Every year on the 16th of
September hundreds of students, campesinos, gringos, local companies and
other volunteers board their bus in Cusco with rubber gloves and rubbish
bags in their hands. What are they doing? Saving the Urubamba River.
The Urubamba, Sacred River of the Incas, is a Peruvian national treasure.
However, this historical waterway is being polluted. El Rio Willkamayu
(as it is known in the native language of Quechua), is a danger to
the health of the local people as it is seriously contaminated by plastic,
oil, petrol and any other number of non biodegradeable products. In
last
years clean up nappies, clothing, labels that have been out of production
for more than 10 years were found.
To start the ball rolling this día will be used as a celebration to
ecology and education. The idea to enlighten the young people of
Peru through teaching
and example. To preserve this great site South American Explorers
(www.saexplorers.org) is leading a clean up effort in partnership with
many other companies.
There are many ways to help. Check out www.perurivers.org for more info,
or write to info@perurivers.org
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