LATEST UPDATES Volunteers Needed Solicitud de voluntarios en la comunidad de Junín Calling volunteers for the Junin community, Ecuador What You Should Know About Ascendant Exploration • UPDATE! 2/22/07 Ascendant Copper Corporation and its Troubles in Ecuador • BREVE HISTORIA DE LA RESISTENCIA A LA MINERIA EN INTAG, ECUADOR • TEN GOOD REASONS WHY NOT TO INVEST IN ASCENDANT COPPER CORPORATION • Interesting Facts About Ascendant Exploration • Lo Que Dice La Ascendant • Ascendant's Misleading Claims • UPDATE! 11/06 A BRIEF HISTORY OF RESISTANCE TO MINING IN INTAG, ECUADOR AND THE CURRENT THREAT OF ASCENDANT EXPLORATION | November 1, 2006 Take Action Please write to the Minister of Government and Police, Antonio Andretta A., with copies to Ascendant CEO Gary Davis and other groups and individuals listed here, expressing your concern that questionable and unverified accusations are being used to intimidate and defame Carlos Zorrilla, and urging that the circumstances of both the complaint and the police raid be fully and expeditiously investigated. Take Action > Por favor escribid al Ministro de Gobierno y Policia, Antonio Andretta A., enviando copias a las otras personas mencionadas a continuacion, expresando vuestra preocupacion de que se utilicen acusaciones dudosas y no verificadas para intimidar y difamar a un reputado y destacado dirigente comunitario, y urgiendo que se investiguen completa y rapidamente las circunstancias relacionadas con la acusacion y la incursion policial. Direcciones de contacto > Email the Toronto Stock Exchange and urge them to investigate Ascendant's business practices before allowing them on the exchange. Take Action > DECOIN Weblog: Latest Posts BAN TO OPEN PIT MINING SOUGHT IN ECUADOR Human Rights Organization on Ascendant’s Abuses/ C... ANTI-MINING ACTIVIST NEARLY LYNCHED BY "Ex MINING... Anti Corrupion Takes a close look at Ascendant's L... Amnesty International Takes Action YET ANOTHER BLOW FOR ASCENDANT Ascendant Told To Stop Some Very Bad News For Ascendant Community Leader Implicates Ascendant in Death Thr... 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The area is part of two of the world's most important biotic regions, the Tropical Andes, and the Chocó-Darien Western-Ecuadorian Biological Hotpots. The area of influence of our work encompasses several life zones, including tropical rain forests, and cloud forests. More... About DECOIN Every year, Ecuador loses another 2.3 percent of its forests - it has the highest deforestation rate in South America. In an effort to reverse the trend with local and regional eco-activism, the grass-roots organization DECOIN was founded in January of 1995. DECOIN (Organizacion para la Defensa y Conservacion Ecologica de Intag) is a regional organization created to battle perhaps the greatest threat to the forests: the mining companies that have thousands of acres of government-granted concessions throughout the Intag. Search DECOIN   Latest Environmental News Ascendant- Constituent Assembly to Deal with Mining Conflicts  Saturday, September 15, 2007 español ABAJO ECUADOR: Constituent Assembly to Deal with Mining Conflicts By Kintto Lucas http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39101 QUITO, Aug 31 (IPS) - A solution to the ongoing confrontations between mining companies and rural communities in Ecuador is likely to be left up to the constituent assembly that will begin to rewrite the country’s constitution in October. Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa told IPS that he is afraid that violent incidents could break out if the country’s mining laws are not modified. There have already been problems in the past. In December 2006, violent clashes broke out between residents of the village of Intag, 200 km from Quito, and security guards hired by the Ascendant Copper Corporation, when the locals were protesting the company’s activities. The government of Alfredo Palacio (2005 - January 2007) ordered the Canadian company to suspend its mining exploration activities, and the order has been upheld by the Correa administration, which took office Jan. 15. Correa said the concessions for large-scale mining operations in the country have had extremely negative effects on local communities, which were not previously consulted as established by the constitution, and on the state, which receives no royalties in most cases. Ecuador’s mining industry produces copper, gold, lead, silver, zinc, common clay, kaolin, feldspar, crude gypsum and silica. Although mining activities have been, or are about to be, brought to a halt in the most conflict-ridden areas, most of the concessions have not yet been reviewed by the government due to legal obstacles. The National Coordinator for the Defence of Life and Sovereignty, which groups social organisations formed by local residents in communities affected by mining, is calling for all foreign mining corporations to pull out of the country. "The struggle against the mining companies is above all a fight in defence of water, which is why it is in defence of life itself," Lina Solano, one of the leaders of the National Coordinator, told IPS. Local community spokespersons recently complained that the Canadian company has not heeded the government’s order to stop work, and has also continued its "campaign of harassment of the local population," which is opposed to the company’s activities in Intag. They also reported threats to burn down the Intag community radio station, attacks on a local reporter and the home of activist José Cueva, and death threats against activist Polibio Pérez and other local residents opposed to the company’s activities. On Aug. 13, five armed men burst into Cueva’s home in the small, quiet village of Cotacachi, near Intag, intimidated his family and stole his computer. The National Coordinator said in a statement that "We are demanding that the national government investigate all of the incidents we have reported, particularly the last one, to clarify whether it was a common crime or was related to the campaign to intimidate community leaders, activists and the population at large in Intag." The communiqué added that "the social unrest in all of the areas where transnational mining corporations are operating will only cease once the companies leave the country." Correa said that a few mining concessions have already been cancelled, but that it has not been possible to cancel most of them because the state would risk being sued by the companies for millions of dollars. He said the question should be resolved by the constituent assembly, whose 136 members are to be elected on Sept. 30. The president explained that he has not submitted a draft law to Congress to replace the current mining law because it might not be approved, or might be modified beyond recognition, as occurred with financial reforms that he introduced in parliament. The original draft containing the proposed reforms, which were aimed at lowering interest rates and giving the state tighter control over private institutions, ran into staunch opposition from Ecuador’s Private Banking Association. After heavy lobbying by the Association, the reforms were modified so much that they completely lost their original intent. The left-wing Correa does not have legislators of his own, because his Alianza País party did not present legislative candidates in the October 2006 elections, and his initiatives have so far gained only weak support in Congress. Because of what happened with the proposed financial reforms, the government prefers to leave the mining question to the constituent assembly. According to the statute creating the constituent assembly, which was approved by nearly 82 percent of voters in a referendum, the members of the assembly will have the authority to set up a commission to replace Congress while the new constitution is in the process of being drafted, in order to legislate on the most pressing issues. The government hopes to win a comfortable majority in the constituent assembly, between the Alianza País members and representatives of allied leftist parties and movements, which would enable it to secure approval for its proposals, given that only a majority of 50 percent plus one vote will be needed to adopt resolutions. Although opinion polls have not been carried out to indicate what the future make-up of the constituent assembly could look like, Correa’s supporters hope to win a majority of seats, reflecting the president’s popularity ratings of over 65 percent. He will also benefit from the lack of popular right-wing political leaders. Mining conflicts in Ecuador have dragged on for several years. Ascendant Copper has had problems not only in Intag but in other areas, and other companies have run into stiff opposition and protests in the communities of Molleturo and Victoria de Portete, 350 and 400 km southwest of Quito, and in the southeastern provinces of Zamora Chinchipe and Morona Santiago. The protests by local residents are over the pollution caused by the mines and the companies’ heavy use of local water sources. The National Coordinator that brings the local movements together held demonstrations in June, blocking highways in mountainous regions for several days. Ecuador’s Mining Chamber has repeatedly stated that its member companies seek to carry out "sustainable mining" that does not "hurt the environment," and has accused the government of failing to provide guarantees to allow them to operate. It has also denied that the companies are behind any harassment campaigns or attacks on local communities, while arguing that the corporations have been seeking agreements through dialogue in which the Mining Chamber, the local communities, and the authorities are all represented. The president of the Mining Chamber, Cesar Espinosa, complained about the protests and said the business association would take legal action against the activists, who he accused of "criminal behaviour that undermines juridical security and law and order," through occupations, for example, of areas that have been granted to companies through concessions. He added that the trials should be backed by the state, whose duty it is to "maintain order." According to the business chamber, nearly 1.8 million hectares have been granted to mining companies through 1,200 mining concessions, and contracts for another 1.6 million hectares are in the pipeline. The National Coordinator for the Defence of Life and Sovereignty wants Ecuador to be declared, in the new constitution, a "country free of large-scale mining," which would imply the cancellation of all of the contracts with foreign mining companies and a halt to their operations. (END/2007) Disculpas por obvios errores ortogrAficos- blogger publica los blogs sin las tildes y enies...... ECUADOR: Asamblea constituyente se ocupara de conflictos mineros Por Kintto Lucas http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39101 (original en ingles) QUITO, 31 Ago (IPS) – Es probable que una solucion a los enfrentamientos entre empresas mineras y comunidades rurales en el Ecuador se le deje a manos de la Asamblea Constituyente, que comenzara a reescribir la constitucion del pais en octubre. El Presidente Rafael Correa le dijo a IPS que el teme que los incidentes violentos podrian estallar si las leyes mineras del pais no se modifican. Ya habido problemas en el pasado. En diciembre de 2006, choques violentos se produjieron entre residentes de la comunidad de Intag, 200 kilometros de Quito, y guardias de seguridad contratados por Ascendant Copper Corporation, cuando los lugarenos protestaban contra las actividades de la compania. El gobierno de Alfredo que Palacio (2005 - enero de 2007) ordeno el cese de actividades de exploracion a la compania canadiense, y la orden ha sido mantenida por la administracion de Correa, que tomo la poder el 15 Enerno Correa dijo que las concesiones para operaciones mineras a gran escala en el pais han tenido efectos extremadamente negativos en las comunidades locales, las cuales no fueron consultadas previamente, segun lo establecido en la constitucion, y en el estado, el cual no recibe ningun derecho por regalia en la mayoria de los casos. La industria minera del Ecuador produce cobre, oro, plomo, plata, cinc, arcilla comun, caolin, feldespato, yeso y silice. Aunque las actividades mineras han sido, o pronto seran, suspendidas en las areas afectadas por conflictos, la mayor parte de las concesiones todavia no han sido revisadas por el gobierno debido a obstaculos legales. El coordinador nacional para la defensa de la vida y de la soberania, que agrupa organizaciones sociales conformada por residentes locales de las comunidades afectadas por la mineria, esta pidiendo que todas las empresas mineras extranjeras salgan del pais. “La lucha contra las companias de explotacion minera es sobretodo una lucha en defensa del agua, que es lo mismo que la defensa de la vida misma,” Lina Solano, una de las dirigentes de la coordinadora nacional, le dijo al IPS. Los portavoces locales de las comunidades se quejaron recientemente de que la compania canadiense no ha respetado la orden de gobierno para parar el trabajo, y tambien ha continuado su “campana de hostigamiento de la poblacion local,” que se opone a las actividades de la compania en Intag. Tambien informaron sobre las amenazas de incendiar a la estacion de la radio comunitaria de Intag, de ataques contra un reportero local y al hogar del activista Jose Cueva, y de amenazas de muerte contra el activista Polivio Perez y otros residentes locales opuestos a las actividades de la compania. El 13 Agosto, cinco hombres armados irrumpieron en la casa de Cueva en la pequena aldea de Cotacachi, cerca de Intag, intimidaron a su familia y robaron su computadora. El coordinador nacional dijo en una declaracion que “estamos exigiendo que el gobierno nacional investigue todos los incidentes que hemos deuniciado, particularmente este ultimo, para aclarar si fue un crimen comun o relacionado con la campana para intimidar a lideres de la comunidad, a los activistas y a la poblacion de Intag.” El comunicado oficial agrego que “el malestar social en todas las areas donde las corporaciones mineras transnacionales estan operando solamente cesara una vez que las empresas abandonen el pais.” Correa dijo que algunas concesiones mineras han sido canceladas ya, pero que no ha sido posible cancelar la mayor parte por el riesgo que el estado sea demandado por las companias por millones de dolares. El dijo que la cuestion debe ser resuelta por la asamblea constituyente, cuyos 136 miembros seran elegidos el 30 de Septiembre. El presidente explico que el no ha sometido un proyecto de ley al congreso para sustituir la Ley de Mineria actual porque puede ser que no sea aprobada, o puede ser que sea modificada de manera maliciosa, de acuerdo a lo ocurrido con las reformas financieras que el introdujo en el parlamento. El bosquejo original que contenia las reformas propuestas, y que fueron dirigidas a bajar los tipos de interes y que le daban al estado un control mas firme sobre las instituciones privadas, choco contra una firme oposicion de parte de la Asociacion de Bancos Privados del Ecuador. Despues de un fuerte cabildeo por la asociacion, las reformas fueron modificadas tanto que perdieron totalmente su intencion original. El izquierdista Correa no cuenta con legisladores propios ya que su partido de Alianza Pais no presento candidatos al congreso en las elecciones de octubre de 2006, y sus iniciativas han ganado hasta ahora solamente un tibio apoyo en el congreso. Debido a lo sucedido con las reformas financieras propuestas, el gobierno prefiere dejar el tema minero a la asamblea constituyente. Segun el estatuto que crea a la asamblea constituyente, que fue aprobada por casi 82 por ciento de los votantes en un referendum, los miembros de la asamblea tendran la autoridad para instalar a una comision para substituir al congreso mientras que la nueva constitucion se esta elaborando para legislar los asuntos mas apremiantes. El gobierno espera ganar a una comoda mayoria en la asamblea constituyente, entre los miembros de Alianza Pais y los representantes de partidos izquierdistas y movimientos aliados, lo que le permitiria asegurar la aprobacion de sus propuestas, dado que solamente una mayoria de 50 por ciento mas un voto sera necesaria para adoptar resoluciones. Aunque los sondeos de opinion no se han realizado para indicar lo que podria ser la futura composicion de la asamblea constituyente, los partidarios de Correa esperan ganar una mayoria de puestos, reflejando el grado de popularidad del presidente, que sobrepasa el 65 por ciento. El tambien se beneficiara de la falta de populares lideres politicos de la derecha. Los conflictos mineros en Ecuador se vienen arrastrando por varios anos. Ascendant Copper no ha tenido problemas solo en Intag, sino en otras areas, y otras companias han enfrentado a una fuerte oposicion y protestas en las comunidades de Molleturo y de Victoria Portete, 350 y 400 kilometros al sudoeste de Quito, y en las provincias del sudeste de Zamora Chinchipe y de Morona Santiago. Las protestas de los residentes locales son sobre la contaminacion causada por las minas y el uso indiscriminado de fuentes de agua por las empresas. La coordinadora nacional, que agrupa a movimientos locales, realizo protestas en junio, bloqueando carreteras en las regiones andinas por varios dias. La Camara de Mineria del Ecuador ha indicado en varias ocasiones que sus companias asociadas intentan realizar “explotacion minera sostenible” que “no dana al ambiente,” y ha acusado al gobierno de no poder ofrecer garantias para permitir que operen. Tambien ha negado que las companias estan detras de cualesquier campana o ataque contra comunidades locales, mientras que senala que las empresas han estado buscando acuerdos a traves del dialogo, en el cual la Camara de Mineria, las comunidades locales, y las autoridades estan representadas. El presidente del la Camara de Mineria, Cesar Espinosa, se ha quejado de las protestas, y ha dicho que la asociacion tomaria medidas legales contra los activistas, a quienes el acusa de “comportamiento criminal que socava la seguridad, la ley y orden juridico,” con ocupaciones, por ejemplo, de las areas que se han sido otorgadas a las empresas a traves de concesiones. El agrego que los juicios se deben gestionar por el estado, cuyo deber es “mantener el orden.” Segun la Camara de Mineria, casi 1.8 millones de hectareas se han concedido a las companias mineras en 1.200 concesiones de explotacion minera, y los contratos para otras 1.6 millones de hectareas estan en tramite. La coordinadorra nacional para la defensa de la vida y de la soberania quisiera que, en la nueva constitucion, el Ecuador sea declarado, “pais libre de mineria a gran escala,” lo que implicaria la cancelacion de todos los contratos con las companias mineras extranjeras y un alto a sus operaciones. (END/2007) Posted by: czorrilla / 6:41 AM More Stories About Decoin and the Intag Ascendant Exploration: Illegal Mining Concessions in Ecuador | July 14, 2004 UPDATED! A BRIEF HISTORY OF RESISTANCE TO MINING IN INTAG, ECUADOR AND THE CURRENT THREAT OF ASCENDANT EXPLORATION | November 1, 2006 JUNIN MINING CONCESSION DEEMED ILLEGAL | July 2, 2004 Urgent Funding Request | June 22, 2004 Update on Junin: Yet Another Travesty of Justice, and What You Can do About It | 12 January 2004 All Updates With Clouds as Neighbors: Family Retreat in the Andes Battling Mining in Ecuador's National Parks The struggle to save Intag's forests and communities from Mitsubishi Ecuador Forest Communities Shut Down Mitsubishi Mine A Learning Experience: Keeping the Rainforests Green Gringa's in the Mist: Deadline Slave Turns Eco-Cop in Ecuador's Cloud Forest
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