5 January 2010 | Interviews | Extractive industries
Defensive Strategy
Assembly of the valleys of Traslatierra and Ongamira in Argentina, declared state of alert and mobilization to stop open pit mining
Duration: 1:36 minutes
Download: MP3 (1.1 Mb)
The Legislature of Cordoba sanctioned Law 9,526 in September of 2008 to ban open-pit metal mining and nuclear exploitation. However, a news published weeks ago in a local newspaper caused alarm among the population. It announced the “impending” ruling of unconstitutionality of the law.
“The law is passed as a result of an effort of all the community that raised in defense or water, the forest”, said Maria Cuestas, lawyer and neighbor of the Environmental Assembly Traslatierra Despierta!. The concern over the problem caused by large scale mining in other neighboring provinces has mobilized the residents of Cordoba’s valleys.
When the law was passed there were gold, silver, uranium mining projects and projects for the exploration of other minerals, Cuestas explained.
The unconstitutionality appeal was filed before the High Court of Justice by the Chamber of Mining Businessmen of Cordoba (Cemincor) and the Association of Professionals of the National Commission of Atomic Energy and Nuclear Activity (APCNEAN) in May. Cuestas said that the issue is still to be resolved by the court and that it will not decide on this yet.
Despite the incident, Cuestas finally rescued “the movement and the participation” generated by the news: “Although we are concerned and alert, we are fighting for a healthy, balanced environment, as it is provided by the Constitution”.
