Marking Another Year of Community Resistance to the Escobal Mine in Mataquescuintla and San Carlos Alzatate

Nine years ago, faced with threats posed by mining operations, communities in southeastern Guatemala organized a municipal consultation in the town of Mataquescuintla. The question was simple — do residents want mining? — and the answer was clear. Over 98% of participants expressed firm opposition...

International Solidarity Statement with 2021 Mariano Abarca Environmental Defence Award Recipient La Sociedad Civil las Abejas de Acteal, Chiapas, Mexico

November 27, 2021 marks 12 years since the assassination of Mexican environmental defender Mariano Abarca. As a founding member of the Mexican Network of Mining Affected People (REMA) and community leader, Mariano actively spoke out against the social and environmental impacts of a barite mining...

Does the world need more electric vehicles? More Canada?

The shift to electric vehicles is sparking considerable new demand for metals and minerals, which some feel Canada should rush to fill. That is the argument Martin Wightman articulated in The Daily Gleaner on Nov. 15. However, mining watchdog groups, most recently at the UN climate conference...

Virtual Forum: Pillage by Arbitration?

Register here to join us on Zoom on November 29 to talk with grassroots movements in Colombia and Guatemala about their struggles and the dangers and injustices of Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) enshrined in the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement and thousands of other international...

BC Rainfall: Risks of Mine Waste Site Failures

Following unusually heavy rainfalls and the increased risks of flooding and mudslides across large parts of British Columbia, MiningWatch Canada is concerned about the risk of catastrophic mine waste dam failures and contaminated mine waste spills. MiningWatch is especially concerned about the min...

Breaking Cycles of Harm in Canada’s Mining Communities

By Mica Jorgenson and Dave Jorgenson*

In a regulatory system that evaluates individual proposals on their own merit, decision-makers at the provincial and federal levels have long struggled to account for the complexity of history. Mining on previously disturbed sites is often framed as a way...

Event: Mapping the Mining Impacts of the Energy Transition

Global launch of a new interactive map! – Webinar 23 November 2021

Free registration

Affected communities, researchers, and international civil society organizations collaborate to launch a new EJAtlas Interactive Map that chronicles the mining boom for critical minerals and the communities...

The Feds, Not Just Companies, Should Be Held to Account for Mining Harms Abroad

A case before the Federal Court of Appeal this week shines a light on why we urgently need not only corporate accountability, but government accountability when it comes to Canadian mining operations abroad. In 2009, Mexican environment defender Mariano Abarca was killed for denouncing...

We Can’t Mine Our Way Out of the Climate Crisis! Real Action Needed at Cop26

[Updated to add Publish What You Pay statement released Nov.1] The science is undeniable. If our world has a hope of limiting global warming to 2℃ and avoiding even greater climate catastrophe, we must limit our consumption of fossil fuels — and fast. But the rush towards the energy transition can...

MiningWatch Canada Pleased to Welcome New Communications Coordinator Val Croft

MiningWatch Canada is excited to announce that Valerie Croft has joined our staff as Communications Coordinator. Her skills and experience will bring us added capacity and will allow us to be more creative, more thorough, and more effective in our public communications, media work, and social...

Declaration of Solidarity with the Communities of Monte Plata, Dominican Republic

We, the undersigned organizations, express our continued solidarity with the communities in Monte Plata resisting Barrick Gold’s expansion activities in the Dominican Republic. As Barrick Gold continues with its proposed expansion of the Pueblo Viejo gold mine, which would include the construction...

Regreening Sudbury – Burying the Mining Industry's Dirty Secrets

In late August, The Conversation published an article promoting "What mining, oil and gas industries can learn from Sudbury, the city that went from major polluter to thriving environment". It was picked up by the National Post, The Narwhal, Corporate Knights, and a number of aggregator sites. The...

The Shuar Arutam People (PSHA) Denounces Mining Company Solaris Resources Inc.’s Violent Attempt To Bring Heavy Machinery Into Our Territory

On August 26, 2021, the Shuar Arutam People, along with 136 other Ecuadorian and Canadian organizations, including MiningWatch Canada, sent a letter to Sylvie Bédard, Canada’s Ambassador to Ecuador, asking her to issue a formal public statement condemning Canadian mining company Solaris Resources...

International Organizations Join Shuar Arutam People to Press Canadian Embassy in Ecuador to Condemn Canadian Company’s Threats and Abuses

On August 26, 2021, the Shuar Arutam People, along with 136 other Ecuadorian and Canadian organizations, including MiningWatch Canada, sent a letter to Sylvie Bédard, Canada’s Ambassador to Ecuador, asking her to issue a formal public statement condemning Canadian mining company Solaris Resources...

INV Metals’ Loma Larga Project Acquired by Canadian Company with Toxic Environmental Record in Eastern Europe and Africa

On the evening of May 31, 2021, communities in Cuenca, Ecuador were hit with shocking news when it was announced that Vancouver-based mining company INV Metals had been acquired by Toronto-based Dundee Precious Metals. No one saw this coming. INV Metals had been (and still is) running ads...

Ban Seabed Mining! Embracing Our Culture

Show your support and solidarity with The Kono Community in Papua New Guinea! On July 29th and 30th the Kono community in the West Coast Barok Area of the Namatanai District, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea will stage the Cultural Shark Calling Festival as a form of protest against deep sea...