Questions in a Climate of Conflict

Interviews with Facilitators and Participants in the Upcoming Climate of Conflict Trip to Peru

Learn more about the Climate of Conflict trip to Peru here.

Rev. Jed Koball

Rev. Jed Koball and wife Jenny

Rev. Jed Koball is a PC(USA) mission co-worker who serves as the Presbyterian Hunger Program’s Facilitator for Joining Hands in Peru. He serves with his wife, Jenny Koball, who is the site coordinator of the Young Adult Volunteer Program in Peru.

Q: You all at the Red have been working for a long time in environmental issues related to mining and extractive industries. What brings you now to host a trip on climate change?

A: Since its inception, the issue of climate change has been of great concern to many of the organizations who form the Red Uniendo Manos Peru (Joining Hands network in Peru), particularly those who work with rural campesino communities in the Andes, where the effects of climate change are already having tremendous impact on the lives and lifestyles of the people. For example, it has long been observed by farmers in the mountains that certain crops can no longer be cultivated at altitudes where they once thrived. Also, particular species of pests have been identified in areas where they had never been seen before, causing loss of crops and subsequent economic troubles. Perhaps of even greater significance, dramatic decreases in natural water sources have been observed in various rural mountain communities, affecting both agricultural production and care of livestock, as well as generating conflicts between communities. These issues, all related to climate change, have been a focus of member organizations of the Joining Hands network for many years. And, for many years the network has sought to bring greater attention to climate change with its partners in the U.S. so that together they can address this root cause of poverty and conflict in Peru.

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Dramatic decreases in natural water sources have been observed in various rural mountain communities, affecting both agricultural production and care of livestock, as well as generating conflicts between communities.
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Until now, it has been difficult to gain traction on the matter of climate change because of its breadth and the lack of strategic direction in addressing it. However, with Peru hosting the COP-20 (UN Conference on Climate Change) in Lima in December of this year, the Red, together with its partners in the U.S., now has a focal point around which to develop a strategy and advance a campaign to address climate change. For this reason, the Red is hosting a Reflection/Action trip together with the Presbyterian Hunger Program, inviting U.S. Presbyterians to not only see and experience firsthand the impacts of climate change in Peru, but also to better understand the larger global context in which climate change is being debated at a political level and how we as global citizens can contribute to shaping meaningful policy and promoting alternative technologies and lifestyle changes that foster a more healthy environment.

Q: The situation you all have been working with in La Oroya has received a fair amount of attention in the U.S. Can you tell me a little bit about that campaign and what you feel you’ve learned from your work there?

Many lessons can (and should) be hi-lighted from our 15-year (and counting) campaign for the health of the people and environment of La Oroya. In recent years we have learned that at the root of the contamination of La Oroya is not simply one irresponsible foreign investor (The Renco Group, Inc.) operating a metallurgical smelter (Doe Run Peru) that has polluted the air and soils to the extent that studies have shown that nearly 99% of the children have extremely elevated levels of lead in their blood. Nor is the root cause simply a matter of a few state authorities, politicos, or agencies unwilling to enforce environmental standards in La Oroya. What we have learned is that a global economic structure shaped and defined by free trade agreements and bilateral investment agreements provides the framework by which foreign investors like The Renco Group, Inc. can effectively circumvent environmental standards in the country where they are operating, especially if such standards negatively effect their profits. In essence, what we have learned is that present international trade and investment agreements favor profits over people, and until we work to eliminate the unnecessary protections provided to foreign investors, the rights of citizens and democratically-shaped public policy will continue to fall victim to the power of corporate lobby and money.

Another related lesson that should be hi-lighted is that, through addressing the contamination in La Oroya and identifying the issues of protections provided to foreign investors, we have learned that mission in partnership is not simply about the church from the Global North helping those who suffer in the Global South. What we have learned is that all of us, from the North and from the South, are susceptible to the same powers that shape the root causes of poverty in the world. This is to say that in this continually globalizing world, all of us, both in the North and in the South, may fall victim to climate change policy and free trade agreements, among other root causes of poverty and injustice. Thus, our work in partnership is not about the North helping the South in addressing its problems; rather, it is about the North and the South working together to address the common root causes of injustices unfolding everywhere. In this regard, the work of the Joining Hands of the Presbyterian Hunger Program together with World Mission has never been more important.

Rev. Rebecca Barnes

Rev. Rebecca Barnes

Rev. Rebecca Barnes is the Associate for Environmental Ministries for the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in that capacity oversees the national PC(USA) certification program for Earth Care Congregations and helps Presbyterians connect their Christian discipleship with ecological, economic, and global justice concerns.

Q: We’ve been looking at climate change in this issue of Unbound through the lens of apocalyptic thought and eschatology. What do you think these texts and traditions have to say to us as we work on issues of climate change? Are there any words of hope?

A: I think that our vision of what God will do, in the end of time, has a lot to say about what we do here and now. I believe a lot of apocalyptic thought, while properly drawing attention to the urgency of a situation and demanding immediate change, does not always help people to change. Sometimes the urgency and judgementalness that can be read into apocalyptic thought may block some people from realizing we can—with God’s help—let God act through us, right now, in order to bring about new and hopeful possibilities way off in the future. I honestly find a lot of environmentalism too apocalyptic—in the sense that it paralyzes people and programs them either for despair, or willful ignorance, or straight-out apathy. It’s not that I don’t agree with the urgency of the situation—especially as we talk about climate change. I just don’t think our biblical witness about the end times only has to do with a desolate judgementalness where our efforts fail and God comes to judge.

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Our partners around the world are in this struggle with us, and yet we sometimes fail to connect our changing a light bulb with their protest against the lead poisoning of their children from the local mine.
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I find the eschatology in Revelation 22 instructive. It paints a picture of God coming down into the midst of a city, with a river flowing from God’s throne into the city, and there is a healed creation and humanity functioning together for the benefit of all. It is a vision that we don’t have to abandon either humanity or creation’s well-being—but that, through God, all healing is possible. God’s blessing of grace and restoration, and of this beautifully redeemed world, is an empowering encouragement for us all to take action to let this vision guide us—to act now, to embrace healing practices now, to work for the change that God can make through us now. For me, this biblical vision energizes me for hopeful work of caring for God’s creation and draws me past the despair and urgency into committed action.

Q: How did you and other colleagues first conceive of this trip as an opportunity for American Presbyterians who are caring for creation in their own congregations?

Presbyterians are doing great things in their local churches—planting vegetable gardens, installing solar power, updating for energy efficiency and water conservation, writing Congress and taking their faith to the streets to demand action on important issues. Our partners around the world are in this struggle with us, and yet we sometimes fail to connect our changing a light bulb with their protest against the lead poisoning of their children from the local mine. I wanted a chance for Presbyterians and Peruvians to meet and understand the powerful work going on in each place, to understand social-environmental-economic injustices through a particular local place (Peru, in this case), and to find a place for theological reflection and action back home. I am hopeful that local churches, such as our certified PC(USA) Earth Care Congregations, will incorporate more and more a global view of what earth care means—like standing in solidarity against land grabs, extractive industries’ violation of environmental laws, water rights conflicts, and more. This is how we are the body of Christ in God’s good creation: learning about our brothers and sisters in different places and then acting in our own corner the best we’re able, for the good of all.

Valery Nodem

Valery Nodem

Valery Nodem is Associate for International Hunger Concerns with the Presbyterian Hunger Program. He coordinates efforts of international partners of the Hunger Program to fight hunger and poverty, and connects them to partners in the US through advocacy campaigns.

Q: We’ve heard from Conrado and Jed about what’s going on in Peru. Are there other places you’ve encountered in your work with Joining Hands where people are facing similar issues?

A: The current environmental crisis in Peru is not unique. In many countries where Joining Hands is active, we are hearing serious concerns about climate change and how it impacts people, the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the planet as a whole. A few examples in particular come to mind:

• In Sri Lanka, fragile ecosystems and lagoons are being destroyed for the sake of hotels, resorts, and the tourism industry. Our Joining Hands partner network there, Praja Abilasha is organizing local communities and fishermen to resist such destruction. Ten years ago, a devastating tsunami killed hundreds of thousands of people in the Indian Ocean. Local communities link such natural disasters and the warming climate with the way the planet is being pushed to its limits.
• In El Salvador, in 2009 the government put a ban on mining and decided not to issue permits due to the risk that mining poses to already scarce and contaminated water supplies. Since then, the companies engaged in mining negotiations with the government of El Salvador decided to bring the country in front of international courts, demanding $301 million in compensation for their “losses”. Apparently, they believe that’s the price a country should pay for its decision to protect and provide safe drinking water for its citizens.
• In Cameroon, RELUFA, our Joining Hands network is working with local communities to resist a commercial agriculture project by a U.S. company, Herakles Farms. The project would deprive thousands of farmers of their land where they grow food, as well as destroying forest and water resources, all for the sake of a palm plantation for export.

As Conrado mentioned in his article, another example of this push to attract investors, with little to no regard for the impact on the environment and local population comes from Peru itself. The Peruvian government recently passed a very controversial law that significantly reduces the power of the Ministry of Environment. The ministry was deprived of its jurisdiction over the quality of air, soil, and water and can no longer limit the use of nocive substances. The right to create natural reserves protected from oil and mining industries was also withdrawn from the ministry. The same law reinforces fiscal exemptions and reduces penalties in cases of environmental infractions for oil, gas, and mining companies.

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Collectively, partners around the world are asking us to join them in their advocacy at the national and global levels by connecting and acting in the U.S. on the campaigns they work on in their countries.
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All of this is happening just a few months before Peru hosts the COP-20 meeting in December. This is a country whose people already suffer from environmental destruction; in 2006, the air pollution in Lima was 122% above international norms. What can be expected from this government in terms of making new regulations or enforcing existing ones to protect Mother Nature, or Pachamama, as she is called in Peru?

Q: What are people in the grassroots networks you work with asking of us, as people living in the U.S. and as Christians, as we work together on climate change and other environmental issues? 

A: The people we work with recognize that it will be difficult or impossible to halt the warming of the planet without compromising the economic growth and consumption levels on which we all depend. In light of that, they are basically asking us basically to make two sets of efforts: some on the collective level and some on the personal.

Logo of Relufa in Cameroon

Collectively, partners around the world are asking us to join them in their advocacy at the national and global levels by connecting and acting in the U.S. on the campaigns they work on in their countries. As Praja Abilasha is resisting the destruction of fragile ecosystems to give way to resorts and huge hotels in Sri Lanka, they are asking us as Christians and people living in the U.S. to make informed choices about ethical tourism and where to stay in the country. They are also asking us to raise awareness about human rights issues and land-grabbing, where many communities’ lands are forcibly taken from them, and opposition and dissent are not tolerated. RELUFA in Cameroon is asking people in the U.S. to help stop deforestation and land-grabbing by a U.S. company that has allegedly bribed traditional chiefs and other people to get their land concession in the country. Red Uniendos Manos in Peru is asking that we support their efforts at the global level of advocating for stronger international policies and actions against pollution from mining.

On the personal level of everyday actions, our international partners are asking us to reduce our ecological footprint and reduce our energy consumption. That could range from carpooling, turning off lights, forgoing plastic bags, using solar power, etc. These little actions combined have a big impact at the global level. The more we consume, the more the market will produce to respond to (or create) our needs.

Colleen Earp

Colleen Earp

Colleen is a geographer and YAV alum who is interested in natural resource conservation and education. She lives in Richmond, VA, and will be a U.S. participant in the Climate of Conflict trip this December.

Q: What was it about this trip that brought you to apply? What do you hope to bring back from this trip, and are there specific ways you are hoping to use this experience when you return to the U.S.?

A: Rebecca Barnes, the PC(USA)’s Associate for Environmental Ministries, told me about this trip. I have crossed paths with her several times this year through Presbyterians for Earth Care and Eco-Stewards, and it has been wonderful to share a lot of conversations about creation with her. I am always excited to travel, and South America is new territory for me, but more importantly, I have become very interested in environmental ministries. I have just completed a year of service as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) in South Louisiana, focused on environmental stewardship and education. My work there was powerful and incredibly fulfilling, and I want to continue to connect with the church on environmental issues. It is my hope that by participating in this trip, I will be able to serve as a resource and support for the PC(USA)’s environmental ministries, sharing stories and photos of what I will witness in Peru, but also building long term connections to continue this focus on environmental conservation and justice around the world.

Jessy Romero Urrutia

Jessy Romero Urrutia

Jessy Romero Urrutia is an anthropologist who works on environmental issues in Ancash, Peru, and has participated in the previous two Youth Congresses in 2012 and 2013.

Q: What has your experience been like at Youth Congresses in the past? What calls to action have come out of previous Congresses?

A: I participated in the 2012 Youth Congress held in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and the 2013 Conference held in Concepcion, Peru. I’m very much looking forward to participating in this year’s conference in Lima. In past conferences, I had the opportunity to become familiar with environmental organizations in both Peru and Bolivia that are partners with the Joining Hands Network. Even more valuable than that, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know other young adults who are passionate about environmental justice and facing similar challenges to those I face in my work and in my community.

In past conferences, I have really valued the space for dialogue that has been created and the exchange of ideas and experiences. Each time, I’ve seen some familiar faces and gotten to know new people. When we share the environmental issues we’re facing in our distinct communities, we see many similarities, like issues with mining and extractive industries as well as conflicts related to water. While concrete actions have come out of pass Congresses addressing specific situations in both Bolivia and Peru, I think the most valuable thing I’ve taken away from these gatherings are the relationships and opportunities for dialogue. These experiences have strengthened me and given me my own networks and partners. More than anything, gathering with other young people who are passionate about the environment reminds all of us that we are not alone in this struggle.

Q: As a young person, what do you ask people in your country, the U.S., and the world as a whole to do in the face of climate change?

Worship at the 2010 Peru/Bolivia Youth Congress

A: First, to my own country, Peru, I want to say that while well-written environmental policies are good, what we the people really want is to see these policies carried out and fulfilled. Even though we have lots of good environmental policy on the books, as Conrado pointed out in his article, many multinational corporations are not complying with these policies, and our government is not enforcing them strongly enough. If extractive businesses from outside are still polluting our country, then we’re not acting strongly enough to enforce these policies.

I also ask leaders in my country Peru to remember to take into account the populations most affected by their environmental decisions. The impact on local populations who have to live with the consequences of these decisions should be the driving force behind them rather than the interests of businesses or those with wealth and power.

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Finally, I would like to remind all people in all countries everywhere that more important than economic development or business growth are the rights of all people.
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Similarly, I would like to ask people in the United States and other countries around the world to respect and defend life and ethical actions, in both government and business actions. And don’t just talk about ethics in government and business – follow through on what you say! Additionally, I would ask the U.S. and other outside nations to remember that we in Peru are not homogenous, just as no people and no country are homogenous. Remember to take into account and respect our diversity as a people when navigating these decisions.

Finally, I would like to remind all people in all countries everywhere that more important than economic development or business growth are the rights of all people. If we focus on respecting the lives of every living person, then we will make good decisions for our future and will be ok.

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Learn more about the Climate of Conflict trip to Peru!

Read an article on climate change in Peru by Conrado Oliveira, Executive Director of Joining Hands Peru!

Read more articles in this series!