The Brecht Forum: presentation, Esther Hinostroza and Conrado Olivera : a brief history of contamination in La Oroya by the metallurgical complex.
The Brecht Forum
WED MAY 23 - 6:00 P.M.
Presentation Wed May 23 : 6:00 PM
"No Mas Niños de Plomo: the ongoing struggle in defense of the rights to health and a clean environment in La Oroya, Peru".
451 West Street (that's the West Side Highway) between Bank & Bethune Streets
NYC 10014
(212)242-4201
FOR DIRECTIONS VISIT: http://brechtforum.org/directions
La Oroya, Peru is often considered one of the ten most contaminated cities in the world. In a town of 35,000, 99% of the children have been tested to have extreme levels of lead poisoning. The cause of the contamination is a metallurgical complex (lead smelter) owned since 1997 by Renco Group - a privately owned holding company based in New York, NY.
In their presentation, Esther Hinostroza and Conrado Olivera will provide a brief history of contamination in La Oroya by the metallurgical complex. They will discuss the collaborative work of Peruvian and international civil society organizations that have addressed Peruvian environmental laws and enforcement, international rights to health, free trade agreements, and more. Unravelling a complex tale of deception, misinformation and blackmail, they will speak to both the achievements and present challenges of civil society in holding both the Peruvian State and a transnational corporation accountable to the very people they claim to serve.
Esther Hinostroza, Director of Filomena Tomaira Pacsi, an NGO based in La Oroya, Peru, dedicated to the rights of children and women related to the mining industry. Born and raised in La Oroya, Esther has become a leading spokesperson on the local and national level for environmental and health justice in La Oroya.
Conrado Olivera, Director of Red Uniendo Manos Peru, a Lima based network of Peruvian NGO's dedicated to addressing root causes of poverty. Conrado has become a spokesperson on the national and international level with respect to investor-state aribtration as related to the U.S. - Peru Free Trade Agreement.
