La Oroya Peru, home to the Doe Run Smelter, is one of the world’s most contaminated cities. Children with severe levels of lead poisoning are taken out of the town to breathe fresh air. But we are delighted to update you about a small victory in the community’s campaign against the smelter. OSINERGMIN—the government mining and energy oversight agency in Peru—has fined Doe Run $234,000 for exceeding atmospheric emissions limits and illegal waste disposal. This is the first time that the American owned company has been officially sanctioned by the Peruvian government.
Since 2003, Greengrants has provided $10,000 in grants to conduct toxicological studies as well as help take legal action against Doe Run for contributing to high lead levels in the children of La Oroya. This is welcome news to a community that has struggled hard to make their voices heard in the face of corporate repression and control.
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