The Big March

On Friday the 22nd of September, Chimbotanos could hear the sound of trumpets and drums being played along with people chanting: la bahia es un tesoro, que vale mas que el oro (the bay is a treasure, worth more than gold) among other chants. The march was organized by a collective citizen group known as Chimbote de Pie. Over the years Chimbote has seen a decline in ecological biodiversity in the bay and a rise in pollution: specifically trash, sewage, and chemical waste. Not only does the waste dumping have an immediate effect on the lives of Chimote citizens but contributes to larger environmental issues of ocean pollution and decline in biodiversity. This march advertised as the “Gran Marcha Civica” was orchestrated to combat this issue. 

Besides tackling the cultural issue of throwing trash on the street, there is a lack of governmental support to create a cleaner and more sustainable environment in regards to waste. The steel, fish, and even citizen waste does not go through a processing and treatment plant which would allow the water to be re-used. Although this newly treated water may not be safe enough to drink, it could be used for watering gardens, farmland, and even the water within the toilet bowls. But because this process does not occur, tons of highly toxic and polluted water are pumped directly into the ocean every day, creating a dead zone otherwise known as Chimbote’s bay. However the pollution does not just stay in the bay. The tainted water affects the nearby beaches and marine life in the open sea. Just thinking that perhaps the fish we eat has been swimming in our own waste is an off putting concept. And for these reasons, Chimbote de Pie marched.

One of the efforts of the march was to spread awareness to the citizens that the Municipality and other agencies such as SedaChimbote need to take greater responsibility in correcting this problem. Additionally, the march’s intent was to unite those in agreement, because a roar of voices makes a louder statement than the voice of one. So as the march made its way from Plaza Miguel Grau (Plaza 28 de Julio), past the Municipality in Plaza de Armas, and all the way to SedaChimbote, their chants could be heard. A number of schools, volunteer organizations, and environmental groups, equating to about 500 people, came out to support the cause: “No mas desauge a la bahia” “No more sewage in the bay.” Undoubtedly the event was a success. Cultural and governmental changes do no happen overnight, yet with persistence and perseverance, Chimbote de Pie hopes that one day the bay will no longer be used as a dumping ground. So the next time you throw your trash on the ground, think about Chimbote de Pie and the fight to live in a cleaner environment.