In Colombia, the people of Cajamarca took to the streets to celebrate as their decision was echoed throughout the country. The Municipality of 20,000 inhabitants chose, through a popular consultation, that they would reject the open pit gold mining project (“La Colosa”) that the South African company AngloGold Ashanti had planned to carry out in their town. Of the 6,241 people who voted, 97.92% said “no.”
What the company was looking for was to extract almost 30 million ounces of gold in a naturally very rich area of Colombia. These intentions had already been known by the people around eight years ago, and from then on different organizations came together and formed synergies to say no to the project, even though the State had delivered the permits.
In principle, prior to this decision, a section of the Mining Code that did not allow municipalities to decide on mining was declared unconstitutional; and, in addition, the Court pointed out that popular consultations on mining issues are constitutional.
“The explosives used for open pit mining pollute the air with heavy metals, present in the subsoil. Acid drainage from open-pit mines releases cadmium and arsenic, which is toxic to the environment and to people,” they pointed out from the Inter-American Association for the Defense of the Environment.
And now that?
Some believe that the mining titles that already exist with the company will not be revoked even if the town has said “no.” But others maintain that the town will not give up until there is no more talk of mining in the area.
“This is a very important step, but not the end. (…) Uniting to protect water and land should be a goal. Water has no political color, it is the force that unites us,” said a member of the environmental committee of the Colombian department of Tolima.
The project could have been the largest gold mine in South America. But the people raised their voice and were heard, and the municipality, which they call “the agricultural pantry of Colombia” will be protected by its inhabitants.
What do you think about this?
You can also learn the story of another brave Latin American town that expelled 4 miners in 9 years.
According to the Colombian Mining Association (ACM), in Colombia 88% of gold production is illegal and moves very large sums of money, since it does not pay any royalties or social security nor does it have to comply with any environmental plan. In fact, last year there was a growth of 19.8% in gold production in the first quarter.
What is mega-mining and what do those who are for and against think?
Open pit mining is a new technology to extract more inaccessible places, it consists of dynamiting the earth’s crust, piling it up and adding chemicals that facilitate the extraction of minerals such as gold. In a single day they can use 9 tons of explosives and 5 million liters of water.
It generates serious impacts on all the world’s ecosystems, polluting freshwater reserves, affecting the health of millions of people and concentrating the business in a few global companies that control the world market.
According to a report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: “This type of project can lead to serious contamination due to the dumping of substances into the environment, forests and rivers. These effects can be devastating in cases of large-scale mining projects.” Mercury or cyanide contamination is produced in these activities; and there is also a lack of closure and environmental remediation plans.
If you want to know what those who are for or against it think about mining, watch the following video. You can also learn a little more in this animated short.