Thursday, May 8, 2008

Issues at El Faro Thirsty for Change: The Right to Clean Water
in Cajamarca

One of the main issues to be covered at El Faro during Expo Zaragoza 2008 is the basic human right to clean drinking water and a sanitation supply. Why is this right being denied and what are the consequences for the afflicted people? One case study of the Cajamarca region in Peru tries to answer these questions.

By: Sasha Radyuk, ANPED

Water is often associated with purity and cleanliness. However, for many living in circumstances that deny access to a clean water source, it can mean serious illness and death. Although the Universal Declaration of Human Rights acknowledged that safe access to water for drinking and sanitation is a fundamental right, not enough is being done to bring access to vulnerable populations living without clean water. With world population still expanding, access to clean water has become an issue of higher priority. Unfortunately, for the poorest populations drinking and using impure water, the right to safe access is a main priority, one that needs to be addressed immediately.

Cajamarca, Peru: Gold for Water?

Peru’s Cajamarca region, 85 km outside of Lima, has one of the largest gold and silver deposits in the world, a fact that has led to tragedy for many of the poor living in the area. The mining company Minera Yanacocha has long exploited this land for its minerals, without taking into consideration the wellbeing of the local population. Within months, the rivers and ground aquifers that supply water to the region’s population have been destroyed or tainted by the mining.

Minera Yanacocha’s mining methods, like those of most Peruvian miners, involve the use of cyanide solutions to extract gold, which contaminate river sources. This solution is stored in large containers separate from the water, but there is little monitoring of the conditions surrounding the mining and therefore, leaks and contamination are not properly prevented.

In addition, mining blasts have ruined lakes and springs, and have disturbed the course of river flows. As a result, the local population’s main water sources have been disrupted and they have been left without access to clean water. The company has offered treated water as an alternative, but there is no way to enforce this promise and consequently, the quality of the water might be poor, if it is even supplied at all.

The Unfortunate Consequences

The result of the damage done to the water has been devastating. Large populations of trout have died in the rivers that wind through the regions where mining takes place. The worst effect, however, is the impact that mining practices are having on the health of the locals. Poisoning and illness are the widespread consequences of tainted water; the replacement water brought in by the companies is often not much better.

The rate of premature births, miscarriages, and children born with mental deficiencies or development problems has increased in the region. A study in 1999 showed that 99% of the children had lead poisoning. The negative effects of the mining have led to protests and calls for the company to withdraw from the area. The company, however, hopes not only to remain in Cajamarca, but also to expand its mining operations to neighboring regions. The potential damage this could cause is tremendous.

If you want to learn more about this and other issues at El Faro, visit www.elfaro2008.org.