A new chapter provides insight into the role the Canadian Embassy in Guatemala played as the Canadian-owned Escobal mine moved into operations in 2013 in southeastern Guatemala. While Canada tries to paint itself a world leader when it comes to upholding human rights, this chapter offers a clear and...
The Fight to Close First Quantum Minerals Canadian Mine in Panama
Before narrating the latest events on the anti-mining struggle, it is relevant to clarify that we are not a mining country, despite the fact that during the time of the colony and the Spanish subjugation, some gold mines were established with the same logic of extractivist dispossession of a foreign...
More than a Hundred Organizations Demand Justice for Assassination of Xinka Leader Noé Gómez Barrera
Following the murder of Xinka human and environmental rights defender, Noé Gómez Barrera, more than a hundred organizations - including MiningWatch Canada - issued the following letter:
On Saturday October 28, 2023, Xinka community leader, 69-year old Noé Gómez Barrera was murdered in the department...
People Power and Pushback: First Quantum’s Stock Price Plummets Amidst Massive Protests in Panama
A deal to allow operations to continue at one of the world’s biggest copper mines, high in the Panamanian mountain rainforest, is in limbo. Country-wide protests erupted last week in response to the announced deal and now the government says it’ll put the issue to a national referendum. Is this a...
Guatemalans Participate in Historic National Strike to Defend Democracy
Guatemalans are entering a fifth week of a national strike, with hundreds of thousands across the country taking to the streets in an effort to uphold the most basic tenets of democracy.
Progressive presidential candidate Bernardo Arévalo resoundingly won August’s national election, but his future as...
International Organizations Express Concern for Democracy in Guatemala Amidst Attacks
MiningWatch Canada joins a host of international solidarity and human rights organizations in expressing deep concern over recent attacks against democracy in Guatemala. While the current Attorney General seeks to delegitimize election results and prevent the peaceful transfer of power, thousands of...
Ecuadorian Court Suspends Dundee Precious Metals' Operations
A local court in southern Ecuador has ordered Dundee Precious Metals to suspend its mining operations in the páramo de Kimsakocha, upholding the rights of local communities and dealing another blow to Canadian mining interests in the region.
Dundee is attempting to build the “Loma Larga” gold...
With Little Transparency from Barrick, Affected Communities Hire Independent Expert to Review Pueblo Viejo Expansion Plans
Living a stone’s throw from Barrick Gold’s Pueblo Viejo mine, the largest gold mine in Latin America, communities in the Dominican Republic have good reason to be concerned.
Yearly, the Canadian mining giant extracts over 700,000 ounces of gold at the open-pit mine, dumping mine waste into the...
Critical Concerns about Manitoba’s Minerals Strategy
By: Heather Fast, Jamie Kneen, Eric Reder and Warren Bernauer
Last week, the Government of Manitoba released the Critical Minerals Strategy: Driving Sustainable Growth. For years, Manitoba’s environmental community has been raising the alarm about the short and long-term implications of mining...
Violence Surrounds Canadian Mining Projects in Ecuador
Two Canadian mining companies are drawing the ire of activists and Indigenous groups in Ecuador, where the government of Guillermo Lasso is using Toronto-based Adventus Mining’s Curipamba copper-gold project in Las Naves and Vancouver-headquartered Atico Mining’s La Plata project in Sigchos as test...
As EITI Celebrates its 20th Anniversary, Communities in the Dominican Republic Still Demand Transparency
Recent developments surrounding Barrick Gold’s moves to significantly expand the Pueblo Viejo gold mine in the Dominican Republic have concerned civil society, highlighting a significant lack of transparency on the part of the government and the company. Transparency plays a vital role in ensuring...
Canada’s bid for UN Human Rights Council marred by allegations of inaction on corporate abuse
Written by José Luis Abarca and Viviana Herrera, originally published as an opinion piece with Canada's National Observer.
Canada is fighting to have a renewed global say when it comes to human rights, getting an early start on its bid to sit on the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2028-30...
Letter to Minister Joly: Canada Must Join the Call for a Moratorium on Deep Sea Mining
We are writing to request a meeting on the topic of Canada’s international position on deep sea mining and its negotiating mandate at the International Seabed Authority (ISA). It is urgent that Canada engage in a proactive manner in the upcoming ISA meetings in July 2023 where mining could be...
José Luis Abarca in Ottawa to Announce Groundbreaking Legal Complaint Against Canada
José Luis Abarca is in Ottawa this week to announce a groundbreaking legal complaint against Canada at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, making the case for Canada's legal accountability for human rights abuses tied to its mining companies overseas. José Luis is a lawyer and son of...
Canada’s Unconditional Support for Mining Puts Environment Defenders at Risk – REMA Spokesperson
Esperanza Salazar is in Ottawa this week to announce a groundbreaking legal complaint against Canada at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, making the case for Canada's legal accountability for human rights abuses tied to its mining companies overseas. Esperanza is a member of the Mexican...
Webinar: Canada Closed its Doors to Justice for Mariano Abarca - What's next?
It’s been almost 14 years since prominent Mexican environment defender Mariano Abarca was killed while speaking out against a Canadian mine and his family is still fighting for justice. Mariano’s family and supporters are in Ottawa in June to announce important next steps in their fight for...