Poison in the water

​​​​​​​​Toxic spills have left at least 10 million Peruvians consuming water contaminated with heavy metals, including mercury. Ahead of a critical UN Water Conference in weeks, hundreds of indigenous groups and communities are joining forces against some of the world's top polluters for water justice. Let's add 1 million of our voices to theirs before the talks start. Join now and share everywhere! Dear friends, "No one warned us that the water was polluted. My son's anemia and health problems were explained when his blood tests showed high levels of heavy metals. Even though I boil and filter the water they serve us, I am always tormented by the thought of whether I'm poisoning my own son or not."This is the testimony of one of the ten million Peruvians exposed to heavy metals through the water system. On the other side of the country, there is Cajamarca City, where 70% of the population has to drink water that was first used by a US mine. Official authorities estimate that 30% of the Peruvian population has been subject to toxic discharges in their water - undermining their health and right to clean water. This shocking situation goes beyond Peru and that is why this March, at the UN World Water Conference in New York, together with diverse movements, we will demand that world leaders commit to the human right to clean and accessible water for all.With your support, we will make the struggle of millions of indigenous people and communities visible to the world by taking their call straight to the negotiation table. Global leaders will hear your voice and that of the communities.

​​​​​​​​Toxic spills have left at least 10 million Peruvians consuming water contaminated with heavy metals, including mercury. Ahead of a critical UN Water Conference in weeks, hundreds of indigenous groups and communities are joining forces against some of the world's top polluters for water justice. Let's add 1 million of our voices to theirs before the talks start. Join now and share everywhere! Sign the petition to guarantee the human right to water Dear friends, "No one warned us that the water was polluted. My son's anemia and health problems were explained when his blood tests showed high levels of heavy metals. Even though I boil and filter the water they serve us, I am always tormented by the thought of whether I'm poisoning my own son or not." This is the testimony of one of the ten million Peruvians exposed to heavy metals through the water system. On the other side of the country, there is Cajamarca City, where 70% of the population has to drink water that was first used by a US mine. Official authorities estimate that 30% of the Peruvian population has been subject to toxic discharges in their water - undermining their health and right to clean water.  This shocking situation goes beyond Peru and that is why this March, at the UN World Water Conference in New York, together with diverse movements, we will demand that world leaders commit to the human right to clean and accessible water for all. With your support, we will make the struggle of millions of indigenous people and communities visible to the world by taking their call straight to the negotiation table. Global leaders will hear your voice and that of the communities. Sign the petition It is now or never. Many water systems that keep ecosystems thriving and feed a growing human population have become stressed. As a result, rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up or becoming too polluted to use, and more than half the world's wetlands have disappeared. The United Nations and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees recognize that water is a human right. Yet worldwide, governments prioritize using water for mining and corporate activities over providing clean and accessible water to communities and protecting nature. On March 23, the UN will host, after 47 years, a summit on water. Indigenous groups and movements worldwide want to take this historic chance to keep fighting for their human right to clean water and to ensure indigenous people's knowledge, practices, and institutions play a significant role in protecting and governing their water resources. Sign the petition The fight to protect people's rights and nature from the greedy interests of private corporations and big oil is part of our movement's DNA. We marched by the millions to secure a 1.5º aligned world; we campaigned for years to protect half of the Earth so ecosystems could restore and thrive. Let's now make sure that our movement plays a role in preserving water, the very origin of life. With hope and determination, Patri, Miguel, Bieta and the whole Avaaz team More information: Peru: Toxic discharges threaten the health of millions and right to safe drinking water, says UN expert (United Nations) Peruanos afectados por metales pesados llegan a Corte Interamericana (El País) Perú: afectados por contaminación de metales pesados en su sangre exigen atención del Estado (France 24) Perú: los niños "con plomo" de los Andes aún esperan justicia (DW)

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