SUPPORT COMMUNITY RIGHTS

SUPPORT COMMUNITY RIGHTS
MINING RESISTANCE DELEGATION
Mining conflicts are a global phenomenon that have intensified over the last decade, amplified
by increasing investments in the mining sector. Mining companies and their investors have gained power and
influence through international networks that they have formed with each other, governments, and other
local actors. Meanwhile, local communities often suffer the effects of human rights violations, environmental
devastation, health harms, and socio-cultural disintegration, and struggle to create and maintain international
networks of resistance. Direct links between mine
Direct links between mine affected
affected communities must be built strategically
and intentionally to leverage power against
communities must be built
international mining institutions—and to publicly
strategically and intentionally to
hold them accountable for the myriad, oftenleverage power against international devastating impacts that large-scale mining
projects bring. This international delegation aims to
mining institutions.
begin that process between impacted communities
in Thailand and Mexico, and their supporters.
This July 12-25, mine-affected communities from Thailand
will meet with communities in Oaxaca, Mexico to investigate
international parallels in human rights violations and other social,
environmental, and economic violence caused by mining projects. Participants will
share, reflect, and discuss strategies of resistance, with an eye to building international networks of solidarity to
counter the globalized power of extractive industries and the governments that support them. The delegation
will also use press conferences, news coverage, a public festival on July 22, and a video documenting this unique
international encounter, to spotlight these and other communities’ struggles against mining projects.
You are invited to join a delegation and international
conference of mine-affected communities
July 12-25, 2015 - Oaxaca, Mexico
Who is Invited to join?
Trip Coordinator
The delegation from 12-21 July is primarily for representatives from
mine-affected communities and their close, long-term allies committed
to supporting them in future resistance strategies against human rights
violations, government repression and environmental destruction
related to mining.
The delegation will be coordinated and
led by Jonathan Treat, Delegation Director
of University Services and Knowledge
Networks of Oaxaca (SURCO, according
to its initials in Spanish), a non-profit
organization based in Oaxaca, Mexico.
SURCO works to promote human and
environmental rights and social justice
through diverse alternative education
and community-based projects.
The “Celebration of Life” Festival on the Day of Action Against Open
Pit Mining on 22 July and through 24 July, invites all citizens and
activists, professors and educators, and media, health, environment
and legal professionals who are concerned about mining conflicts
around the world.
OAXACA, MEXICO
NORTHEAST THAILAND
“We ask for clean water, pure air,
fertile land. No to the mine!”
San José del Progreso—outside of
Oaxaca City, two activists were killed in 2012 for organizing
against a local Canadian mining operation. In the state of Oaxaca
the Mexican federal government has granted 350 mining
concessions, mostly to Canadian and U.S. mining companies,
and most without the full knowledge of the communities
involved. National and international laws guarantee indigenous
people the right to public consultation regarding mining and
other mega-projects on their lands. But there are no examples
of any legitimate consultations being held. Communities
like Capulálpam de Méndez and Santa Maria Teitipác have
succeeded in temporarily halting mining operations, but there
are currently more than 30 mining project in various phases in
Oaxaca alone.
“Close the mines and restore!”
Na Nong Bong—
a community in
Northeastern Thailand, has suffered environmental poisoning,
threats, violence, legal battles, and economic hardship since
the gold mining company Tungkum Ltd. began operation 1
km from their hometown in 2006. Tungkum Ltd. and the Thai
government have chosen to actively suppress the voices of those
resisting the mine, rather than respond to villagers’ requests
for restoration. The company has plans to expand to over 100
more sites in the area. In May 2014, an armed mob attacked Na
Nong Bong villagers who had been actively organizing against
the mine, and the community has become further isolated
under the military junta. Their struggle continues and serves as
inspiration to other struggles against large-scale development
projects throughout Thailand.
Delegation Overview:
Delegates will arrive in Mexico City on 12 July where they will meet with anti-mining and human rights activists, in addition to
seeing cultural sites in Mexico City. From 15-21 July, participants will exchange with activists and mine affected communities
throughout Oaxaca, including the Oaxacan Collective in Defense of Territories and three mine-affected communities:
¡
San Jose del Progresso is a community divided by a Canadian silver mine currently in operation. Magdalena Teitipac is a
community resisting a mine planned near their community.
¡
Capulálpam de Méndez successfully united and closed down a mine after mining in the community was taken over by a
Canadian company whose new technology and advanced techniques greatly accelerated the related environmental damage.
The community is still at risk of an open pit gold mining project, as the concession remains active.
Anti-mining activists and social and environmental justice organizations are invited to participate in the “Celebration of Life”
Festival on the Day of Action Against Open Pit Mining on July 22nd 2015. This day will be a celebration and serve to plan future
anti-mining actions, media strategy, and alternative, people-centered development. We will also issue a joint statement and a call
to action against the human rights abuses brought about by these top-down mining projects.
Contact:
Jonathan Treat,
Delegation Director, SURCO Oaxaca
jonathantreat@surcooaxaca.org
Phil Mangis
ENGAGE
philipmangis@gmail.com