Last April 12, the chair of the Committee, Francisco Pineda, received the award in California, United States, which is annually granted by the Goldman Foundation to environmental activists around the world.

This is one of the most important awards in the world in terms of environmental struggles. This time Pineda received the award for leading the resistance to a project of mining corporation Pacific Rim.

The community resistance to the mining project has had a long record of trials, aggressions, even the murder of activists, while it has been a good example for others to learn about the effects of extractive industries of transnational corporations.

Francisco has been one of the main voices to demand justice for the leaders who were murdered in Cabañas and to demand the government a bill to ban metallic mining in El Salvador. Marcelo Gustavo Rivera, Ramiro Rivera Gómez and Dora Alicia Recinos, were murdered in 2009. They were part of the resistance to the granting of exploitation licenses to the Canadian mining corporation.

Pineda received the Award granted to “grassroots environmental heroes”, having his friends in mind, he explained in a press conference in the US.

He did a tour there after receiving the award, where he had the chance to even speak with President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C.

“This award is the result of the effort of many social organizations, friends and family. This represents a greater commitment so that the companies that are threatening us with mining, stay away from our countries”, said Francisco. In a conversation with Obama and US congress members, the Salvadorean activist mentioned the negative consequences of mining investments and free trade agreements on the communities. He explained “This kind of project always favors a few, but unfortunately those are not the ones who live in the communities but the foreigners”.

“Environmentalists are treated as crazy people around here. But in other countries there are people who work for the environment and the three thousand people present here in this awards ceremony were applauding our work. So I thought: ’look how nice it is to be crazy’”.
CESTA Friends of the Earth El Salvador has worked closely with the Committee. They expressed their joy over the award and said that they will strengthen the community and organizations struggle to prevent mining exploitation in the country.

Photo: CESTA-AT