Palmira, February 19 of 2009

 

 

Sir. Clark Hoyt

New York Times editor

Washington D.C

 

 

Dear Sir. Hoyt,

 

Since last year my community has been suffering with contaminated water. It is causing serious social and health problems. The houses do not have good aqueduct system because our houses are very old. The aqueduct system is rudimentary and it is totally destroyed. We have been suffering many illnesses as cancer, genetic syndromes and other illnesses that are transmitted by infected insects and germs in the water. For this reason, we cannot drink water because it is very dangerous for our health. This resource is indispensable to survive and to have a good quality of life. For this reason, I want ask the New York Times newspaper for help to solve this problem. I have possible solutions that I want to talk about, among these solutions we could plant many trees in places where is erosion. That is caused by trash and the deforestation. People do not understand that throwing trash in the river is very dangerous to all species that live around of this place. Another solution is to build a treatment plant to clean the water from the river, or a system of aqueduct to carry potable water to our houses. The most important solution is to make campaigns for the citizens that live in Palmira. You know we do not have resources to make these projects, moreover the Colombian government does not want to help us because they do not consider this problem important. I thank you and New York Times newspaper for reading this letter and take actions about this matter. God bless you and your families.

 

 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

 

Cordially,

 

 

_______________________

Luisa Alejandra Díaz Arias

Leader of Palmira’s community