The threat of mining is a big problem in Ecuador, and especially in the Intag Region (where we were working). The mineral-rich valleys are sought after by many international corporations looking to profit, without consideration of the social and ecological damages that result. The companies are not subtle about their intentions either, and have been very forceful and even violent and manipulative trying to get under the ground. In Pucara’s neighbor community Junin this fight has been especially nasty. The question of whether or not to sell land (in a very poor place) has caused great social tension; the younger people selling and moving away while others refuse to give in. For the most part the people have chosen not to sell and have united themselves against the mining invasion. The companies are not quick to give up, however, and have used dirty and illegal tactics to intimidate people into moving. In 2007 Canadian Acendant corporation sent Columbian guerilla fighters to Junin to intimidate the people with rifles and tear gas. The attack on the community was caught on video and streamed on the internet, causing international outcry. Acendant was forced to move out of the area to protect its public image (great film Under Rich Earth documents the story). Unfortunately many more similar corporations are still very present and dangerous, waiting for communities to lose their willpower. Even the new, very liberal Ecuadorian government has not made matters better. The oil and mineral corporations pay the government (which technically owns everything under the ground, even if someone else lives on and owns the land) and there is not enough political incentive to stop this exchange. Hopefully grassroots conservation efforts will prevail in the long run and mining will not do more damage in this country that has already been so deeply scarred. The future looks promising for Intag, but they will have to keep fighting for a long time to come.
(image from http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/arts/photos/2009/02/24/rogge-underrichearth-spray.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment