A lot of what we learn about is also the social aspects of conservation and such. One thing is the problem with mining companies in the area. They drilled in the area, searching for copper creating these big wells in the earth’s core, allowing water to seep up through the soil collecting heavy metals and other toxins that then run into the water supplies for the surrounding communities. Not only is it not potable, but all of the people who bathe in the water (which is everyone) gets huge grouse sores on their skin. It ruins crops and livestock and cant be drank of course by human either. The worst part is that the companies didn’t even tell anyone so it took a long time for the information to get out that the water was contaminated. There are tons of horrible stories and a lot of the same thing has happened in every Latin American country with big international corporations not caring at all about all the little people. Oil companies are even worst in the amazon area here in Ecuador. So stop driving so much! Cause as we all know, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded, the US is the number one oil consumer. On a happier note the intag area is the first area to successfully combat the mining companies, so while they did the explorative destruction they will not be allowed (for now) to build the mine where they wanted, in the middle of all these little pueblitos where we stayed.
Another problem that is our fault is the drug problems in Colombian. We all like to think it is this far away problem but there would be no supply without the our demand. The bases we want to put in Colombian is a big deal down here and people are not happy with us. They think the problem is in our country with demand and that we should focus our effort and money there to fix the problem. Here they are afraid, and probably right, that when the bases go into Colombian the drug lord will just hop the boarder into Ecuador (were there are not any US bases) we aren’t solving any problem we are just moving it… it makes perfect sense. Sad
Anyway some things to think about it
Next rural homestay…
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