By Copae
Last year, the Pastoral Commission for Peace and Ecology (COPAE), in the diocese of San Marcos, Guatemala, issued a report showing increased levels of arsenic in the water.around the Marlin mine. The difference between the data of October 2007, March 2008 and February 2009 is enormous.
The range difference between what is established and what was found is fairly wide.
This may cause serious diseases in the people living close to the Marlin mine. Arsenic related effects in human beings are bladder, lung, skin, kidney, nose, liver and prostate cancer; in animals it increases the mortality and reduces the fertility, increases spontaneous abortions (miscarriages) and damage the red corpuscles.
Pictures showing people who have drunk contaminated water with arsenic give an idea of the great danger of drinking this kind of contaminated water.
COPAE, the Pastoral Commission for Peace and Ecology, accompanies the people from San Marcos, Guatemala, who are being harmed by the natural resources exploitation policies promoted by the Guatemalan State through concessions and licenses given to transnational mining and hydro-electric dam companies
Things Get Uglier
By Magalí Rey Rosa,
Prensa Libre
Things got ugly for Goldcorp after it was withdrawn in April 2008 from the Jantzi Social Index due to: 1) indigenous groups’ opposition to the Marlin mine in Guatemala, 2) the company’s inadequate response to the health problems faced by the Honduran communities where Goldcorp also has a mine, and 3) as explained by Jantzi, its low environmental compliance record.
After a trip to Guatemala and a visit to the mining area, Goldcorp shareholders’ pressure forced the transnational mining company to conduct an “independent” Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) of the problems caused by mining exploitation in the Marlin mine region.
The transnational company accepted bids for the project.
Several organizations that had initially been interested decided not to participate since they considered that the term “independent” did not apply: the company financed the study, one of the Goldcorp vice-presidents participated directly, and the researchers would have to sign a confidentiality clause by which the transnational company assured itself that no inconvenient result would be disseminated.
The people from the mining region rejected this “independent” evaluation conducted by the “On Common Ground” group using South American experts with Guatemalan consultants.
Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) had signed an agreement with Goldcorp and a group of shareholders, regarding the HRIA for the Marlin Mine in Guatemala.
According to a note that circulated this week, PSAC had decided to participate in the HRIA with the hope that this would benefit local communities in Guatemala. The note says:
“Since then, PSAC has become increasingly concerned with the HRIA process and its relationship with the local communities.”
“We have been especially concerned about the lack of free and informed prior consent of the communities in regards to the HRIA, and that the interests of Goldcorp are being put before the interests of the local people.
As a result, PSAC has withdrawn our involvement in the HRIA, effective immediately.”
Some Guatemalan consultants also have resigned.
When the truth is revealed, Goldcorp as well as the majority of transnational mining companies lose their social and environmental license.
WHAT TO DO
US and Canadian citizens should write to – and keep writing to – their politicians and media, making them aware of these situations, demanding that our governments prioritize global human rights and environmental concerns over global business interests, demanding that our governments pass criminal and civil laws to help hold our corporations accountable if/ when they violate human rights and/or cause environmental and health harms.
For more information, contact www.RightsAction.org.
