Tom Gatehouse
If humanity is to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, it is essential that we decarbonize our economies. This will depend upon the widespread rollout of technologies which are enormously metal- and mineral-intensive. But mining is not without its social and environmental impacts, nor is it free of responsibility for the climate emergency.
Almost two centuries ago two leading British naturalists and explorers, Henry Walter Bates and Alfred Russel Wallace, spent three years studying animals and insects in the region of Lago do Maicá (Maicá Lake) in the municipal district of Santarém in the Brazilian Amazon. Despite hardship, the men revelled in what they called the “glorious forest”. It is estimated that by the...
“All the biggest companies at the top of the international rankings in Chile are English,” Lucio Cuenca tells me. “Not just Antofagasta, which was originally Chilean but now has offices here in London, but also Anglo American, Glencore, BHP Billiton…” An engineer by trade, Cuenca is now director of the Latin American Observatory of Environmental Conflicts (or OLCA, by...
This article supplements the post in Jan Rocha's blog for LAB, written just as Ladio Veron was setting out on his European tour.
“Vamos lá”, sighs Cacique Ladio Veron, . He looks weary, understandably: he has been on the road for over a month already, during which time he has visited Spain, Greece and Italy, meeting students, academics, journalists and...
02/09/2016
DILMA IMPEACHED – REACTION TO THE OLYMPICS – COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT AND FARC SIGN FINAL PEACE AGREEMENT – AND MORE
Dear LAB Supporter and Friend,
As expected, the Brazilian Senate has voted overwhelmingly to impeach Dilma Rousseff. 61 of the 81 senators voted against her, meaning that she will be replaced for the remaining two years and four months of her mandate...
23/06/16
NEW BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT IN CRISIS – COLOMBIA CEASEFIRE – LAB AT CROUCH END FESTIVAL
Dear LAB Supporter and Friend,
This month we have more analysis of the crisis in Brazil, with President Michel Temer having had – to say the least – a shaky start to government. Also from Brazil, we have news on the case against Dilma’s tormentor-in-chief Eduardo Cunha...
24/05/16
DILMA’S IMPEACHMENT UNDERWAY IN BRAZIL; COLOMBIAN PEACE PROCESS; INTERVIEW WITH FORMER TUPAMARO
Dear Lab Supporter and Friend,
Brazil is still the big news this month, with the suspension of Dilma Rousseff from her duties by the Senate, the start of the formal impeachment trial and the appointment of Michel Temer as interim president. Jan Rocha blogs with all the latest. Also...
15/04/16
DILMA FACES IMPEACHMENT VOTE IN BRAZIL, MORE ON THE BNDES AND ROSA BOOK LAUNCH
Dear LAB Supporter and Friend,
The big news in Latin America this month comes from Brazil, with the political fate of President Dilma Rousseff hanging in the balance. Her impeachment, which even as little as a year ago seemed outlandish, is now looking increasingly likely.
We have plenty...
14/03/16
THE PRICE OF PROGRESS IN BRAZIL, THE U.S ELECTIONS AND NEWS ON UPCOMING PUBLICATIONS
Dear LAB Supporter and Friend,
This month we have the first in a fascinating series of blog posts from the Brazilian Amazon (accompanied by some beautiful photography) and the second in our six-part special on Brazil’s Social and Economic Development Bank (BNDES), not to mention some timely...
Gwen Burnyeat on Colombian peace process / Russell White on Haitian elections / Sue Branford on the BNDES / Ali Rocha and Nayana Fernandez on the MPL / Interview with Ernesto Benítez