¡Conga no va!

In our very first post we mentioned our meeting with CONACAMI- The National Confederation of Communities Affected by Mining in Peru and their part in the then upcoming Water March against the proposed open-pit gold ming project in Cajamarca, Peru. Since then, thousands have marched from Cajamarca in northern Peru towards the southern capital of Lima in protest since the first of February. The protesters marched through the streets of communities along the way that have been affected by mining, sleeping on the floors of classrooms and other public spaces offered by the communities and eating just the food donated to them.

The proposed mine would be an open-pit mine, meaning that the gold is essentially carved right out of the earth creating a huge crater, and cyanide would then be injected into the extracted rock to release the gold. This is the same method used in Yanacocha, Peru also in Cajamarca which is owned by Newmont Mining Corporation- the same company biding for the proposed Conga mine.

Yanacocha Goldmine, picture from Wikipedia

It’s the cyanide that residents and environmentalists claim have ruined the water supply in the area, which seeps into the streams and kills livestock, fish and wildlife. But this new mine in Cajamarca could be an even worse nightmare. The proposed mine plans to remove all four of the lakes in the region which will be replaced with water storage reservoirs provided by Newmont. This destruction of natural water sources for short term benefits is completely unacceptable. Who would trade a lake for a job, or a mountain for profit? And who will the residents have to turn to when the water storage reservoirs dry up or if they are damaged? Or why should the locals have to be relient on Newmont; a private, huge corporation with a soiled past, for water when they have all the water they need now?

On the 10th of February, thousands marched through central Lima in protest of the Conga mine and for water rights. Official numbers provided by the government estimated there were 2,000 at the march but from the marchers estimated there were at least 30,000. Considering that we witnessed the march fill the streets of central Lima for at least 10 city blocks, I would say 30,000 is much closer to the truth.

CCP at the pre-rally for the Water March on the 9th of February, photo by Carrie Davis

a model of the where the Conga mine would be placed, photo by Carrie Davis

pre-rally for the Water March in Lima, photo by Elena Sving

damages from the protests against the mine, and mining injuries, photo by Carrie Davis

The march was a truly powerful movement to witness. There were groups from every side of the political spectrum standing up for the protection of water, communities from all across Peru, students, activists, women, men, young and old… it seemed like the march never ended with no sight of both the beginning or end.

just a single group from the thousands at the march, photo by Elena Sving

Carrie Davis and fellow Red Cross student Max Bauer in the middle of the march, photo by Elena Sving

dancing for water, photo by Elena Sving

photo by Elena Sving

Mari, a class colleague from the Red Cross University, has been following the march and the progress of the fight against the Conga mine for non-profit organisation Latinamerikagruppen in Sweden. An incredible editorial written by her will soon be read in many papers across Sweden calling for the end of our government’s investment in Newpont with our social security fund; and it’s a call that many Swedes are now demanding. During the time of the march in Peru there were several demonstrations across Sweden in solidarity including Uppsala and Stockholm. Her powerful editorial will we posted here as soon as it is published, and hopefully due to the pressure placed on our government by herself and others like her the investment will be removed and Cajamarca will be one small step closer to their goal.