraits. So when it happens, I have to be ready to capture them where they're at. I love the way that their faces show so much of their personalities.

Best way to Begin the day

2011-09-22T11:28:00.001-05:00

Best way to begin the day, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

Lately, I've been waking up early to watch the sunrise from my porch. It is quite the way to begin the morning with a little journaling, reading, Sigur Ros on the iPod and the view. This photo is from a 150 photo time lapse I took the other day. It will make it's way out sometime, just not yet.

For more of my time lapses, check out the video below:
Summer 2011

First test

2011-09-21T11:13:00.001-05:00

First test, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

This is one of my first test shots with my new 60D. It really isn't that special of a photo and I was just wandering around my office in Seattle during my lunch break, but it is fun to be the beginning of a new era.

Also, if you're a twitter user, I'm starting to use it more and more for photo related work. Check out my @JTobiasonPhoto handle.

Awesome couple

2011-09-20T18:51:00.001-05:00

Awesome couple, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

Great people, great day.

Also, this will probably be the last photo from my T1i on the blog. From here on out, it'll be from my 60D. I'm excited!

Summer 2011

2011-09-12T19:29:00.000-05:00

It has been a great summer!

Happy Groom

2011-09-10T12:10:00.001-05:00

Happy Groom, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

The planning was finally over. We had tuxes. We were wearing them. All he had to do was stand around and enjoy it.

Knox

2011-09-09T12:59:00.001-05:00

Knox, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

Oh my faux-hawk roommate. Why are you always so attractive?

On a separate note, I do feel a need to apologize to Airwalk, Scott and all others for some strong wordings about the wedding shoes. I am giving them a second chance right now and they're doing much better. I'm sorry for my rant. Please take it with a grain of salt. If there was a 'joking/exaggerating/sarcasm' font, I would have written that message in that.

Groomsmen Shoes

2011-09-08T13:41:00.001-05:00

Groomsmen Shoes, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

Though they look awesome, these were the most uncomfortable wedding shoes ever. I've been trying to break mine in since then, but it's a rough battle. Oh the price you pay for fashion.

The happy couple

2011-09-07T20:37:00.001-05:00

The happy couple, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

It's been a busy few weeks with trying to get a bachelor 's party ready for this gentleman and general life stuff. The next few posts here and on my Flickr stream are going to be full of the goings on from that great weekend. It was just special getting to spend so much time with fantastic people!

But I'm caught up again. Hopefully that will mean some big news for this blog. In other news I just got a new Canon 60D. I didn't get it before the wedding due to the hurricane on the east coast, but I'm so excited to have this new tool in the arsenal.

Angelic folks

2011-09-04T13:36:00.001-05:00

Angelic folks, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

Ballard Fleet

2011-09-03T14:45:00.001-05:00

Ballard Fleet, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

Why I love camping

2011-08-29T16:30:00.001-05:00

Why I love camping, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

I've taken a lot of night photos, but this one was especially fun because I actually was able to show my family all that I do. Because we were all camping together, they got a taste of all the things that I can do with these incredible machines.

Night Light

2011-08-23T21:05:00.001-05:00

Night Light, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

On a full moon in August, I went up into the Mountains to go camping with friends. They had not grown up in Seattle and didn't realize that it was necessary to reserve camping spots in order to actually have a space. Thus, while they sought a solution, I started taking photos of the lake. This photo has a 15 second exposure at about 11 PM looking straight into the moon. I'm just dumbstruck by the colors and how the stars still standout in the sky.

We did end up finding a spot, but be warned. When one is trying to camp on the nicest Friday night of the summer about an hour away from a city of about 2 million, reserve your spots early.

Cheer as the day wains

2011-08-22T12:14:00.001-05:00

Cheer as the day wains, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

Mine!

2011-07-30T15:05:00.003-05:00

Mine!, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

Well, I've added a few more serious photos lately, but it is time to just have some fun. Reclamation of Youth Day (Bellingham Herald, KOMO) was a few weeks ago and the day was filled with just too much fun, including the best game of flies up you'll ever see. More to come from this great day!

Un Año Despues

2011-07-27T15:11:00.002-05:00

Orgullo, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

I can't believe that it has been a year since I returned from Peru. That is a statement that I can hardly believe myself. Has it really been that long? Has it gone that fast? Has it really passed by? Have i lived in 2 homes, been jobless, volunteered for months, found a job, been on a few retreat, bought a camera, made friends, written thousands of emails, posted thousands of pictures? Has that really happened?

It is a little strange to be writing another 'one year later' post. I remember the sentiment I held while writing my lament of a year after CASP. In that post, I missed the community, the people, the heat, the fact that I was a college student being challenged to look at the world through a lens that I didn't know existed. It was an exhilarating experience. Then to look back on that a year later in the blandness of Spokane while working, just didn't cut it.

But Peru was different. Rather than being a life shattering, path changing, I'm never going to be the same type of person ever, it was a time to solidify who I was. It was a period that took so many lessons from that CASP trip and gleaned the ones that really mattered out and helped me to become who I was supposed to be. It showed me how to really be the ideals I held and how to be with the people with whom I held them. I really practiced inter-cultural relations and experienced life abroad without the safety net of other upper middle white college students standing at my side. I grew to thrive in a family that I hold nearly as deep as the one that I'm related to by blood. I grew to find another land that I really knew the history, geography, language and even pop culture of. There were days when I felt separate. There were days when I felt like I was in the middle of things, but more Peru taught me to be at home. It taught me to walk down the streets with a smile on my face and constantly looking for the good and the unique in the mundane. That may have just been a bit of naiveté or even the photographer's eye, but it became part of who I was.

So now a year separated from that experience, I still love the moments of walking down my street and seeing the beauty in the normalcy. I am enthralled by the wrinkles on a bus driver's face in the window. Happy when I hear a song that just doesn't fit the vehicle it is being pumped from. I'm happy to smile at children and to soak in that sea breeze.

This isn't to say that this year has been all roses. I spent some dark days on unemployment. Some lonely nights reading. I've even passed a few days that made me question why I'm answering technical questions about computer games from middle aged women. But, when it comes down to it, Peru solidified who I am outside my comfort zone to the point that I re-entered that area and being in Seattle kicked me around in that zone until I really made it my own.

So, I cannot proceed without thanking those who brought me through the Peruvian and Seattle experiences. Thanks to the friends of old who have stuck by me and the new ones who have built up around. Thanks to The family who has supported me in who I am. Thanks to that wonderful girl I get to date who makes me smile and thanks to a city that I'm happy to call my own.

So, you may be wondering, why this photo? What does a woman holding out a hat have to do with a year in Seattle? For me, it's all about pride in who you are. That is actually the name of the photo, 'Orgullo' or pride in Spanish. This woman, Vincinte de la Cruz, is a member of the Huayanay Artisan Community in Huayanay, Huancavelica, Peru and this photo is especially special to me because her pride in her work on this alpaca hat just shines through her squinted eyes. Each line on her face speaks volumes of the trials she has endured and the years at 13,000 ft above sea level that she has lived. But through that, she is who she is and she was so happy to share it with me. This is how I feel a year later. I don't have the wrinkles to prove it and maybe I dont have an alpaca hat, but I'm a more sure of who I am and I'm proud of that.

Block Party

2011-07-21T11:07:00.001-05:00

Back in June, 4th Ave in Ballard had it's first block party. Good times were had by all!

The David Wax Museum

2011-07-19T13:32:00.000-05:00

Thanks to The David Wax Museum for a wonderful house show last night. I really loved every minute of it and hope you can get the vibe that they filled my living room with. Definitely a band worth checking out!

Marcus and Stacie

2011-07-12T10:33:00.000-05:00

This is the first wedding video that I've ever done. It was a lot of fun to shoot and then a long process to edit. This trailer was a much easier and smaller undertaking. If you ever want to see the full version, I have that too, but this hits on all the interesting parts. More than anything, it's just fun to help out some great friends as they will have a great life!

Sunset Bokeh

2011-07-11T15:36:00.002-05:00

Sunset Bokeh, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

I love sunsets and the way that it really brings out colors, both bright and dark. It is just the time of day when magic happens.

Un-bottled rockets

2011-07-07T15:06:00.003-05:00

Un-bottled rockets, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

Happy 4th of July.

Heading off for RYD tomorrow. Look for more awesomeness soon!

Under Natural Lights

2011-07-06T11:04:00.003-05:00

Under Natural Lights, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

I loved the Kingdome. This ugly structure that filled the Seattle skyline for years was where my love for baseball was born. This is where I saw the first game with both Griffeys play, where I saw Alex Rodriguez' first RBI, where I saw Randy Johnson dominate with a mustache that still gives me the chills and really where I became a good friend with my dad for taking me to so many games. But, now after something like 12 years in the Safeco Field, is just as true as ever, baseball is meant to be played under the sun.

The feet of Summer

2011-07-05T18:13:00.002-05:00

The feet of Summer, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

Summer is for sandals, shorts, and even some sunburns. Today, July 5th, is the traditional beginning of Summer her in Seattle. It's time for all those complaints of rain and darkness to come out. For us to step out of boots and dress shoes and replace them with sandals or just bare feet. It's time to let your toes dig themselves into a beach or some green grass. To stand by a BBQ and to really be with the people that we care about. It's the time where nothing should be kept up inside and we get out. We rock these sandals that protect just what we need, let us be comfortable in who we are and not hide much. Let that be your mantra for this summer, let's live lives like feet in sandals.

Erika

2011-07-04T11:55:00.002-05:00

Erika, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

I tried to find a photo that really exemplified the 4th of July for me, but ended up with just a great photo of a great person. I love the colors, her smile and that I get to take lots of pictures of her.

Don't worry because I'm looking forward to taking some firework photos tonight. You'll see those soon.

Gifts

2011-07-02T10:50:00.002-05:00

Gifts, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

During the Krista Foundation for Global Citizenship's Annual Conference, this little lady stole all our hearts. On the last day, she gave me a picture that she had 'drawn' and I had to thank her with a photo. I later found out that this drawing had actually been drawn for her by another Krista Colleague. So, I guess she was just practicing paying it forward?

It is moments like this when I love taking photos. You can't script this. You can't plan it. You just have to have your camera around your neck and use it. The camera didn't take away from the moment, but I said I couldn't accept it unless I could always remember who sent it and I hope it rewarded us both.

Chasing the night

2011-07-01T11:15:00.003-05:00

Chasing the night, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

During my 3 days at Camp Spalding during the Krista Foundation for Global Citizenship conference (check out the Keynote by Ron Ruthruff, I really wanted to get away one night and get some night shots. The first night of the weekend was really cloudy (see Clearwater Lodge photo) and the second night I was just exhausted. So, I had to go the last night and it was totally worth it. The sky was just lit up with stars. The Milky way was visible and I'm just thrilled to get to take these photos that are simply impossible to take when you live in Seattle. I love the rotation of this shot as well, it's just such a cool world we live in!

Clearwater Lodge

2011-06-29T16:58:00.002-05:00

Clearwater Lodge, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

This is a photo that I had been thinking about for a really long time. I would have liked to had a wider lens or a clearer night, but what I wanted shone through. I love the reflections and how the 3 minute exposure really smoothed out the lake. I also just am happy to be trying new things and to be in places where I really can explore what my camera can do.

I was at the lodge for the Krista Foundation for Global Citizenship's annual conference. Be sure to check out the Keynote by Ron Ruthruff too!

Fire!

2011-06-29T01:03:00.001-05:00

Fire!, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

Sometimes, photos are just fun. For someone who lives with a camera around my shoulders, it's rather rare for friends to really pose for a photo. So, thank you Alex and I just love laughing every time I see this one.

Stickers

2011-06-27T17:38:00.001-05:00

Stickers, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

As a kid and as a house painter, Sticker bushes were my nemesis. But, one day traipsing through the woods, I stumbled up this new growth and really found them to be quite beautiful. This didn't negate the abilities of the rest of the bush to rip my legs raw, but pointed towards the good that can be found.

The rain brings the blooms

2011-06-26T10:46:00.002-05:00

The rain brings the blooms., a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

Back in May, after hiking along the Pacific Coast Trail with Erika, we went to down to Cannon Beach. It was a weekend when I was really trying to find new angles to photos I have taken before. I really love how the rings and pedals of this flower stood out to me and I feel like the aperture of my camera really brought it out. This photo really represents my experience with this flower (wow, that is a hippie sentence).

Phin

2011-06-25T11:41:00.002-05:00

Phin, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

Kids are so expressive. It is just something that I can't get over. I was just amazed to see how just hanging out on the front lawn can bring out smiles that will continue to blow my mind. Phin just loves my friend Tim and it really came out in his face of awe. I do enjoy the blurry effect of Phin's mom in the background watching her son be enthralled with the big people.

Family Ties

2011-06-24T11:05:00.002-05:00

Family Ties, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

I was taking photos and some video for the Spilling Hope campaign at Bethany Community Church and was just taking some portraits too. I really like the way that this couple interacted with each other and with me too. I just feel like his striking lines with her smile just really speak bounds about how they interact and the love they share.

Also, I'm really going to try to step up the posts on this blog. I have been posting every other week or so, but I share photos on Flickr almost daily. So, I'll try to put the best of my daily updloads onto this site too.

Laughter wrings

2011-06-14T15:10:00.003-05:00

Laughter wrings, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

As part of the Bethany Community Church's Spilling Hope campaign, people were invited to enter into the way that water is used in partner communities in Uganda. After pumping water from a hand pump, clothes were washed by hand with soap and water and then hung out to dry. This little guy really got into the process and his mom really got into washing clothes by hand. She was hoping that this interest would carry over back home (my bet is that didn't happen).

For more information on the project, see the link below:
www.spillinghope.org

This photo was also featured on the Seattlest blog as the photo of the day. Always fun to see my work going out in other places!

Washing

2011-06-06T18:45:00.004-05:00

Washing, a photo by jtobiason08 on Flickr.

During the last few weeks, since Easter, Bethany Community Church has been participating in the Spiling Hope campaign. This encourages everyone to learn, participate and give in regards to water needs in Africa. This boy is washing his hands in lifegiving water and is diving into Spilling Hope. For more information, see SpillingHope.org.

Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail

2011-05-10T23:23:00.000-05:00

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to hike along the Oregon Coast Trail with Erika and we (obviously) took lots of photos and video. I finally got around to putting it together into this little video.

Spring afternoons need to be shared

2011-05-09T17:24:00.001-05:00

Spring afternoons need to be shared, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

Spring always brings me back to waters. It was sunny and we headed down to Greenlake. Though it was far from warm enough to swim, it was good to feel the rock of the dock as we sat on it and to feel the breeze.

Cherry blossoms spilled spring over the pond

2011-05-07T10:59:00.001-05:00

Cherry blossoms spilled spring over the pond, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

The cherry blossoms have exploded all over Seattle and now are even on their decline. These were some petals from a tree in Erika's yard that had fallen into her pond. I love the intricacies of each of these petals as they sit on top of the water and am really happy with how this lens captured it.

I'm also happy to now own a brand new Canon 50mm 1.8 aperture lens as well. This was taken with my old manual focus Minolta one. The new lens does basically the same thing, but it will add a autofocus to my bag of tricks. Yay!

Good Friday

2011-04-22T20:22:00.000-05:00

It has been one year since I stood in the streets of Ayacucho watching the processions of Jesus and Mary flow thought the streets. Since we watched hours of painstaking perfection as beautiful alfombras were created on the ground for the sole purpose of being trampled on. It seems like it has been forever and yet it feels like yesterday. This experience of seeing the beauty of this outward expression of gratitude to Jesus and recognition and understanding of the suffering that he went through will stay with me forever. But this experience was more than just a religious holiday or chance to be in the normal life of Peruvians, but was a look into the heart and the mind of the Peruvian faith. This was it's day to shine and to step out of the darkness and point to the creator of all. In this city can be pointed to, as the beginning of so much pain and suffering (the Shining Path started in Ayacucho), the real reason for it's existence and with great faith pointed toward a higher calling. It is now known as the Latin American Capital of Holy Week, but forever will simply be where my heart is during the suffering of Christ. Forever, when I think of his sacrifice, it will be carried across those cobblestone streets and through this candle filled square, but on to higher and better. So, as I saw one part in the resurrection of Ayacucho, I too saw the resurrection of Jesus and how he had inundated the lives of so many and that there was lots left to do, but good was present.

Signs of Spring

2011-04-19T21:24:00.002-05:00

Signs of Spring, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

It's that time of year when the blooms start to come out again. Please go and thank your local flowers, leaves, buds and blooms for bringing that spring feeling back.

Krista Foundation Coffeehouse 2011

2011-04-18T17:46:00.001-05:00

This March, I had the opportunity to do the photo and video for the Krista Foundation's Coffeehouse. It was a great experience to work on event photography and to celebrate the work of this great organization.

Lots of Snow

2011-04-05T01:29:00.001-05:00

I went up to Alpental with my roommate Andrew. We borrowed Anna Gray's Contour HD camera and had lots of fun in really deep powder.

No Smoking

2011-04-04T19:06:00.001-05:00

No Smoking, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

While borrowing a camera from a friend, I took a little photo walk through the Ballard fishing yards. I love just the way that the history of this community's relationship with fishing and the sea. I was just fun to have a good camera in my hands too. It was one of the reasons I purchased my new one.

Smiles in the sun

2011-03-24T09:14:00.001-05:00

Smiles in the sun, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

The day after my birthday, a bunch of us went up to Alpental to go snowshoeing. I had never been before, but it was perfectly blue skies and awesome snow. I got this photo and felt like it was from an REI catalog.

No Meat

2011-03-20T19:44:00.002-05:00

No Meat, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

This is oddly enough not related to my vegetarianism, but just happens to be Erika's non-meat cutting board. This, among many others, is one of the photos that I'm enjoying with my new DSLR. It is a strange situation to take skills that I had developed (film joke) with my manual/film cameras and use those in the way that I use my digital. I am thankful for all the things I learned and am really having fun with the camera and the digital darkroom. I'm sure there is lots of photos to come because of this new partnership.

On a completely different note, I saw Ira Glass of This American Life today heading into someone's house near Greenlake. I was sooooo excited. I am acutely aware and repidly reminded of how nerdy this type of star sighting is, but don't care. That program was one of my main connections with the US during my time in Peru (along with Wait Wait Don't Tell Me). So, Ira, though you will never read this blog, thank you!

Vertical Sunset

2011-03-01T21:22:00.001-05:00

Vertical Sunset, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

One of the other YAVs pointed out that it has been one year since Mancora. Crazy how times flies.

Migration from Central America

2011-02-25T15:33:00.000-05:00

I know that this blog has taken a photo-blog stance as of late, but I came across this video today. It really stood out as a good look into the realities of migration in the Americas and this is mostly covering what happens before the US border and what we hear. Please take the time and watch. It's worth your thoughts (and I'd love to hear what you think too.)

In God's Hands from Markel Redondo on Vimeo.

Grain Silo

2011-02-21T01:46:00.004-05:00

Grain Silo, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

My Seattle life is growing and thus is my Seattle library of photos. I'm happy to announce that a refurbished Canon T1i will be joining the family of cameras who live with me. I think that it will really be a great addition. This was a stitched series of photos along the Elliott Bay Trail, just north of downtown Seattle. I was using a borrowed camera (I had borrowed it take these photos for Contour). They are all manual aperture and shutter speed (though I don't remember what) so that the lighting would be equal. I then cleaned them all up the same in Lightroom, stitched them together in Photoshop and then ran them through another Lightroom filter. Finally my JT logo was added. I finally learned how to do that, so once that signature is perfected, it will begin popping up more and more in my work (but I'm taking my time with it).

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this and a sudden explosion of blogging.

25 Years of getting my feet dirty

2011-02-18T12:48:00.002-05:00

Getting you feet dirty, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

I know that 2 blog posts in a matter of minutes is rather ridiculous, but deal with it. I finished my other post and realized that it was probably a good time to take a moment to look back on my past 25 years, being that it is my 25th birthday.

25, that is kinda crazy. This is the first age that I don't feel like a kid anymore. Sure that isn't old and you never feel your age, but this is real. But I look back on my life and I just have to say thank you to all of the people who have helped me to "get my feet dirty" in this life. So, thank you to everyone who has helped along my faith, physical, educational, relational and all other types of journeys that I have pursued during these 25 years. Thanks to soccer coaches, my piano teacher, normal teachers from the various public schools and Whitworth, bosses, family (both immediate and extended), friends, roommates, coworkers, fellow travelers, students, pastors, youth group kids, fellow camp counselors and just so many others who I cannot ever enumerate. So, thank you. My past 25 years have been a true blessing and I look forward to wherever my path takes me in the next 25 (and more).

Watching the colors change

2011-02-18T12:22:00.002-05:00

Watching the colors change, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

Last Fall, I had the opportunity to go to Whitworth to promote the YAV program. It was a great experience to be back on the campus for a few days, reconnect with professors and friends and hopefully begin the journey for a few people who really would be well fit for this program.

Luckily, being a Krista Foundation Colleague, I got to stay at The Hearth. This building is the home of our foundation and is one of the most peaceful places that I have ever had the opportunity to stay at. The leaves were falling and the beautiful landscape just called me to photography. It was an amazing night because I also was able to reconnect with friends in both Honduras and Peru and just left with a rejuvenated soul. Something that I really needed during my time of unemployment (Pre-Big Fish Games)

Too Dreary to be Enjoyed

2011-02-07T01:59:00.002-05:00

Too Dreary to be Enjoyed, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

My bike was on the fritz and I needed to get to the Krista Foundation's office. Along this walk I took lots of photographs, but this one really stood out as the point of the walk. It was pouring rain and was the middle of winter. It really stood out because it really signified the photo walk for me. It was a dreary winter day that really stood out as the my unemployed winter continued. The dreary corners of my life darkened but the light of my path went out into my future.

Since this photo walk, my life has continued, but I mostly just really love this photograph.

RYD Mornings

2011-01-27T03:00:00.002-05:00

RYD Mornings, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

This was the moment that started an epic day.

Selling sweets

2010-12-07T10:43:00.003-05:00

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

2010-11-24T16:31:00.001-05:00

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

2010-11-23T14:35:00.001-05:00

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

2010-11-15T18:30:00.001-05:00

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?

2010-11-08T14:08:00.001-05:00

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

2010-11-05T11:30:00.002-05:00

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

2010-10-29T00:01:00.002-05:00

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

2010-10-25T18:49:00.001-05:00

La Puerta, originally uploaded by jtobiason08.

The afternoon commute

2010-10-15T17:39:00.001-05:00

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.

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

2010-10-02T14:14:00.002-05:00

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

2010-09-28T21:03:00.001-05:00

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

2010-09-16T18:19:00.002-05:00

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

2010-09-08T12:26:00.001-05:00

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

2010-09-03T12:14:00.002-05:00

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

2010-09-01T13:46:00.002-05:00

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

2010-08-26T10:53:00.001-05:00

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

2010-08-18T15:04:00.003-05:00

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?

2010-08-11T18:53:00.001-05:00

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

2010-08-09T15:27:00.001-05:00

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

2010-07-14T08:06:00.001-05:00

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

2010-07-06T12:38:00.001-05:00

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

2010-07-04T18:32:00.002-05:00

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

2010-07-02T08:57:00.001-05:00

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

2010-06-28T16:57:00.002-05:00

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

2010-06-22T19:50:00.000-05:00

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

2010-06-19T12:47:00.001-05:00

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

2010-06-14T17:55:00.008-05:00

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

2010-06-11T10:58:00.004-05:00

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

2010-06-08T17:21:00.000-05:00

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

2010-06-06T15:47:00.002-05:00

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

2010-05-17T14:55:00.003-05:00

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

2010-05-06T16:04:00.002-05:00

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

2010-05-04T12:26:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-04T12:24:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-04T12:21:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-04T12:20:00.001-05:00

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

2010-04-20T10:46:00.000-05:00

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

Thoughts and Experiences

Decay

Hiking out

Welcome Home Mandy!

Sunny fall days

Lucky

Administration

End of Summer sunset at Ray's Boathouse

The Ballard fleet waits for their season.

Where friends tread

Sunset lights

Web

Stoic

Best way to Begin the day

First test

Awesome couple

Summer 2011

Happy Groom

Knox

Groomsmen Shoes

The happy couple

Angelic folks

Ballard Fleet

Why I love camping

Night Light

Cheer as the day wains

Mine!

Un Año Despues

Block Party

The David Wax Museum

Marcus and Stacie

Sunset Bokeh

Un-bottled rockets

Under Natural Lights

The feet of Summer

Erika

Gifts

Chasing the night

Clearwater Lodge

Fire!

Stickers

The rain brings the blooms

Phin

Family Ties

Laughter wrings

Washing

Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail

Spring afternoons need to be shared

Cherry blossoms spilled spring over the pond

Good Friday

Signs of Spring

Krista Foundation Coffeehouse 2011

Lots of Snow

No Smoking

Smiles in the sun

No Meat

Vertical Sunset

Migration from Central America

Grain Silo

25 Years of getting my feet dirty

Watching the colors change

Too Dreary to be Enjoyed

RYD Mornings

Selling sweets

La Oroya Somos Todos

Stitching in the Streets

La Comunidad

What did she say?

Voting

Proud of Fair Trade

La Puerta

The afternoon commute

Menu

Inca Kola

Amidst the treats

On Camera

Walking

The Rememberance of Putis is Almost Forgotten

Jobs

Funeral for a little one