Mexico

Map: Since the first local vote in Tambogrande, Peru in 2002, the "consulta", or community referendum, has emerged as a powerful tool for communities affected by unwanted mining projects to voice their collective opinion on a project through engaging in popular democracy. By giving residents of affected communities the opportunity to vote on whether or not they agree with destructive mining taking place on their land, the "consulta" can meaningfully encourage peaceful citizen participation and provide a mechanism for resistance movements to democratically voice their concerns about a particular project or on mining in general.

News release: Two years after filing a complaint with the RCMP for corruption allegations against Calgary-based Blackfire Resources, a group of Canadian civil society organizations would like to know where Canadian authorities stand on the company's controversial operations in Chiapas, Mexico. But, after an eighteen-month wait, a request for information to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade under the Access to Information Act is still unanswered.

News release: Canada’s Corporate Social Responsibility Counsellor has failed in her first attempt to resolve a conflict with a Canadian mining company operating beyond our borders. The refusal of Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) to participate in a dialogue process under Canada’s CSR Counsellor for the Extractive Sector underlines the serious difficulties facing workers and communities abroad in dealing with Canadian mining companies and underscores the inadequacy of this complaint mechanism.

Traducción: Versión en español de la noticia original sobre el allanamiento por la Policía Montada Real Canadiense (RCMP por sus siglas en inglés) de las oficinas de Blackfire Exploration Ltd. por alegaciones de coima el 20 de julio de 2011.