Well, I am on my way back to the USA, but it was questionable for a the past 2 weeks as to how I would be able to do it. There was a large strike in Peru in the town I am in and the one nearest to it. At first I thought it was just a passing thing and wouldn´t last long, but it ended up being 10 days. It was a complete stoppage of work, transportation everything. There was no traffic in or out of the city. The roads were blocked with cinder blocks, sand whatever they could find, some downed poles, becuase the city transportation is run on taxis and combis to get people around. All the businesses were closed. Luckily I had gone to the market to buy food for the week the day before it started so we had food for the week and near the end they were allowing the main food market to be open 3 hours in the morning, but because of the shortage of food the prices had skyrocketed. There were demonstrations in the streets, groups of labor organizations parading through town. Every day it seemed to grow. And by the end they were growing more restless and damage was starting to happen to private property.
The main issue is over compensation that the area receives from the government annually as compensation for the mines that they have. They had 30 years of horrible pollution in the air from smoke stacks of copper and silver refining. The issue is that this year, the way the law is written they were going to receive less than half the normal amount. This money is used for public works and employs a lot of people. So, the people came together to force the govt to the bargaining table. It was a great lesson to see the power of the people at work and their commitment to what they think is right. It was all for one and one for all. They all agreed to close business. It was really eerie as well. No traffic. No honking horns. Few people except those that kept vigil at the main intersection. A few went on hunger strick that lasted a week. The sad thing is that a few took advantage of the situation and caused trouble. Those who are always looking for trouble, but for the most part it was very calm. It was an interesting experience. So the good news for me is that the strike lifted 2 days before I was to leave. So we were able to get out of town to the airport. The town is very isolated on the coast. The nearest towns are 1 and 2 hours away. Everything is brought in to the port or by car. It was fascinating to see it all in action. I have a few photos below.
So, I am on my way back to the USA. I will be in Boise. It will have been 11 months since I left but in all honest it feels much, much longer. It has been a wild ride this adventure of mine. I will chronicle on my blog how it is to be back in town and some of the ting I have learned along the way. Thanks for sharing all this with me and I hope there will be much more to come.
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