Central Asia

Tibet mine disaster exposes internal colonialism

As rescuers struggle to reach workers trapped by a landslide at a Tibetan gold mine, China’s authorities “scrubbed” microblog comments on the costs of breakneck mineral exploitation.

Mexico

Narco-coal: Zetas diversify portfolio

Authorities in Mexico's coal-producing northern state of Coahuila say that the notorios Zetas, bloodiest of the country's warring cartels, have taken over much of the mining industry.

The Andes

Peru: two dead in miners’ protest

A clash broke out as riot troops from Peru's National Police force evicted a group of informal miners from their encampment in northern La Libertad region, leaving two miners dead.

The Amazon

Brazil: Amazon peoples declare against hydro

The Munduruku indigenous people in the Brazilian Amazon charge that the government is militarizing their lands to quell opposition to mega-scale hydroelectric projects.

The Andes

Peru: miners block Pan-American Highway

Informal miners in Peru’s Arequipa region declared an open-ended civil strike, blocking the Pan-American Highway at various points before being cleared by the National Police. 

The Andes

Peru: narco-mineral integration

The US Justice Department has frozen the assets of mineral companies owned by Peru’s Sánchez-Paredes family, finding that they are fronts for cocaine trafficking.

Peru: court rules for indigenous sovereignty

Peru’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of an indigenous rainforest community seeking to bar a road that illegal miners and timber cutters want to build through their territory. 

The Amazon

Venezuelan authorities deny Yanomami massacre

Venezuelan officials investigating the reported massacre of an isolated Yanomami community say they found no evidence of the attack—a claim dismissed by indigenous advocates.