Comments on: Should we have to choose between health and livelihood? http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/15/should-we-have-to-choose-between-health-and-livelihood/ Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:13:33 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: wwelvaert http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/15/should-we-have-to-choose-between-health-and-livelihood/#comment-5991 wwelvaert Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:38:44 +0000 http://cnnpagingdrgupta.wordpress.com/?p=295#comment-5991 I have been living in Cusco, Peru for over a year now. In my observations environmental protections here in Peru are generally considered less important than economic development, perhaps not surprising considering the poverty you still see here. The government in Lima seems out-of-touch with the people in the provinces and life in the remote Andes or Amazon jungle areas of Peru is nothing like life in the wealthier districts of Lima. I am seeing some local opposition to the environmental impact of the mining industry in Peru. Hopefully CNN's feature of La Oroya will help change the social and economic conditions that have allowed the La Oroya case to continue for this long. Ward Cusco, Peru I have been living in Cusco, Peru for over a year now. In my observations environmental protections here in Peru are generally considered less important than economic development, perhaps not surprising considering the poverty you still see here.

The government in Lima seems out-of-touch with the people in the provinces and life in the remote Andes or Amazon jungle areas of Peru is nothing like life in the wealthier districts of Lima.

I am seeing some local opposition to the environmental impact of the mining industry in Peru. Hopefully CNN's feature of La Oroya will help change the social and economic conditions that have allowed the La Oroya case to continue for this long.

Ward
Cusco, Peru

]]> By: Miguel Vasquez, MD http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/15/should-we-have-to-choose-between-health-and-livelihood/#comment-5974 Miguel Vasquez, MD Sat, 13 Dec 2008 09:51:59 +0000 http://cnnpagingdrgupta.wordpress.com/?p=295#comment-5974 I am very impressed by this report, specially of Dr. Gupta and team effort to go to a very rough place such as La Oroya (high altitude, not the best accomodations, pollution, etc). I lived there until I was 11, and I have visited it periodically thru the years, and witnessed the effects of Lead Poisoning on the population, however it is only one of the toxic effects of the pollution created by the below standards mining facility there. additionally there is higher Incidence of respiratory ailments (silicosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, plane pneumonias), allergies, and possibly malignancies. I am hopeful that your report will encourage authorities to enforce the rules already existent in this matter. Thank you on behalf of the people of the Andes of Peru. I am very impressed by this report, specially of Dr. Gupta and team effort to go to a very rough place such as La Oroya (high altitude, not the best accomodations, pollution, etc). I lived there until I was 11, and I have visited it periodically thru the years, and witnessed the effects of Lead Poisoning on the population, however it is only one of the toxic effects of the pollution created by the below standards mining facility there. additionally there is higher Incidence of respiratory ailments (silicosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, plane pneumonias), allergies, and possibly malignancies. I am hopeful that your report will encourage authorities to enforce the rules already existent in this matter. Thank you on behalf of the people of the Andes of Peru.

]]> By: dspitzer http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/15/should-we-have-to-choose-between-health-and-livelihood/#comment-5889 dspitzer Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:45:14 +0000 http://cnnpagingdrgupta.wordpress.com/?p=295#comment-5889 I would like to donate to the Casaraca School in La Oroya, Peru. I am dismayed that an American based company would continue the poisoning of children. Can anyone give me an address?? Please post. Thanks. I would like to donate to the Casaraca School in La Oroya, Peru. I am dismayed that an American based company would continue the poisoning of children. Can anyone give me an address?? Please post.
Thanks.

]]> By: Anne Liebenthal http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/15/should-we-have-to-choose-between-health-and-livelihood/#comment-5789 Anne Liebenthal Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:11:02 +0000 http://cnnpagingdrgupta.wordpress.com/?p=295#comment-5789 I lived in La Oroya for a month in 1982, as a misionary. I was told that the lack of vegitation in the surrounding area was due to the air pollution, which was very thick. The water in the river could not support any life at all. Now I understand more completely why the adults there were incapable of memorizing a simple four step sequence, despite very obvious enthusiasm and motivation to do so. I was told that poor nutrition was probably the reason for the mental retardation in virtually all of the adults who'd spent their entire lives there. At that time La Oroya living conditons were the worst I ever had at that point in my life or ever since have witnessed. I can only wonder how high the lead levels of the blood of those who were living in that place would be if dysentary hadn't interefered with toxant as well as nutrient absorption. I lived in La Oroya for a month in 1982, as a misionary. I was told that the lack of vegitation in the surrounding area was due to the air pollution, which was very thick. The water in the river could not support any life at all. Now I understand more completely why the adults there were incapable of memorizing a simple four step sequence, despite very obvious enthusiasm and motivation to do so. I was told that poor nutrition was probably the reason for the mental retardation in virtually all of the adults who'd spent their entire lives there. At that time La Oroya living conditons were the worst I ever had at that point in my life or ever since have witnessed. I can only wonder how high the lead levels of the blood of those who were living in that place would be if dysentary hadn't interefered with toxant as well as nutrient absorption.

]]> By: Lauren http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/15/should-we-have-to-choose-between-health-and-livelihood/#comment-3954 Lauren Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:46:18 +0000 http://cnnpagingdrgupta.wordpress.com/?p=295#comment-3954 I live in noithern Appalachia, where coal and steel rules. Many years ago my best friend, whose husband worked in a steel mill, gave birth to a preemie and the doctors told her that the nothern Ohio valley had the worst statistics for lung problems, in all the country. Things haven't changed much even though most mines and mills are closed, so I'm sort of deducing that by the time one sees the battle lines drawn, that the people's health is already permanently lost. Most people around here would give their eye tooth for a livelihood that pays decent wages and health benfits, well, the irony is, that coal and steel takes more than that out of where it is. Yes the job pays well for a very few, but destroys the health of everybody else in the area. Doesn't sound nice, but people will still pick livelihood over health when there's their kids' mouths to feed, even if it mean destroying the health of somebody else's kid. I live in noithern Appalachia, where coal and steel rules. Many years ago my best friend, whose husband worked in a steel mill, gave birth to a preemie and the doctors told her that the nothern Ohio valley had the worst statistics for lung problems, in all the country. Things haven't changed much even though most mines and mills are closed, so I'm sort of deducing that by the time one sees the battle lines drawn, that the people's health is already permanently lost. Most people around here would give their eye tooth for a livelihood that pays decent wages and health benfits, well, the irony is, that coal and steel takes more than that out of where it is. Yes the job pays well for a very few, but destroys the health of everybody else in the area. Doesn't sound nice, but people will still pick livelihood over health when there's their kids' mouths to feed, even if it mean destroying the health of somebody else's kid.

]]> By: kc http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/15/should-we-have-to-choose-between-health-and-livelihood/#comment-3953 kc Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:31:15 +0000 http://cnnpagingdrgupta.wordpress.com/?p=295#comment-3953 Why don't we start in our own country???? I live in Cheyenne wyoming and we have to live with the disgusting oil refinery fumes everyday. No one seems to care because "it brings in money" to the city. I have filed complaints with the EPA which have been ignored- i suffer from sore throats and headaches on days that the wind is blowing the fumes towards my home. i know it is from the refinery becasue i moved here from nebraska and never had these problems before. So why don't we start cleanign up the filth that we have to live with in OUR country before we worry about others...... Why don't we start in our own country???? I live in Cheyenne wyoming and we have to live with the disgusting oil refinery fumes everyday. No one seems to care because "it brings in money" to the city. I have filed complaints with the EPA which have been ignored- i suffer from sore throats and headaches on days that the wind is blowing the fumes towards my home. i know it is from the refinery becasue i moved here from nebraska and never had these problems before. So why don't we start cleanign up the filth that we have to live with in OUR country before we worry about others......

]]> By: S Callahan http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/15/should-we-have-to-choose-between-health-and-livelihood/#comment-3946 S Callahan Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:43:03 +0000 http://cnnpagingdrgupta.wordpress.com/?p=295#comment-3946 Actually, this past summer I left a job on medical leave for enviromental reasons. This job was situated in a building that was renovated but maintained mold behind it's walls. I personally suffered a prior medical condition that was severely aggrevated by this enviroment. The enviroment was not only toxic to me but to many of my co workers, several who developed cancers, tumors, rashes, breathing issues in just a nine year range. At least two co workers are now deceased. This is a state rented office building, with the state aware of the conditions through documentation, yet the state fails to put the health and safety of it's workers as a priority and is actually punitive to those who complain. Go figure. Actually, this past summer I left a job on medical leave for enviromental reasons. This job was situated in a building that was renovated but maintained mold behind it's walls. I personally suffered a prior medical condition that was severely aggrevated by this enviroment. The enviroment was not only toxic to me but to many of my co workers, several who developed cancers, tumors, rashes, breathing issues in just a nine year range. At least two co workers are now deceased. This is a state rented office building, with the state aware of the conditions through documentation, yet the state fails to put the health and safety of it's workers as a priority and is actually punitive to those who complain. Go figure.

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