HDNet World Report Season 7 Episode 29 La Oroya: A Poisoned Town, a Billionaire's Profit.**

La Oroya, located in the central highlands of Peru, is one of the most polluted towns in the world. The town's residents have been exposed to toxic chemicals, including lead, arsenic, and cadmium, emitted by the Doe Run Peru smelter that has been operating in the area for over 90 years. The smelter is owned by Renco Group, a multi-billion-dollar holding company controlled by billionaire businessman Ira Rennert.

La Oroya's contamination crisis has been ongoing for decades, and efforts to address it have been hindered by various factors, including corruption, political instability, and legal battles. In this episode of HDNet World Report, Season 8 season 7 episode 29, a team of journalists investigates the toxic legacy of La Oroya and its impact on the health and livelihoods of its inhabitants.

The episode features interviews with experts, activists, and locals, who provide a comprehensive overview of the environmental and social challenges facing La Oroya. We learn about the health problems plaguing the town's residents, including high rates of respiratory illnesses, developmental disorders, and cancer. We also hear about the economic struggles of La Oroya, whose dependence on the mining industry has left it vulnerable to the boom-and-bust cycles of commodity prices.

The episode explores the role of the Renco Group in La Oroya's pollution crisis, tracing the history of the company's ownership of the smelter and its legal battles with the Peruvian government and environmental groups. We see how the Renco Group has sought to minimize its responsibility for the contamination, arguing that the smelter was in a state of disrepair when it took over and that it has invested millions of dollars in environmental remediation efforts.

The episode raises important questions about the accountability of corporations for environmental damage, particularly in the context of developing countries where regulation and enforcement can be weak. We see how the Renco Group's wealth and political influence have allowed it to evade meaningful scrutiny and punishment for its actions in La Oroya.

Overall, La Oroya: A Poisoned Town, a Billionaire's Profit is a powerful and sobering account of the human and environmental costs of industrial pollution. It offers a call to action for responsible corporate behavior and effective governmental oversight, as well as a reminder of the urgent need for collective action to address the global challenge of environmental degradation.