Blog Entry

Video: Co-author presents study "Searching for Gold in the Highlands of Guatemala: Economic Benefits and Environmental Risks of the Marlin Mine”.

Jamie Kneen

National Program Co-Lead

Dr. Lyuba Zarsky is the co-author of a study, "Searching for Gold in the Highlands of Guatemala: Economic Benefits and Environmental Risks of the Marlin Mine”. The Marlin mine is owned and operated by Vancouver-based Goldcorp Inc. in the western highlands of Guatemala. Operational since December 2005, the gold mine, which combines open pit and underground mining methods, has brought windfall profits to the company and its shareholders. 

MiningWatch accompanied Dr. Zarsky during her visit to Ottawa in October 2011, which included meetings with the press, civil society organizations and officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

We filmed her press conference and public presentation and interviewed her on the key findings of her research. Hear about the ethical issues faced in determining an appropriate study methodology, the challenges involved in knowing what is true/not true, and why the study concludes that this mine operation should be suspended.

Professor Lyuba Zarsky is a Senior Research Fellow for the Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University and Associate Professor at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, Middlebury College.