Reply #13: Believe me, had I any idea about this place before we had gotten there, I wouldn't have wanted to be

[Pachamama]

anywhere near it! But unfortunately, the road from Lima to this particular region I was going to only goes through the valley and mountain area where that horrible place is located. I knew when I saw this place that it was bad and I will never forget seeing that "liquid" pouring into the river. I also remember that further downstream was a reservoir/lake that was just "dead". Interestingly enough, when I was there, it was in 1999, and according to the CBS report I just viewed in this thread, the plant had been sold to Doe Run the American company in 1997, so it was being run by them at the time I saw it.

It's interesting how DU has such a variety of people with mixes of backgrounds that you can find people who have been to such places. Believe me, this though was not a visit that had been planned. I couldn't have even told you the name of that place until you posted it and saw the picture of the story you posted and went on to the internet and looked up the town.

I just finished reading the second book by John Perkins, "The Secret History of the American Empire". John is a friend of mine who I spent much time with down in the Amazon (mainly Equador). I didn't at that time know about his past life as an "Economic Hitman", only his work environmentally and with the indigenous tribes. He talks about how the whole system works in 3rd world countries economically and this awful Smelt in La Oroyo is a perfect example of how "we" as a country, have stakes in all these countries where we basically are raping their resources for our benefit while essentially killing these people and their environment. Disgusting and shameful. I pray that there is a day where our Empire no longer is able to do this to anyone or any nation.