Media Releases

PRESS RELEASE: Permanent Alert against Metallic Mining in El Salvador

PRESS RELEASE / DEC. 06, 2016

On December 14, it will be 2 months since an ICSID Tribunal issued the arbitration award condemning Pacific Rim / Oceana Gold to pay the Salvadoran State $8 million US dollars in legal costs as a result the lawsuit filed by the transnational mining company 2009 against the government. The three arbitrators of the tribunal unanimously debased all arguments of the company and gave the reason to El Salvador.

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NEWS RELEASE: Canadian mining company threatens El Salvador’s water

reportOttawa – Canadian investments are coming between citizens of El Salvador and their water, says a new report. Authored by Meera Karunananthan of the Blue Planet Project and Susan Spronk of the University of Ottawa, the report highlights the tensions between El Salvador’s relationship with foreign investors and a thriving environmental movement that is promoting a bold new vision for the country’s freshwater scarcity crisis.

El Salvador refused to issue a permit for a gold mine to Vancouver-based Pacific Rim, the corporation decided to sue the government for over $300 million (U.S.). Pacific Rim has since been bought by Canadian-Australian firm Oceana Gold, which has taken over the lawsuit.

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EARTH DAY 2014: El Salvador faces critical environmental challenges

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The United Nations(UN), has called on millions of people who on April 22 will celebrate Earth Day 2014 to focus on celebrating Green Cities to achieve a healthy and sustainable environment.

This effort is meaningless if we consider that extractive projects, such as metal mining, destroy our planet every second of the 365 days of year with the consent, permission or omission of governments of countries tied to neoliberal capitalism that makes life a commodity.

In Latin America, in particular, battles are being waged by indigenous communities against voracious corporations that try to impose their dominion over territories, foretelling the future extermination of indigenous communities, the loss of cultural diversity and the destruction of nature itself.

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Current political transition crucial for advancing democratic reform and economic, environmental and social development in El Salvador.

For Immediate Release

Mesa press conference April 8 2013Members of National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador, a broad alliance of religious, research, environmental, and community development organizations who seek to prohibit mining in El Salvador are looking at the current political transition in El Salvador as crucial for advancing democratic reform and economic, environmental and social development.

Given recent appointment of new cabinet ministers and government officials, we express the following considerations to address the environmental challenges faced by our country.

Government officials appointed by the newly elected government, that will take office in June 2014, have a valuable opportunity to further advance an efficient, effective, humane, and supportive administration that favors public interest and fosters respect for the environment.

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Presidential candidates fail environmental agenda

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FAIL TO SERIOUSLY ADDRESS SOCIO- ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE POPULATION OF EL SALVADOR

Logo alianza ambinetal el salvadorThe Environmental Alliance of El Salvador is a national network of organizations, who advocate on issues related to the sustainable management of the environment in El Salvador, composed by the Water Forum, the Roundtable for Food Sovereignty, the Permanent Roundtable on Environmental Risk Management, the National Movement Against Projects of Death and the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining.

We are concerned about the exclusion of environmental issues on the agendas of presidential candidates and political parties participating in the current electoral campaign. We are also alarmed by the lack of discussion on the threats posed by large scale metal mining projects, the negative impacts of the indiscriminate use agro toxics, and the high risk and vulnerability to natural disasters that threaten the lives of all Salvadoran families.

In November last year, the Ombudsman for the Defense of Human Rights, David Morales, reiterated in a public statement the calls his office had previously made for the government to make constitutional amendments for the recognition of the rights to water and adequate food, and stop the serious threat that metal mining projects pose to the realization of these rights.

As Environmental Alliance we strongly support the timely call made the Human Rights Ombudsman and regret that none of the current presidential candidates have made any public statements in support of sound environmental policy after several months of political campaigning.

Considering the above, as Environmental Alliance we EXPRESS to all political parties and their presidential candidates for the 2014 elections :

1. Our strong rejection of Government Plans submitted by all political parties and their presidential candidates, as they do not provide clear proposals, or feasible programs in relation to the sensitive and urgent issues for the Salvadoran population such as the management of a sustainable water supply, food security and support for the agricultural sector, comprehensive environmental risk management policies, a commitment to end the threat of mega mining and hydroelectric projects.

2 . We reiterate the urgent need to include clear proposals regarding social and environmental issues affecting the population, building on statement already made by the Ombusman for the Defense of Human Rights.

ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE OF EL SALVADOR

STATEMENT ON THE INCURSION OF THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES IN CENTRAL AMERICA

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