The tragedy of Tauccamarca: a human rights perspective on the pesticide poisoning deaths of 4 children in the Peruvian Andes.
The pesticide poisoning deaths of 24 children in an isolated Peruvian village make a compelling case that corporate accountability for pesticide poisonings in the developing south should be examined from a human rights perspective. Highly toxic pesticides cannot be used safely under prevailing socioeconomic conditions. The industry asserts that the deaths of these children were accidental, blaming misuse. Tragedies such as these poisonings are not accidents, but foreseeable, and therefore preventable. Sales of highly toxic pesticides that cause repeated and predictable poisonings violate the fundamental human rights to life, health, and security of person. The Tauccamarca tragedy is a clear example of the urgency of applying a precautionary, human rights approach to pesticide issues in the developing south.
Earthjustice, Red de Acción en Plaguicidas y sus Alternativas para América Latina, 426 17th Street, 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612, USA. erosenthal@earthjustice,org
Erika
E
Rosenthal
D002617:Chemical Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000506:poisoning; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008297:Male; D008743:Methyl Parathion / Q000506:poisoning; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D012424:Rural Population; D012935:Social Justice; D012941:Social Responsibility; D014480:United Nations
D007306:Insecticides; D010575:Pesticides; D008743:Methyl Parathion