Author: Alina Schroeder

Co-Authors: Kelsey Newhook, Ella MacKinnon, Eileen Molloy, Justin Andersom

Background Information:

   A global leader in the mining industry, Peru is one of the world’s biggest producers of metals. This industry is critical to the national economy of Peru since Peru is an export-dependent country. Peru’s long history of mining and exporting natural resources has been associated with both a job provider and a reason for the growth of the Peruvian economy. However it’s major metal projects and copious mining escapades have caused discontent among indigenous groups and regions. Concerned not only about the adverse health effects of mining, these individuals and groups are worried about the environment. Although Peru’s reliance on mining has modernized the country it has failed to relieve poverty which has created widespread inequality.

Mining Protests:

   Although the outlook concerning mining in Peru may seem positive due to merits such as an economic growth and job opportunities, many are opposed to this industry. Protesters are increasingly concerned about the environmental effects of mining with such projects as the Minas Conga project. The government has twice declared states of emergency due to violent protests against mining. The government even gave the police extended power to search homes and suspended freedom of assembly due to two mining protests: One over Southern Copper’s Tia Maria project and protests at the La Bambas project.

   Civilians are discontent because of environmental concerns, health problems, foreign companies, and lack of real job opportunity. Deforestation, pollution of water, and destroyer of landscapes are all problems that Peru has due to mining. There has been debate over health concerns regarding mining. Heavy metal exposure, in mining areas, are associated with adverse health outcomes. However in many regions of Peru the exposure to metals and the pollution of water has caused health problems and ailments. Since foreign companies are coming into Peru to mine and sometimes bringing their own workers into the country with them, Peruvian miners are losing jobs and becoming unable to find new ones. Outrage concerning the decimation and devastation of the environment by foreign companies is very prevalent in Peru.

Illegal Gold Mining:

   Due to the high price of gold, illegal gold mines have become prevalent in many parts of Latin America. However since Peru is one of the world’s premier gold producers, the problem is extremely bad. A reporter describes the scene at one of Peru’s illegal mines: “Huge sandy craters, mounds of pebbles and poisoned waterways were everywhere. Garbage — rags, plastic bags, plastic foam food containers — clung to the freshly cut tree branches piled up in the river’s nooks and crannies” with water the color of milky coffee. Even though the environmental damage inflicted by corporate miners is serious, illegal miners are more destructive. While mining companies focus on specific areas, illegal miners move quickly through a vast amount of territory. It could take up to 500 years or more for an area to recover from illegal mining.

   Likewise, this mining doesn’t come without health costs. Since miners use mercury to test gold, a lot of mercury has been let out into not only the forests of Peru but also the water supply. A state of emergency has been declared in the Madre de Dios region of Peru last may due to mercury testing. Tests that took place in 97 villages found that more than 40 percent of people there have absorbed dangerous levels of mercury. Mercury poisoning affects people in many different ways such as chronic headaches and kidney damage. However mercury poisoning is most harmful to children who will likely suffer brain damage. A study in the US has found that more than 500 kilometers of Peru’s Amazon River is contaminated with mercury which many people in Peru use as drinking water.

Summary Factoids:

1.) What is one negative outcome of illegal gold mining in Peru?

Possible answer: One negative outcome of illegal gold mining in Peru is the adverse health problems caused mercury. Mercury poisoning is known to cause brain damage in children and chronic headaches and kidney damage in adults.

2.) What did the mining industry fail to improve?

The mining industry in Peru failed to improve the lives of the poor residents of Peru.

References:

(2016) The Report: Peru 2016. Retrieved from oxfordbusinessgroup.com

Daley,S (August 23,2016) Peru Scrambles to Drive Out Illegal Gold Mining and Save Precious Land. Retrieved from nytimes.com

Diringer, Sarah E., Beth J. Feingold, Ernesto J. Ortiz, John A. Gallis, Julio M. Araújo-Flores, Axel Berky, William K. Y. Pan, and Heileen Hsu-Kim. “River transport of mercury from artisanal and small-scale gold mining and risks for dietary mercury exposure in Madre de Dios, Peru.” Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts 17.2 (2015): 478-87. Web.