They are not 33, they are much more

New issues related to mining to appear on the Peruvian political agenda. Which areas could qualify as mining-free zones?

During the last 70 days we have been talking about mining a lot. But what do we know about mining further the necessary reform of labour laws? In countries like Peru, the number of mining concessions has skyrocketed during the last years to reach 16% of the territory, following the policy of Alan Garcia’s government.

But mining activities have produced conflicts and raised new debates among the population. Since the last local and regional elections of 3 October, issues like land management have appeared on the political agenda when new leaders were appointed, like for instance Javier Atkins in Piura. Where do we allow mining activities? Are all territories suitable for exploitation? How to impulse a productive but balanced development? How to protect river basins and areas with fragile ecosystems? Which role should play the regional governments?

Four northern provinces of Peru have rang the alarm bell. They have presented their proposal to create “no-go zones for mining”. Ayabaca, Huancabamba (Piura), Cajmarca and San Ignacio (Cajamarca), supported by MP Marisol Espinoza, have opened the debate in Lima on 25 October 2010, organising a public seminar in the Congress of the Republic.

Since the launch of the international campaign ‘Mining in paradise? No-Go zones for mining’, a farmers’ initiative supported by national and international organisations (Front for the Sustainable Development of the Northern Border of Peru and Muqui – Proposal and Action Network – as well as CATAPA from Belgium), the European tour of five Peruvian delegates is being finalized in order to draw Europe’s attention on the situation. The tour will start in Brussels on 23 November, with José de Echave, Magdiel Carrión, Josefina Aponte, Elar Calle and Fidel Torres. It will then continue to Holland, France, Germany, the United-Kingdom and Spain.