Learn about the personal journey and political fight of the Diaguita peoples in defense of their territory as they travel to Toronto, the corporate headquarters of Barrick Gold a company infamous for human rights violations and threats to intellectual freedom.

2 locations to choose from:

Wednesday January 11th at 6:30pm in the Nat Taylor Cinema (Ross Building) at
York University

Thursday  January 12th at 7:30pm in the Palmerston Library Theatre
560 Palmerston Avenue

***FREE***

Over 70% of mining companies are based in Canada, operating abroad and on indigenous territory with little environmental and social regulation and political impunity.

hosted by Mining Injustice Solidarity Network
www.solidarityresponse.net
http://cryoftheandes.com/wordpress/

For the York campus screening FB page, please click here:
http://www.facebook.com/events/213993182019794/

For the Palmerson Library screening, please click here:
http://www.facebook.com/events/232269483516292/

Extended notes

The indigenous Diaguita community in the arid Atacama region of Chile has always opposed  Barrick Gold’s Pascua Lama open pit gold and silver mine on their ancestral lands beside the border with Argentina. Now the Diaguita’s only source of water is threatened as the government prepares to allocate rights to Barrick. The filmmakers follow community leader Sergio Campusano of the Diaguita Agricultural Community Los Huascoaltinos as he seeks accountability from Barrick Gold in Toronto and from government officials in Alto del Carmen in Chile. The mining law is blamed by the Diaguita for allowing Barrick to deny access to their ancestral lands. The Diaguita complain that Barrick is doing exploration work in seven other areas of their land without permission, and pumping groundwater that would normally flow into the Huasco River.

Even though water was defined as a “national public good” in the 1981 Water Code,  it was also deemed a “market asset” and Chile gave away water rights for free to companies in the “productive” sectors: mainly multinational corporations engaged in mining, forestry, agricultural  exports, and hydroelectric development. Until now Rural Water Associations such as in Huasco have been protected by a separate law and their water has always been pristine. After large municipal water services were sold off in 1998, multinationals owned 83% of all water services. It’s close to 100 % now due to further sell-offs in 2004.

The Ontario Teachers Pension Plan controls 4 of the 13 largest water service companies. Some farmers in the Huasco Valley are not happy that Barrick is trying to buy water usage rights from other farmers. Some farmers are thinking of leaving for areas near the coast.

Even from the 16th century the Spanish made no claims on the Diaguita lands. The Diaguita community remained intact as other indigenous communities were assimilated into Chilean society. In 1902 Indian lands were measured and in 1903 Estancia de los Huascoaltinos were
given domain title to 381,000 hectares communally held ( less than in 1600). In 1997 land titles that had been double-registered from 1910 by other farmers and ranchers – regarded as illegal encroachments by the Diaguita – were made legal by the “Law of Agricultural Communities”. The Diaguita say they lost 140,000 hectares from this, and blame the government for not recognizing them as an indigenous people. In 1998 Barrick bought two ranches that had been double-registered in 1913 yet within Diaguita lands. They have closed the roads ever since and deny the Diaguita access to their grazing pastures. In 2005 the Diaguita declared their lands as a “Private Wilderness Protected Area”. In 2008 they requested to CONAMA (National Environment Commission) that their lands be recognized under existing legal framework as qualifying for protection as “Huasco Private Nature Reserve”. CONAMA “refused to evaluate the project by declaring themselves incompetent”.

Critics have asked for a new environment agency, a department qualified to do environmental impact studies, and an agency responsible for enforcing regulations.

The Diaguita are aware of the severe water shortages caused by mining in the almost desert-like Atacama and Antofagasta regions to the north. The nearest  large town of Copiapo, where the mining disaster happened two years ago, used to be supplied by three rivers, but two have dried up. People buy water from mining companies that build desalination plants on the coast. BHP Billiton is building one for their Escondida copper mine for $4.3 billion. Water is used by the Collahuasi mine to pump iron ore slurry via 8 inch pipe 203 km. The largest power plant in South America is being built between Alto del Carmen and Copiapo: the coal-fired Hacienda Castilla 2354MW, $4.4B plus $300M for a port.

In Feb. 2010 a complaint (filed in 2005) against Chile by Diaguita Agricultural Community Los Huascoaltinos was deemed admissible by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Thus, this international body recognizes that the Chilean state committed alleged violations of rights enshrined in the American Convention on Human Rights when Chile approved Barrick Gold’s Pascua Lama mining project. The testimonies began Oct. 2011.

In Nov. 2011 a coalition of NGO’s in Chile presented a report to Barrick investors US EXIM Bank and EDC of Canada that declares Pascua Lama is in direct violation of the Equator Principles, which are global norms laying out conditions for responsible investment.

During the referendum, the communities will decide if they are in agreement or not with this mining development in Quimsacocha.  The indigenous communities involved include, Tarkis, Irkis, Kachiwaiku, Escaleras and others who are part of the parish of Tarqui and Victoria del Portete.  All of these people rely on this water for domestic use, irrigation, agriculture and livestock production, in other words for their food sovereignty.

This is the first referendum to be held in Ecuador regarding a mining project. Despite many attempts to have their voices heard, the government seems to be at the very best unresponsive.  A referendum is the last hope to voice their opinions.  The right to hold a referendum is supported by Ecuador’s Constitution, and the International Labour Organization Law 169.  These communities have the right to free and prior consent.

Different experiences of voting have proved to be an important, peaceful and crucial political tool in making mining corporations accountable and socially responsible.  The first voting case in Tambogrande, Peru, in 2002 whereby 90% of the people affected voted against a mega-mining project, grabbed international media attention, and led to the eventual closure of the mining project.  This case, stimulated further referendums in other communities in Latin America including; Esquel – Argentina, Sipacapa – Guatemala, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, and recently here in Canada.

The presence of international observers is partly why these referendums have had such a success.  Given that the referendum in Ecuador is taking place in 2 days, it may not be viable to send volunteer observers, however it is vital that we continue to support such communities at the most important stage in their struggle.  Everyone needs to be aware of this upcoming referendum, spread this information to all of your contacts, and help where you can.

TIME: 7 PM

LOCATION: TBD

Mining Injustice Solidarity Network cordially invites you to attend a meeting for new members. The meeting seeks to introduce members of the public to the work conducted by MISN and its members and to allow those interested in the group and the work that it does to join its membership.

Mining Injustice Solidarity Network (MISN), previously known as Community Solidarity Response Toronto (CSRT) works to bring the voices and experiences of communities impacted by Canadian extractive industries to Toronto, where much of this industry is based. As Canada is a leader within the international mining industry, we recognize the pressing need for a movement within Canada to demand accountability in this sector.

We also recognize that any activism related to these industries must take its direction from the impacted communities themselves. As such, MISN works in alliance with affected communities and aims to be responsive to their calls for support.

To RSVP, please visit our facebook page

Approximately 70 people gathered today at a commemoration held for the seven individuals killed in Tanzania at African Barrick Gold’s North Mara Mine. Public outcry over this violence has been amplified by recent reports that local security/police forces employed by the mine have attempted to ban a memorial ceremony for the deceased. To the horror of many local families, these security forces also stole 5 of the 7 peoples’ bodies from the mortuary.

The company has claimed that this violence was in response to an invasion of 1500 local people looting for gold ore. For others however, the real crime can be linked to the history of large-scale mining in the region. Editor of ProtestBarrick Sakura Saunders comments: “This mine was built on displacement and dispossession of the local people. These communities have a long history of small-scale mining for their livelihood that has been taken from them. Now, these same communities are being criminalized for using the survival-mechanisms that they know. They are being killed for ‘stealing’ the same gold-laced sand that used to be theirs.”

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. According to Carlos Jimenez a member of the Mining Injustice Solidarity Network, local mining communities often feel negative impacts and experience economic losses. He also expresses other concerns as a U of T student. He states, “It is disgusting that the University of Toronto chooses to accept donations from an industry which destroys communities and legitimizes it under the rhetoric of development. We must evaluate what kind of influence mining companies have in communities both at home and abroad.”

U of T alumni soon-to-to be graduate student Kwanza Msingwana agreed. “Barrick Gold should be held accountable . . . rather than just take the goods of Tanzania and leave the people impoverished leaving the environment in a bad state so that people cannot continue to benefit from the environment.”

President of Science for Peace, Judy Deutsch also expressed concern for human rights violations as well as the toll that mining has on the environment as a whole. She states, “The focus needs to be on preserving cultivable land and preserving water, not sacrificing young people to enrich entrepreneurs such as what just happened at the North Mara mine.”

The names of the individuals killed in North Mara mine were read out loud: Emanual Magige, 27; Chacha Mwasi, 25; Chacha Ngoka, 26; Chawali Bhoke, 26; Mwikwabe Marwa, 35. Statements were also read from Tarime residents and advocates who work in the region.

Despite receiving formal invitations, no administrators of the Munk School of Global Affairs were available for comment.

Santiago Escobar is originally from Ecuador and now lives in Canada, but it’s only partly by choice.

“I denounced corporate corruption by Chevron, so now my life is in danger,” he explains simply.

He’s one of the organizers of the third international Mining Injustice Conference, held in Toronto this past weekend. It’s organized by the Mining Injustice Solidarity Network, a Toronto-based group aiming to raise awareness about the impact of Canadian mining companies abroad. What began a few years ago as a set of informal discussions has exploded in size and scope, and according to organizers it’s a reflection of the dramatic growth of international activism directed against Canadian mining companies. This year, the conference hosted over 600 delegates and speakers from 15 different countries.

“We have seen violence, a lot of drugs, a lot of sexual exploitation. It’s not a good thing for our communities…” —Santiago Escobar

Escobar attributes the growth of activism partly to the increasing activities of Canadian mining companies in countries like his own.

“There’s a concern regarding the Canadian companies because we have seen that their record is not a good record,” he explains. “And also their environmental impact is very negative. They pollute the rivers, they pollute the soil, they pollute everything. And after the exploitation of these Canadian companies, always we have seen displacement of communities. We have seen violence, a lot of drugs, a lot of sexual exploitation. It’s not a good thing for our communities…we’re trying to stop the entrance of the big Canadian companies.”

Communities have tried engaging, he says, but to no avail.

“They don’t listen to us. They only listen to the market. That’s all that they listen to, all that they follow.”

He’s quick to emphasize that they’re not out to stop mining. What the mining justice movement is about, he explains, is giving the power to communities to say yes or no to having mining operations in their backyard.

“We’re not definitively against mining. We want of course better laws for accountability, and we also want the ones who will be affected, to have the right to decide whether to have mining or not to have mining. The most important thing here is what the people want.”

From Labrador to Indonesia

Tracy Glynn has seen first-hand what Canadian mining companies do abroad. A long-time mining activist and a campaigner at the New Brunswick Conservation Council, she did her Masters in Environmental Science at Memorial University of Newfoundland. There, she studied the environmental and health impacts of the Inco smelter in Indonesia. Her own research project materialized when Indonesian community activists came to visit Labrador and met with community activists there.

“There’s a lot of sharing going on and that’s a strength that you see with a lot of mining affected communities,” she explains.

Glynn has also observed the explosive growth of mining activism in Canada.

“There’s no legal mechanism whatsoever to hold mining companies to account for their environmental crimes,” —Tracy Glynn

“Since Canada’s companies are controlling the global mining industry, it was only a matter of time till you’d see this growth of activism here in Canada. I know a lot of people who have gone to mining affected communities in Guatemala, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and they’re horrified by what they see in those mining affected communities, and they’re horrified that Canadian companies are doing this, and they want to do something about it.”

“It’s not just a case of a few bad apples,” she says. “It’s widespread, and I think the fact that there’s no international court or anything to hold mining companies to account is a problem…there’s no legal mechanism whatsoever to hold mining companies to account for their environmental crimes, or the fact that women in Papua New Guinea are saying they’re being gang-raped by mining security guards. There’s nothing in place for any of those people to have any sort of justice.”

Glynn argues the problem is only partly one of corporate impunity abroad. What mining activists want, she says, is for Canadian companies to be held accountable within Canada, for their actions outside of Canada. Right now, she explains, companies can freely commit acts which are considered crimes in Canada, and not face punishment so long as they do not commit those acts within Canada’s borders.

She points out that last year’s Bill C-300, a mining accountability bill which would have cut government funding to mining companies that commit crimes and human rights abuses overseas, didn’t pass in Parliament. She says its failure speaks to the enormous lobby power of mining corporations. Last month, Amnesty International released a report that contained strong warnings about Canada’s diminishing human rights record. “In recent years there has been a decline in Canada’s international human rights leadership,” says the report Getting Back On The ‘Rights’ Track. “As leaders in the extractive industries Canadian companies have become laggards on human rights protection.”

Problems in our own backyard

It’s not just overseas that mining activists are struggling.

“Often we think that mining practices in Canada are better than they are overseas, and that’s not the case,” Glynn explained. “Actually our regulations are not that strong. Like dumping in lakes, many countries don’t allow that, but we do. Mining companies are saying it’s more favourable to do mining in a lot of Canadian provinces than in countries abroad.”

“Building the Fluvarium was actually my idea…when we got there, the executive manager said ‘we can’t have you here, it’s not politically good for us,” — John Gibson

The case of the Sandy Pond Alliance in Newfoundland and Labrador provides an example of the challenges faced by environmental groups challenging mining activities in Canada. Sandy Pond is a lake in Newfoundland that’s been designated as a “tailings impoundment area” by the federal government, meaning that Vale Inco will be able to dump toxic waste in the lake as part of its nickel processing project in Long Harbour. The Sandy Pond Alliance is taking their battle to court to prevent the destruction of the lake.

This year on Earth Day, the Sandy Pond Alliance was astounded when they were kicked out of an Earth Day event at the Fluvarium in St. John’s, where they had planned to share an information booth with the Sierra Club. According to John Gibson, a retired scientist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and one of the Alliance’s organizers, the managers of the Fluvarium said the group’s efforts to save the lake were considered too political for Earth Day.

“It was really quite amazing,” Gibson said. “Building the Fluvarium was actually my idea…when we got there, the executive manager said ‘we can’t have you here, it’s not politically good for us’.”

The expulsion of an environmental group from an Earth Day event, Gibson says, demonstrates the problems resulting from energy corporations trying to improve their reputations by funding environmental groups. In the process, they often wind up developing political control over those groups.

Sandy Pond Map 

“The problem is they’re [Fluvarium] now getting funded by SunCor Energy. And believe it or not, even Vale Inco was there…I think it’s absolutely disgraceful. I mean you can’t have political interference with that sort of thing…when they accept money, they have to be careful that that doesn’t interfere with their policy of saving the environment.”

Gibson is hopeful their group will be able to stop the destruction of Sandy Pond. At issue is a federal regulation which allows the federal government to reclassify freshwater lakes as tailings impoundment areas: essentially, dump sites for toxic waste. Gibson says the original intention of the regulation was to grandfather in existing lakes that had already been used as toxic waste dumps. But once it was added, mining companies and the government began to actively use it to reclassify new lakes as dump sites as well. Mining companies have already applied to destroy 12 freshwater bodies across the country (including three in Newfoundland and Labrador); five have been approved. So the Sandy Pond Alliance is taking the federal government to court. They’re optimistic about their chances.

“This regulation never went through Parliament, and it’s really a loophole. They’ve used it as a loophole to pollute more pristine lakes. Pristine lakes, worldwide, are not actually that common…DFO is supposed to protect our fisheries, not destroy them. I’m just appalled at the attitude. What we want to get is this loophole to be made illegal. You can’t put noxious substances into freshwater bodies.”

Gibson says there’s a mistaken idea that because Newfoundland and Labrador has so many lakes, it’s not a big deal to use a few of them as toxic waste sites. What’s not understood, he explains, is that each lake has its own unique ecosystem which has developed over thousands of years.

“That cannot be replicated,” he emphasizes. “There’s compensation, but really that’s just a public relations gambit. The compensation is to make a small reservoir nearby, widen a couple small ponds that already exist, and put fish in it. You can’t dig a hole, drop some fish in it and call it a natural fish habitat.”

An uphill battle

Gibson recognizes the challenges they’re up against.

“The mining industry is a David versus Goliath battle, and they have Bay Street lawyers, and they want to keep these things going forever.”

Even environmental impact assessments are inadequate, he argues.

“The problem is, consulting companies always select data that’s going to support their client. And so these environmental impact assessments are really, some of them pretty pathetic…I think mining companies will just try and get away with what they can…but that’s why we have regulations. That’s why we have the Fisheries Act. And so to corrupt it with these loopholes is disgraceful. These things are not being done democratically, so we have to go to court.”

He echoes Glynn’s assessment that Canada’s laws are much more lax than those in many countries in which he and his colleagues have worked.

“In South Africa, they never did it that way. It’s only here that they can get away with it. They wouldn’t be able to get away with it in England, or Europe…because they don’t want to lose their lakes.”

A global issue

Fighting the non-democratic nature of such decisions appears to be a common theme in the mining justice movement, from Ecuador to Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Consent is the main thing,” Glynn emphasized. “Letting communities decide whether they want a mining community in their backyard. That’s key. Right now there’s nothing there…to allow communities to have a say.”

“Do you know what it’s like for an entire town, your church, everything…it will all be gone, just so a few Canadians can get rich.”

While the Sandy Pond Alliance is trying to save Newfoundland and Labrador’s freshwater bodies, activists in other countries have even more at stake. Back at the conference launch, a question and answer period quickly turns emotional. Whispers trace the room in a dozen languages or more, and as stories are told, I hear a soft sobbing from someone behind me. A woman from Colombia raises her hand to speak, and pleads with those around her, looking for the Canadians in the audience. “Lots of you don’t know that an entire town is going to disappear, because of a Canadian mining company,” the elderly woman enunciates, carefully framing the unfamiliar English words as she fights back tears. “Do you know what it’s like for an entire town, your church, everything…it will all be gone, just so a few Canadians can get rich.”

“Now is not a good time to be discovered as a Canadian when you’re traveling abroad,” one human rights worker laments.

More eerie is the calm, matter-of-fact tone of a middle-aged Canadian in the front row, who describes his work with a human rights group in Colombia. They built a memorial this summer to honour 14 young boys who were murdered by the military (as part of the ‘false positives’ scandal whereby soldiers kidnapped and murdered civilians, dressing the bodies in guerrilla outfits in order to receive promotions, cash bonuses or weekends off). The grisly practice speaks to the dangers both activists and locals face in trying to bring about change.

It’s little wonder Colombians are silent, another member of the audience observes.

The director of a human rights theatre group that operates in Colombia stands up, waving her arms in disagreement. “People in Colombia are fighting,” she says vehemently. “They are not staying silent. But if they raise their voice, they’ll be killed. That’s why I’m here, that’s why we’re doing this in Canada. Because Canada is responsible for making this happen.”

Location: Sidney Smith Hall, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street

FOR COMPLETE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE PLEASE VISIT: http://www.solidarityresponse.net/mining-injustice-conference/conference-agenda-2011/

***bring your own cup and a blank t-shirt if you can!***
…
This conference reflects the collective effort of several organizations and grass roots groups in Toronto, in collaboration with peoples, communities and organizations facing and resisting the entrance of corporate mining mega-projects into their territories.

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Friday May 6th, 7 pm: Conference ‘soft-launch’ – meet and greet with affected community members and activists at Beit Zatoun (612 Markham Street)
RSVP here so we know how much food to bring!: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180292898686837

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Saturday May 7th, 1:15 pm: keynote speaker Winona LaDuke and concurrent sessions as well as workshops and caucuses! (Sidney Smith Hall)

Official conference launch, 8 pm – 2 am: dance party (193 Dowling Street @ Queen Street West)

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Sunday May 8th, 10 am: concurrent sessions as well as workshops and caucuses (cont.!) (Sidney Smith Hall)

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Particular themes that will be discussed this year include:
• Gendered violence, inequity and feminist perspectives
• Militarization and forced displacement
• Indigenous knowledge and spirituality as forms of resistance
• Labour rights and the rhetoric of development
• Criminalization of dissent and protest
• Environmental contamination effects and health
• Food security and water rights
• The cycle of supply and demand of uranium in the North
• Tar sands and the petroleum industry in the North and South

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Stay tuned for a list of speakers or visit our website at www.solidarityresponse.net

Endorsed by: AccentsBookstore, Barrio Nuevo, Bayan Canada, Canadians Against Mining in El Salvador, Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean, Common Frontiers, CUPE 4400, CUPE 3903, Environmental Justice Toronto, First Continental Encounter of the Peoples of the Abya Yala-Ecuador, First Nations Solidarity Working Group, Guatemala Community Network – Toronto Kitchener-Waterloo Mayan Project – Tzijolaj-Ottawa, Health for All, Indigenous Environmental Network, Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network, Latin American Trade Union Coalition, Migrante, MiningWatch Canada, Munk OUT of UofT, NooneisIllegal, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, Opirg Toronto, Osgoode Environmental Law Society, Philippines Solidarity Network of Canada, ProtestBarrick, Rights Action, Science for Peace, Students for a Free Tibet, Toronto Bolivia Solidarity, Todos por Guatemala, Workers Assembly.

If you would like to endorse this event please email Mining Injustice Solidarity Network at miconference2011@gmail.com

Winona will present at 1:15 pm at Sidney Smith Hall Saturday May 7th. Check out our conference page for more information as we confirm more exciting speakers!

Confront Barrick Gold at their AGM in Toronto! Poster 2011

Once a year, the board of Directors of the world’s most powerful gold miner converge in downtown Toronto. Join us and representatives from mining-impacted communities to… CONFRONT BARRICK GOLD!

WHEN: Wednesday 27 April 2011 @ 10.30AM
WHERE: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front Street West, Toronto

JOIN THE RESISTANCE TO END CORPORATE IMPUNITY!
WHO IS BARRICK GOLD? Barrick Gold is the world’s largest gold mining company, founded and chaired by Peter Munk. With a former Prime Minister on their board and former executives sitting on the board of the Canadian Pension Plan, Barrick enjoys government funding and diplomatic support.

WHY PROTEST BARRICK? Barrick Gold takes advantage of inadequate and poorly enforced regulatory controls to rob Indigenous Peoples and communities of their land and livelihoods, destroying sensitive ecosystems, supporting brutal military and security operations, and suing anyone who dares to report on it. Impacted communities are coming to Toronto to confront Barrick, sharing their own undeniable perspectives and shedding light on the ongoing corporate impunity.

MAKE THE TRANSFORMATION AWAY FROM GOLD EXTRACTION!
WHY? With the majority of gold used for jewelry or to store wealth and the majority of gold extraction destruction on Indigenous lands around the world. It is time to question humans ongoing obsession with gold. HOW? Through reduction, recycling and reuse of gold there can be a halt on new and expanding gold mining explorations and operations around the world.

More info: http://protestbarrick.net/
M 647-838-8455 :: E protestbarrick@gmail.com

JOIN US on our social networks:

http://facebook.com/protestbarrick

http://twitter.com/stopbarrick

http://youtube/waysofseeing

SUPPORTED BY:
http://protestbarrick.net/ :: http://porgeraalliance.net/ :: http://savelakecowal.org/ ::http://munkoutofuoft.wordpress/ :: http://foei.org/ :: http://leat.or.tz/ :: http://foe.org.au/ ::http://macec4marinduque.multiply.com/ :: http://lrcksk.org/ :: http://solidarityresponse.net/ ::http://ejtoronto.wordpress.com/ :: http://cupe.on.ca/doc.php?subject_id=253

The Role of Unions & Pensions in the Struggle for Mining Justice
Friday April 15 & Saturday April 16
63 Gould St. Toronto
Located: at the corner of Church and Gould streets, just one block north of Dundas and two blocks east of Yonge street.
This event is free and open to the community.

The Canadian Mining and resource extraction industry is a dominant player nationally and internationally. The negative impacts of resource exploration and extraction have had negative consequences on the environment and human rights violations here in Ontario and around the world.

The Canadian government is an important player in the mining industry, actively supporting companies’ overseas operations through the provision of both financial and political backing.

Workshops and panels will examine the social & environmental damage caused by Canadian mining corporations. Participants will discuss and explore strategies for accountability & justice.

Join us to show our support for healthy & just mining practices. For more information and to register send an e-mail to iburbano@cupe.on.ca