DIVIDE AND RULE IN THE LAND OF GOLD
by Frauke Decoodt
In San Miguel IxtahuacĂĄn, Guatemala, the Mina Marlin gold mine, operated by Canadian giant Goldcorp, has divided indigenous communities through gifts, benefits, and violence. The mine has caused a lot of damage. It has not only had a profound impact on the environment but also on the social cohesion of communities and families in the area, and on their cultural ties with the land.