18-07

Religious Leaders Demand Ethical Cooperation of Society in a Joint Meeting with Health Advocates

July 18, 2007. Yesterday the Health Movement of La Oroya (MOSAO) hosted the religious delegates who traveled to the United States last month to ethically challenge the leaders of Doe Run.

Among those present were Pedro Barreto, archbishop of Huancayo, president of the National Council of Protestant Churches in Peru, Rafael Goto, and Lutheran pastor Pedro Bullón. Each of the leaders spoke to the press about their reflections upon the trip to the United States. Monseñor Barreto said “The ethical fabric of society is being called upon to extend into advocacy. Our ethical contribution should become an immediate reality. We’ve had all we can take and the situation is not acceptable.”
Among the organizations and institutions present were: MOSAO, Metallurgical Worker’s Union of La Oroya, Discussion Table of the State of Junín, Parish of La Oroya, Roman Catholic Commission of Social Action, Mantaro Revive Project, Civil Labor Association, Joining Hands-Peru, Cooperaction, and Filomena Tomaira Association, among others. The Peruvian Inter-religious delegation was also composed of Dominican Sister Adele Human and Elias Szczytnicki, orthodox Jewish layman.

After the delegation spoke to the executives and president of Doe Run Peru (DRP) Juan Carlos Huyhua, they shared the grim reality of La Oroya with U.S. social and religious organizations, along with the U.S. press. There was media coverage by the Forward weekly, the Nation, KMOV TV Station in St. Louis, the St. Louis Post Dispatch, and the Associated Press. Unfortunately, while in the United States, the president of the Doe Run Company, Bruce Neil, denied the delegation’s request to visit. The owner of Doe Run and Renco, Ira Rennert, also denied the delegation’s visit.

Rev. Goto spoke out for creating a business of ethics: “We consider that behind businessmen there are values and perceptions. In the case of Ira Rennert, who is a practicing Jew, he has good values that are based in his faith. We were interested in trying to connect with him about what the meaning of life, social and human life.” The representative from the Lutheran Church, Rev. Pedro Bullón, said, “The role of the church is to get involved in the ethical issues. We don’t see the technical or administrative side of the issue. What links us to La Oroya are the ethical challenges that are presented to the church. The church is here today, and it is time to unite for a common cause, fighting for the value of human life.”

After hearing from the religious delegation, the president of MOSAO responded, “We are not abandoned. I think that religious leaders, even though they may have different beliefs, are showing solidarity on the issues of La Oroya. They are speaking about what we can do in response to contamination and the health problems that result from it.” Hernán Arias, representative of the Metallurgical Worker’s Union of La Oroya stated, “We know that there is contamination and if we don’t take drastic measures our children will suffer the consequences. I believe the advocacy of religious leaders delegation is a good example for us, and we’ve got to join in with them.”

Movimiento por la Salud de La Oroya/MOSAO y Mesa Técnica
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