“Protecting human dignity is strongly linked to care for creation.”
-Pope Francis
We are reminded of the beauty of creation as the spring season unfolds. In this sacred cycle of life “Sister Water,” as Saint Francis of Assisi called it, remains essential, sustaining both our bodies and our spirits. Pope Francis affirms in Laudato Si’ that access to safe, drinkable water is a fundamental human right. Yet in Puno, Peru, that right was threatened when abandoned mining operations poisoned vital water sources.
Sister Pat Ryan Believes In Clean Water Access
When Sister Pat Ryan M.M. learned about the contaminated water that was harming the people, animals, and vegetation in Puno, Peru, she had to do something. A corporation that had been operating tungsten mines in the area for decades had suddenly closed up their operations and abandoned the mines without performing any cleanup or mitigation on the toxic byproducts they left behind. Livestock and crops were dying without explanation. People became sick, and some children were born deaf and mute. This was the result of the poisoning of the Condoraque River and the Choquene Lagoon… sources of fresh water that the local Aymara people depended on for drinking water, crop irrigation, and watering of livestock. The pollution became so bad that the water turned unnatural colors
The River and Lagoon is Restored!
Sister Pat, together with the people of the region and DHUMA (Asociación Derechos Humanos y Medio Ambiente—Human Rights and Environment Association), a prominent nonprofit organization based in Puno, embarked on a three-part strategy to seek justice for local residents. Throughout the process, Sister Pat recognized the importance of maintaining a persistent, nonviolent movement. Thanks to that peaceful persistence, the people of the Condoraque were heard, and their problems addressed! For the first time in Peru’s history, a mining company was compelled by the courts to carry out a comprehensive program of closing the mines properly, cleaning up the waste, and repairing the damage done to the water system. Because of these efforts, there is now a whole network of villages working on this issue, and vast numbers of local villages are being helped to reclaim the clean water needed for daily living.
Thank You For Helping Sister Pat Ryan
As you can see in the before-and-after photo, the change has been amazing. The river no longer burns, and the lagoon is no longer red. The water is now rated as safe for watering livestock and irrigating crops, and it is hoped that it will soon be safe for the people to drink. Water birds have returned to the area for the first time in years, and the vegetation near the banks is reviving.
Through the help of kind supporters like you, Sister Pat was able to help make a life-saving difference for “Sister Water” and the people who depend upon her, and make God’s Love Visible through the darkness!