1090 heading for the chopping block?
Another month, another dry spell in posts. My apologies. I recently moved to a new apartment in Lima and my arrival coincided with a halt in Internet service. If you want a sure fire way to aggravate of gringo, turn off their Internet access. So, I have spent the past week as a wireless refugee, and when I do have access my time is prioritized to emails and research. Additionally, speaking of personal developments, I have begun an affiliation with a NGO here in Lima that employs adaptive strategies to climate change. This means that, for the first time, I might make meaningful progress with my Fulbright project. It only took two months to accomplish. Don’t stress it though, right?
Now onto a developing issues related to the environment and Peruvian-U.S. foreign relations.
In addition to a temor in Lima yesterday, there are new rumblings emerging over president Alan García’s environmental policies before the U.S.-Peruvian Trade Promotion Agreement (FTA) takes effect in January 2009. The U.S. trade representative has voiced concern in a confidential communication about the recent backward trend of environmental measures in Peru. This contradicts what the FTA was supposed to accomplish in terms of promoting environmental responsibility in such free trade agreements.
This past spring and summer, the Peruvian Congress passed 99 measures to bring the country into accord with the FTA. In August, a showdown occurred between García and Congress over Decree 1064, which had eased restrictions on oil exploration in indigenous land. Congress would eventually vote to revoke the measures after an intense lobbying campaign over the summer by Indian rights groups. Now the issue is the protection of Peru’s Amazonian forests, which are second only to Brazil in area. Decree 1090 effectively excludes 60% of Peruvian jungle from the national forest protection system, and U.S. trade officials are asking that such forest issues be returned to the authority of a public forest conservation body, as had been the case previously.
A laundry list of objections to 1090 have been offered up by opponents, including concerns for weaker protection for sustainable forest use, increased threats for the development of virgin forests, and the legalization and sale of illicit lumber from the Peruvian rainforest. Additionally, there are questions about the constitutionality of 1090 in respect to the jurisdictional power over forests between the national and regional governments.
There may be yet further revisions made to the 99 decrees as 2009 approaches. As Milagros Salazar writes in an article covering this issue for IPS News, “Peru’s new Prime Minister Yehude Simon has recognised that some of the decrees should be reviewed. The orders for implementation of decree 1090, which the executive branch is drawing up, could be just the time to do so.”
If that is the case, it should be interesting to see how García reacts. The president was adamantly opposed to the congressional vote in August, and it would be reasonable to assume that he is of the same mind this time around. Now, however, both the U.S. and the prime minister are advocating reforms and more environmental sensitivity. Still far from popular, García may be forced to keep quiet.
Tribe not charmed by Talisman
Indigenous community leaders in Peru’s northeastern jungle region of Loreto have presented an ultimatum to Talisman Energy: get out by Nov. 15 or be thrown out. The Canadian oil-exporter is operating in two blocks of land in indigenous territory, but claims to have all the local permission necessary to pursue its exploration projects. In what may just be (or might as well be) a published press report from Talisman, here is a glowing excerpt from 2006 about the company’s activities in Peru:
Operations in Block 64 were conducted in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. Sound industry practices have been implemented to minimize potential impacts on the local ecosystem. No access roads were constructed during the exploration program. All equipment and personnel were transported to the area using helicopters and barges. In addition, local indigenous community members have been consulted extensively by the operator since 2001 and continue to participate in various aspects of the exploration program.
It would seem that the indigenous community no longer wishes to participate. On Tuesday, Inca Kola News published a translated quotation from Cesar Zúñiga Butuna, leader of the indigenous Achuar federation:
We as the indigenous people reject the Canadian company Talisman. We do not want them working in our territory, we want the Peruvian state to respect us, and the armed forces must stop supporting the company…
If they do not want to leave we will force them out; this is the agreement that has been coordinated with the Awajún brother (people) and the Huambisas of the Amazon. It is time that the government listens to us and we will make them respect us…
We have proof that pollution already exists, damage to nature and to indigenous people in the communities where petroleum activities are developed. For 37 years in the Achuar brother communities of the Corrientes River, petroleum has not brought any development to them; on the contrary they are sick and poverty stricken.
According to the Reuters article referenced above, a Talisman spokesman responded that the company will not be packing up and leaving Loreto anytime soon. The same article also points out that Talisman has been criticized by human rights advocates for its involvement in Sudan where oil has been one source of severe conflict for the past decade.
There appears to be no mention of the indigenous plight in Peru’s major news sources, so it will be interesting to see how the indigenous groups proceed with their campaign to kick out the Canadians. If Butuna & Co.’s intention is to fight Big Oil, the army and the national government all at the same time, the balance is certainly not going to be in their favor.
Puente Piedra’s miracle of running water
Radio Programas del Perú (RPP) has produced a video (it may be necessary to load the original page in Spanish to view the video) about the prospect of running water in the pueblo joven, or shanty town, of La Grama in Puente Piedra, a district of northern Lima. Following some thirty years of negotiation with the government, those living in La Grama are about to witness the realization of a longstanding dream: running water. Those interviewed in the piece were especially grateful to be free of the tanker trucks (apparently called “terenos” in Peru) that sell them contaminated water at exorbitant prices, which is unregulated by the government. Such water has been the scourge of the pueblos jovenés, as many children who consume it fall ill with bouts of diarrhea and vomiting that can lead to death. In response to the arrival of running water, the businesses selling tank water have quadrupled their prices. Whether this was done out of fear for falling profits or as an angry reaction against the people in Puente Piedra, it appears that those who will remain without running water will have to be the victims of higher fees.
Clearly the situation remains dire for many; a more equitable share of running water for Limeños will require improved water management, better government regulation and a willingness among all citizens to conserve water in everyday use. That RPP produces a blog to inform citizens about water issues demonstrates that there is a consciousness here, but one does not need to go far in residential Lima to find poor water practices. For now, the expansion of municipal water into Puente Piedra can represent a big improvement in the quality of living for the residents there. If this is a part of Alan Garcia’s “Water for All” program, then he can claim at least one success story.
US wants Peru to save trees in exchange for debt relief
The US ambassador to Peru, Michael McKinley, has signed an agreement that forgives $25 million of Peru’s debt to the US in exchange for the funds being devoted to forest conservation efforts in the Peruvian Amazon. Environment Minister Antonio Brack announced the money would be administered from a joint American-Peruvian fund in Lima. Read the Associated Press news blip to learn more. A longer article in El Comercio includes a statement from the State Department regarding the agreement.
Rio Tinto’s La Granja forced on a break
Australian mining giant Rio Tinto has announced the suspension of construction at a new mineral processing plant in the northern region of Chiclayo. This plant will test minerals from the company’s future copper mine operations in neighboring Cajamarca region. Cause for the suspension is due to protests by local activists concerned over environmental degradation, public health concerns and conflict regarding the diversion of water resources to the new plant. Reuters is reporting that the protesters had threatened to overrun the site if construction did not cease.
An article in Peru’s El Comercio quotes the leader of a regional water defense group who voices his concern about the threat posed by testing 44,000 tons of arsenic-intensive copper to the local water supply. Apparently some civilians remain unconvinced by assurances from Rio Tinto that the operations in Chiclayo will not carry ecological consequences. In response to the protests, authorities requested that Rio Tinto cease construction and are advocating dialogue between the company and concerned citizens to resolve the latter’s concerns.
Construction at the main site of the company’s La Granja project in Cajamarca will continue uninterrupted by the shutdown in Chiclayo. La Granja mine is expected to produce between 4 to 8 billion tons of mineral for copper extraction. Rio Tinto will spend about $700 million to realize the project.
Sloppy soles – counterfeit coinage in Peru
Source: Wikipedia, fair use for commentary
Sencillo falso, or false coins, has become an increasing concern for me in my daily life here in Peru. It began awhile back when, during a bus ride, an American friend of mine had her fare rejected. Her Nuevo sol was no good, although no explanation was given despite our inquiry to the cobrador. We examined the bad coin and decided that some Braille-like dots on it were evidence of its counterfeit. No, it really was Braille. Now, with a month’s experience behind me, I think I am better able to determine what is real and what might not be. Counterfeit is basically a sloppy job. The flaw in my approach is that the light-weight, brass Nuevo sol is fairly cheap, especially in comparison to the U.S. or European coin standards I am mostly familiar with. Soles do not age well, and this to the counterfeit’s advantage. As the intricate designs on the Nuevo sol wear away, it becomes much more difficult to distinguish between real and fake.
Simon and friends take charge
Alan García has sworn in his brand-spankin’ new government cabinet under the direction of Prime Minister Yehude Simon. (Actually, the President of the Council of Ministers is Simon’s title, but you can see why prime minister is preferred in English.) I jest of course when I say new because a majority of the cabinet are returnees from the previous cabinet of the disgraced former PM Jorge del Castillo. The new line-up of ministers [esp] is as follows (note that an asterisk * denotes a new appointment):
Catching up on a week spent on holiday
Source: ANDINA
After seven days on holiday in the Gringo-trodden highlands, I’m back in Lima, back under a blanket of dreary cloud cover and and back to the research. What I really want to know is where spring already!? While I wait for an ounce of sunshine, here is a compilation of some stories that happened while I was climbing Machu Picchu.
- Everybody out! The biggest news last week was undoubtedly the most recent development in the Discover Petroleum bribe scandal with the entire national cabinet resigning. As expat blogger Levi Novey points out, “Perhaps the biggest loss is that of Antonio Brack, Peru’s Minister of the Environment. Having been recently appointed in the earlier part of this year, he was charged with helping Peru to combat problems associated with climate change and the environment.” While I have previously questioned whether or not Brack had the clout to achieve anything, he was a visible and outspoken advocate of environmental causes in the national government. A new cabinet will be announced shortly, and I do hope Brack is returned to his role.
Acta Perú: agreement on tourism and environment
First off, my apologies for my silence spell. I have been busy and lacking for time to read news stories and offer posts. That will continue until the middle of this month as I travel up to Cusco for a week. That said, here’s a story from earlier this week:
Source: MINCETUR
Saturday, September 27, Peru’s ministers of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR), Mercedes Araoz, and the Environment (MINAM), Antonio Brack, the Deputy Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and presidents of the regional governments of Peru congregated in Lima to observe World Tourism Day 2008, whose theme was “Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change.” With Lima serving as this year’s host for the international day of tourism, the attendees created a think tank to discuss the opportunities for change presented by climate change capped off the gathering with the signature of an agreement [esp], titled “Tourism and the Environment: Policies in Regional Management” (El Acta Perú). The act emphasizes environmental consciousness in the tourism industries in each of Peru’s regions. The cornerstone of this document is a regional program for climate change, through which MINCETUR and MINAM will coordinate with the regional governments to advance measures that improve the environmental standards in Peru’s tourism.
