[Joeinlima] Calling all teachers, youth leaders, or people working with young people
Joe Tobiason
As many of you know, I am working with a program in La Oroya and the contamination there. Below is a call to anyone who wants to get involved. If you´re interested, let me know!!!
Theme: Environmental justice, youth empowerment and skills development, social justice movement.
The Problem:
La Oroya, Peru. One of the most contaminated cities in the world, listed among such places as Chernobyl. While it was once a verdant green valley filled with farms, there are no longer any trees on the mountains, many local children are born with lead poisoning, and the rivers are so contaminated that the fish no longer run in them. Why? Due to centuries of irresponsibility on the part of mining companies. The principal economic entity in La Oroya is the US-owned smelter, Doe Run. Doe Run is an important source of income for the people of La Oroya, and we are not suggesting it be shut down. Rather, we believe the company should be more socially and environmentally responsible, by installing basic precautionary measures, such as filters to capture the large lead particles that it emits. For years now Doe Run has failed to comply with national and international environmental laws in Doe Run, while it should be noted that it has a similar plant in the US where the pollution is 11 times less. To put it bluntly, a US company is unnecessarily poisoning the local population, and no one is stopping them. If you want more specifics about this, just ask.
Project:
We are working with a group of elementary-aged kids in La Oroya, and another group in NYC. They meet twice a month via skype, and coordinate awareness-raising events. The kids meet locally twice a week, and we’re working to develop their skill sets – e-mails, blog management, interviewing, talking on the radio, filming. We’ve recently bought flip-cams and are teaching the kids how to use them. Long term goal: to make an award-winning documentary, filmed primarily by the kids themselves, and capture the attention of the US public about the problem. Also, to empower the next generation in regards to social justice. I know it sounds big, but we really believe we can do this.
Where you come in:
We want to get more US groups of kids involved (ideally elementary aged, or early middle school) – youth groups, after-school groups, whatever. The time commitment would be a lot less than the principal group in NYC. Below is what we’re thinking the involvement would look like. Keep in mind this is a fledgling project – we’re still trying to get everything going, so things are just now developing. That’s why we’re looking for more people to get involved soon! If you yourself aren’t interested, but you know someone involved with kids who might be, please send me their contact info, or pass this on to them! I know you’re very connected with the teacher’s community in AK, and thought you might be able to help at least get the information out there.
1) We provide a "lesson plan" on La Oroya, that teachers, etc. could use appropriate to the grade level (mostly elementary school).
2. After the lesson plan has been taught, we'd arrange for a skype call.
3. The class would commit itself to doing several things (maybe five things... and we'd call it "Give Me 5". For example: 1) tell five people about La Oroya; 2) write a letter to a congress person, the president, Ira Rennert (owner of Doe Run), etc (we'd provide a sample letter).; 3) sign a petition that would be posted on our webpage; 4) write an article/letter to the editor for your local paper (we'd provide a sample article) and/or contact a reporter to talk about our campaign; 5) raise money/make a donation to the campaign (we'd provide them with our mascot/stuffed animal that they could sell).
I really believe that this project will achieve good things. Not only are we hoping to raise awareness concerning the problems of contamination in La Oroya, but we are trying to show the next generation that they have the power and responsibility to make the change we need to see in this world, and that they can do that through international solidarity.
Joseph "Joe" Tobiason (this email was actually written by Anna Gray, just giving credit where it is due)
Young Adult Volunteer to Peru
http://www.pcusa.org/yav/
http://www.thecentralamericanblender.blogspot.com/
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