This introduction looks at the origins of the recent community resistance to mining in Latin America, focusing on two cases. It traces back an upsurge of mining conflict in late 2021 in Chubut, in Argentine Patagonia, to a famous case of resistance in the same province from the early 2000s, alongside a case from the north of Peru which has been similarly influential. The chapter also highlights some of the principal means with which communities have opposed the industry, including research, movement building, the call to defend water, and a local direct democracy mechanism known as the consulta popular.
‘This is an enormous province, which has uranium, gold, silver … a whole load of minerals. But we only have one major river [the Río Chubut], which supplies the entire province with water … And this is a very dry region. We depend on the river for everything. Sometimes there’s no water. If there isn’t much snowfall in the winter, the river runs low, and there are shortages.’
– Demián Morassi, art teacher and member of the Assembly in Defence of the Territory of Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
Chubutaguazo massive demonstrations against the Chubut mega-mining project, 2021. Credit: Alex Dukal
‘The defence of water is what has blocked mining in Chubut … The issue is water, that’s the framework we’re operating in.’
– Demián Morassi, art teacher and member of the Assembly in Defence of the Territory of Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
Moira Millan, mapuche activist, speaks to the people during the massive demonstrations against the Chubut mega-mining project, finally repealed in December 2021, thanks to the demonstrations. Credit: Alex Dukal
This Stolen Country of Mine is a gripping documentary following resistance leader Paúl Jarrín and investigative journalist Fernando Villavicencio, as they fight to stop...
In April this year, a delegation of representatives from mining-affected communities in Minas Gerais, Brazil came to London, on a mission to raise awareness of abuses committed by transnational mining companies – including two with connections to the UK.
Protests at Chubut in Argentina highlight the importance of pressure from the streets to force local officials to hold the line against destructive mine development. In Brazil, meanwhile, it is the trans-Brazil FIOL railway project that is mobilising communities to defend their land and livelihoods.
Intag communities in Ecuador are resisting development of a copper mine at Llurimagua, proposed by Enami and Codelco. In Peru, residents of Aquia, Ancásh, accuse the Antamina mine of encroaching on their land without consultation.
Former MiningWatch Canada researcher Jen Moore reports on Global mining companies which have used the pandemic to push unwanted projects on vulnerable communities, who are fighting back — and sometimes winning.
An attempted assassination, criminalization, and violent eviction in 2014 didn't stop the Peaceful Resistance of La Puya in Guatemala, which won legal action suspending harmful mining activities.
References
Bebbington, A., Bury, J. and Gallagher, E. (2013) ‘Conclusions’. In: A. Bebbington and J. Bury, eds., Subterranean Struggles. New dynamics of mining, oil, and gas in Latin America. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, pp. 267–288.
Sohn, J., Herz, S. and LaViña, A. (2007) ‘Development without conflict: The business case for community consent’. World Resources Institute. <https://sarpn.org/documents/d0002569/index.php>
