Social activists at risk - Real World Radio

Features / Social activists at risk

In this section Real World Radio aims to expose the murders of social activists and the cases of death threats against leaders. We will report on the wave of criminalization of the social protest. This new section of Real World Radio is also a memorial page for all those who were murdered in their struggle for a socially just world.

This special section is funded in part by the European Commission.

11 December 2012 | Interviews | International Tour in Solidarity with communities affected by mining megaprojects in Central America | Social activists at risk

Not a Step Back

Guatemala: Resistance to Mining in San Jose del Golfo Continues Despite Repression

In the early morning of Thursday 6 December the Guatemalan riot police repressed, beat up and kidnapped members of the community of San Jose del Golfo and San Pedro Ayampuc near Guatemala City, who have been on a vigil for ten months to block mining equipment of company EXMINGUA aimed at gold and silver extraction. Read more
11 December 2012 | Interviews | Social activists at risk

Mining is Not Welcomed

Interview with Francisco Pineda, of the Environmental Committee Cabañas (El Salvador), Goldman Prize Winner 2011

Francisco Pineda, chair of the Environmental Committee of Cabanas (CAC) has to go everywhere with his personal bodyguards in El Salvador. Read more
4 December 2012 | News | Social activists at risk

Antimining Strategy

Mexico: Meeting Against Mining in Chiapas

Between 12 and 15% of the land in the Mexican state of Chiapas has been already granted to mining activities, covering over 1.5 million hectares of land in several municipalities, said Gustavo Castro, member of Otros Mundos Chiapas –Friends of the Earth Mexico during the Meeting Against the Mining Extractive Model held from November 26 to 28. Read more
3 December 2012 | News | No to the coup d’état in Paraguay | Land grabbing | Social activists at risk

Pain, Outrage and Impotence

Paraguayan Peasant Leader Killed; He Was Key in Investigation of Massacre

On Saturday early morning two masked persons murdered Paraguayan peasant leader Vidal Vega, member of the Landless Peasant Commission that fights to obtain the Marina Cue plot of land in Canindeyu department, 35 km from Curuguaty where 11 landless peasants were killed on June 15th. The incident was dubbed as the Curuguaty massacre. Read more
29 November 2012 | Interviews | International Tour in Solidarity with communities affected by mining megaprojects in Central America | Social activists at risk

Countering Mining with Education

Interview with Victor Manuel Merino, Salvadorean Teacher and Leader of the Resistance to Mining

In Cabañas department, El Salvador, resistance to open-pit mining by transnational corporation Pacific Rim has caused a terrible social damage since the 1930s, when the land owners killed the indigenous population. Read more
26 November 2012 | Testimonies | International Tour in Solidarity with communities affected by mining megaprojects in Central America | Social activists at risk

Acting Against Violence

Attacks against people resisting mining in Guatemala; FoEI cyber-action for the release of political prisoners

People hired by EXMINGUA company in La Puya, the resistance point in San Jose del Golfo, Guatemala, were responsible for insults, racist expressions, attacks and death threats against the communities who have been blocking the transnational corporations’ machinery for over nine months. Read more
22 November 2012 | Videos | Financialization of nature | International Tour in Solidarity with communities affected by mining megaprojects in Central America | Social activists at risk

“Tell them Not to Kill Me”

Video summary of the FoEI Mission in El Salvador and Guatemala Visit to communities that resist mining and megaprojects

Video produced during the International Mission that verified human rights violations and pillage of natural resources by mining transnational corporations Goldcorp, Pacific Rim and by the building of Hidralia SA’s hydroelectric dams. Watch video
22 November 2012 | News | Human Rights and International Solidarity Mission | No to the coup d’état in Paraguay | Land grabbing | Social activists at risk

Unconstitutional and Corrupt

Ethical Trial Against Paraguayan Parliament

The Platform of Social Organizations for Democracy of Paraguay is holding the final stage of an oral ethical and public trial before the National Congress on Thursday in the country’s capital, Asuncion. The Congress promoted a coup d’état in June, disguised as an impeachment, where the constitutionally elected President, Fernando Lugo, was ousted. Read more
21 November 2012 | Interviews | International Tour in Solidarity with communities affected by mining megaprojects in Central America | Social activists at risk

Keeping Up The Fight

The Committee of Peasant Unity of Guatemala Exposes Intimidation Campaign Against Them

There has recently been exposed that there is a discredit and intimidation campaign against the Committee of Peasant Unity (CUC) in Guatemala. The CUC is a member of La Via Campesina International, which "has been historically rejected by the economic sector and the militaries during the years of war", Rafael Gonzales, leader of the organization, told Real World Radio. Read more
21 November 2012 | Community Radios | Social activists at risk

Wishing It’s Not True

Paramilitary officers announced murder of Colombian environmentalist Miguel Angel Pabon Pabon: organizations trying to confirm information

Three paramilitary officers arrived Sunday night to Las Acacias community in Santander department, Colombia, threatened the local population and said that environmentalist leader Miguel Angel Pabon Pabon was dead. This took place after his family and friends held several actions to find the activist alive. Read more