In an interview published by Friends of the Earth Argentina, Lujan warns that the extractivist project that Barrick Gold aimed to installed in Famatina hill, which was stopped as a result of the local opposition, will be taken over by Osisko, also a Canadian corporation.

“We live on this hill, not only because we depend on its water, but also because of its microclimate, of which all local economies depend”, explained Lujan. She recalled that the local communities have been fighting against open-pit mining for five years.

Even though there are more projects like this one, there are also more groups of citizens opposing them.

Meanwhile, the activist said the provincial government has began a campaign of “social pollution” in order to discredit the anti-mining groups
through ads in the mass media.

“They tell us we are speaking out of ignorance, that we are eco-terrorists, there is an official campaign to criminalize the social protest.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rorro160279/