Canadian Mining Undermines Democracy in Central America
Canadian Mining Undermines Democracy in Central America
By: Alexandra Pedersen
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President Otto Perez Molina ordered a state of siege for 30 days in four municipalities in southeastern Guatemala
after security forces clashed with opponents of a Canadian-owned gold and silver mine project. | Photo: AFP
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Published 24 August 2015
Canada’s multinationals work hand-in-hand with corrupt governments and threaten democracy in post-conflict Central American nations.
Canadian mining companies account for 75 percent of the world’s extractive corporations. Canada is literally digging up the globe.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ed Fast says, “Canada’s mining sector … leads the world in responsible mining practices, and we are proud of the prosperity that this sector is creating at home and in every corner of the globe.”
However, the political, social and environmental costs are far greater than the Canadian government or mining corporations would have you believe.
In Latin America,Canada and its extractive industry are viewed as the new conquistadors; they are thirsty for land and minerals and hungry for power. Canadian mining companies are often positioned at the epicenter of community conflicts in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, and linked with violence, environmental degradation, corruption and murder. Research produced by Canada’s own Prospectors and Development Association of Canada (PDAC) found that Canadian mining companies accounted for the most human and environmental rights abuses globally. Harrowing examples in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras further erode Canada’s claims of bringing “good” to the world.
More:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Canadian-Mining-Undermines-Democracy-in-Central-America-20150824-0010.html
