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By Carlos Zorrilla, January 27, 2012

CODELCO COMMENCES DRILLING PARADISE

Today, CODELCO, with military personnel (15 in total as of today) in the area, started drilling its first exploratory wells in the Paraiso community. The irony is that the military personnel are supposedly in the area is to control criminal activity (like trafficking of stolen motorcycles!).

I guess the more obvious the criminal activity, the harder it is to see.

As of the this afternoon, additional drilling equipment was ready to start the journey up to Paraiso, and at this time, no attempt has been made by communities to stop the machinery’s progress, though yesterday a convoy with machinery was made to turn back.

CODELCO is in the area illegally, according to community members, and lawyers helping on the case. CODELCO’s unwelcome and illegitimate presence was made possible by the Ministry of the Environment’s approval of the project’s Environmental Impact Study, in spite of the study’s fundamental flaws, and official opposition by a local government authority.

By authorizing the start of exploration in the Manduriacos area, the government seems to be saying a number of things. It is saying, basically, and in spite the opposition by local government and affected communities, the project’s risk of contaminating several sources of water – including two that provide drinking water to communities (prohibited by the Constitution), the project’s risk of of unleashing arsenic and lead contamination from underground water sources, in addition to the numerous flawed scientific studies contained in the EIA, plus a long list of illegalities having to do with the process that “legitimized” the study-such as the Constitutional right to free and prior consultation- that mining development is above the law, and the Constitution.

Most people will interpret the presence of a contingency of army personnel just when exploration activities start, as sending a clear message that the armed forces are at the beck and call of transnational mining companies.

Welcome to the world of Responsible Mining in Ecuador

CODELCO Y MILITARES EN INTAG

Zona de INTAG, Jueves, 26 de enero 2012

ACTUALIZACIÓN: SE CONFIRMÓ UN POCO DESPUES DE ENVIAR ESTE BOLETÍN DE PRENSA QUE CODELCO INICIÓ LAS PRIMERAS PERFORACIONES EN LA CONCESION DE LOS MANDARIYACUS EL DÍA DE HOY.

En estos momentos, la empresa minera CODELCO (Chile) se encuentra intentando de  ingresar  con nueva  maquinaria para iniciar  las labores de exploración avanazada en los alrededores de la comunidad de el Paraíso,  Parroquia de García Moreno, Cantón Cotacachi, y Provincia de Imbabura.

Dicha comunidad se encuentra muy cerca al yacimiento de cobre de JUNIN, que sabemos que el gobierno quiere desarrollar.

MILITARES Y COINCIDENCIAS DE LA VIDA 

Justo hace dos días ingresaron una grupo de 15 militares al mismo sector de Intag para, supuestamente, controlar la delincuencia.    ¿Delincuencia?    ¿Militares?   ¿No será más bien para garantizar los derechos empresariales de CODELCO e intimidar a la población?

CODELCO busca cobre en la concesión denominada Los Mandariyacu, y está en Intag gracias a un convenio con una individuo que se sospecha es traficante de concesiones, ya que no tiene la capacidad económica de realizar minería a gran escala. La nueva ley del 2009, supuestamente eliminó el tráfico de concesiones mineras. 

ESTUDIO DE IMPACTO VERGONZOSO.

La empresa justifica su presencia y actividades basado en la aprobación de un Estudio de Impacto Ambiental para actividades avanzadas de minería que esta repleta de falencias técnicas, las cuales fueron denunciadas a su debido tiempo al Ministerio del Ambiente por parte de la Presidenta de la Junta Parroquial y la CEDHU.  El Ministerio nunca respondió a las observaciones realizadas en el mencionado documento. 

MÁS ILEGALIDADES.

A pesar de ser legalmente solicitado, las autoridades no han presentado el Estudio de Impacto Ambiental para actividades iniciales mineras, tal como requiere la Ley de Minería, siendo éste un documento indispensable para dar paso al Estudio de Impacto Ambiental para actividades avanzadas de minería. 

Por otro lado, el proceso de aprobación de dicho estudio estuvo viciado de irregularidades, y fue deslegitimado por cuatro de las cinco comunidades que se encuentran dentro del área de influencia del proyecto minero.  Legalmente es inválido cualquier EIA que no se haya socializado con las comunidades afectadas por actividades mineras.  

En cuanto a la consulta previa prevista en la Constitución- nunca se realizó según los comuneros de la mayoría de las comunidades, y el gobierno Parroquial de García Moreno.  Cabe añadir que la minería no consta en los planes de Ordenamiento Territorial de ningunos de los gobiernos seccionales o locales.

Riesgos Ambientales.  Bosques 

Los bosques que se encuentran el área minera se consideran entre los más biodiversos del mundo (Andes Tropical y Magdalena-Chocó).   Parte del área minera se encuntra cubierta con bosques primarios que albergan decenas de especies en peligro de extincción, incluyendo, entre muchos otros:  Osos de Anteojos, Jaguares, y el Mono Aaña cabeci-café (Ateles fusciceps). El Estudio de Impacto no mencionó la existencia de dichos mamíferos, y los estudios de las aves y anfibios fueron un chiste.

 Agua.

El Estudio de Impacto Ambiental, identificó cinco fuentes de agua dentro del proyecto.  Y, a pesar de sus falencias de fondo, reportó el hallazgo de subsuelo contaminado con arsénico y plomo.  En los biodiversos bosques nublados de Junin, una zona muy similar a la que hoy en día CODELCO quiere hacer pozos de cientos de metros de profundidad para identificar la posible presencia de cobre, los pozos perforados por otro proyecto minero en los años 1990, contaminaron ríos y quebradas con arsénico y plomo. La contaminación continúa contaminando el agua a hasta el día de hoy (la contaminación fue comprobada como parte de una investigación científica para obtener su Phd). 

Bienvenidos a otro ejemplo más de la minería responsable en el Ecuador

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By Carlos Zorrilla, January 23, 2012

(Español ya mismo!!, hasta mientras, favor usen una de las traductoras en la web como http://translate.google.com/

Surreal lawsuit in a surreal place

Codelo- update

And, the hypocrisy behind the Yasuni Initiative

Monday, 23 January

FIRST, Codelco.

Luckily, I don’t have much to report at this time. CODELCO has not brought in new equipment to the mining area, and all is pretty quiet, except that, according to recent reports, their first drill is ready to drill. Perhaps, someone in government discovered all the irregularities connected with the company’s environmental impact study. Perhaps the company discovered that there really was a lot of opposition to their presence.  Or perhaps they are waiting for the rains to stop ( a very loooong wait)…

The Lawsuit.

We live in a weird world, or to put it in other words, Alice’s Wonderland didn’t have anything on reality these days.

To start off, DECOIN received a call the other day from the equivalent of the Attorney General’s Office*, asking us for information on a company called “Copper Mesa”.    That rang a bell alright, so I glued my ear to the cell, damned the  possibilities of the cancer connection, and listened.

It transpired that, believe it or not- Copper Mesa is suing the Ecuadorian government for not letting them ripp off more investors by lying to them about the exagerated copper deposit known as the JUNIN project, thereby lining the pockest of a few company officials. I THINK the more official version (the company’s) is that the government prevented the company from going forward with the mining project, and therefore, prevented it from making a LOT of money.  What are they suing for? A cool 100 million dollars.

(*The Procuraduría is part national attorney, part fiscal watchdog)

Who was it that said that reality is a lot stranger than fiction? This qualifies!!

The Ecuadorian government is not the only nation being sued by transnational mining companies for obstructing their God-given right to rape and pillage if possible, but if not, sue for not being able to.  Another Canadian mining company is suing impoverished El Salvador for      $ 77 million in “lost earnings”, for similar reasons as Copper Mesa’s. These are, by far, not the only governments being sued by petroleum and mining companies. What makes these lawsuits  possible are bi-lateral trade agreements, but especially free trade agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement.  Though Ecuador is not part of NAFTA, in 1996 it did sign a Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investment Agreement with Canada to insure each other’s business investments were “protected”.  Protected can mean a lot of things, but in these contracts, it means that no matter what, the companies investments are shielded from any national legislation- even if it means that their operations are violating human rights and environmental regulations protecting the environment*.  As it turns out, mainly because the region’s rich stock of natural resources, the overwhelming mayority of these kinds of lawsuits involve Latin American countries (For more information on how this mechanism works, see  see http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/world/americas/26mine.html?pagewanted=all

I’m not sure how many Ecuadorian businesses have opened shop in Canuckland, but I bet you can count them on the fingers of one hand. Maybe.

This lawsuit definitely raises the bars on incredulity and ridiculousness.  After all, Copper Mesa did a number of things you would think any sane company would not want to revisit and which, undoubtedly, will be thrown at their face in the course of a lawsuit like this.

So, with this in mind (insane company), let’s pay a quick visit to that dark past…….

In 2004, the company now called Copper Mesa, took over a well-trafficked mining concession known as JUNIN.  In no time at all, they realized that the going would not be as smooth and easy as they expected, given the level of rejection of the mining project by Intag’s people and local governments.  So, they started using some…unusual things to win over local support.   In order to make this section short, I’ll limit myself to some of the more outrageous events connected to the presence of Copper Mesa in Intag.

Hiring of “security firms”.  CM hired not less than five security firms to “secure” their concession.  This includes Honor and Laurel, an international outfit (out of Bogota) that was illegally working in Ecuador at the time.  One of these firms trained local Intag campesinos in paramilitary maneuvers in a place outside Quito.  On November, the campesino paramilitaries, together with ex military personnel who helped train them- about sixty in all- tried to force their way into Copper Mesa’s mining concessions through the communities of Barcelona and Cerro Pelado.  The paras were led by Falericorp, another of the “security firms” hired by CM.  Falericorp has deep connections with Ecuador’s military (a very typical situation).

The paramilitaries were stopped on their tracks by the local folks and had to turn back.

About a month later, these same paramilitaries- minus the campesinos, but joined by dozens of new “retired” army recruits, tried the same maneuver in JUNIN, with the disastrous consequences (for the company), that most of you know about:  57 of the paramilitaries arrested by a rag-tag group of Intag residents.  The paras were filmed and photographed as they tried to shoot their way into the concessions, using ilegal weapons, in images that have travelled the world, and played an important role in the company’s downfall.

Both of these events ocurred a few weeks after 19 police raided my home at 6AM with an arrest and search warrants based on made up charges by someone we have evidence worked for the mining company.  That October dawn, a single police, acting “on his own”, planted a gun in my house to implicate me in another criminal activitiy, ilegal possesion of firearms, and which led to another arrest warrant (I was enventually absolved of all charges, and the lawsuit declared malicious).

The connections between all these illegal events, individuals and organizations and the company should not be that hard to make if the Ecuadorian government is really interested in flushing out the truth.

Lastly, I wonder how the lawyers representing Ecuador will react when they discover that one of the phony organizations Copper Mesa created (Codegam), was led by someone who is connected to a known drug-trafficker, and also to the murder of 4 or 5 “individuals” at their man’s farm in Intag.  That man, Ronald Andrade, has been on the run for years, and is currently on Interpol’s wanted list.

BUT WAIT, this is the same company that wants to sue the Ecuadorian government????

Stay tuned- more later on the Yasuni Initiative…

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By Carlos Zorrilla, January 13, 2012

Photo by Carlos Zorrilla

AND NOW LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CODELCO IN INTAG! (Español abajo)
Well, it was just a matter of time, and clearly within the plans of the Correa government. Codelco started its illegal exploration in the vicinity of the Paraiso community, located in the Intag-Manduriacos area as of yesterday, January 12th.

CODELCO is the third transnational mining company to attempt to start what would be a large-scale and open pit copper mining project in the area. As you are likely aware, Mitsubishi failed miserably in the 1990s, and Copper Mesa went bankrupt in the 2000s trying to do the same thing. What are the chances CODELCO will succeed where other transnational have failed? Not much.

Consider the following:
CODELCO was given the go-ahead to start exploration based on an amazingly flawed Environmental Impact Study. Local government authorities are challenging the legality of the EIA, as well as the flawed Constitutional-guaranteed process of Consultation. As expected, local communities are extremely pissed off by the way they were left out of the whole process. Given the violent past associated with mining in the area, there is no guarantee that CODELCO’s presence will not spark another cycle of conflicts and confrontations.

The project threatens pristine rivers and streams, plus the drinking water of two communities (El Paraiso and Magdalena). As well, mining threatens primary and secondary forests that are within two of the world’s most biologically diverse regions; the Tumbes-Chocó Magdalena, and the Andean Tropical Biological Hotspot. Of the world’s 34 Hotspots, the Andean Hotspot is by far the most diverse, and one of the most threatened (http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/Pages/default.aspx). Furthermore, the area is part of and Important Bird Area (http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/sites/andes_ibas/pdfs/Ec_367-371.pdf and exceptionally rich in orchid diversity (some are only found in this region).

CODELCO, the world’s largest copper producer, has lots of experience in mining in the Atacama desert; the world’s driest desert. Here’s what Wikipedia has on the Atacama: The average rainfall in the Chilean region of  is just 1 millimetre (0.04 in) per year. Some weather stations in the Atacama have never received rain. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atacama_desert … the average rainfall in the mining area Codelco is now at is between 3,000 and 4,000 millimeters per year. See below for the significance of this fact.

CODELCO AND PERPETUAL POLLUTION.
The high rainfall mentioned above is a nightmare factor for mining companies, but especially for the environment and communities. High volume of water (both as rainfall and in acquifers) and mining just don’t mix; it increases astronomically the chances of generating what is known as Acid Mine Drainage, a chemical reaction between the air, water, heavy metals and the sulfur contained in the mineralized soil and subsoil that is present in the Intag and Manduriacos (as confirmed by Mitsubishi scientists in the 90s).

Acid Mine Drainage is a process that, once started, is virtually impossible to stop, and can keep contaminating rivers and streams for hundreds- and sometimes thousands- of years (for more information see: http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/acid_mine_drainage

CODELCO will lie about the impacts of exploration; alleging that its activities will cause little o no impacts. However, Mitsubishi contaminated the Junin river and tributaries with lead and arsenic as a consequence of the exploratory holes it drilled to find copper. The contamination continues to this day; seventeen years after the last hole was drilled.

IF this is not enough to dampen CODELCO’s success in Intag and Manduriacos, consider the following

Open-pit mining is illegal in Cotacachi County. It was outlawed in 2000 with the passing of the legally-binding Cotacachi Ecological County Ordinance.
The mining concession CODELCO is surrounded by four protected areas (the Los Cedros, and the Chontal Protected Forests, the Toisan Municipal Protected Area, and the Junin Community Reserve). It is very likely that it is within the Municipal Protected Area.
Not enough? How about that where they are looking for copper is extraordinarily rich in pre-Incan archeological sites belonging to a people which very, very little is known about? Oh, and by the way, for all practical purposes, mining is illegal in such sites.

Finally, CODELCO should know, that the people in Intag will not allow it. During the course of the last 17 years of standing up to transnationals, they’ve learned a few tricks. They made Mitsubishi clear out in 1997, and then Copper Mesa in 2008. In the case of the latter, not only did it have to abandon Intag, but the company lost its concessions, was kicked off the Toronto Stock Exchange, and was sued in Canada. Last we heard, the company was BROKE.

One of the tragedies of the insistence on developing this project is its social costs. Given the above reasons, it is very likely that CODELCO will also fail in Intag and Manduriacos. The question is, at what cost for the region and its communities??

In Chile, the company’s owners, the people of Chile, should also ask themselves: what is our company doing in this biologial and social jewel, where we are not wanted, and where mining can cause such environmental devastation????? And, IS IT WORTH IT?

Y AHORA, SEÑORAS Y SEÑORES ¡CODELCO EN INTAG!

Era solo una cuestión de tiempo y, claramente, estaba dentro de los planes del gobierno de Correa. CODELCO inició su exploración ilegal en las cercanías de la comunidad El Paraíso, ubicada en la zona de Intag-Manduriacos, el día de ayer, 12 de enero.

CODELCO (de Chile) es la tercera empresa minera transnacional que intenta iniciar lo que sería un proyecto minero para la extracción de cobre a gran escala y a cielo abierto en la zona. Como ustedes probablemente saben, Mitsubishi fracasó estrepitosamente en la década de 1990 y Copper Mesa fue a la quiebra en la primera década de este siglo tratando de hacer lo mismo. ¿Cuáles son las probabilidades de que CODELCO tenga éxito en aquello en lo que otras transnacionales han fracasado? No son muchas.

Consideremos lo siguiente:

A CODELCO se le dio el visto bueno para empezar la exploración con base en un Estudio de Impacto Ambiental (EIA) tremendamente deficiente. Las autoridades del gobierno local cuestionan la legalidad de este EIA, así como el defectuoso proceso de consulta que se encuentra garantizado por la Constitución. Como se esperaba, las comunidades locales están extremadamente molestas por la forma en que se les dejó fuera de todo este proceso. Al ponderar la historia de los violentos hechos relacionados con la minería en la zona, nada garantiza que la presencia de CODELCO no vaya a encender un nuevo ciclo de conflictos y confrontaciones.

El proyecto amenaza prístinas fuentes de agua, así como bosques primarios y secundarios ubicados dentro de dos de las regiones con mayor diversidad biológica del mundo: Tumbes-Chocó Magdalena y el Hotspot Biológico de los Andes Tropicales. De los 34 Hotspots del mundo, el Hotspot de los Andes es, por mucho, el más diverso y uno de los más amenazados (http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/Pages/default.aspx). Además, la zona está ubicada en un Área Importante para la Conservación de las Aves (AICA) (http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/sites/andes_ibas/pdfs/Ec_367-371.pdf) y es excepcionalmente rica en su diversidad de orquídeas (algunas de ellas se encuentran solamente en esta región).

CODELCO, la productora más grande de cobre del mundo, tiene mucha experiencia en minería en el desierto de Atacama, el desierto más árido del mundo. Esto es lo que Wikipedia dice sobre Atacama: Las precipitaciones (lluvia) en esta región de Chile es, en promedio, de tan solo 1 milímetro de lluvia (0.04 pulgadas) por año. En varias estaciones meteorológicas del Atacama nunca ha habido lluvia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atacama_desert). Las precipitaciones en el área “minera” en que CODELCO se encuentra ahora son, en promedio, de entre 3.000 y 4.000 milímetros de lluvia por año. A continuación, entérese de las implicaciones de este hecho.

CODELCO Y LA CONTAMINACIÓN A PERPETUIDAD
Este alto volumen de precipitación es una pesadilla para las compañías mineras, pero es especialmente preocupante para el medio ambiente y las comunidades. Un alto nivel de agua (tanto de lluvia como la de los acuíferos) y la minería simplemente no pueden mezclarse, pues esto incrementa de manera astronómica las probabilidades de generar lo que se conoce como Drenaje Ácido de Minas: una reacción química entre el aire, el agua, los metales pesados y el sulfuro que se encuentra en el suelo y el subsuelo mineralizados, los cuales están presentes en Intag y Manduriacos (tal como lo confirmaron los científicos de Mitsubishi en la década de 1990).

El Drenaje Ácido es un proceso que, una vez iniciado, es virtualmente imposible de frenar y puede continuar contaminando ríos y arroyos durante cientos –y hasta miles– de años (para mayor información, ver:http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/acid_mine_drainage).

CODELCO mentirá acerca de los impactos de la exploración. Asegurará que sus actividades tendrán poco o ningún impacto. Sin embargo, Mitsubishi contaminó el río Junín y sus afluentes con plomo y arsénico como consecuencia de los hoyos exploratorios que perforaron para encontrar cobre. La contaminación se mantiene hasta el día de hoy, diecisiete años después de que el último hoyo fue perforado.

SI esto no es suficiente para poner en tela de duda el éxito de CODELCO en Intag y Manduriacos, considere lo siguiente­:
· La minería a cielo abierto es ilegal en el Cantón Cotacachi.. Fue prohibida en el año 2000 con la aprobación de la Ordenanza Municipal legalmente vinculante que declara a Cotacachi como Cantón Ecológico,
· La concesión minera de CODELCO está rodeada por cuatro áreas protegidas (los Bosques Protectores de los Cedros y el Chontal, la Zona Municipal Protegida de Toisán, y la Reserva Comunitaria de Junín). Además, es muy probable que se encuentre dentro de la Zona Municipal Protegida.
· ¿Aun no resulta suficiente? ¿Qué tal si se toma en cuenta que la zona en la cual están buscando cobre es un área extraordinariamente rica en vestigios arqueológicos preincásicos pertenecientes a una cultura de la cual todavía se conoce muy poco? Ah, dicho sea de paso que, para efectos prácticos, la minería es ilegal en sitios de estas características.
· Finalmente, CODELCO debería saber que la gente en Intag no lo permitirá. A lo largo de los últimos 17 años de confrontar a las transnacionales, la gente ha aprendido unas cuantas lecciones. Obligaron a Mitsubishi a marcharse en 1997 y luego a Copper Mesa en 2008. En el último caso, no solo tuvieron que abandonar Intag sino que, además, la compañía perdió sus concesiones, fue expulsada de la Bolsa de Valores de Toronto, y fue demandada en Canadá. Lo último que escuchamos fue que la compañía se declaró en QUIEBRA.

Una de las tragedias causadas por la insistencia en desarrollar este proyecto es su costo social. Dadas las razones mencionadas anteriormente, es muy probable que CODELCO fracase también en Intag y Manduriacos. La pregunta es ¿cuál será el costo de su fracaso para la región y sus comunidades?
En Chile, tanto los dueños de la empresa como el pueblo chileno también deberían preguntarse: ¿qué está haciendo nuestra empresa en esta joya biológica y social en donde no son bienvenidos, y en donde la minería puede causar tal devastación ambiental? Y entonces ¿VALE LA PENA?

Carlos Zorrilla
www.decoin.org
decointag@gmail.com

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By Carlos Zorrilla, December 5, 2011

LAST (and quick) UPDATE FOR 2011
FINALLY!!!! Earth Economic’s Economic groundbreaking Analysis of Intag’s ecosystem value
HAPPY NEW YEAR

Word has it that Codelco will try to go into the Paraiso area within two weeks. Their Environmental Impact Study was approved- something we confirmed from a high government official. Organizations will meet in the next week to discuss best options.

Needless to say, we are counting on your support. THERE ARE many things we can use from our supporters- such as digital camera equipment; international volunteers, and so on. If you’d like to help, please drop us a line.

But not all is doom and gloom. DECOIN continues to plant thousands of native tree species in protected community land that we helped purchase. Over 900 hectares conserved this year with help from GEO schützt den Regenwald. THANK YOU GEO.

We are also expanding our work to include more environmental education in schools and communities (our thanks to the wonderful people at the Sloth Club).

There are many other things we are up to, BUT PROBABLY THE BIGGEST NEWS is that FINALLY, the Economic Analysis of Intag’s Ecosystem is done, and published

http://www.eartheconomics.org/FileLibrary/file/Reports/Latin%20America/Final%20Intag%20Report_lo_res.pdf

The reports highlights the productiveness of ecosystems, and compares it to the high costs of of mining and its impacts on the environment. One of the main objectives of the DECOIN-contracted study, was to show government officials the real costs of mining in places like Intag, and just how productive ecosystems are.

We are sure the report will help many communities in different parts of the world.
We’ll soon be receiving the hard-back copies to distribute to high, mid and low level government officials, as well as to orgnanizations.

OUR MOST SINCERE AND HEARTFELT THANK YOU to all of you who have gone out of your way to help us in Intag continue to create an alternative to the insanity consuming the world.

OUR BEST WISHES FOR A VERY HAPPY, PROSPEROUS AND HARMONIOUS 2012

INTAG BESIEGED BY MINING AND ILLEGALITY (Español abajo)

AND THIS IS WHY CODELCO WILL ALSO FAIL

As we read in the press release below, CODELCO (Chilean mining company) reports that the Ecuadorian government has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for El Paraíso project, which is close to the Junín copper mining project located in Intag, Imbabura Province. The press release – where the mining concession is referred to as El Palmar – also highlights the fact that both the company and the Ecuadorian government are interested in participating in several copper mining projects in northern Ecuador. So far, Intag is the only site in the north where copper deposits have been found. (Original press release here:

http://www.codelco.cl/prontus_codelco/site/artic/20111128/pags/20111128122201.html

It should be noted that the EIA, as mentioned in CODELCO’s press release, was supposedly developed for an advanced exploration phase. However, the CEDHU (Ecumenical Commission for Human Rights) holds a document by the Ministry of Environment according to which the Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment –a mandatory requisite for the advanced exploration phase EIA to be approved – does not even exist.

Unfortunately, this is not the only flaw with this mining project. About six months ago, the García Moreno parish government (Cotacachi Canton), in consort with DECOIN (Defense and Conservation of Intag) and the CEDHU, presented a very well grounded opposing posture based on the technical and scientific errors contained in the EIA, as well as on the illegal community consultation process and socialization of the EIA, which excluded four out of the five communities that live within the project area.

Up to this date, the Ministry of Environment has given no response to any of the comments and claims made through this opposing posture, despite the fact that the CEDHU and the Ombudsman have requested such a response more than once. On the other hand, the Ministry of Environment itself highlighted 28 points of dissent with regard to the EIA carried out by the Calidad Ambiental (Environmental Quality) company. Surprisingly, on November 28, we found out about the approval of the latest EIA, which was not socialized with the local governments, let alone the communities within the area of influence of the mining project.

This mining project is threatening primary and secondary forests, five sources of water, and the habitat of at least 12 species of endangered fauna, and the source of drinking water for two communities. To make matters worse, the project area is exceptionally rich in archaeological remains of the Yumbo culture. One of the biggest risks is that the start of this illegitimate project could cause new clashes in the area of Intag and Mandariyacos, since most communities, local governments and NGOs in the area of influence remain firmly opposed to mining.

Según el comunicado de prensa que sigue, CODELCO (empresa minera Chilena) informa que el gobierno ecuatoriano

aprobó el Estudio de Impacto Ambiental para el proyecto El Paraíso, el cual se encuentra muy cercano al proyecto cuprífero JUNIN, ubicado en la Zona de Intag, Provincia de Imbabura (en el boletín de prensa se refieren a dicha concesión minera como El Palmar). El boletín también menciona el interés de la empresa y del gobierno ecuatoriano de intervenir en varios proyectos cupríferos en el norte del país.  El único lugar donde se ha descubierto yacimientos de cobre en el norte del Ecuador, es en la zona de Intag.

Cabe señalar que el Estudio de Impacto Ambiental ( EIA) aludido en el boletín de CODELCO fue supuestamente elaborado para la exploración avanzada.  Sin embargo, según un oficio en manos de la CEDHU del Ministerio del Ambiente, no existe el Estudio de Impacto Ambiental Inicial- requisito indispensable para que se apruebe el EIA para la exploración avanzada.

Pero esta no es la única irregularidad relacionada a este proyecto minero.  Hace aproximadamente seis meses, el gobierno Parroquial de García Moreno (Cantón Cotacachi), juntamente con la CEDHU y la DECOIN presentó una oposición muy bien fundamentada basada en los errores técnicos y científicos del Estudio de Impacto Ambiental,  al igual que en la ilegítima consulta con las comunidades,  y en la socialización del EIA, la cual excluyó a cuatro de las cinco comunidades dentro del área del proyecto.

Hasta la fecha, el Ministerio del Ambiente no ha respondido a las observaciones y reclamos realizadas en dicha oposición, a pesar de ser solicitado en más de una ocasión por la CEDHU y el Defensor del Pueblo.   Por otro lado, el propio Ministerio del Ambiente resaltó 28 puntos de inconformidad relacionados al EIA, el cual fue llevado a cabo por la empresa Calidad Ambiental.  Sorpresivamente, nos enteramos el día 28 de noviembre de la aprobación del nuevo EIA sin que se hubiera socializado con los gobiernos locales, y peor aún con las comunidades dentro del área de influencia del proyecto minero.

Este proyecto minero amenaza bosques primarios y secundarios y cinco fuentes de agua, además que el hábitat de por lo menos 12 especies de animales en peligro de extincción, y la fuente de agua bebible de dos comunidades. Como si fuera poco, el área del proyecto es excepcionalmente rica en vestigios arqueológicos de la cultura Yumbo.  Uno de los mayores riesgos es que el arranque de este ilegítimo proyecto provoque nuevos enfrentamientos en la zona de Intag y los Mandariyacos, ya que la mayoría de las comunidades, gobiernos locales y ONG en el área de influencia mantienen una firme oposición a la minería.

But, here is

WHY CODELCO WILL ALSO FAIL IN INTAG

I recently had a look at the government’s brand new mining development plan for 20II-20I5. Junin is mentioned several times, not just as having an incredible 40% of the country’s mineral wealth (supposedly 84 billion dollars worth- quite a stretch!!), but also because the government thinks it can start working in Junin in 2012. Where does this leave CODELCO? The world’s largest copper producer (owned by the Chilean Government and its people) is trying very hard to look for copper just west of Junin- in the vicinity of the El Paraiso community. Apparently, the individual who owns the concession, has $omehow managed to get approval the first stage of the Environmental Impact Study. But, bear in mind that CODELCO only does mega mining project- coincidentally, in the world’s driest desert (the Atacama, in northern Chile). They will not consider relatively small projects as might exist in the 800 hectare concession they are playing around in at the moment. It’s pretty clear their sights are set on Junin, and they are likely seeing it as a joint-venture with the Ecuadorian government.

Why do I say Codelco will surely fail in Junin? Let me count the ways:
Because they started on the wrong foot: lying to locals, failing to consult in good faith, and trying to buy the support they need with money and promises (Duh!, that’s creative!!)
Because they know, or should know, that the overwhelming majority of communities, organizations, and local governments in Intag reject mining as a model of development in (hello in there… two transnationals defeated, and what can you do that they others didn’t?). In a recent national anti-mining assembly, the rejection of Codelco’s presence in Intag was vociferous as it was total. And if that wasn’t enough, in a recent development that should grow a few grey hairs in Chile, the mayor of Cotacachi County, Alberto Andrango, publicly stated (newspaper interview in August of this year) his rejection for mining for the whole County, and that his government will support tourism and agriculture instead.
Because they know, or should know, that the area is rich in primary cloud forests that are the home of dozens of species of mammals and birds facing extinction. And because open-pit mining is illegal in Cotacachi County. It was outlawed in 2000 with the passing of the legally-binding Cotacachi Ecological County Ordinance. Plus, they are practically surrounded by and within four protected areas (the Los Cedros, and the Chontal Protected Forests, the Toisan Municipal Protected Area, and the Junin Community Reserve). Not enough? How about that where they are looking for copper is extraordinarily rich in pre-Spanish archeological vestiges belonging to a people which very, very little is known about? Oh, and by the way, for all practical purposes, mining is illegal in such sites.
Because they know, or should know, that the people in Intag will not allow it. During the course of the last almost 17 years of standing up to transnationals, they’ve learned a few tricks. They made Mitsubishi clear out in 1997, and then Copper Mesa in 2008. In the case of the latter, not only did it have to abandon Intag, but the company lost its concessions, was kicked off the Toronto Stock Exchange, and was sued in Canada. It hasn’t been heard from since.

Surely, at a time when hundreds of thousands of Chileans are taking to the streets to protest in favor of improved public education, the Chilean government can think of better things to do with its citizen’s money than to throw away in a mining project that is guaranteed to fail.

Carlos Zorrilla
Intag

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By Carlos Zorrilla, November 29, 2011

Ecuador’s state mining company, signed a deal   to begin exploration of promising copper deposits  in the north of the country and within mining areas belonging to Ecuador.  There are very few places with such characteristics, and of course, the main one is in Intag. And, in fact, Codelco mentions in this news release (http://www.codelco.cl/prontus_codelco/site/artic/20111128/pags/20111128122201.html)  the name El Palmar, which is a mining concession near to Junin better known as El PARAISO (see past blogs).

Codelco says- incredibly- that the amazingly flawed Environmental Impact Study was approved, and that activities should begin soon.

Let me remind everyone what is at stake and WHY:

CODELCO WILL ALSO FAIL IN INTAG

I recently had a look at the government’s brand new mining development plan for 20II-20I5. Junin is mentioned several times, not just as having an incredible 40% of the country’s mineral wealth (supposedly 84 billion dollars worth- quite a stretch!!), but also because the government thinks it can start working in Junin in 2012. Where does this leave CODELCO? The world’s largest copper producer (owned by the Chilean Government and its people) is trying very hard to look for copper just west of Junin- in the vicinity of the El Paraiso community. Apparently, the individual who owns the concession, has $omehow managed to get approval the first stage of the Environmental Impact Study. But, bear in mind that CODELCO only does mega mining project- coincidentally, in the world’s driest desert (the Atacama, in northern Chile). They will not consider relatively small projects as might exist in the 800 hectare concession they are playing around in at the moment. It’s pretty clear their sights are set on Junin, and they are likely seeing it as a joint-venture with the Ecuadorian government.

Why do I say Codelco will surely fail in Junin? Let me count the ways:
Because they started on the wrong foot: lying to locals, failing to consult in good faith, and trying to buy the support they need with money and promises (Duh!, that’s creative!!)
Because they know, or should know, that the overwhelming majority of communities, organizations, and local governments in Intag reject mining as a model of development in (hello in there… two transnationals defeated, and what can you do that they others didn’t?). In a recent national anti-mining assembly, the rejection of Codelco’s presence in Intag was vociferous as it was total. And if that wasn’t enough, in a recent development that should grow a few grey hairs in Chile, the mayor of Cotacachi County, Alberto Andrango, publicly stated (newspaper interview in August of this year) his rejection for mining for the whole County, and that his government will support tourism and agriculture instead.
Because they know, or should know, that the area is rich in primary cloud forests that are the home of dozens of species of mammals and birds facing extinction. And because open-pit mining is illegal in Cotacachi County. It was outlawed in 2000 with the passing of the legally-binding Cotacachi Ecological County Ordinance. Plus, they are practically surrounded by and within four protected areas (the Los Cedros, and the Chontal Protected Forests, the Toisan Municipal Protected Area, and the Junin Community Reserve). Not enough? How about that where they are looking for copper is extraordinarily rich in pre-Spanish archeological vestiges belonging to a people which very, very little is known about? Oh, and by the way, for all practical purposes, mining is illegal in such sites.
Because they know, or should know, that the people in Intag will not allow it. During the course of the last almost 17 years of standing up to transnationals, they’ve learned a few tricks. They made Mitsubishi clear out in 1997, and then Copper Mesa in 2008. In the case of the latter, not only did it have to abandon Intag, but the company lost its concessions, was kicked off the Toronto Stock Exchange, and was sued in Canada. It hasn’t been heard from since.

Surely, at a time when hundreds of thousands of Chileans are taking to the streets to protest in favor of improved public education, the Chilean government can think of better things to do with its citizen’s money than to throw away in a mining project that is guaranteed to fail.

Carlos Zorrilla
Intag

(Small part of Red Dog mine in Alaska)

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By Carlos Zorrilla, October 24, 2011

 Please see this blog for the photos accompanying the denouncement of the presence of military personnel in Intag to suppossedly control the traffic of illegal lumber and alcohol, and updating mapping information http://cordinadorazonalintag.blogspot.com

This comes at a time when the Correa regimen has made it public its intent on opening up and exploiting the JUNIN copper reserve together with CODELCO, Chile´s copper coorporation. If you need translation, use http://translate.google.es/#

Carlos

¿Empieza la militarización de Intag?Cordinadora Zonal de Intag

Octubre de 2011

 La presencia de más de una veintena de militares del batallón Yaguachi en la zona de Intag, Cotacachi desde hace casi una semana, ha causado gran malestar y preocupación en la población.

El día viernes 14 de octubre un grupo de 9 efectivos fue interceptado por la comunidad en el antiguo camino al campamento minero de los japoneses en la comunidad de Junín.

 Cuando se les preguntó el motivo de esta inesperada visita al área minera, en un primer momento el oficial a cargo, quien no quiso identificarse, indicó pertenecer al Instituto Geográfico Militar (IGM) y que se encuentran actualizando los mapas del área. Sin embargo el mismo soldado descubre su mentira cuando poco más adelante dice ser del batallón Yaguachi de Ibarra y que los puntos que tomen con el GPS los mandan por e-mail al IGM…

“Somos del IGM……”  la insignia en el uniforme corresponde al batallón Yaguachi. 

 Fue tan evidente la contradicción del uniformado que de manera inmediata los comuneros de Junín les advirtieron ante cualquier intento que tengan ellos para abrir el camino a la exploración minera en la zona, lo cual será impedido a toda costa por la comunidad organizada.

Pobladora de Junín conversa con el oficial a cargo del grupo de militares quien no se identificó 

 Al parecer los militares no se han puesto de acuerdo sobre su misión en Intag: increpados por su presencia en la zona, han expuesto una infinidad de objetivos: control de armas, control de motos robadas, control de aguardiente, control de madera, están persiguiendo a unos narcotraficantes colombianos, viene a capacitar a la gente, actualizar mapas, dar seguridad ante el robo de ganado… sin embargo hasta el momento se han limitado a hacer labores de “inteligencia”, parando vehículos y solicitando identificaciones, haciendo preguntas sobre las actividades económicas de las personas, averiguando sobre las organizaciones, etc.

 El día lunes 14 fueron vistos vestidos de civil comprando bebidas en Apuela, lo cual motivó el reclamo de las personas que están en el lugar. Posteriormente estaban bañándose en las piscinas de aguas termales de Nangulví a las 3 de la tarde del lunes (y espantando a los turistas). La gente se pregunta si es esa la forma de controlar la delincuencia.    

  Lunes 17 de octubre 14h30. Disfrutando de un “merecido” baño en las aguas termales  

 (FOTO) Campamento militar en cabañas Río Grande 

 En todo caso lo que es seguro es que están en Intag, haciendo campamento en una hostería privada con baño en las termas incluido y dicen que se quedan de largo.

   Control de madera, aguardiente, areteo de ganado, mapas. Entre los múltiples oficios encomendados para los militares en Intag. Vehículos muy apropiados para tal labor. 

 ¿Será que la minería responsable empieza con los militares?

Se ha pedido respuestas sobre la presencia de los militares en Intag a distintas autoridades. Gobernación, alcaldía, ministerios de defensa y de interior. Nadie dice una sola palabra.

 Sin embargo ya vemos como ésta estrategia ha sido utilizada en varios lugares. Mientras vemos por los medios la violenta represión ocurrida en Chone contra la población opuesta al proyecto de propósito múltiple y en defensa de sus tierras, o el desalojo de las comunidades que resisten al proyecto hidroeléctrico en el río Topo en Tungurahua, la militarización de sistemas de agua del Azuay, la presencia de militares en territorio Achuar y Quichua de la Amazonía para proteger intereses mineros y petroleros, no es de extrañarse que el gobierno de Correa pretenda también aplicar esta misma estrategia en Intag.

 Las recientes declaraciones Wilson Pastor Morris, ministro de recursos naturales no renovables (MRNNR) manifestando la intención de crear una empresa de economía mixta con CODELCO de Chile para el proyecto Junín y la próxima subasta de concesiones mineras, son evidentemente el escenario que quieren asegurar los militares.

 Huyen del diálogo por que saben que no tienen respuestas.

 Se esconden detrás de las armas por que le temen al pueblo.

 Mienten cada sábado por que piensan que el pueblo es tonto y que se vende por papelitos de colores.

 CODELCO en Intag

 La presencia de CODECLO en Intag desde hace mas de un año, en el sector El Paraíso, (también llamado El Palmal o concesión Mandariyacus, ridícula estrategia de distracción de CODELCO y el MRNNR), a pocos Km. de Junín,  se da en condiciones absolutas de ilegalidad. El mismo ministerio del ambiente negó el estudio de impacto ambiental para exploración avanzada luego de la oposición planteada por la Junta Parroquial y las organizaciones locales, así como la negativa de la municipalidad de Cotacachi a otorgar la autorización respectiva por ser una actividad contraria a la visión del cantón.

 Video de la reunión de “socialización “ de Codelco: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RqIFDzbx-0

 Sin embargo, de manera insólita, el MRNNR organizó hace pocas semanas una inspección con más de 10 funcionarios para “demostrar” que el área no es zona urbana y tratar de interpretar a favor de la minera el contenido del plan de desarrollo y ordenamiento territorial del cantón. Lamentablemente para ellos, El Paraíso es una comunidad con escuela, canchas, capilla, reserva hídrica, talleres de artesanías y un grupo de mujeres organizadas y “bien bravas”. Además, el plan de desarrollo y ordenamiento territorial de Cotacachi, tiene una visión no extractivista, declara ilegal actividades que contaminen el agua y que utilicen sustancias químicas peligrosas. Mas bien potencia en estos lugares la conservación y las actividades sustentables como eco turismo, agroforestería, reforestación, artesanías, agroindustria, generación hidroeléctrica a pequeña escala, con proyectos rentables y sustentables cuyos estudios de factibilidad demuestran ser más viables que la minería.

 Para completar el triste cuadro de intereses creados del MRNNR en la zona, en clara violación y contraposición a los principios de la constitución y la ley de minería, que supuestamente refuerza el rol de Estado en los procesos de información y consulta con las comunidades, CODELCO ha subcontratado a la empresa S.A.M SA. (cuyo socio principal es gerente de exploraciones de IAM GOLD). Esta  empresa está encargada nuevamente de hacer el “trabajo sucio”: ganarse a población con fiestas, hornado y regalitos de navidad, seguir explorando de manera ilegal y realizar nuevamente un estudio ambiental.

 Como si con eso fueran a cambiar 15 años de historia de la población de Intag oponiéndose a un modelo de desarrollo devastador y genocida como la minería metálica a gran escala.

 CODELCO es una de las empresas estatales más cuestionadas en Chile por los crecientes casos de corrupción en que sus dirigentes se ven envueltos, precisamente en un país que deja ver los huesos de un sistema basado en la minería. Modelo que en lugar de repartir riqueza, la ha concentrado y generado tal desigualdad, que hoy vemos cada día un nuevo episodio de la lucha que jóvenes libran contra un estado que les roba el futuro. Mientras eso ocurre, las rentas mineras van a engordar los arsenales del ejército y la policía, claro ejemplo del devenir de las economías dependientes de la explotación de materias primas: estados represores altamente militarizados.

Pareciera que Correa y Piñera tienen mucho más en común de lo que muchos se imaginan. Veremos como evoluciona en los próximos meses este intento por militarizar Intag para comprobarlo.   

  Río Manduriaco Grande, aguas cristalinas amenazadas por la minería metálica a gran escala en la Cordillera del Toisán 

  — Cordinadora Zonal de Intag

comunidades – organizaciones – gobiernos locales de Intag Cotacachi, Imbabura

intag.cordinadorazonal@gmail.comhttp://cordinadorazonalintag.blogspot.com

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By Carlos Zorrilla, September 22, 2011

Intag news, September two thousand and eleven

Police arrests anti-mining activists Updated 25 September

Stopping Codelco in Intag- For Now
Large Scale mining: another green light
The folly of Ecuador’s new mining plan
Conservation in Intag

Selva Alegre and Lafarge: New Arrests in Intag

This last September 9, a squad of police from the town of Otavalo arrested nine activists protesting against Lafarge’s Selva Alegre limestone mine. In the violent police raid, and according to first-hand reports- a woman was beaten, and a house broken into by police without a legal warrant. Four of the nine are currently under arrest and charged with terrorism, sabotage and for obstructing a public road. The activists were arrested for blocking the road the company uses to transport the limestone to Otavalo to make cement, and were part of about twenty-five others belonging to a local group opposed to the mining activities which is impacting their land. The protestors were also clamoring for more jobs to go to the locals.

The mine, which belongs to the world’s largest cement manufacturer, was recently cited for contamination and illegal mining practices. Only in an upside down world such as ours does the police arrest demonstrators opposing an illegal mining operations. But that’s another story- you can read about some of the outrageousness associated with the world’s larges cement maker- Lafarge, on our site:  www.lafargeotavalo.com

UPDATE 25 Sept>  According to new information, the four arrested- who were also beaten up during the violent raid- were set free on Thursday- but they have to report once a week to the public prosecutor in Otavalo until the authorities decide what to do with them… It seems that the government officials would like the whole thing to just go away, as there will very likely be charges filed for human rights violations against the police.  The woman who was cruelly beaten left the clinic on Sept 12- four days after the police action-  If the police had not confiscated the cameras used to document the alleged police brutality, we would be showing some of the images in this post.  The Quito-based  human rights organization, CEDHU, will be supporting the victims of the police raid, as well as the Public Defender (Ombudsman).  The police  and the public prosecutor will have some explaining to do regarding the brutal use of force and the illegal entry into a home without a search warrant.

Sadly, the use of public force to quell public protest in order to uphold business rights and governmental policy  is becoming a norm in this once-upon-a-time peaceful country.  This, in spite of the fact that right to resist policies and measures that threaten one’s Constitutional rights- such as the right to live in an safe  environment,  are embedded in the Constitution.

Stopping Codelco in Intag- for Now
I mentioned in my earlier blog that Junin without Codelco makes no sense, especially since - except for undermining human rights- the Ecuadorian government mining company has no experience at all with any kind of mining. It seems that the letter of opposition that DECOIN, Cedhu (human rights organization) and the local government of Garcia Moreno sent to the Ministry of the Environment worked to stop the start of the exploration at the El Paraiso concession- just west of Junin. The Ministry cited 28 instances of non-compliance with the law in the Study where the concession owner (a private individual), will have to first comply with before it can began exploring. Together with Cedhu, we are hoping to soon present new legal challenges to this very poor study. But for now, the exploration has been stopped. A total lack of funds to pay for legal fees is the main obstacle that keeps us from pursuing the legal angle more fully.

Ecuador’s new mining plan.
As I mentioned previously, Ecuador has a brand new mining development plan. It calls for opening up all the country to large-scale mining- including its ocean floor. Presently, only about 4% of the country is in the hands of mining companies; the plan would like to see all of the country explored or exploited for minerals. All, except the protected areas- but these can be opened with a simple OK of the legislative, which is controlled by the Executive who is, in turn, enamored with the mining model of development (which translates into: more cheap resources for the rich North; more poverty and environmental, cultural and social devastation for the South).

The Junin concession figures very large in the Plan- with about 9 million dollars earmarked by the government for exploratory activities for what is left of this year, and 2012. According to the government, Junin holds 40% of the nation’s mineral wealth. Where they got this number is a mystery, but it is entirely fabricated. In any case, given that yesterday the government approved the Environmental Impact Study for the very first large-scale copper mine in the South (El Mirador- belonging to a Chinese company), the pressure is bound to increase here in the North. The El Mirador study had 250 issues brought up by experts in the field of Environmental Impact Studies; yet the government went ahead and approved it. No, it does not bode well four our neck of the woods…

Conservation:
DECOIN continues to buy forests (800 hectares in 2010; 900 planned for 2011), is working with communities to continue planting trees in their reserves (50,000 this year)); and to try to buy more community watershed reserves to protect water, biodiversity and forests. The project also protects the health of thousands of Inteño residents, by providing safe water. The project is now severely underfunded, even though it is, in my mind, the single most effective conservation initiative going in Intag. Why? Because the communities urgently want to protect their water sources and are willing to do whatever it takes to protect them.

There are many paper protected areas in the world; many will be invaded, or ransacked by loggers or copper and gold mines, or oil extraction in the near future, initiated by governments like Ecuador’s, who can only see the short-term benefits of extractive development. In this context, it is appalling to me that so many conservation organizations are into the numbers game, and cannot see the value of community-based conservation initiatives such as ours. They are stuck in the Big Numbers Syndrome of “protected forests”, so they can show off to their donors the large numbers of hectares they are supposedly helping protect. Ours is a small-is-beautiful- but very effective approach. Give communities a real reason to protect biodiversity and forests, and they will risk their lives to protect them, even if it means fighting the government’s short-sighted plans. For me, it is the only way of assuring long-term protection of the country’s biological wealth. And it is tragic that it is so difficult to assure enough funding for these kinds of initiatives.

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By Carlos Zorrilla, August 12, 2011

WHY CODELCO WILL ALSO FAIL IN INTAG

I recently had a look at the government’s brand new mining development plan for 20II-20I5. Junin is mentioned several times, not just as having an incredible 40% of the country’s mineral wealth (supposedly 84 billion dollars worth- quite a stretch!!), but also because the government thinks it can start working in Junin in 2012. Where does this leave CODELCO? The world’s largest copper producer (owned by the Chilean Government and its people) is trying very hard to look for copper just west of Junin- in the vicinity of the El Paraiso community. Apparently, the individual who owns the concession, has $omehow managed to get approval the first stage of the Environmental Impact Study. But, bear in mind that CODELCO only does mega mining project- coincidentally, in the world’s driest desert (the Atacama, in northern Chile). They will not consider relatively small projects as might exist in the 800 hectare concession they are playing around in at the moment. It’s pretty clear their sights are set on Junin, and they are likely seeing it as a joint-venture with the Ecuadorian government.

Why do I say Codelco will surely fail in Junin? Let me count the ways:
Because they started on the wrong foot: lying to locals, failing to consult in good faith, and trying to buy the support they need with money and promises (Duh!, that’s creative!!)
Because they know, or should know, that the overwhelming majority of communities, organizations, and local governments in Intag reject mining as a model of development in (hello in there… two transnationals defeated, and what can you do that they others didn’t?). In a recent national anti-mining assembly, the rejection of Codelco’s presence in Intag was vociferous as it was total. And if that wasn’t enough, in a recent development that should grow a few grey hairs in Chile, the mayor of Cotacachi County, Alberto Andrango, publicly stated (newspaper interview in August of this year) his rejection for mining for the whole County, and that his government will support tourism and agriculture instead.
Because they know, or should know, that the area is rich in primary cloud forests that are the home of dozens of species of mammals and birds facing extinction. And because open-pit mining is illegal in Cotacachi County. It was outlawed in 2000 with the passing of the legally-binding Cotacachi Ecological County Ordinance. Plus, they are practically surrounded by and within four protected areas (the Los Cedros, and the Chontal Protected Forests, the Toisan Municipal Protected Area, and the Junin Community Reserve). Not enough? How about that where they are looking for copper is extraordinarily rich in pre-Spanish archeological vestiges belonging to a people which very, very little is known about? Oh, and by the way, for all practical purposes, mining is illegal in such sites.
Because they know, or should know, that the people in Intag will not allow it. During the course of the last almost 17 years of standing up to transnationals, they’ve learned a few tricks. They made Mitsubishi clear out in 1997, and then Copper Mesa in 2008. In the case of the latter, not only did it have to abandon Intag, but the company lost its concessions, was kicked off the Toronto Stock Exchange, and was sued in Canada. It hasn’t been heard from since.

Surely, at a time when hundreds of thousands of Chileans are taking to the streets to protest in favor of improved public education, the Chilean government can think of better things to do with its citizen’s money than to throw away in a mining project that is guaranteed to fail.

Carlos Zorrilla
Intag

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By Carlos Zorrilla, June 4, 2011

JUNE 4 UPDATE:

Mining Paradise II:  Intag’s New Ominous Mining THREATS

Is the Junin nightmare about to restart?

Paraiso and Codelco

Lafarge Cement taken to court

Mining mayhem

June 4…  Yesterday we heard that Codelco, Chile’s state-owned copper company and the world’s largest producer of the red metal, was officially interested in reopening the JUNIN mine as part of government initiative (this according to Ecuador’s Chamber of Mines).  Late in the evening, however, Codelco went out of its way to say it was not planning to explore the JUNIN   concession.  At the same time reliable sources from the PARAISO area, reported eight pick-up loads of Codelco engineers, who are, supposedly, taking samples from the the area around El Paraiso, and perhaps the rest of the Toisan Range (water and rock samples).   El Paraiso, as pointed out before, is much too small for Codelco, who only has undertaken huge mining projects- most of them in the world’s driest desert (Atacama). So, it looks like they (teh company and government) are testing the waters before plunging.

The possible start up of the JUNIN project is just one of 7 ongoing and potential mining hassles going on in Intag (the others are:  marble mine at Barcelona; a new marble mine proposed at El Rosal; Paraiso, Corazon (small gold mine with  contamination issues);Lafarge,  and two new concessions in the Paraiso area),,, Make that 8, not seven hassles.

Regarding El Paraiso: together with Cedhu, Ecuador’s most prestigious human rights organization, and the government of Garcia Moreno, DECOIN filed an opposition to El Paraiso’s hard-to-believe Environmental Impact Statement.  The Ministry of the Environment responded that they haven’t even received the EIA, so not to worry (yes, we worry!!)..  Apparently, the concession owner (who works closely with CODELCO) is amending the EIA.  One of the main points we made was that the EIA was illegitimate because it did not include legitimate public discussion.  We also pointed out some of the abundant mistakes  in the document, which seemed more of a copy and paste of another EIA.

LAFARGE.   Recently we got a hold of the Environmental Audit for the Lafarge limestone quarry here in Intag and found some interesting stuff.  The Auditors found the company in violation of many environmental norms (using and destroying the side of a mountain to process the limestone, air and noise contamination of school kids living next to the road, river contamination with phenol and limestone, complete destruction of archeological site, and a few more great impacts generated by one of the world’s most responsible mining companies who has, by the way, a deal with WWF to be greener.

CHECK THE NEW WEBSITE we made to denounce Lafarge at:

www. lafargeotavalo.com

Mining Paradise II: Update 5 April

It’s been a while.  I’m going to try to summarize as much as possible as too much is going on.The new mining threat, in the area of the El Paraiso community, lies approximately 4 kilometers in a straight line west of Junin as is part of a 800 hectare mining concessions owned by an individual who has signed (according to official documents) an agreement with CODELCO, the world’s largest copper producer (1,8 million tons, or 11% of the world’s total production). The concessions is adjacent to the extremely biodiverse Los Cedros Protected Area.  While lying within the Cotacachi County, this area is known as Manduriacos and is adjacent to Intag.

CODELCO is owned by the Chilean government and has little experience with mining copper outside the Atacama desert- the driest in the world- where most of its large mines are located.

This week the concession owner, with the support of the Ministry of the Environment, and the Ministry of Non-Renewable Resources, commenced socializing its environmental impact study (EIS) in El Paraiso in order to begin exploration of the concession- with Codelco personnel.  The existence of the study was news to most of the people in the area- and especially those around Magdalena Bajo, who were hardly aware of the existence of the mining project and who did not participate in the making of the Terms of Reference- a legal preliminary step necessary for carrying out the EIS.

This is not the only illegality CODELCO is so far party to.  Citing violation of its Ecological Ordinance, the Municipality of Cotacachi last month refused to emit a legally required permit to the concession owner to carry out mining activities.  The ordinance prohibits mining in native forests.  The owner, supported by CODELCO, is obviously intending to ignore the wishes of local residents and disrespect local laws.  The disrespect of local authorities extends to the local Government of Garcia Moreno- who has not received any documents  from the mining company as required by law.

Rejection early in the game.      This last Saturday (March 26) 57 persons from the community of Magdalena Bajo with members of El Paraiso and other nearby communities met to express their outrage and rejection of  the mining project.  One of the resolution taken was to ask the assistance of DECOIN and for it to be present next Saturday’s meeting in El Paraiso when government officials will come to attempt to legitimize the illegality (the socialization of the EIS is a legal step in the process to begin exploration- but so is socializing the Terms of Reference which was never properly done).

Lafarge, or is it Lafarce?

Yes, it’ll seem surreal, but at the same time this new threat is looming over the horizon, a group of people affected by the operations of the quarry site in Selva Alegre, Intag, as well as the cement factory outside Otavalo where Lafarge transforms the limestone mine in Intag into cement contacted us to see if we could help them with labor, human rights violations and contamination issues.  France-based Lafarge is the world’s largest cement manufacturer.  In Intag they use the technique known as mountain top removal to strip the limestone from an area rich in native cloud forests.

After many denunciations and persistence from a group of landowners surrounding the mine and factory in late 2010 the Ministry of the Environment carried out several inspections to both sites and confirmed that the company “was in violation of Ecuadorian environmental law and regulations- specifically regarding the components: air, water and soil, and vibration“ (taken from one of the inspections).  We are working with involved stakeholders to see how we can be of help.

However, given that quite a remarkable number of illegalities and irregularities have been documented and completely ignore in the case of the nearby marble mine affecting the residents of Barcelona, we don’t hold much hope the contamination and human rights violations will soon stop. The Barcelona conflict is still active, as well as the one affecting the community of El Rosal (another marble project).

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention that Lafarce has an agreement with non other than WWF to clean up its act!

How bad can contamination from a cement factory be? Lafarge has been implicated in mercury contamination in a cement factory in New York (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafargehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafarge)  The hundreds of thousands of tons of dust emitted annually in the making of cement can also cause or aggravate a wide range of respiratory illnesses for people and animals living around the factory- including tuberculosis and silicosis.

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention that Lafarce has an agreement with none other than WWF to clean up its act!

Losses in Court.

I am hoping that Upside Down World will publish an article I’m working on dealing with the the recent court decision in Canada to throw out the case brought by Polibio and Israel Perez and Marcia Ramirez against the Toronto Stock Exchang and Copper Mesa (See www.ramirezversuscoppermesa.comfor more details). Basically the judges determined that the directors of both these institutions have no obligation to non-investors.  If their actions or omissions cause other people (and especially foreigners) to die or become ill from contamination, it is not their responsibility.  However, if these fine institutions lie to investors and cause them to lose money, then woe is them.  Since it costs way too much to appeal again, this is where this ends.

In fact, the monetary element is one of the bigger issues facing communities when they try to use the legal systems to fight for their rights.  In the case of Ramirez versus Copper Mesa, the real costs where over one-hundred thousand dollars- all of it generously covered by the Toronto-based law firm of Klippensteins.  If the lawsuit contributed to the company being delisted from the Stock Exchange and to company’s bankruptcy, as it happened early last year, then it was very much worthwhile.

In a related note, if anyone of you lives close to Boston, the Harvard Law School will be holding a panel discussion on the difficulties of communities use of the legal system against transnationals.  It’s to take place this coming April 14^th and I’ve been invited to participate.  Under Rich Earth will be shown before the panel discussion,  and I’ll be joined by representatives of Rights Action and Oxfam.

The other courtroom loss, of which I am not going to go into detail for now for lack of time and energy, took place I think the same week as the other loss, and it involved my criminal lawsuit for libel against Ecuacorriente, a Chinese-owned mining company who financed the making of a documentary that portrayed me as terrorist and behind the anti-mining movement in the south of Ecuador.  The lawsuit was thrown out on procedural grounds.  The project is a huge open-pit  copper project in the very biodiverse Condor Range. Since their main argument was that the community manual I co-authored for communities to better stand up to mining companies is a vile and terrorist tool, I believe their objective was to try to convince the government that the manual is responsible for any and all past and future anti-mining activities. Or something absurdly along this line.   Does this feel like Alicelandida sometimes? You betcha!  More on the criminalization of the social protest later?

This is all I have time for now, I’ll try to update later on the week or after the meeting this coming Friday.  BUT, I thought I’d let you know that last year we helped pay for the transportation of 15 high school groups.  School will begin next week, and only Junin is funded.  Likewise, the new mining threat catches us with very (as in VERY!)   little funding for this kind of activity.   SO please loosen your wallets.

THANKS

Carlos

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By Carlos Zorrilla, March 28, 2011

Mining Paradise:  Intag’s New Ominous Mining Threat

Lafarge Cement

Two courtroom Losses in the same week

Mining Paradise II: Update 5 April

It’s been a while.  I’m going to try to summarize as much as possible as too much is going on.The new mining threat, in the area of the El Paraiso community, lies approximately 4 kilometers in a straight line west of Junin as is part of a 800 hectare mining concessions owned by an individual who has signed (according to official documents) an agreement with CODELCO, the world’s largest copper producer (1,8 million tons, or 11% of the world’s total production). The concessions is adjacent to the extremely biodiverse Los Cedros Protected Area.  While lying within the Cotacachi County, this area is known as Manduriacos and is adjacent to Intag.

CODELCO is owned by the Chilean government and has little experience with mining copper outside the Atacama desert- the driest in the world- where most of its large mines are located.

This week the concession owner, with the support of the Ministry of the Environment, and the Ministry of Non-Renewable Resources, commenced socializing its environmental impact study (EIS) in El Paraiso in order to begin exploration of the concession- with Codelco personnel.  The existence of the study was news to most of the people in the area- and especially those around Magdalena Bajo, who were hardly aware of the existence of the mining project and who did not participate in the making of the Terms of Reference- a legal preliminary step necessary for carrying out the EIS.

This is not the only illegality CODELCO is so far party to.  Citing violation of its Ecological Ordinance, the Municipality of Cotacachi last month refused to emit a legally required permit to the concession owner to carry out mining activities.  The ordinance prohibits mining in native forests.  The owner, supported by CODELCO, is obviously intending to ignore the wishes of local residents and disrespect local laws.  The disrespect of local authorities extends to the local Government of Garcia Moreno- who has not received any documents  from the mining company as required by law.

Rejection early in the game.      This last Saturday (March 26) 57 persons from the community of Magdalena Bajo with members of El Paraiso and other nearby communities met to express their outrage and rejection of  the mining project.  One of the resolution taken was to ask the assistance of DECOIN and for it to be present next Saturday’s meeting in El Paraiso when government officials will come to attempt to legitimize the illegality (the socialization of the EIS is a legal step in the process to begin exploration- but so is socializing the Terms of Reference which was never properly done).

Lafarge, or is it Lafarce?

Yes, it’ll seem surreal, but at the same time this new threat is looming over the horizon, a group of people affected by the operations of the quarry site in Selva Alegre, Intag, as well as the cement factory outside Otavalo where Lafarge transforms the limestone mine in Intag into cement contacted us to see if we could help them with labor, human rights violations and contamination issues.  France-based Lafarge is the world’s largest cement manufacturer.  In Intag they use the technique known as mountain top removal to strip the limestone from an area rich in native cloud forests.

After many denunciations and persistence from a group of landowners surrounding the mine and factory in late 2010 the Ministry of the Environment carried out several inspections to both sites and confirmed that the company “was in violation of Ecuadorian environmental law and regulations- specifically regarding the components: air, water and soil, and vibration“ (taken from one of the inspections).  We are working with involved stakeholders to see how we can be of help.

However, given that quite a remarkable number of illegalities and irregularities have been documented and completely ignore in the case of the nearby marble mine affecting the residents of Barcelona, we don’t hold much hope the contamination and human rights violations will soon stop. The Barcelona conflict is still active, as well as the one affecting the community of El Rosal (another marble project).

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention that Lafarce has an agreement with non other than WWF to clean up its act!

How bad can contamination from a cement factory be? Lafarge has been implicated in mercury contamination in a cement factory in New York (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafarge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafarge)  The hundreds of thousands of tons of dust emitted annually in the making of cement can also cause or aggravate a wide range of respiratory illnesses for people and animals living around the factory- including tuberculosis and silicosis.

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention that Lafarce has an agreement with none other than WWF to clean up its act!

Losses in Court.

I am hoping that Upside Down World will publish an article I’m working on dealing with the the recent court decision in Canada to throw out the case brought by Polibio and Israel Perez and Marcia Ramirez against the Toronto Stock Exchang and Copper Mesa (See www.ramirezversuscoppermesa.com for more details). Basically the judges determined that the directors of both these institutions have no obligation to non-investors.  If their actions or omissions cause other people (and especially foreigners) to die or become ill from contamination, it is not their responsibility.  However, if these fine institutions lie to investors and cause them to lose money, then woe is them.  Since it costs way too much to appeal again, this is where this ends.

In fact, the monetary element is one of the bigger issues facing communities when they try to use the legal systems to fight for their rights.  In the case of Ramirez versus Copper Mesa, the real costs where over one-hundred thousand dollars- all of it generously covered by the Toronto-based law firm of Klippensteins.  If the lawsuit contributed to the company being delisted from the Stock Exchange and to company’s bankruptcy, as it happened early last year, then it was very much worthwhile.

In a related note, if anyone of you lives close to Boston, the Harvard Law School will be holding a panel discussion on the difficulties of communities use of the legal system against transnationals.  It’s to take place this coming April 14^th and I’ve been invited to participate.  Under Rich Earth will be shown before the panel discussion,  and I’ll be joined by representatives of Rights Action and Oxfam.

The other courtroom loss, of which I am not going to go into detail for now for lack of time and energy, took place I think the same week as the other loss, and it involved my criminal lawsuit for libel against Ecuacorriente, a Chinese-owned mining company who financed the making of a documentary that portrayed me as terrorist and behind the anti-mining movement in the south of Ecuador.  The lawsuit was thrown out on procedural grounds.  The project is a huge open-pit  copper project in the very biodiverse Condor Range. Since their main argument was that the community manual I co-authored for communities to better stand up to mining companies is a vile and terrorist tool, I believe their objective was to try to convince the government that the manual is responsible for any and all past and future anti-mining activities. Or something absurdly along this line.   Does this feel like Alicelandida sometimes? You betcha!  More on the criminalization of the social protest later?

This is all I have time for now, I’ll try to update later on the week or after the meeting this coming Friday.  BUT, I thought I’d let you know that last year we helped pay for the transportation of 15 high school groups.  School will begin next week, and only Junin is funded.  Likewise, the new mining threat catches us with very (as in VERY!)   little funding for this kind of activity.   SO please loosen your wallets.

THANKS

Carlos

MINING PARADISE II: Farcing, Mayhem and Catatonics in Paradise (April 5 update)