News, articles and analysis by the Rainforest Action Group on the ongoing resistance to mining in Ecuador.

New report on SolGold backer Jiangxi

New report on SolGold backer Jiangxi

Rainforest Action Group launches its new report today on Jiangxi Copper, the Chinese mining company which invested $36 million US into SolGold in December Only weeks after Canada ordered three
Intag says no to mining

Intag says no to mining

On September 12, members of Intag\'s local government and organisations sent a letter to the CEOS of BHP, Cornerstone Capital Resources, Codelco and Sunstone Metals, stating that unconsulted mining
Sanctuary for life in Ecuador

Sanctuary for life in Ecuador

A Constitutional Protection Action could protect the Rights of Nature over the economic rights of transnational companies in Ecuador\'s Intag Valley. Originally published in The Ecologist by Rebekah
Australian mining companies plunder Ecuador’s gold and copper

Australian mining companies plunder Ecuador’s gold and copper

First published in Green Left by Anthony Amis In 2008, Ecuador was the first country in the world to enshrine the rights of nature in its constitution. But, as Anthony Amis reports, international
Mining at Llurimagua – a social and environmental catastrophe

Mining at Llurimagua – a social and environmental catastrophe

Selling the World a Social and Environmental Catastrophe: Ecuador’s Llurimagua Mining Project By Carlos Zorilla The government of Ecuador has been busy trying sell its share of the troubled
Gold, Guns and Gina Rinehart’s mining concessions in Ecuador

Gold, Guns and Gina Rinehart’s mining concessions in Ecuador

Carlos De Miguel III, the General Manager of Hanrine Ecuadorian Excploration and Mining SA, a subsidiary of Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting, was apprehended by police for an alleged illegal
Elected local officials threatened with jail for opposing mining

Elected local officials threatened with jail for opposing mining

(MiningWatchCanada, Ottawa) The elected President and Vice President of a rural municipality in northwestern Ecuador have been threatened with criminal, administrative, and constitutional charges if
Shuar people facing COVID-19 crisis due to mining company

Shuar people facing COVID-19 crisis due to mining company

Canadian mining company Solaris Resources has been criticised by multiple organisations for its irresponsible conduct in sending seven members of the Shuar communities of Warints and Yawi to the
HPPL offer for Llurimagua

HPPL offer for Llurimagua

Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd. (HPPL) put in an offer in 2017 to buy ENAMI stake in the Llurimagua project in northern Ecuador, according to Via Minera. Full article here (in Spanish) with explosive
Australian company offer for controversial Llurimagua project

Australian company offer for controversial Llurimagua project

A major Australian company has reportedly put in a US$420 million offer for the controversial Codelco-ENAMI Llurimagua project in the Intag region of Ecuador according to mineral expert lawyer.
Cornerstone Resources illegally exploring at Rio Magdalena?

Cornerstone Resources illegally exploring at Rio Magdalena?

Cornerstone Capital Resources announces high potential Porphery targets at Espejo and Rio Magdalena, but fails to mention that Rio Magdalena is subject to a stop work order issued by the Provincial
BHP’s divide and conquer

BHP’s divide and conquer

First published in The Ecologist By Liz Downes 21st February 2020 BHP is putting pressure on vulnerable ecosystems and communities in a mega-biodiverse region of Ecuador despite flaunting its
Timeline of BHP’s divide-and-conquer tactics in Intag, Ecuador

Timeline of BHP’s divide-and-conquer tactics in Intag, Ecuador

Tensions are escalating quickly as BHP aggressively pushes into communities in the farming and rainforest region of Intag, Ecuador, in their efforts to begin gold and copper explorations on.
BHP AGM 7 November 2019

BHP AGM 7 November 2019

BHP held their 2019 AGM in Sydney on November 7. A small, peaceful protest was held outside by climate groups wanting to draw public focus to the debate around BHP leaving the Minerals Council. Two
Investor risk alert for Cascabel

Investor risk alert for Cascabel

Cascabel is an investor nightmare. Located in close proximity to the Colombian/Ecuadorian border, in an area the Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) advises not to travel
SolGold AGM 20 September

SolGold AGM 20 September

Members of the Rainforest Action Group attempted to raise their concerns about investing in Ecuador at the SolGold AGM in September 2019 as we believe SolGold has not been transparent with
Environmental concerns at Cascabel

Environmental concerns at Cascabel

The Cascabel concession is part of the Mira River basin, and is surrounded by mature primary and secondary forests that house endangered species, and protect pristine microbasins. Our primary
Cornerstone and ENAMI violating court ruling?

Cornerstone and ENAMI violating court ruling?

This blatant violation of the law is in keeping with statements by Cornerstone Capital Resources CEO Brooke Macdonald when he stated at the recent shareholder meeting in Toronto, Canada on June:
Los Cedros court win

Los Cedros court win

The judges in the provincial court of Imbabura ruled that there had been a violation of mining-impacted communities\' right to be consulted, and revoked the previous sentence of November 2018 in
Mafia gunfight over Rinehart concession

Mafia gunfight over Rinehart concession

At least 19 people were injured in a twelve-hour shoot-out between rival organised crime gangs in Hanrine\'s lucrative gold mining concession in northwestern Ecuador. The gunfight near Buenos Aires
New mining policy

New mining policy

\"This constitutes a deepening of extractive policy in Ecuador and a violation of individual and collective civil rights, especially the right to previous consultation, as communities have not been
Illegal mining in Imbabura

Illegal mining in Imbabura

First published in LA HORA, 26 March 2018 The risk of an epidemic in the mountain known as El Lomón, El Triunfo community, Buenos Aires parish, Urcuquí canton, is high. The lives of the miners are
The neoliberal agenda in Ecuador

The neoliberal agenda in Ecuador

The richest and most powerful in Ecuador do not like to pay taxes. That is why now, after 10 years, the elites have a new ally: Lenín Moreno. His submission to the pressures of big capital has meant
Direct actions at IMARC

Direct actions at IMARC

Environmental groups and human-rights defenders argued against the increase in global development, particularly against mining in protested forests and on Indigenous land. The Melbourne Rainforest
Mega-mining in Ecuador: the dream of a naive milkmaid

Mega-mining in Ecuador: the dream of a naive milkmaid

The fable tells the story of a milkmaid on her way to market carrying a pitcher full of milk on her head. On the way, she was thinking about what she would do with all the money she would receive
Australian mining under the spotlight

Australian mining under the spotlight

Quite apart from the ecological impacts of mining in forested areas, mining has significant environmental impacts, including long term contamination of soil and water sources, formation of,

June News

Today, the Mayor of the Cotacachi Municipality in the Imbabura Province of Ecuador, issued a formal denunciation to BHP Billiton over their mining concessions in the area, with particular concerns
Mining Concessions in Ecuador

Mining Concessions in Ecuador

Many of the mining concessions being handed out in Ecuador are within protected forests and indigenous reserves in outright violation of Ecuador\'s Constitution.  No prior consultation occurred with
Clashes at controversial Ecuadorian mine – Rio Blanco

Clashes at controversial Ecuadorian mine – Rio Blanco

Heated clashes occurred between community members and security forces at Ecuagold\'s Chinese owned Río Blanco mine this past week, with several arrests being made and reports that 3 leaders of the