Spain and Latin America unite on the world day against megamining

Spain and Latin America unite on the world day against megamining

• Ecologists in Action, together with various local platforms from the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America, launches a manifesto on the occasion of the World Day Against Open Pit Mining to denounce the disastrous environmental and social impacts caused by mining extractivism.
• The manifesto is a wake-up call to rethink the extractive model of life and bet on the promotion of so-called urban mining, on the recovery and recycling of metals, on the reduction of consumption and degrowth.

On July 22, World Day Against Open Pit Mining is celebrated, a day of citizen action and environmental associations against megamining. It was born in 2009 from the initiative of activists from Mexico and Canada, following the legal triumphs of the Broad Opposition Front to the San Xavier Mining Company for the defense of the San Luis Potosí Valley and against the destruction of Cerro de San Pedro. , natural area of Mexico. Its objective is to raise awareness among populations and nations of the harmful effects of mining activity on the environment, as well as the unhealthy working conditions, slavery and child labor that still remain in many parts of the world within the framework of this activity. .

On this special day, Ecologists in Action and various platforms from the peninsula and Latin America present a manifesto warning of the serious environmental and social impacts of mining extractivism. They denounce that mining causes permanent damage to lands and ecosystems, contaminates surface waters, wetlands and groundwater. It also causes indiscriminate deforestation in green areas and damage to the flora and fauna of the intervened surfaces.

They highlight that the effects of mining seriously affect the quality of life of local communities and put their health at risk. Mining activity entails loss of habitat, land and modus vivendi of the affected and surrounding populations. It uses chemical substances in its processes that cause damage to the natural environment and are the source of diseases in people who work and live in that environment.

Platforms against the impacts of mining in Spain and Latin America come together because mining follows the same pattern anywhere in the world, on all continents, with facilities with high risks of insecurity and laws that are always permissive, without companies mining companies actually pay for the consequences and human and environmental damage caused. They point out as examples the Brumadinho disasters in 2019 (Minas Gerais, Brazil) and Aznalcóllar in 1998 (Seville, Spain).

Mining activity violates in many places in the world basic rights to protest, to life and the rights of indigenous peoples, perpetuating colonialism, work in conditions close to slavery, including child labor, and creating dependence on multinationals. who become owners of the territories.

They remember that people defending their territory and livelihoods are still being murdered. Under ecological and sustainability discourses, using large advertising campaigns and sponsorships, mining companies disguise talk of renewable energy, clean air and new jobs to mask the negative consequences of their activity.

This year, in addition, they want to make a wake-up call to rethink the extractivist life model and bet on the promotion of so-called urban mining, on the recovery and recycling of metals, on the reduction of consumption and degrowth.

It is urgent to commit to the protection and promotion of strategic sectors such as extensive agriculture, livestock and fishing, food production and the maintenance and care of forests, water and biodiversity.

The organizations demand that governments around the world create economic and development policies that do not depend on extractive growth, and demand the protection of people and their livelihoods from the abuses of those who seek to usurp territories for extractivism. .