violation
In April of this year, when the Hanrine vehicle was involved in an accident, the conflict between the company and the residents escalated again. Blocked the only road to Buenos Aires For more than 40 days, trying to force a visit to explore.
On August 27th, Hanrine defied June court decision, Tried to pass again. This triggered a protest, which resulted in a resident being stabbed.
Three days later, the judge ruled that the company was allowed to use as much force as possible to ensure access security.
The National Police later issued a statement announcing that they intend to appeal the decision and that they do not want to be placed in a position where violence must be committed against citizens in the future.
The Human Rights Committee of the National Assembly of Ecuador believes that the violence violated the residents’ right to peaceful assembly and protest, as well as the right to prior informed consent.
Emissions
However, in Ecuador, it has become very common for mining companies to influence courts to enforce business.
The copper boom is creating conflict front lines across the country, with dozens of multinational companies taking advantage of the investment opportunities and deregulation provided by the government’s comprehensive new national mining plan.
Ecuador is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, with diverse people and cultures, who see land as a livelihood rather than a commodity.
But it may become a “sacrifice zone” for the global North obsessed with growth and the profits of large corporations.
this Report of the 6th International Panel on Climate ChangeReleased on August 9, 2021, the content is clear: We are running out of time and we must take action. For the world’s largest contributor to climate change (the richest country), this means transitioning to net zero carbon emissions as soon as possible.
Guard
this World Bank estimates By 2020, 3 billion tons of minerals will need to be mined to transition to so-called “green” or “clean” energy and technology.
One of the most important minerals is copper, which is used in wind energy, solar energy, electric vehicles and infrastructure.according to An industry report, The average annual growth rate of copper demand is expected to be 13% in the next ten years.
In the past few years, climate commodity stock prices have risen steadily due to demand, and the recent sharp rises correspond to the following events U.S. President Joe Biden Re-commit to achieve international climate goals.
although Destructive practices in the mining industrySupporters of the corporate-led energy transition are encouraging mining companies to concentrate their investments in the resource-rich regions of the global South.
This is more and more worrying Human rights advocate, Environmental defenders, scholars and journalists.
uprising
In another mountainous area, the civil war is intensifying due to the eagerness to obtain rare earth minerals (REM).
According to a Recent survey, The increase in illegal REM mining activities in the Kachin conflict zone in northeastern Myanmar has led to land siege, human rights violations and environmental damage.
These profits support a border defense force controlled by the military that ensures Chinese companies access to indigenous lands.
The report shows Since the Myanmar military launched a coup on February 1, 2021, illegal mining activities have increased.
Kidnapped hundreds of elected government members, Crimes against humanity The crimes the army frequently committed against civilians during mass uprisings eventually resulted in the death of 900 people, including 75 children, and dozens of people were tortured, raped and detained.
landscape
The Myanmar Ambassador to the United Nations appeals Emergency humanitarian intervention Coming from the international community, to no avail.
Rare earth minerals have long been dominated by Chinese state-owned enterprises, which own Control 80% of the global supply of REMs.
The shift in sourcing from Myanmar coincided with the Chinese Communist Party’s attempt to “green” their image. Instead, they outsource disturbing environmental and social costs to fragile conflict-prone areas.
Considered “critical” International Energy Association (IEA) In the production of wind turbines and electric vehicles, REM is expected to increase Demand 1000% According to the World Bank Group, by 2050, the transition requirements for “clean energy” will be met.
The extraction process of rare earths has also caused great damage to the environment, involving waste water and tailing ponds, and there is a risk of leaking acids, heavy metals and radioactive elements. In China, large-scale destruction The exploitation of renewable energy in the country leads to community pollution and landscape destruction.
Extractionism
There is growing concern that the demand for transitional minerals is fueling an increase in resource extraction, which is fueling violence against indigenous groups and subsistence farmers in resource-rich countries in the global South.
Environmental threats are also increasing, including the degradation of fragile ecosystems and the impact on endangered species.
Globally, the laws governing multinational mining companies have limited supervision of supply chain due diligence.
Communities that are negatively affected often have few legal remedies available, especially when the government prioritizes environmental protection and human rights.
The unquestionable narrative of economic growth on a planet with limited resources dominates the discussion around solutions, often muting the community’s voices about alternatives to extractivism.
Grow
Nevertheless, front-line groups are continuing to protect the remaining carbon-intensive forests and precious water resources.
An iconic case is Salween River Peace Park, The area was declared unaffected by large-scale hydropower and mining activities, and was managed by Burmese’s indigenous Karen people with an earth-centric approach.
potential Disruptive social, environmental and conflict-related impacts Proponents of industrial and economic growth deem necessary mining transition minerals must be urgently recognized and Solve in the climate model And at the policy level Degenerate And localize Alternatives to extractionism Think more seriously.
These authors
Claire Burgess is a PhD candidate at the University of Tasmania, researching resource-related conflicts in the field of clean energy.
Liz Downes is a researcher and activist at Rainforest Action Group, an organization that supports frontline communities in Ecuador affected by Australian mining companies.
