During the “Action Against Mining Week” held June 23 to 29, the National Committee Against Metallic Mining held a series of activities denouncing the grave social conflicts that the process of mining exploration has provoked in the country.  CEBES-Fundahmer was among the various movements and social organizations that participated in the activities.

 

The activities included conferences, photo galleries, movies, pamphlets, marches and ecumenical acts and sought to “educate the cities about the pros and cons of mining,” Rodolfo Calles, a member of the Committee Against Mining, said.

On a national level, much of the population is unaware of the effects of mining activities, which can include pollution from the use of poisons like cyanide and mercury and the creation of acid runoff  from heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and chromium.  This pollution can be fatal to humans and destroys the environment.

Mining exploitation would also deepen the current food crisis, which has been caused by the scarcity and high prices of basic food products, especially basic grains like corn, beans, and rice.  The departments where the 29 precious metal exploration projects are located produce around 50% of the agricultural output of the country.  The mining projects would destroy much of that agricultural production.

Even a small mine uses one million liters of water every day, which is enough to last a family for 30 years.  The mines in the northern zone of the country would use up the Lempa River, the source of 50% of San Salvador's water.

According to data recently published in the magazine “La Macana” from Sensuntepeque, in Cabañas “the damages caused by mining projects are already a terrible reality.  Pacific Rim is leaving hundreds of families in El Palmito, Chacalín, Hacienda Vieja, Palo Bonito and other communities in San Isidro, Guacotecti and Sensuntepeque without water.  That mining company has already dried up various water sources.

If we allow the mining companies to buy the political will of congressional representatives, mayors, and other political figures that do not act on behalf of the people, water will become more polluted, more scarce, more expensive for the residents of the capital and the rest of the country.

It is presicely for this reason that the organizations that form the National Committee Against Metallic Mining demand that the Salvadoran government not approve these mining explorations projects that will cause death and destruction.