Your Safety is Our Concern

Peru is making lots of progress economically. There is a Presidential election coming up April 10th. Health care rights, worker rights, and human rights are all in the discussion. There are around 5 candidates. I have been told Peruvians have a very short memory when it comes to politics. An interesting note; the daughter of a former president is a second generation candidate. Her father was responsible for many human rights violations during the terrorism of the Shining Path. He is currently exiled to Japan. She is amazingly a front runner. People really do run on a name. She does plan to pardon her father if elected. Tune in April 10th.

I have spoken of health care rights and how they are a privilege here but I also continue to be amazed at how little safety provisions are made in the work place and for the general public as well. American legalism has taken things to extreme but I do find myself wondering what it takes to change things to prevent accidents.

We recently had to defend our use of latex gloves in the work place. Gloves are not always available and are rationed in health care. We have been told if it is for your own protection than you are being wasteful. We are getting by but conditions are not ideal.

Not too long ago, I saw a school crossing sign go up for the first time by a busy street- a little late but better than never. With the presidential elections, there are plenty of construction and road improvements projects under way. Our street is torn up again but soon to be paved with concrete! I marvel sometimes at these perilous worksites. I wonder how this scene would look in the U.S. Here, everyone just navigates around the rebar sticking up from the ground, they step wide over the 5 foot deep pot holes and walk at least an arm’s length away from a moving bulldozer - children too. My U.S. legal conscious alarm is always going off. I always think – wow, that’s really unsafe but you don’t really see the victim mentality here. I guess there is no shortage of common sense which thankfully keeps most people out of trouble. Otherwise their next hurdle would be health care.