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Category: Pacific Rim/OceanaGold
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Published: Monday, 13 January 2014 06:25
El Salvador is being sued by Pacific Rim Mining, a Canadian based corporation owned by Australia's OceanaGold, before the International Center for the Settlement of Investments Disputes –ICSID-. The case will enter a critical stage in January 2014. We need your support to urge World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim to review the role of the ICSID through an open process that includes the voices of the communities affected by the decisions of this Tribunal
Two years ago, 264 organizations, among them Unions, NGOs, faith and grassroots groups, signed a letter to former World Bank President Robert Zoellick to express concern about the outrageous lawsuit Pacific Rim Mining had filed against El Salvador before ICSID. The letter supported the right of El Salvador and any other country to set their own standards, laws and regulations to protect their environment, their public health and their labor and human rights.
ICSID denied jurisdiction under the DR-CAFTA but accepted the continuation of the case under a provision of El Salvador's Investment Law. This provision allowed foreign investors to bypass local courts and take their disputes directly to international tribunals. Since then El Salvador has amended that law, but unfortunately it is not retroactive.
ICSID is once again receiving arguments from the parties involved. Given the importance of this case, we are –once again- asking for your support to increase the pressure on the Tribunal to resolve in favor of democratic rights in El Salvador. We can do this by raising the international profile of the case and further denouncing the possible negative impacts of Pacific Rim’s operations in the country, including damage to El Salvador’s lands and main water supplies; violations of basic Human Rights , violence and social instability.
We are asking World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim to initiate an evaluation of ICSID’s role and determine whether the Tribunal's support for corporations undermines national laws and regulations, and it hinders economic development in the Global South.
Please consider adding your organization's name to the letter below and share with other organizations you believe may be interested in signing.
For further information please contact Manuel Perez Rocha at manuel@ips-dc.org or Pedro Cabezas stopesmining@gmail.com.
CLICK HERE TO ENDORSE THE LETTER
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Category: Media Releases
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Published: Thursday, 09 January 2014 12:57
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FAIL TO SERIOUSLY ADDRESS SOCIO- ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE POPULATION OF EL SALVADOR
The Environmental Alliance of El Salvador is a national network of organizations, who advocate on issues related to the sustainable management of the environment in El Salvador, composed by the Water Forum, the Roundtable for Food Sovereignty, the Permanent Roundtable on Environmental Risk Management, the National Movement Against Projects of Death and the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining.
We are concerned about the exclusion of environmental issues on the agendas of presidential candidates and political parties participating in the current electoral campaign. We are also alarmed by the lack of discussion on the threats posed by large scale metal mining projects, the negative impacts of the indiscriminate use agro toxics, and the high risk and vulnerability to natural disasters that threaten the lives of all Salvadoran families.
In November last year, the Ombudsman for the Defense of Human Rights, David Morales, reiterated in a public statement the calls his office had previously made for the government to make constitutional amendments for the recognition of the rights to water and adequate food, and stop the serious threat that metal mining projects pose to the realization of these rights.
As Environmental Alliance we strongly support the timely call made the Human Rights Ombudsman and regret that none of the current presidential candidates have made any public statements in support of sound environmental policy after several months of political campaigning.
Considering the above, as Environmental Alliance we EXPRESS to all political parties and their presidential candidates for the 2014 elections :
1. Our strong rejection of Government Plans submitted by all political parties and their presidential candidates, as they do not provide clear proposals, or feasible programs in relation to the sensitive and urgent issues for the Salvadoran population such as the management of a sustainable water supply, food security and support for the agricultural sector, comprehensive environmental risk management policies, a commitment to end the threat of mega mining and hydroelectric projects.
2 . We reiterate the urgent need to include clear proposals regarding social and environmental issues affecting the population, building on statement already made by the Ombusman for the Defense of Human Rights.
ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE OF EL SALVADOR
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Category: Media Releases
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Published: Monday, 16 December 2013 10:08
The organizations below met at the regional meeting: "Experiences and perspectives of social movements against mining metals " held in Managua, Nicaragua. We work in defence of life and the integrity of the Central American territory, as such we express to the national and international public opinion.
Extractive industries are transnational corporations working in collusion with governments and the international financial system. These are engaged in a process of destructive and invasive expansion of our region utilising coercive and manipulative strategies resulting in the appropriation of land, displacement of populations, negative impacts on the environment, national and international environmental conflicts that cause the breakdown of the social fabric, loss of identity and the violation of fundamental human rights, particularly the right to water and self-determination of peoples.
Multinational corporations involved in the extraction of non-renewable natural resources impose and advance their development model through lies, threats, and the buying out of political will.
The rights of indigenous and tribal peoples are being systematically violated by neglecting to enforce domestic laws and international conventions such as the ILO Convention 169 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Central America is an environmentally vulnerable area with a growing high density population and extractive activities contribute to accelerate the loss of essential natural resources for life.
Central America is a region that aspires to peace; it has a natural, cultural and social wealth with high ability to develop sustainably without all extractive industries that threaten the lives of its population.
Therefore we demand that our governments :
a) Create and implement development policies that favor the needs of its citizens, in a framework of respect for fundamental , economic and social human rights including the right to life, to water and a healthy environment.
b ) Respect the decisions of people and communities that have been made through community consultations and other mechanisms of popular, traditional and non-traditional, democratic expression against the mining industry in Central America.
c ) Implement integration processes through regional treaties and conventions to protect our shared natural resources, and to avoid the generation of socio- environmental conflicts.
d ) Ensure the physical safety of those who openly and peacefully manifest the defense of life and our natural resources .
e) Enforce ILO Convention 169 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
We call on the general public, civil society organizations, churches, social movements, and the international community to join in the defense of life and the search for economic alternatives to develop without destroying natural and human assets in our region.
"CENTRAL AMERICA IS NOT FOR SALE, IT IS TO BE LOVED AND DEFENDED"
No to the mining industry in Central America
DECEMBER 05, 2013, MANAGUA, NICARAGUA.
Ecuador:
El Salvador:
- Mesa Nacional Frente a la Mineria Metalica
- MUFRAS-32
- CRIPDES
- CEICOM
- CRS-Catholic Relief Services
- International Allies Against Mining in El Salvador
Guatemala:
- Madre Tierra
- Xochilt Acatl
Honduras:
- Comité Ambientalista Valle de Siria
- Coalición Nacional de Redes Ambientales de Honduras
- Red de Comunidades Afectadas por la Mineria
- ASONOG
- CODDEFAGOLF
Mexico:
Nicaragua:
- Centro Humbold
- Movimiento Comunal Nicaraguense
- ADDAC
- ADIC-Asociación para el Desarrollo Integral Comunitario
- Movimiento Salvemos Santo Domingo
- Grupo Estratégico de Matagalpa
- Iglesia Católica de Rancho Grande – Matagalpa
- Asociación de Desarrollo Municipal – Camoapa
- Comunidades de Santa Pancha y Mina El Limón – León
- Radio Camoapa 98.5
- COPAE-Comision Pastoral y Ecologica
- Asociacion para el Desarrollo Integral de la Niñez y la Juventud
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Category: Media Releases
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Published: Thursday, 12 December 2013 13:00
STATEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE OF EL SALVADOR IN LIGHT OF RECENT CALLS MADE BY THE OMBUDSMAN FOR THE DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHT TO ADEQUATE FOOD AND WATER AND THE THREAT OF METAL MINING IN THE COUNTRY.
The Environmental Alliance of El Salvador is a network of organizations unified on their demand for sustainable management of the environment in El Salvador. We are made up by the Water Forum , the Food Sovereignty Roundtable, the Permanent Coalition for Environmental Risk Management, the National Movement Against Mega Projects ,and the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining.
We are concerned about the lack of discussion of environmental issues by the candidates and political parties participating in the presidential campaign and elections scheduled for Feb. 2014. Alarmed by this lack of discussion on issues related to the protection, promotion and implementation of the human rights to water and adequate food, and the ominous threat to the environment represented by pending metal mining projects, we state:
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Category: Background and reports
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Published: Wednesday, 27 November 2013 16:11
Nov 18, 2013
For more information, contact:
Alex Blair, Extractive Industries Press Officer
(202) 777-2929 (office)
(202) 460-8272 (mobile)
ablair@oxfamamerica.org
Washington, DC – International aid and relief organization Oxfam America praised the ten members of Congress who urged the National Assembly of El Salvador to take immediate action to protect the environment and local communities from large-scale metallic mining. In a letter, the Members expressed concerns over recent patterns of violence and threats directed at mining activists, and the potential for mining activity to further degrade El Salvador’s already limited and significantly polluted supplies of clean water.
“In a country that is already experiencing a clean water crisis like El Salvador, there are even more risks associated with mining,” said Ivan Morales, El Salvador Country Director for Oxfam. “It’s important that El Salvador protects the drinking water and health of its people from the environmental impacts of mining. The support from members of Congress for the Salvadoran government is crucial.”
“El Salvador has taken important steps in recent years to recover from its history of political violence and establish democracy and the rule of law,” the Congressional letter reads. “We salute the efforts the Salvadoran Assembly has made in this regard. As friends of El Salvador, we wish to see the country grow and prosper with full respect for human rights and the environment.”
Read more ...
- Details
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Category: Background and reports
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Published: Wednesday, 27 November 2013 16:11
Nov 18, 2013
For more information, contact:
Alex Blair, Extractive Industries Press Officer
(202) 777-2929 (office)
(202) 460-8272 (mobile)
ablair@oxfamamerica.org
Washington, DC – International aid and relief organization Oxfam America praised the ten members of Congress who urged the National Assembly of El Salvador to take immediate action to protect the environment and local communities from large-scale metallic mining. In a letter, the Members expressed concerns over recent patterns of violence and threats directed at mining activists, and the potential for mining activity to further degrade El Salvador’s already limited and significantly polluted supplies of clean water.
“In a country that is already experiencing a clean water crisis like El Salvador, there are even more risks associated with mining,” said Ivan Morales, El Salvador Country Director for Oxfam. “It’s important that El Salvador protects the drinking water and health of its people from the environmental impacts of mining. The support from members of Congress for the Salvadoran government is crucial.”
“El Salvador has taken important steps in recent years to recover from its history of political violence and establish democracy and the rule of law,” the Congressional letter reads. “We salute the efforts the Salvadoran Assembly has made in this regard. As friends of El Salvador, we wish to see the country grow and prosper with full respect for human rights and the environment.”
El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Latin America. According to El Salvador’s Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, 90 percent of surface water is contaminated due to agricultural runoff and deficient sewage processes. Furthermore, according to the World Bank, a fifth of the population living in rural communities does not have access to an improved water resource. These current conditions limit accessibility to fresh water. The development of large-scale metallic mining would further contribute to the deficiency of fresh water due to its release of acid mine drainage, which has serious effects on the environment.
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