Rights Action
GOLDCORP WATCH
October 15, 2010
BELOW:
- SIGN-ON LETTER to president of Guatemala to suspend Goldcorp's "Marlin" mine in western Guatemala. PLEASE consider signing on this letter
- DONATE TAX CHARITABLE FUNDS to indigenous and campesino groups in Guatemala & Honduras resisting and seeking compensation for environmental and health harms and other human rights violations caused by Goldcorp's open pit, cyanide leaching mines.
Please re-distribute this information
To get on/ off Rights Action's listserv: http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?m=1103480765269
QUESTIONS / MORE INFORMATION about community development, human rights and environmental resistance to mining related harms and violations: Grahame Russell (Rights Action co-director, info@rightsaction.org), Annie Bird (Rights Action co-director, annie@rightsaction.org). www.rightsaction.org
* * *
TO SIGN-ON LETTER: send name, e-ddress and home town to: caitlin@nisgua.org
DEADLINE FOR SIGNATURES: October 15, 2010
* * *
LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF GUATEMALA TO SUSPEND GOLDCORP'S MINE IN GUATEMALA
Guatemala, 22nd September 2010
His Excellency
President of the Republic of Guatemala
Alvaro Colom
Subject: Compliance with the precautionary measures of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Dear Mr. President,
It is with great respect that we address you and take this opportunity to urge the State of Guatemala to implement the precautionary measures MC-260-07 issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The suspension of mining operations is meant to provide immediate security and protect the health of the communities of Maya Mam and Sipakapense people that are suffering from damages caused by the operation of the Marlin I mine.
In June 2010, 139 international and national organizations wrote to urge you to comply with the precautionary measures. Today, four months later, we reiterate this request. The government has not yet complied; mine operations continue. On September 21, Goldcorp took advantage of this hesitation and dumped untested and unauthorized drainage water from the tailings ponds into a local river causing the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources to open a penal suit against the company.
The purpose of the precautionary measures is to suspend mining operations and prevent communities from imminent harm. The studies conducted by Physicians for Human Rights and the University of Michigan, in addition to the study published by E-Tech International, provide ample evidence that there is reason to be concerned for the health of the communities surrounding the mine. Furthermore, the Procurador General de la Nación has recommended mine suspension, and tensions within the community continue to escalate, as demonstrated by the July 17 attack on a local anti-mine activist. The rationale that the government is waiting to complete an administrative process before suspending mine operations is not appropriate. The time to act is now.
We understand that the State's most valuable resource is the life of each of its citizens, and as such, it is incumbent on the Guatemalan government to implement the precautionary measures of the IACHR and guarantee the life and personal integrity of the inhabitants in the eighteen communities surrounding the Marlin I Mine.
As representatives of national and international organizations and networks, we ask that the government act immediately to implement the precautionary measures and ensure that there is a scientifically rigorous independent assessment of the risks and impact of environmental pollution caused by the open-cast gold mining on the communities in Sipacapa and San Miguel Ixtahuacán.
Yours sincerely,
CC:
Dr. Rafael Espada
Vicepresidencia de la República de Guatemala?
6ta. Avenida 4-19 zona 1?Casa Presidencial, Puerta Norte?Guatemala, Centroamérica 01001?
PBX: (502) 2321-2121
webmastervice@vicepresidencia.gob.gt
Ruth del Valle
Presidenta de la Comisión Presidencial Coordinadora de la Política del Ejecutivo en materia de Derechos Humanos - COPREDEH [Presidential Commission for Human Rights]
2 Av. 10-50 Zona 9, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala, C.A. 01009
Fax (502): 2334-0119
copredeh@copredeh.gob.gt
Dr. Luis Alberto Ferraté Felice
Ministro del Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
20 calle 28-58 zona 10, Ciudad Guatemala
PBX (502) 2423-0500
rpublicas@marn.gob.gt
Selvyn Antonio Morales Valdez
Director General de Minería
Diagonal 17, 29-78 zona 11, colonia Las Charcas, Guatemala, C.A.
PBX (502) 24196464 Ext. 1211
Fax 24196464 Ext. 1210
Email: directordgm@mem.gob.gt
* * *
TO SIGN-ON LETTER: send name, e-ddress and home town to: caitlin@nisgua.org
DEADLINE FOR SIGNATURES: October 15, 2010
* * *
FUNDS NEEDED
Getting funds to community based groups is an important act of activism and solidarity - they are at the forefront of resisting the harms and violations and promoting global human rights, community controlled development and protection of the environment.
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS, make check payable to "Rights Action" and mail to:
UNITED STATES: Box 50887, Washington DC, 20091-0887
CANADA: 552 - 351 Queen St. E, Toronto ON, M5A0in8
CREDIT-CARD DONATIONS: www.rightsaction.org/contributions.htm
DONATION OF STOCK: info@rightsaction.org
* * *
SEND COPIES TO YOUR MEDIA, POLITICIANS & GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
Send copies of this letter to your own politicians and media, asking them to sign on.
SPEAKERS: Contact us to plan educational presentations in your community, school, place of worship, home (info@rightsaction.org)
EDUCATIONAL DELEGATIONS TO CENTRAL AMERICA: Form your own group and/ or join one of our educational delegation-seminars to learn first hand about community development, human rights and environmental struggles (info@rightsaction.org)
MORE INFORMATION & QUESTIONS: Grahame Russell, info@rightsaction.org & Annie Bird, annie@rightsaction.org. www.rightsaction.org