Please support human rights in the Philippines by signing this petition before December 30, 2020. MiningWatch Canada and the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP-Canada) have launched an electronic Parliamentary petition in response to increasing extrajudicial attacks on civilians and human rights defenders in the Philippines since 2016. The Philippines is now one of the two most dangerous countries for those who defend human and environmental rights according to Global Witness. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ issued a report on the Philippines this year that found serious human rights violations against human rights organizations, lawyers, political and judicial actors, journalists, trade unionists, and religious groups.

(Ottawa) In an important decision, Ecuador’s Constitutional Court ruled yesterday that a plebiscite on metal mining in the southern municipality of Cuenca is, in fact, constitutional.

On September 8th, the mayor of the municipal Autonomous Decentralized Government (GAD) of Cuenca, with unanimous backing from the GAD council, submitted a petition to the Court to review the constitutionality of a series of plebiscite questions developed to protect Cuenca’s principal water sources from mining.

(Carrizalillo, Mexico) After fifteen days during which Equinox Gold has been incapable of engaging with the ejido of Carrizalillo in such a way as to initiate a productive dialogue that could lead to the restart of the mine and related activities, today, the company sent the Vice President of Sustainability Georgina Blanco Mancilla to meet with the ejido. 

On the morning of September 17th, the First Environmental Court of Antofagasta, Chile, ruled that Barrick Gold’s controversial Pascua Lama project be “definitively and totally closed.” The court also determined that the company will have to pay a fine of 7 billion Chilean pesos, just over $12 million Canadian.

(Papua New Guinea) Last week, the PNG National Court rejected the Mineral Resources Authority’s (MRA) attempt to dismiss the case to obtain key documents relating to the Nautilus Solwara1 deep seabed mining project and its approval. Mr. Peter Bosip of the Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights (CELCOR), the lawyers representing the plaintiffs, said, “The information sought by our clients will allow Papua New Guineans to understand the environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of the proposed Solwara 1 deep sea mine and also whether it was approved lawfully.”

On September 3, 2020, the families of the Ejido of Carrizalillo in Guerrero, Mexico, shut down operations at Canadian mining company Equinox Gold’s Los Filos mine. Goldcorp began building the mine on Carrizalillo’s collective lands in 2006, which it had purchased illegally, leading to the first 83-day work stoppage at the mine by Carrizalillo. Equinox Gold acquired Los Filos when it merged with Vancouver-based Leagold earlier this year. 

(Papua New Guinea) Local communities across the Bismarck and Solomon Seas accuse the PNG Government of sending mixed messages about deep sea mining describing the Government’s approach as ‘chaotic and uncoordinated’.

“The Alliance of Solwara Warriors represents thousands of people across the Bismarck and Solomon Seas who oppose seabed mining to protect our cultures, lives and livelihoods for current and future generations”, stated Jonathan Mesulam, Alliance of Solwara Warriors.

On April 3, 2019, the Ejido of Carrizalillo concluded a long period of dialogue and discussion with the group of directors and managers designated by Leagold Mining and signed two agreements: one concerning social issues and another for rental of lands. After having negotiated various land use agreements with different mining companies that have operated on our territory over the years, we signed for the longest duration ever, 2019 to 2025, demonstrating trust on the part of the Ejido with the company.

Concern grows over proposal to open three mines along Nova Scotia’s longest single waterway that supports both endangered species and ecosystems

A stretch of the St Mary’s River in Nova Scotia, Canada. Photograph: Interfoto/Alamy Stock Photo