Sunday, July 08, 2007

News-Noticias-News-Read all about it!

Peruvian Mines Exploit Child Labor

Huamachuco. In recognition of child’s rights day a disturbing news story was uncovered close to Carata, ( 80 km North) in the mountains of La Libertad. Non-formal artisan gold mines have existed for years. Owned by private small companies, they’ve been digging into mountain-sides on their own land. It wasn’t until larger companies like Barrick for example who have had success and prospered from their work; other mining operations popped up and decided to search for their piece of the pie. Because they are small family owned mining businesses the same rules and regulations do not apply. The laws are very loose, and therefore can be bent. And like many Peruvian independent businesses, corruption and exploitation run rampid.

Minors are being offered $2-3 a day for working in these dangerous mines, which at any moment could tumble, suffocation those inside. 8-15 year old boys wake up early in the morning and instead of heading off to school they hike up the mountain side where they meet the Forman who puts them to work sorting rocks, sifting through pebbles and other back breaking activities. To make matters worse, open pools of cyanide help speed up the process of identifying the precious gold when dissolved properly. One boy testified that he accidentally got trace amounts of the deadly chemical on his hands and he was burned severely. A bird drank from the open pool and died instantly.

When reporters eventually contacted the owner of this non-formal mine (he refused an interview) he denied that minors were being exploited or that his mine was breaking federal laws. His workers prevented a second camera crew to the site arguing that it was private property. The local municipality and police are turning a blind eye to such an obvious ring of child labor profit gain. The mayor of the district was also “shocked” but sources say he has been connected to by way of bribes and fraudulent activity for years.

Teachers and Physicians On Strike

Lima. In mid June Peruvian physicians went on strike, refusing to work until some grievance is remedied. Since recently other health care professional have joined the doc’s, by closing their hospitals, health centers and posts and only attending to emergencies. Most professionals are outraged with the amount of work and the small pay received for such long hours. One nurse who preferred to remain anonymous stated,
“It’s an outrage really; we are forced to make all kinds of sacrifices, and for what? Our government does not appreciate us, nor do our patients!”

Health care professionals are expected to return to work relatively soon, but the teachers are just getting started. On July 5th they instituted a national strike, and although only 15% of teachers in the department (state) of Lima participated, they were out in full force. In some parts of Lima and Junin, police were forced to use tear gas to prevent crowds from rushing governmental buildings. The teachers state they will continue the strike indefinitely until changes are made.

The Peruvian government feels no pity for the teachers, because they know that the majority are unmotivated, uneducated adults that want more rights and more pay and less responsibility. The teachers believe that the government wants to privatize the education system, leaving them out of work. When in reality, the board of education wants to train the low achieving teachers to help improve their abilities. The president, Alan Garcia states that those teachers who participated in the strike on July 5th will be sanctioned, as will their principals and superintendent who declared the day off. Furthermore, for everyday that teachers are not working, they won’t be paid, and replacement teachers will be sent to their schools.

Telefonica Gets Cut Short

Callao. In a country where cell phones are becoming affordable and service reaches many rural areas, one may think telephone land lines are a thing of the past. Actually, it’s costing Perú much more to lay lines than build towers. But not for the most logical reason. Although mobile phone use is growing, that hasn’t stopped the telephone company giant, Telefonica from installing land lines in those places-especially urban areas- where pay phones and home and business installments are needed. Telefonica may need to reconsider every new connection due to a new scam that is plaguing the telecommunication industry. The scam is costing so much damage, that it’s probably cheaper to continue building cell towers than connect traditional cable from pole to pole.

Here’s how the scam works. Scrap metal companies hire crooks to climb phone poles to cut and steal the cable. Even meters are stolen from the poles, leaving them barren. The goods are sorted back at a warehouse where the copper is removed from every working part of the meters and cable. Copper can be sold for a much as $20 by the kg. but not in Perú, in China. You guessed it; the stolen copper is being exported and sold on the black market in China.

Telefonica has received hundreds of calls from pay phone users who pump coins into a dead system. They’ve had to recall every site that gets stripped of its lines. The most ironic part about the scam is that a few men have been electrocuted to death climbing poles and cutting live wires. Other criminals have been caught (alive), and many warehouses have been discovered by the police. In a society struggling to develop, their own people prevent the progress by such foolish acts.


“In reality I believe that economic advancement and respect for individual rights are closely linked. Society cannot fully maximize its economic advantage without granting its people civil and political rights.” Dalai Lama