The organizations below met at the regional meeting: "Experiences and perspectives of social movements against mining metals " held in Managua, Nicaragua. We work in defence of life and the integrity of the Central American territory, as such we express to the national and international public opinion.
Extractive industries are transnational corporations working in collusion with governments and the international financial system. These are engaged in a process of destructive and invasive expansion of our region utilising coercive and manipulative strategies resulting in the appropriation of land, displacement of populations, negative impacts on the environment, national and international environmental conflicts that cause the breakdown of the social fabric, loss of identity and the violation of fundamental human rights, particularly the right to water and self-determination of peoples.
Multinational corporations involved in the extraction of non-renewable natural resources impose and advance their development model through lies, threats, and the buying out of political will.
The rights of indigenous and tribal peoples are being systematically violated by neglecting to enforce domestic laws and international conventions such as the ILO Convention 169 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Central America is an environmentally vulnerable area with a growing high density population and extractive activities contribute to accelerate the loss of essential natural resources for life.
Central America is a region that aspires to peace; it has a natural, cultural and social wealth with high ability to develop sustainably without all extractive industries that threaten the lives of its population.
Therefore we demand that our governments :
a) Create and implement development policies that favor the needs of its citizens, in a framework of respect for fundamental , economic and social human rights including the right to life, to water and a healthy environment.
b ) Respect the decisions of people and communities that have been made through community consultations and other mechanisms of popular, traditional and non-traditional, democratic expression against the mining industry in Central America.
c ) Implement integration processes through regional treaties and conventions to protect our shared natural resources, and to avoid the generation of socio- environmental conflicts.
d ) Ensure the physical safety of those who openly and peacefully manifest the defense of life and our natural resources .
e) Enforce ILO Convention 169 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
We call on the general public, civil society organizations, churches, social movements, and the international community to join in the defense of life and the search for economic alternatives to develop without destroying natural and human assets in our region.
"CENTRAL AMERICA IS NOT FOR SALE, IT IS TO BE LOVED AND DEFENDED"
No to the mining industry in Central America
DECEMBER 05, 2013, MANAGUA, NICARAGUA.
Ecuador:
- OCMAL
El Salvador:
- Mesa Nacional Frente a la Mineria Metalica
- MUFRAS-32
- CRIPDES
- CEICOM
- CRS-Catholic Relief Services
- International Allies Against Mining in El Salvador
Guatemala:
- Madre Tierra
- Xochilt Acatl
Honduras:
- Comité Ambientalista Valle de Siria
- Coalición Nacional de Redes Ambientales de Honduras
- Red de Comunidades Afectadas por la Mineria
- ASONOG
- CODDEFAGOLF
Mexico:
- FUNDAR
Nicaragua:
- Centro Humbold
- Movimiento Comunal Nicaraguense
- ADDAC
- ADIC-Asociación para el Desarrollo Integral Comunitario
- Movimiento Salvemos Santo Domingo
- Grupo Estratégico de Matagalpa
- Iglesia Católica de Rancho Grande – Matagalpa
- Asociación de Desarrollo Municipal – Camoapa
- Comunidades de Santa Pancha y Mina El Limón – León
- Radio Camoapa 98.5
- COPAE-Comision Pastoral y Ecologica
- Asociacion para el Desarrollo Integral de la Niñez y la Juventud