Peru get $1 million from the USA to combat illegal gold mining

As a US taxpayer I am at loss to understand how $1 million dollars can be sent to Peru to deal with illegal mining.  Here is a link to one report on the US taxpayer-funded largesse.  The report notes:

The U.S. Department of State awarded US$1 million to the Blacksmith Institute to work with Peru’s Ministry of Environment (Minam) to reduce the use of mercury and design remediation plans in Madre de Dios and Puno, it was announced today.

The United States believes it is crucial to support the Peruvian government strategy to combat illegal mining and reduce mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining.

Where is the Tea Party when we need them?   Have they nothing to say about this blatant waste of money to support a lousy government unable to manage it own affairs?  The only explanation I can come up with is that somebody related to somebody or indebted to somebody has managed to arrange this and is being paid a considerable percentage of the funds.  Smells rank & corrupt to me.

Wikipedia tells me this about the Minamata Agreement which is supposedly the basis of the one million dollar squander:

The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. This Convention was a result of three years of meeting and negotiating, after which the text of the Convention was ratified by delegates from 140 countries on January 19, 2013. The Convention is named after the Japanese city, Minimata. This naming is of symbolic importance as the city went through devastating incident of mercury poisoning. It is expected that over the next few decades, this international agreement will enhance the reduction of mercury pollution from the targeted activities responsible for the major release of mercury to the immediate environment.

The Blacksmith Institute which is behind all this has just changed its name to Pure Earth.  The President, and obviously successful advocate is Richard Fuller.  His resume:

Born in Australia, Mr. Fuller graduated with a degree in engineering from Melbourne University and was employed by IBM. He left Australia in 1988 to work directly on global environmental issues. For two years in the rainforests of Brazil with the United Nations Environmental Programme, he created forest reserves promoting the preservation of both the rainforest and its inhabitants. He then headed to New York City, establishing Great Forest Inc., now one of the most successful sustainability consulting companies in the U.S. Great Forest was one of the first to bring sustainability practices to the business world, helping to pave the way for the rise of corporate social responsibility. Mr. Fuller founded the not-for-profit Blacksmith Institute in 1999.

On a global scale, Mr. Fuller believes that pollution is still one of the most serious problems the earth faces–and developing countries bear the brunt of it. Up until now, very little support has been given to local institutions to solve these problems in their communities, a crucial gap Blacksmith is filling. Behind Mr. Fuller’s driving determination is the know-how to solve these problems and save lives at risk. Working with scientists, public health experts, environmental engineers, academics and other experts from local and governmental agencies, Mr. Fuller has assembled a comprehensive database of knowledge and information that is being used by Blacksmith’s network of project managers around the world to clean up the worst polluted sites efficiently and effectively.

And at my expense as a US taxpayer.  Now Mr. Fuller has a million dollars to spend–at no profit–to do what???

Wake up Tea Party–much as I dislike your socio-views, I can understand why old retirees like me get incensed to see money thrown around like this.

Damn me.  I have been in Peru often.  I have eaten at those fabulous restaurant with rich Peruvians.  I have seen the way they do mining—sometimes good and sometimes bad.  No different from everywhere else.  I have seen the grinding poverty that afflicts most who live in hovels.  I have seen the rich behind their high walls topped with glass fragments and barbed wire.  I have seen the security guards who are everywhere: you cannot go into a hotel, office, home, or rich neighbourhood without encountering them.  It is worse than Joahannesburg and more dangerous if you are not ensconced in a luxury hotel looking over the gray sea & sky.  Totally depressing however bullshit joyous the conference according to its organizers.

It is inconceivable that Mr.  Fuller can change things.  Afterall the Peruvians obviously cannot — or do not want to–for it employs 40,000 otherwise poor Peruvians.  No doubt there is a reasonable distribution to all involved of the profits– even to those who run the fancy restaurants in Lima with good food at high prices.

Even a million does not go far when you have expensive Americans involved.  Consider those business class fares; the expensive hotels; the private taxis; the security guards; the nice places to eat.  And while Pure Earth is non-profit, this does not mean they do not charge for each hour spent consulting to those seemingly unable Peruvians.  My bet: no more than $100,000 goes to actually combating illegal mining.

Please, somebody tell me I am wrong.  Tell me this is a noble use of my tax dollars.  Tell me that Ron Paul approves.  Tell me the Peruvians really need our help.  Tell me this money will advance the health of the average American and not just the pockets of a persuasive Australian.