Protesters against oil extraction in Peruvian rainforests and Lake Titcaca gathered outside Goldsmiths Hall, City of London, today for the arrival of Peruvian President Dr Toledo, who was there to give a talk on democracy and investment in Peru.

Delegates were greeted with banners protesting against many oil companies in the region, from Occidental to Burlington Resources, who are prospecting for oil in primary rainforest.

On arrival, the Peruvian President Dr Toledo listed for several minutes to Huayqui Ocean, a Peruvian who is over here to gather support for the movement against oil extraction and the destruction of rainforest. Dr Toledo squeezed Huaygui's arm warmly as he thanked him for reminding him of the situation in Peru.

Delegates left to the sounds of pan pipes and Peruvian percussion played by Huayqui, in songs reminding the President not to give in to the oil companies engaged in destroying the rainforest, including a vast area of Amazonian forest in Peru, which is an intact ecosystem of high primary forest, in areas home to 27 indigenous communities, and countless species of plants and animals including the jaguar.

Protesters gathered again in the evening at the LSE where Dr Toledo was
speaking.

The protesters included campaigners working against climate change.

Huayqui Ocean is President of the Otorongo Holistic Ecology Centre and member of the indigenous organisation OBAAQ from Peru.



photo: Mike Barratt