Down with mining. This is the verdict that has been given by the residents of Tambogrande, a northern farming district in Peru. The people rejected a Canadian company's plans to develop a rich mineral deposit that lies beneath this district. Of the 19,996 people who voted, 98.6 per cent said "no" to the project while only 1.4 per cent favoured mining. However, the balloting, organised by the Tambogrande municipal government, was declared illegal by the central government, which said it would not have an impact on the project. Two years back, the Manhattan Minerals Corporation of Vancouver, Canada, showed its inclination to invest some us $300 million in the project. But the proposal met with disapproval from the farming community which in February 2000, ransacked Manhattan's offices in the district. A few months later, an anti-mining activist of the region was ambushed and killed.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.