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

August 3, 2018

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 from selling the milk: she would buy chickens that, when raised, would multiply and could … Read More

Lee Rhiannon questions AUSTRADE on mining in Ecuador

June 4, 2018

The destructive push into Ecuador’s rainforests and indigenous communities by several Australian mining giants, with the full support of Austrade, was questioned in the Senate Estimates Committee on Friday. BHP, SolGold, Fortescue, and Newcrest own more hectares of exploratory mining concessions in Ecuador than any other country. Many of these concessions overlap protected forests and … Read More

Australian mining under the spotlight

June 2, 2018

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 sinkholes, and the production of large amounts of toxic waste, or tailings. Australia has strict regulatory watchdogs to ensure safe environmental practices. The news items below however, show … Read More

June News

June 1, 2018

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 over their transgressions in protected reserves and conservation areas. Mining concessions totalling 22,570 hectares were given to BHP in the Cotacachi Canton despite unanimous rejection … Read More

Mining Concessions in Ecuador

May 30, 2018

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 affected communities. The degradation of protected areas, such as Bosques Protectores (Protected Forests), and the spread of mining roads and camps (and eventually mines) within the buffer zones … Read More

Clashes at controversial Ecuadorian mine – Rio Blanco

May 26, 2018

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 Ecuarunari, the national confederation of the Kichwa people, were abducted by mine workers. This mine is one of Ecuador’s five strategic mining projects and … Read More