Concern about Criminalization of Environmental and Human Rights Defenders in Bolívar, Ecuador

This open letter was written by Proyecto Dulcepamba and was originally posted in Spanish here. Translation by MiningWatch Canada, who is also a signatory. 

Three community leaders were sentenced to four years in prison by the Bolívar Criminal Court. The defenders were convicted of an alleged act of...

Support for the Protection of the Santurbán Páramo and the Physical Integrity and Safety of the Committee for the Defense of Water and the Santurbán Páramo

On Monday, the Committee for the Defence of Water and Páramo of Santurbán, Colombia rallied outside the Ministry of the Environment in Bogota, Colombia. They presented more than 4,000 signatures to Vice Minister Mauricio Cabrera demanding that a Temporary Reserve Area in the Santurbán region of the...

Letter of Concern About the Rising Stigmatization Against the Committee for the Defense of Water and the Santurban Páramo in Colombia

Several international and Colombian organizations write to the Colombian government with deep concern about the stigmatization campaign against members of the Committee for the Defense of Water and the Santurban Páramo (the Santurbán Committee). The stigmatization campaign supports the interests of...

Open Letter from the Ejido of Carrizalillo in Mexico to Equinox Gold

The Ejido of Carrizalillo has written an open letter to Equinox Gold CEO Greg Smith and Board Chairman Ross Beaty calling on the company to commit to fair negotiations of their temporary land use and social agreements for the operations of the Los Filos mine in Guerrero, Mexico. The agreements are...

“We already held a consultation. We said no." Communities denounce attempt by Ecuadorian government and Canadian mining company to conduct another controversial consultation

Communities in Ecuador are denouncing an attempt to advance a consultation in the southern community of Escaleras on the issue of mining –  a consultation they say is being carried out with only a select handful of people and one that is not necessary, given communities have already voted against...

Open letter | When will Quebec's mining laws respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples?

This open letter was originally published in French in Le Devoir here.

Twice in recent weeks, the Québec government has missed historic opportunities to ensure that its mining laws and practices respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples. First, the province rejected proposed amendments to its Mining...

Criminalization in Ecuador: Charged for Speaking out Against Canadian Mining

“We felt displaced in our own homes,” says Rosa Masapanta, the President of the small farmers’ cooperative Associación Flor de Caña in northern Ecuador. On March 11 and 12, 2024, a reported 1000 members of Ecuador’s state security forces descended on Rosa’s community of Palo Quemado and the...

Continued Militarization and Criminalization of Environmental Defenders to Advance Canadian Mining Project in Ecuador

On October 27, 2024, the Ecuadorian military entered the small parish of Palo Quemado in northern Ecuador, temporarily militarizing the community for the third time in less than two years.

According to community residents, at least eight trucks and several vans arrived in Palo Quemado in the early...

A major victory in Quebec courts!

MiningWatch Canada applauds the Mitchikanibikok Inik First Nation's major victory over the Quebec government in Quebec Superior Court!

From a statement from the Centre québecois du droit de l'environnement: "Represented by lawyers from the Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement (CQDE) and Ecoju...

Guest Blog | Osisko ‘incubates’ a mine disaster in Yukon

The following was written by Dave Jorgenson, a member of Friends of Responsible Economic Development (FRED) in Wells, British Columbia. This article is republished with permission and was originally posted here.

Government seizes Barkerville Gold’s sister operation in Yukon after mis-management and ...

25 Years: A Bedrock for Mining Justice

MiningWatch Canada celebrates its 25th anniversary this year as the only national organization in Canada solely dedicated to protecting peoples and the planet from the impacts of mining. In acknowledgement of this important milestone, we’re launching “25 Years: A Bedrock for Mining Justice,” a...

NGOs Express Concern over Canada’s Engagement at the International Seabed Authority

MiningWatch Canada is a signatory to the following letter sent to the Government of Canada on May 28, 2024 expressing concern over Canada's engagement at recent International Seabed Authority meetings where regulations to advance deep sea mining are being negotiated. Among other requests, the letter...

Take Action: Call on Minister Ng to Withdraw Commercial Support to First Quantum Minerals

In October and November 2023, Panamanians took to the streets in record numbers to denounce a mining contract between Canada’s First Quantum Minerals and the Government of Panama. For years, First Quantum has operated its massive open-pit copper mine in legal limbo, as its concession was declared...

Barrick Gold’s Lack of Transparency Disappoints but Doesn’t Surprise

The following was written by Jan Morrill, Tailings Campaign Manager with Earthworks and Viviana Herrera, Latin America Program Coordinator with MiningWatch Canada. 

Representatives of communities impacted by Barrick Gold’s operations in Argentina, along with their allies in the U.S. and Canada, were...

Support the Petition to #CancelOceanaGold in the Philippines

We, the undersigned organizations, express our solidarity with and support for the affected communities and the petitioners against Canadian mining firm OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. Several petitioners, representing different sectors and affected groups, have filed a case to cancel the renewal of...

Report launch: Criminalization of Protestors During First Quantum Protests in Panama

Join us May 14 to hear from the Panamanian organizations and communities impacted by Canada's First Quantum Minerals and criminalization by the Panamanian government. In October and November of 2023, Panama experienced its second-greatest uprising since the United States invaded the country. For 39...