The Andes
Peru: endgame in Cajamarca struggle?
Even establishment voices in Peru are calling for a suspension of the Conga mining project, as Cajamarca region remains under a state of emergency for another month.
Tag: mining
The Caribbean
Dominican Republic: residents protest new Barrick Gold mine
Local residents protested against the Barrick Gold Corporation’s giant Pueblo Viejo gold mine, which they said is contaminating water and affecting their health and their crops.
The Andes
Peru: more protests over mining, water
Campesinos in Peru blocked roads to protest the pollution of local waters by a US-owned mining project in Áncash region, and the Pasto Grande II water diversion scheme.
The Andes
Peru: Cajamarca dialogue nears collapse
Leaders in Peru’s Cajamarca region said they see no purpose in continuing talks with two Catholic priests trying to mediate a solution to the dispute over the Conga mining project.
Mexico
Mexico: six killed in latest mining disaster
Six Mexican coal miners were killed when some 100 tons of coal and rock collapsed in a mine operated by AHMSA company in the northern state of Coahuila.
The Caribbean
Dominican Republic: Barrick set to open giant gold mine
The Pueblo Viejo gold mine at Cotuà in the Dominican Republic is set to start operations, Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corporation announced—despite local protests.
Southern Cone
Chile: mine workers occupy church in protest
Contract workers occupied the San Ambrosio Church in Vallenar, Chile, to protest labor conditions at the Pascua Lama open-pit gold mine in the high Andes.
The Andes
Peru: toxic mining spill sickens villagers, Anonymous hacks back
More than 100 local residents were sickened by a toxic spill at the giant Antamina copper mine in Peru. Anonymous hackers promptly vandalized the company website.
Southern Cone
Argentina: gold mine problems spook Barrick investors
Jamie Sokalsky, CEO of the Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corporation, announced on July 26 that major problems were delaying the opening of the company’s controversial Pascua Lama gold and silver mine, located in the Andes on both sides of the border… Read moreArgentina: gold mine problems spook Barrick investors
Southern Cone
Argentina: activists continue struggle against ‘mega-mining’
On July 20 soldiers, police and supposed “pro-mining activists” broke up an encampment that environmentalists and area residents had set up at Cerro Negro in the northwestern Argentine province of Catamarca to protest open-pit mining. The environmentalists–who came from CĂłrdoba,… Read moreArgentina: activists continue struggle against ‘mega-mining’
The Andes
mosque160
Trump, the great enthusiast for dictators, suddenly develops a touching concern with democracy in Venezuela, grasping at the opportunity for long-sought regime change. Predictably overlooked in the world media's Manichean view of the crisis are voices of Venezuela's dissident left that takes a neither/nor position opposed to both the regime and the right-wing leadership of the opposition. Also unheard are voices of indigenous dissent and resistance. In an episode that received little coverage, December saw protests in the remote Orinoco Basin after a leader of the Pemón indigenous people was killed in a confrontation with elite Military Counterintelligence troops. The military operation was ostensibly aimed at clearing the region of illegal mining—while the Pemón themselves had been protesting the mining. The indigenous leaders view the militarization of the region as intended to make way for corporate exploitation under the Orinoco Mineral Arc plan. (Photo: EcoPolitica Venezuela)
The Amazon
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On his first day in office, President Jair Bolsonaro issued a measure taking away responsibility for indigenous land demarcation from the indigenous affairs agency, FUNAI, and handing it over to the Agriculture Ministry. In the same decree, Bolsonaro shifted authority over regularization of quilombos (Afro-Brazilian collective lands) from the agrarian reform institute, INCRA, to the Agriculture Ministry. The measure greatly weakens FUNAI, taking away its most important function. In practice, key areas of indigenous and quilombo policy will now be in the hands of agribusiness advocates—a long-time demand of the Bancada Ruralista (agribusiness lobby) in Congress. Bolsonaro is openly calling for abolition of Brazil's large indigenous reserves, a move with grave implications for the Amazon rainforest and global climate. (Photo: Kayapo women in Brazilian Amazon, via FUNAI)
