Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries

8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries

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Protecting Your Community

Against Mining Companies and

Other Extractive Industries

A Guide for Community Organizers

2009

By Carlos Zorrilla

With Arden Buck, Paula Palmer

and David Pellow


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A. Denitions

Underground mining,alsocalledsubsuracemining,involvesdigginganddrillingintotheground

toremovethedesiredminerals.Thisormomining

disturbstheearthlessbutisotenmorehazardous

tothemineworkers.

Open pit mining,alsocalledopencast,opencut,

andstripmining,disturbslargeareasolandand

wastesalotogroundwater,leavinghugeamounts

osolid(otenpoisonous)wasteandhugeholesin

theearth.

Cyanide heap leach mining (or gold and silver)

involvessprayingacyanidesolution(adeadly

poison)overtheoreandcollectingthedissolved

metalsromthebottomotheheap.Spilledcyanide

canquicklykillpeopleaswellasshandother

aquaticlie,andpoisondrinkingorirrigationwater.

Mountain top removalinvolvesblastingaway

mountaintopsusingexplosivestoreachtheminer-

alssought.Thepracticecanproduceahugevolume

owastematerials,whichareotendumpedinto

adjacentvalleysandstreams.Thetwomostcommon

mineralsminedthiswayarecoalandlimestoneor

cementproduction.

Placer mining,alsocalledalluvialmining,involves

dredgingriversandsitingoutthevaluableminerals.

Small scale miningisplacerorunderground

mining,doneindividuallyorinsmallgroups.Usually

sitingisdonebyhand,otenbypanning.Millsmay

beusedtocrushtheore.Smallscalegoldmining

usesmercury(ahighlytoxicmetal)andcanseverely

contaminatewaterandcrops.

Riverine and Submarine Tailings Disposalinvolve

thedumpingodangerousminewasteintorivers,lakes,ortheocean,causingserioushealthandenvi-

ronmentaldamage.Thepracticeisprohibitedin

mostrichnations.

B. Typical Steps in the Mining Process

Note: thestepsandsequencelistedheremaybe

dierentindierentcountries.

Prospecting

Prospectinginvolvestakingrocksamplesandstreamsedimenttogaugeanareasminingpotential.In

somecountriesitrequiresnogovernmentpermit.It

istheleastdamagingoallminingactivities,buti

trailsarebuilttoaccesspristineareas,peoplecan

usethemorpoaching,timberextractionandeven

land-squatting.

Exploration

Thisisamuchmoreintensive,organized,andlarger

scaleormoprospecting.Explorationactivities

includeanythingromtakingwater,rockandsoilsamplesromtheground,todrillinghundredso

metersintothesubsoilwithelaboratedrillingequip-

ment.Theobjectivesare:discoveringthewhere-

aboutsothemetalresources,analyzingtheirmetal

content,anddecidingitheyareeconomicallyviable

toexploit.Impactscanincludecontaminationo

waterresourcesoriginatinginminingcampsand

drillingsites,tosevereimpactscreatedbybuild-

ingroadaccesstotransportthedrillingequipment.

Socialimpactscanbesimilartothoseduringthe

exploitationphase.Theexplorationphasemaylast

ormonthsoryears.

Concessions

Inmostcountries,beorestartinganylegalexplo-

ration,aminingcompanyhastoobtainamining

concessionorpermitromthenationalorprovincial

government.Thisallowsthemtobuildroadsintoan

areaandbegindrillingandtakingsamplesinorder

todeterminethequalityandlocationothemineral

resources.Toacilitatethis,acompanymaytrytobuy

suracerightsbeorestarting.Sometimesthegovern-

mentmaytakeorexpropriatethelanditseltomake

iteasierortheminingcompanytodevelopitsmine.

Terms o Reerence (TOR)

Atertheconcessionhasbeenobtained,aTOR

documentmayberequired.Itspecieshowthe

projectwillbedened,developed,andveried.

Itisthebasisoruturedecisionsanddescribesa

commonunderstandingotheprojectsscopeamong

stakeholders.

(Note:TheTORmayalsobecalledaPlano

Operations(PoO.)

. About Mining


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2

TheTORdocumentlaysoutthesocial,economicand

environmentalelementstheEnvironmentalImpact

Assessment(EIA)willstudy.TheTORdocument

authorizesthecompanytopreparetheEIA.Notall

countriesmayrequirethisdocument,orinsome

casesitmaynotbedoneinapublicsetting.

TheTermsoReerencearesupposedtodenethe

ollowing:

Vision,objectives,scopeanddeliverables(i.e.

whathastobeachieved)

Stakeholders,rolesandresponsibilities(i.e.

whowilltakepartinit)

Resource,nancial,andqualityplans(i.e.how

itwillbeachieved)

Workbreakdownstructureandschedule(i.e.

whenitwillbeachieved)

Successactors/risksandrestraints.

However,unlesspressed,thegovernmentand/or

miningcompaniesmayailtoincludesomeorallo

theabove.

Insomecountries,publichearingsarerequiredin

ordertodeterminewhichelementstheTORshould

takeintoaccount.Thismaybeoneotherst

opportunitiesorcommunitiestointerveneinthe

miningprocess.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

ItheTORsareapproved,thenextstepisthe

EnvironmentalImpactAssessment(EIA).Extractive

companiestypicallyhireotherrmstodotheenvi-

ronmentalassessment.Thisprocesscouldlastseveral

monthstooverayeardependingontheprojectand

environmentalconditions.

TheEIAisanassessmentothepossibleimpacts

positiveandnegativethataproposedproject

mayhaveonthenaturalandsocialenvironment.Its

purposeshouldbetoupholdsocialandenviron-

mentalstandards.Otentimes,however,itisseenjustasadocumenttocomplywithnationallaws.

TheInternationalAssociationorImpactAssessment

(IAIA)denesanenvironmentalimpactassessment

astheprocessoidentiying,predicting,evaluating

andmitigatingthebiophysical,social,andotherrele-

vanteectsodevelopmentproposalspriortomajor

decisionsbeingtakenandcommitmentsmade.

Beoreproceedingwithminingactivities,companies

mustrstgetapprovalotheirEIA,usuallyromthe

MinistryoMinesandEnergy,theMinistryothe

Environment,oranequivalentgovernmentalbody.

Thisisgenerallyreerredtoastheenvironmental

license.

Environmentalimpactassessmentscanbecontro-

versial.Butidoneimpartiallyandwithqualied

personnel,theycanbeauseultoolorcommunities

(SeeSection2E).

Moreoten,theEIAleavesoutorunderplaysnega-tivesocialandenvironmentalimpactsotheexplo-

rationorexploitationactivities.AnEIAmayneglect

alocaldevelopmentplanoractivitythatcouldbe

impactedbytheextractiveactivity,oritmaynot

mentionthreatened,endangeredorrarespeciesor

importantarcheologicalorspiritualsites,thatwould

makeitsapprovalmoredicult.Sometimescontrac-

torssavetimeandmoneybycopyinganotherEIA,

makingthestudyirrelevant.Theseallprovideoppor-

tunitiesorchallengingtheEIA.

Social licenseMiningcompaniesareverymuchawarethatthey

mustalsogettheapprovalothelocalcommunities

beoregoingaheadwithprojects.Thisisreerredto

asthesociallicense.Itisnotanocialrequire-

mentinmostcountries,buteventhoughacompa-

nyobtainsitsEIA,mostinvestorswouldbewaryo

investinginaprojectitheminingcompanydidnt

havetheapprovalothelocalcommunities.

Miningcompaniesareotenwillingtospend

millionsodollarsandmakeendlesspromisestotry

toobtainthesociallicense.Theypromisetobuildschoolsorbridges,providescholarships,andjobs

whatevertheythinkwillappeaseacommunity.

Sometimestheseareocialagreementssignedby

thecompanyandthelocalmunicipalgovernment

and/orthestateornationalgovernment.Sometimes

itsmoreinormal.Whilesomepromisesarekept,

manyarenot.Acompanymaycontinuetomake

gitstokeepthepopulationpacied.Butinthe

process,theymaycreatesocialhavoc,violence,and

deepdivisionswithincommunitiesandamilies.

Mining companies are very much aware

that they must also get the approval

o the local communities beore going

ahead with projects.


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Exploitation

Theexploitationconcessionorlicenseallowsthe

companytobeginullscalemining.Itusually

requiresitsownEIA.Insomecountries,thereare

separateexplorationandexploitationconcessions.

Inothers,thereisonlyoneconcession,allowingcompaniestocarryoutallminingactivitiesrom

explorationtoexploitationandevensmelting

operations.

Exploitationisthemostdestructiveanddangerous

partotheprocessandwillusuallygoonormany

years.Duringexploitation,mineralsareremoved

romtheearth(orriversinplacermining)and

processedtoextractthemetalsromtherestothe

material.Open-pitmininginvolvesmakinghuge

cratersupto4kilometersacrossand1.5kilome-

tersdeep.Eachcratercangeneratetensomillions

otonsominewasteperyear,someowhichcan

containtoxicheavymetals.Duringtheexploitation

phase,communitiesmaybeuprootedandresettled,

andtheirlivelihoodsandculturedestroyed.Thisis

whenlargeamountsopoisonousmaterialsareused

anddumped,andwhenshinggrounds,drinking

water,andirrigationwaterarepoisoned.See1Cor

moredetails.

Cleanup: mine closure and post-closure operations

Thisisthenalstepaterminingisnished.It

shouldbe(butotenisnt)well-undedtomakesureanyactualorpotentialcontaminationproblems

aretakencareoproperly.Itmayinvolvereorest-

ingalltheminedoutsites,replacingthetopsoil,

orevenllingintheopenpits(highlyunlike-

ly).TheEnvironmentalImpactStatement(orthe

ManagementPlan)shouldcontaindetailedplans

onhowthecompanywillrehabilitatetheimpact-

edareas.Goodrehabilitationplansincludethe

in-perpetuitytreatmentowatertokeepitrom

contaminatingaquiersorsuracewaters.

Manycountriesrequirecompaniestosetasidehetynancialguaranteesbeorestartingexploitationin

ordertopayorcleanupandremediation,buttoo

otenthisisnotdone.Thecompanywilllikelyresist

spendingtimeormoneyonthis,sinceitbrings

themnoprot,andcancosthundredsomillions

odollarstodoitproperly.Moreotentheywill

neglectitandwillnotbehonestinrevealingthe

healtheectsocontaminatedwater,soil,andair.

Theymustbeorcedbyorganizedcommunitypres-

suretodoapropercleanup.

C. Impacts o Mining on the Community

Theprimaryinterestothesecompaniesisprot.

Bringingeconomicorotherbenetstothelocal

populationandprotectingtheenvironmentarenot

importanttothem.Thosebenetsareprovided(iat

all)totheminimumextentpossible,andusuallyonlyunderpressure.

Whenaminingorotherextractioncompanycomes

tovisityourcommunity,youmayexpectnice

talkandwonderulpromises.CorporateSocial

Responsibility(CSR)isthenewsheepscostume

thatminingcompaniesnowwearwhencominginto

communitiesorconvincinggovernmentstoaccept

theirindustries.

Theytalkaboutresponsibility,yetrejectree,prior

andinormedconsent.Theyoertobepartners

withthecommunities,yettheydirectlyorindirectly

attack,discreditand/orintimidateorganizationsand

individualswhoquestionoropposetheirprojects,

andthenreplacethemwithonestheycanmanipu-

late.Theybragaboutnewtechnology,butnever

mentionthereducedwork-orceneeded,theperma-nentimpactsontheenvironment,northepoison-

ingowaterresources.Andtheynevermentionwhat

happenstocommunitiesandthelocaleconomy

whenthemineralsrunout.

Togovernments,companiesoervisionsohuge

potentialincome,butleaveouttherealcostsoreha-

bilitation,impactsonhealth,andthebillionsotons

oearthandvegetationpoisonedbycyanide,arsenic,

leadandotherlethalsubstances.Inpaintingtheir

alseversionodevelopment,theydontmentionthe

naturalandsocialwastelandtheyleavebehind.

Itheyareallowedtobeginmining,youmayexpect

anyorallotheollowingimpacts:

Environmental impacts

Unrestrictedminingoperationsalmostalwaysbring

environmentaldisaster.Tobuildthemineandits

accessroads,companiesdestroyorests,reducing

theregionsbiologicaldiversityandwildliehabitat.

Asorestsaredestroyed,communitiesmaynolonger

ndedibleplants,medicinalherbs,sh,game,or

The primary interest o these companiesis proft.


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plantsusedorconstructionandutensils.Construction

createsnoise,dust,vibrationsanderosionthataect

animal,shandhumanpopulations.Duringthe

miningoperations,airandwaterarerequentlypollut-

edwithtoxicchemicalsleadingtodiseaseanddeath

obirds,sh,animalsandhumans.Evenaterthe

mineisclosed,heavymetalsusuallycontinuetoleachintothegroundwaterandriversorcenturies,poison-

ingshandtheanimalsandbirdsthateedonthem.

InWestPapua,Indonesia,thedestructioncaused

romtheGrasbergcopperandgoldminingsite

issomassivethatyoucanseeitromspace.In

thePhilippines,toxicminewaste,spilledintothe

MogpogRiver,killedallaquaticlieandgaveriseto

foodingthatdestroyedthericharmingareasalong

theriver.In1995,theOmaigoldmineinGuyana

(belongingtotheCanadiancompanyCambior),

spilledourandahalmillioncubicmeterso

cyanide-contaminatedresidualmineralsintothe

EssequiboRiver.Eightykilometersotheriverweredeclaredanenvironmentaldisasterzone.

Environmentaldestructionisnotlimitedtopoor

countries.InSpainandHungary,latesttechnology

mineshavecausedwidespreadcontaminationo

riverandsearesources,killingmillionsosh,while

impactingmunicipaldrinkingwater,tourism,sher-

ies,andtheindustriesdependingonthem.

Miningrequiresenormousamountsowater.To

producethegoldinoneweddingring,orexample,

requires8,000litersowater.Miningotendriesup

thelocalwatersupplyveryquickly,makingagricul-tureandlivestockproductiondicultorimpossible.

Drinkingandcookingwaterbecomescarceaswell.

Miningcanalsocausemassivedeorestation,which

canreducerainall,dryupthelocalclimate,destroy

habitatororaging,shingandhunting,andorce

birdsandanimalsintoextinction.Forexample,

thetoxicumesproducedbytheNorlisksmelting

complexinRussiahavedestroyed350,000hectares

oorests.

Anotherimpact,importantorindigenouspeoples,is

thedestructionocultural,archeological,andspiri-

tualsites.

Health impacts

Allphasesandalltypesominingcanhaveseriousimpactsonhumanhealth.Theseimpactsareclosely

linkedtoenvironmentalimpacts.

Dustandairpollutioncauserespiratoryillnessesand

irritatedeyesandskin,especiallyinchildren.

Drinkingwaterandirrigationwaterarerequently

poisoned,sometimesorcenturies.Badwaterrom

minescanpoisoncropsdozensomilesawayrom

themines.Watercontaminatedwithtoxicsubstances

likemercury,lead,arsenicandcyanidecancausea

widevarietyoseriousailments,includingcancer

andbirthdeects.Foodirrigatedwithcontaminatedwatercancausesimilarhealthproblems.Pollution

romsmall-scaleartisanalminesaswellaslarge-

scaleminescancauseseriousdiseasesamongthe

miners,theiramilies,anddownstreamcommunities.

Coppersmeltingproducestoxicumesthatcan

destroyvegetationandcausemanyillnessesand

birthdeectsinhumans.(Sometimesminingcompa-

niesareorcedtouseexpensivelters,butusual-

lynotinpoorareas.)Uraniumminingcanexpose

workerstodangerouslevelsoradioactivityleading

tocancerandotherchronicdiseases.Undergroundminingisespeciallydangerous

becauseoaccidentsthattrapandsometimeskill

mineworkers.Deathanddebilitationromsilicosis

andlungcancer,blacklungdisease,cave-ins,explo-

sions,foodsandotheraccidentsareallcommon.

Atertheendominingoperations,healtheects

otencontinueordecades.

Thereareother,indirect,healthrisksposedby

miningoperations.Thereisagreaterriskowater-

borneandotherinectiousdiseases.Thelossocrop

landandthedryingupowaterresourcescanlead

todecreasedoodsupply,malnutrition,andcultural

disruption.

Itisdiculttoprovethatminingisthedirectcause

oaspecicpersonsillness,soitsdiculttosue

acompanyorhealthproblems.Thatiswhyitisso

importanttopreventtheenvironmentalcontamina-

tionthatcancauseillness.

During the mining operations, air and

water are requently polluted with toxicchemicals leading to disease and death

o birds, fsh, animals and humans.


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Social impacts

Theimpactominingonyourcommunitycanbe

devastating.Themorepresenceanextractivecompa-

nyhasinyourcommunity,themoredisruptiveit

willbe.Itheyareallowedtoexploreinyourterrito-

ries,thelikelihoodosocialdisruptiondramatically

increases.Itmaythentakemanyyearstore-build

thesocial,culturalandspiritualstructuresandbonds

thatwerethecommunitysrealwealth.

Miningcompaniesotenbringhundredsosingleworkingmenintothelocalcommunity,givingrise

toserioussocialandhealthproblems.Alcoholism,

prostitution,sexualassault,rape,andvenereal

diseasesareunortunatelyverycommoninandnear

miningcommunities.

Loss o livelihood:Agricultureandshingcanbe

severelyreducedduetocontaminationordryingup

owatersupplies.Localoodproductiondropsas

miningjobsreplaceagriculturalones.Sustainable

activitiesliketourismareaectedbecausethearea

isnolongerattractivetotourists.Thecommunitybecomesimpoverishedasthecostolivingrises

sharplyduetohighwagesgoingtoasmallportion

othepopulace.

Eects on women:Migrationandsocialdisinte-

grationdestroytraditionalsaetynets,andwomen

areespeciallyaected.Whenmenworkawayrom

home,womenarelettohandlenances,support

theamilies,andmanagetheland.Thestresson

amiliesotencausesdomesticviolenceandmarital

breakups.Themencanbringvenerealdiseasehome.

Community breakdown:Communitiesandindig-enousgroupshavewaysocopingwithsocialor

naturaldisturbancesorstress,includinggroupsoli-

darity,generaltrustoonesneighborsorleaders,

unwrittensocialrules,strongamilyties,cultural

identity,andtraditionalleadershiporgoverning

structures.Thecompanymaydeliberatelytryto

disruptandweakenacommunitysabilitytoorganize

eectivelyagainstthem.

Human rights violations:Thecompanymayemploy

localpeopletoalselyaccuseanti-miningactivistso

committingcrimes.Itmayemploythugsorparamili-

taryorcestointimidate,threaten,injureorevenkillpeople.

InthePhilippines,indigenouspeopleweredriven

outotheirhomesatgunpointbyguardshiredby

aCanadianminingrm.Andaminingcompanyin

Australiaorcedlocalarmerstoselltheirlandata

pricedeterminedbythecompany.

Other negative impacts: Inadditiontotheexamples

above,aminingprojectotenresultsin:

1. Increaseincrime

2. Landtracking1

3. Displacementohundredsoamilies

4. Militarizationandtheappearanceoarmed

groups

Eects o small-scale mining

Whilethismanualmostlydiscusseslarge-scale

miningprojects,small-scaleandartisanalgoldor

diamondminersotencauseequallysevereenvi-

ronmentalandsocialproblems.Theycancontami-

natewaterresourceswithtoxicsubstancessuchas

mercury,aectingnotonlylocalpopulationsbutpeopleandcommunitieshundredsokilometers

away.Miningtowns,whethercreatedbylargeor

smallscalemining,areotenriddledwithcrimeand

plaguedwithinadequateinrastructureoreducation,

sewage,healthandothersocialservices.Andthe

costolivinginthesecommunitiesisusuallymuch

higherthaninsurroundingareas.Thepresenceo

singlemeninthesesettlementsisacommonoccur-

rence,leadingtoprostitutionandthespreadovene-

realdiseases.Insomecases,high-valueminerals,

suchasgoldandgems,helpnancearmedgroups,

creatingamoreviolentandinsecureenvironment.Duetoalltheseandotheractors,small-scalemining

communitiesareotensubjectedtowidespreadsocial

andenvironmentalbreakdown.

1Landtrackingoccurswhentheextractioncompanyoerstobuylandasawaytosecureaccesstotheirconcessions,orasawaytobuyoutpotentialorrealoppositionmembers.Thisalsoleadstocommunitydisin-tegration,inthatpeoplewillotensellandleave.

The company may deliberately try to

disrupt and weaken a communitys abil-

ity to organize eectively against them.


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Theactionsdescribedinthissectionarebestused

beoreminingconcessionsaregranted,buttheycan

alsobevaluablelater,eveniexplorationormining

hasalreadystarted.

Asyoucarryoutyourwork,rememberthatwhile

itisimportanttobeactive,itsmoreimportantto

besae.Therearepersonalrisksinvolved:youand

youramilymaybethetargetosmearcampaigns,

deaththreats,andotherploysmeanttoweakenyour

resolveandmakeyougiveuptheght.Occasionally,

activistsghtingextractiveindustrieshavelosttheir

lives.Thoughmostcompanieswillnotrisktheir

reputationortheutureotheirprojectsonsuch

drasticactions,aewwillnothesitate.Rememberalsothatyourworkcanstirupoppositionromthe

localpopulationwhomayseetheiralsehopesor

progressorquickmoneythwartedbyyouractions.

Prevention rst!

Thedurationothestruggleanditsimpactsonthe

communityare,inlargemeasure,determinedbytwo

actors:(a)howquicklyyoucanmobilizeagainstthe

threat,and(b)thestrengthandresilienceoyour

community.

Itishelpultothinkoanextractioncompanyasa

disease,andyourcommunityasyourbody.Asinany

realdisease,thelongeryoudelaytakingmeasures

tostopit,themoreitcanspreadandcausedamage.

Thediseasemustbetreatedassoonaspossibleto

preventitromspreading.

Itismucheasiertoheadoacompanysassault

BEFOREexplorationtakesplace.Atertheybuild

roads,explore,discoverresources,andspendmoney,

stoppingthemisalonger,moredicultbattle.

Thereisalsoapsychologicaladvantagethatcompa-

niesgainromhavinglargeinvestmentsinaproject,

becauseatthatpointpeoplemightsayitsalready

happeningortheprojectisinevitable.

Iexplorationbeginsandthecompanyndsprot-

abledepositsovaluablemetalsorpetroleum,the

regionalornationalgovernmentmaybecomemuch

moreinterestedinexploitingtheresources.Itisnot

unusualorgovernmentstoviolatetheirownlaws,

orcreatenewones,inthehopeoobtainingincomeromtaxesthatarepromisedrommining.

However,communitiesthatorganizethemselves

wellcaninfuencetheprocessateverystep,rom

preventingprojectsromstartingatall,togetting

compensation,tosaelyshuttingdown(decommis-

sioning)projectsatertheyhavebeenoperational.

2A. Prepare

Fortheimportanttaskopreventingcompanies

romexploring(ornishingtheirexploration),you

rstneedtobecomeinormedyoursel,thenpubli-

cizethethreatsbyspreadingthewordtoothers,and

thenmobilizethecommunity.Iconcessionshave

beengrantedandexplorationormininghasstart-

ed,theollowingactionsarestilluseultolimitthe

damage.Manyotheollowingactionscanbedone

atthesametime.Pickthosethatseemmostappro-

priatetoyoursituation.

Become inormed

Tondoutiaminingcompanyintendstoapplyor

anexploitationconcession,lookorarticlesinyourlocalorregionalpaper,ornoticerumorsdont

Thecreationoonesimpleweddingringcangenerate20tonsotoxicwaste.

Atinybitocyanide,thesizeoagrainorice,cankillaperson.Acommercialgoldminemayusemany

tonsocyanide.

Manyrivershavebeenmadedeadoanylieduetotoxicminewaste.

Miningkillsandinjuresmoreworkersthananyotherindustry.

Muchminingisdoneinverypoorcountrieswherepeopleareleastabletoresistit.

2. How to Fight Back

It is much easier to head o a companysassault BEFORE exploration takes place.


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dismissthetalesyouhearatyourlocalhairdressers,

puborothergatheringplace.Strangersmayarrive

incarstolookaround,andsurveyorswithtechnical

equipmentmaystarttocasethearea.Thisiswhen

youshouldstarttodigorinormation.

Identiythesaeguardsandconstraintsorcompa-niestooperatecontainedinlaws,theconstitution,

andinternationaltreaties.Findoutthelegalproce-

duresoracquiringconcessions.

Iavailable,getacopyogovernmentmapsshowing

miningareasandthestatusoconcessions.Seeia

companyisintheprocessoacquiringconcessions

inyourarea.Iitis,startalertinglocalcommunities

andgovernments,butmakesureyouhavereliable

inormation.Findouthowmuchyourlocalgovern-

mentocialsknow,anditheyarewillingtohelp.

GototheMinistryoMineswebsiteandgetasmuchinormationaspossibleontheproject.Ithat

doesntwork,askorthisinormationromthe

MinistryoMines(oritsequivalent)directly.You

willneedanocialdocumentrequestingit,andor

thisyoumayneedalawyerorthehelpoanorga-

nizationinthecapital.Ithereareregionalmining

directorates,itmaybeastertogetinormation

romthesebutalwaysleaveapapertrail.Thatis,

requestinormationthroughpaperwork,andmake

surethattheocialsstampyourcopyotherequest

withthedateandasignatureoruturereerence.

Iacompanyalreadyhasaconcession,research

whatstepsarenecessarybeoretheycantake

thenextstep.Getcopiesoanyandallavailable

documents.

YourcountrymayhaveaNationalDevelopment

Planthatmayidentiyareaswhereextractiveindus-

tryactivitiesareallowedorplanned.Itwillbe

useultohavethisdocumenttoestablishwheth-

eryourcommunityiswithinoneotheseextrac-

tivedevelopmentareas,soyoucanstartalerting

andeducatingallstakeholders(communities,local

governments,developmentNGOs,etc.)aboutthe

impactsoextractiveindustries.

Onceyouhavealertedyourriendsandneighbors,

trytoorganizesomeothemtohelpyouresearch

thenextstepsahead.

Youwouldbesurprisedhowmanyvaluableresourc-

esyoumayhavearoundyoui.e.retiredgovern-

mentocials,savvylawyers,computerexperts,

graphicdesigners,surveyors,journalistsetc.Eacho

themisavaluableresourcetohelpyouidentiythe

saeguardsandconstraintsorcompaniestooperate,

tondouttherequiredlegalprocedures,andtoe-

cientlypreparetodeendyourcommunity.

Know your enemy:Digordetailsaboutthecompa-

nyinvolved.Whoarethey?Whatisthecompanys

countryoorigin?Whataretheyplanning?Who

arethemajorshareholders?Whatistheirrecord?

Tondanswerstothesequestions,checkoutthe

companyswebsiteasrequentlyaspossible(iits

onlyinEnglish,getsomeonetohelpyoutranslate).

Sharethisinormationwithgroupsandcommuni-ties.Detailedinormationonthecompanyandmajor

shareholdersisimportantatlaterstages.Indigging

ordetailsaboutthecompany,theimportanceo

usingtheInternetcannotbeoverstated.Findother

websitesthatalsopostinormationaboutthecompa-

ny(seetheResourcessection).

Researchthecompanyshistoryosocialandenvi-

ronmentalpracticestoknowwhoyouaredealing

with,andtopresentyourcommunityandgovern-

mentwithevidenceopatternsobadbehavior.

Ipossible,contactothercommunitieswherethis

companyhasoperated.SeeResourcessectionsor

goodsources.

Plan:Atthestart,youmaywanttothinkabout

howtobestocusyourlimitedenergiesandund-

ingtomakethegreatestimpactandmaximizeyour

chanceosuccess.Writetheplandown,anddiscuss

itwiththoseyoutrust,askingortheirinput.Butbe

cautiousthattheplandoesntallintominingcompa-

nyhandsmakeewornocopies.Writedown

updatesasneeded.

Befexibleandabletoquicklyadaptyourplantonewsituationsandnewinput.Thesewrittenplans

areawaytorealizewhathasbeenachievedandto

realizewhatneedscloserattentionasthecampaign

moveson.

2B. Build Local Opposition

Mobilize

Createalocalorganizationioneisnotalreadyin

existence.A strong local organization is absolutely

You would be surprised how many valu-able resources you may have around you.


12/33

crucial to success.Itsometimesstartswithone

ortwopersonsconcernedorthewelareothe

communitiesortheenvironment,andbuildsrom

there.Itmayhelptoenlistthesupportoreligious

orcivicleaders.Trytoensurethatitismadeupo

honestlocalindividuals,preerablyrespectedleaders

oyourcommunityorarea.

Keepkeypeopleinormedaboutmeetingsand

otherimportanteventsthecompanymayhost.Some

communitiesliveinareaswithoutphoneservice.Itis

imperativethatpeoplecancommunicateandrespond

tosituationsquicklyandmake sure the company

knows this.Ithereisnophoneservice,obtainwalk-

ie-talkiesandgivethemtokeypeopleinthearea.

Makesuretheequipmentiswelltakencareoand

thenetworkocommunicationisworkingwell.

Inorm the communityAsyoundoutaboutthecompany,themining

processes,impacts,historyosimilarmines,etc.

spreadthatinormationtothecommunityvia

pictures,brochures,books,videosandpamphlets.

Godoortodoortalkingtopeopleinyourcommu-

nityandnearby,andworktoconvincethemothe

needtoorganizeandmobilizeagainsttheproject.All

thishelpstocreateacriticalmassopublicopinion

againstminingandinavorosustainabledevelop-

mentandcommunitywell-being.

Thenmeetwithneighboringcommunitiesandlocalentitiessuchaslocalgovernments,productive

groups,andwomensorganizationsanyonewhose

well-beingmaybeimperiledbyanextractiveproject.

Getcopiesothemining,petroleum,orotherrele-

vantlegislationandbylaws(suchasenvironmen-

tallegislation)totheleadersasquicklyaspossible

sotheycanbecomeamiliarwiththem.Perhapsa

knowledgeablepersoninlawcanhelpsimpliyit

andmakethelanguageunderstandable.

Circulateprintedmaterial,mostlypictures,show-

ingtheimpacts,andaddressingsomeotheillegali-ties.(Youmayincludethepicturesattheendothis

guide.)

Arrangeeldtripstootherminingsitessopeople

canseetheenvironmentalandsocialdamagewith

theirowneyes.Invitepeoplerommining-aected

communitiestospeakatlocalevents,sharingtheir

experiences.Ipossible,alsobringinorvisitpeople

withcommunitiesorgroupsthathavesuccessully

resistedsuchprojects.

Inareaswherethereisatraditionoreading,printasimplehandoutsheetexplainingtherightso

communitiesandtheobligationsominingcompa-

nies.Emphasizetheactthatpeopleandcommu-

nitieshaverights,andthatthecompaniesrights

arenotanymorelegalthanindividualorcollective

rights.Knowingtheyhaverightsbackedupbyyour

countrysconstitution,internationaltreaties,and/or

nationallawshelpsempowerpeopletoopposethe

mine.Forexample,nocompanycanlegallytrespass

ontoprivatepropertywithouttheownerspermis-

sion,andaconcessiongivesthecompanyrightsonly

belowthesurace.

Listtheproceduresthecompanymustollow.

Forexample,ndouticompaniesmaybelegal-

lyrequiredtoshareinormationanddocuments

withthecommunitieswhenrequested,holdpublic

orums,andconsultwithcommunitiestoobtaintheir

reeandinormedconsent(FPIC)beoreobtaininga

concession.

Community Consent.Oneothemostpower-

ulinstrumentsinprotectingcommunitiesrom

devastationcausedbyextractiveprojectsisthe

rightocommunitiestogiveorwithholdtheir

consenttoaproject.Thisiscalledtherightto

Free,PriorInormedConsent(FPIC).Forittobe

meaningul,theconsentneedstobegivenree

opressureromgovernmentorindustry,priorto

thebeginningoanyactivitythatmayimpacta

communitysenvironmentorsocialwell-being,

andmustbeinormedthatis,withsufcient

inormationdeliveredinaregionsnativelanguage

sothecommunitycanmakeaproperdecision.

Thatmeansthatcommunitieshavetherightto

knowwhatisbeingproposed,andtheyhavethe

righttosayno.

Somenationallawsandconstitutionsguaran-

teeapeoplesrighttoFPIC.TheWorldBanks

ExtractiveIndustriesReviewconcludedthatall

potentiallyaectedcommunities,indigenousor

not,havetherighttoFPIC.Tribalandindigenous

peopleshavethisrightincountrieswhohave

signedConvention169otheInternationalLabor

Organization,ortheUNDeclarationontheRights

oIndigenousPeoples.


13/33

9

Use local media

Createasimplecommunitynewspaper(orprint

articlesinanexistingpaper)and/orpostbulletins

aroundthecommunity.Getinterviewedonradio

programsorcreateyourown.

Show(andgiveaway)videosothesocialandenvi-

ronmentalimpactsominingandcasesosuccess-

ulresistance.Audiovisualmaterialisotenmore

eectivethanwrittenmaterialingettingthemessage

across.

Work hard with local government

Getthemonyourside.Educatethemaboutthe

possiblerisksoanextractiveproject(health,social,

environmental,economic,culturalimpactsthatmight

occur,possiblyaectingtheareaspotentialortour-

ismrevenue).

Avoidalienatinggovernmentocials.Givethemthe

benetothedoubt,workwiththem,givethemas

muchinormationaspossible,keeptheminormed

aboutmeetingsandtrips,andtrytogetpeople

electedwhoareonyourside.Makesurelocal

governmentsunderstandthatextractiveprojectscan

sometimesdestroylocaldevelopment,orexample,

anareastourismappeal.Insomecountries,local

governmentshaveenoughpowertostopmajor

projects.

Example:Becausetheyhadthebackingotheir

localgovernments,DECOINinEcuadorwasableto

pushthroughaverygoodenvironmentallawdeclar-

ingthelocalcountytobeanecologicalcounty

therstinLatinAmerica.Thislawprohibitsmost

mininginthatarea.Thecountygovernmentalso

createdaMunicipalProtectedAreadirectlyover

theminingsite.

Thereareotherpossibilities,orexamplegetting

yourlocalgovernmenttodeclareyourcountyor

provinceaTourismDevelopmentArea.Oertowork

withthemtoproduceacounty-widelandmanage-

mentplanwhichspecicallyexcludesmining.

NOTE:dependingonthearea,triballeadersmay

playtheroleolocalgovernment,soregardlesso

whetherthereisanotherlocalgovernment,getting

theirsupportiskey.

Insomecasesthecommunitieswilldecideitisa

wasteotimetryingtogetlocalgovernmentontheir

side,duetocorruptionorsellouts.Inthiscase,

considerregionalandnationalgovernmentocials.Identiyriendlylegislators(Congressorequivalent)

andtrytowinthemovertoyourside.Someo-

cialswillgiveyouveryimportantinormationthat

canmakeallthedierence,andlatercanrulein

youravoriyoupresentyourselvescorrectly.Widen

yourbaseosupportbynotlimitingyourseltoone

politicalparty.Ideally,theselegislatorswouldbe

genuinelycommittedtoyourcause,andnotpolitical

opportunists.

Get unding

Thestrugglemaylastoryearsandmayinvolvesubstantialmoney.Organizationstohelpwithund-

ingareavailable.(SeeResourcessection.)

Althoughexternalundingcanmakeiteasiertocarry

outmoreactivitiesagainstanextractiveproject,it

isbestnottorelyonitcompletely.Trytobuildand

maintainaresistancebasedonyourownresources;

thiswillgreatlyincreaseyourchancesosuccess.You

shouldalsobeawarethattheinfuxolargeamounts

omoneycanalsodamageaweakorganization.

Asthecampaignevolves,youmayrequireund-ingorthingslikewebsites,printing,video-making,

travel,expertassessment,andlegalandotherproes-

sionalassistance.Obtainingoutsideundscantake

time,butyoumayalsondthepeoplepowertodo

thatwork.

Attheoutset,obtainingstartupundinglocallyis

agoodthingtotry,throughalocaleventsuchas

adance,musicestival,communityplay,rafe,or

auction.Askalocalmusicianorpoettocontribute

withastarappearancetoyourevent.Auctionitems

couldincludecerticatesoradinnercookedatthe

winnershome,ahaircut,orotherservices.Isucheventsprovesuccessulyoucanslightlyalterand

repeatthemlater.Theyarealsoagreatboostor

moraleandsolidarity,andcanrecruitmorecitizens

tothecause.

Themoreyoutellyourstory,inallmediaandall

ways,thebetterthechancethatariendlyoverseas

organizationwillhelpyouundsomeoyourwork.

Contactnationalandinternationalorganizationsto

helpyouidentiypossibleundingsources,andlook

ontheInternettondthemyoursel.Contactother

Widen your base o support by not limit-

ing yoursel to one political party.


14/33

0

communitiesghtingsimilarstruggles,andseei

theycouldhelpbycontactingtheorganizationsand

understhatarehelpingthem.

2C. Form Alliances

Start with local alliances

Thecreationoastrong,widevarietyolocaloppo-

sitionisessentialorsuccess.Reachouttoreligious

andenvironmentalorganizations,localgovernments,

regionalandnationalgovernmentsandNGOs.Work

withandinormtheselocalorganizations.

Inormlocalchurchorreligiousleadersabout

mininganditsimpactsonthepoorandmarginal-

ized,andaboutthesocialhavocitotencauses.The

supportorinvolvementoreligiousleadersoreven

othechurchitselmaymakeallthedierenceintheoutcome.

Whilethesupportolocalpoliticalleadersisvery

important,beonthealertorpoliticalpartiesthat

maywanttouseyourstruggleortheirownpoliti-

calends.Insomecountries,youmaybetemptedto

politicizeyourstrugglebysupportingsuchgroups.

Itmaywork,butcouldalsobackreithepartyin

powersellsyourstruggletotheelectorateasamere

toolusedbypoliticalparties.Thinkthricebeoreyou

letpartypoliticsintoyourstruggle.

Onestrongallymightbeacommunalorregion-

alwaterboard,oritsequivalent,oncetheyknow

thatextractiveactivitycancontaminateandordry

upsourcesowaterorcommunitiesorirrigation.

Or,armersgroupsdownriveritheyseethattheirirrigationwaterwouldbecontaminated,impacting

theirhealthandtheircrops.Similarlyotheragricul-

turalproducers,sharmownersandothersmaybe

useulallies.

Lookorpossiblealliesbeyondyourimmediate

area.Communitiesdownstreamanddownwindwill

alsobeaectedbymining.Wellsarawayromthe

minemaybecontaminatedbyarsenic,mercuryand

otherheavymetals.Smeltingplantscancontami-

nategroundandwaterresourcesmanykilometers

away.Sovisitthesecommunities,too,andgetthem

involved.

Alsoseekouttourismorganizations(orindividual

tourismentrepreneurs)withinyourregionoratthe

nationallevel,itouristattractionsarethreatened.

Quickly expand your alliances

Formallianceswithotheraectedcommunitiesin

theregion,orwithothercommunitiesthreatenedby

thesamecompany.Fromsomeotheseyoumayget

theinormationyouneedoreducationalpurposes.

Itsalwaysgoodtocreateallianceswithavarietyo

groups,includingenvironmentalandhumanrights

organizations.

Universitystudentscansometimesbecomeinspired

byyourstruggleandoerreehelp.Youmay

knowsomeoneatauniversitywhocanhelporga-nizeameetingbetweenriendsoraUniversity

clubordepartment(biology,tourism,hydrology).

Universityproessorsarealsoanexcellentresource.

Asktogivepresentationsintheirclassesandrecruit

studenthelpthatway.Proessorsmaybewillingto

doresearchoryourorganizationandmightinclude

studentsontheproject,orevenhavestudentsdo

thisworkaspartoaclassassignment.Youcanalso

raiseundsandincreasepublicitybyaskingproes-

sorsandstudentstoholdaorum,ateac-in,ora

conerenceaboutyourstruggle.Thiscangenerate

mediainterestaswell.

Potentialallieswithinthenationalgovernmentcould

includetheombudsman,ahumanrightscommis-

sioner,theministerotourism,thenaturalresources

andwildlieconservationdepartments,etc.

NationalNGOs(non-governmentalorganizations)are

alsouseulallies.SeewhichNGOsinthemajorcityor

citiesareworkingonextractiveindustriesandhuman

rights.Trytoenlistasmanyaspossibleandaskor

theirhelpgatheringinormationromthegovern-

mentandothersources.TheseNGOsmayundwork-

shopsandinormationsessionsonminingsimpactsorhumanrights.SeeianyothenationalNGOscan

provideyouwithreelegaladvice.

Youmayalsobeabletogetanexceptionallyrespect-

edindividual,anationalheroortelevision/movie/

sportsstartohelpyoupublicizeyourcause.Thiscan

beaveryeectivepublicitytoolandinexpensive.

Fromthenationalscaleyoushouldmovequick-

lytotheinternationalarena.Findorganizations

inthecountrywherethecompanyisrom,keep

The support or involvement o religious

leaders may make all the dierence in

the outcome.


15/33

theminormed,andaskorassistance(inormation

abouttheminingcompanyanditsinvestors,and

sourcesounding).Usetheseinternationalallianc-

estolaunchletterwritingcampaignstodenounce

abusesorhighlightpolitical,culturalorbiologi-

calrisksassociatedwiththecompanysactivities.

Worktopressureinvestorstoselltheirinterestsinthecompany.Theseactionscanhelptodrivedown

thepriceothecompanysshares.Forexample,

ateryearsodenunciationoCopperMesaMining

CorporationsactivitiesinEcuador,thecompany

shareslost98%otheirvalue.

Iprotectedareasorendangeredspeciesaredirectly

orindirectlyaected,youmayndalliesininterna-

tionalorganizationssuchastheInternationalUnion

orConservationoNatureandNaturalResources

(IUCN),WorldWildlieFund,NaturalResources

DeenseCouncil(NRDC),andothers.

2D. Use the Law and the Political Process

Lawsuits and injunctions

Alegalchallengetoaprojectsendsapowerul

messagetothecompany,itsshareholders,andyour

electedrepresentative,andcansometimesstopthe

projectorslowitdownconsiderablygivingyou

timetoorganizebetter.Trytomakethelegalchal-

lengeassolidaspossible,sinceisuccessulitcan

establishalegalprecedentorsimilarsituationselse-where.Youwillprobablyhavetorelyonanational

NGOtohelpyoudothis,asitcanbeacomplex

andexpensivestrategy.Iyoueelthecourtsareso

corruptthatyouknowyouwilllose,youmaystill

wanttogoorthsoyoucaneventuallypresentyour

caseintheinternationalarena.

Careullystudytheconstitutionandmininglegis-

lation.Presentlegalchallengeswheneverpossi-

ble.InEcuador,DECOINhelpedpresentvelegal

challengestotheirminingproject.Eventhoughall

ailed,mostlybecauseocorruption(somethingelse

toconsider),itisnecessarysometimestoshowthe

worldthatyouaretryingeverylegalmeanspossible

tostoptheproject.IyouwanttogototheRegional

Courtsystem(suchastheInter-AmericanHuman

Rightssystem),therstthingtheyllaskyouisto

showthatyouveexhaustedalllegalmeasuresin

yourcountry.Althoughitcanberustrating,itisalso

indispensableiyouwanttogothisroute(wehighly

recommendkeepingthisoptionopen).

Iyoudiscoverthatthecompanyhasmadeproce-

duralmistakes,presentlegalcasestoannultheir

concessions.Ithatails,seekaninjunctionagainst

theminingcompanyand/orthegovernment,based

onastatutoryorconstitutionalviolation(examples:

lackoconsultationwiththecommunity,ortaking

propertywithoutaircompensation).Failingthat,i

youhavegoodgrounds,youcansuethegovernment

orviolationomininglegislationorotherlaws.

Thosewhoeelthatitisawasteotimeghtingin

thecourtsbecauseocorruptionmaywanttopursue

legalstrategiesattheinternationallevel.Iyouhave

theslightestgroundsonwhichtodoso,suethe

companyinthecountrywhereitisregistered.This

requiresthatyouhaveclosetieswithanorganiza-

tioninthecountrythatcanhelpandmoney.Seek

probonolegalassistance(seeResourcesSection).

Justthethreatoalawsuitlikethiscanscareinves-

torsaway.

Iyouhavegroundsandsupport,leacaseagainst

thecompanybasedonabreachotheOrganization

orEconomicCooperationandDevelopment(OECD)

multinationalguidelines.Thoughyoumaylose,this

bringsnegativepublicitytothecompany.Findout

moreatCIEL,CenterorInternationalEnvironmental

LawseeResources.Again,youneedtohavea

goodworkingrelationshipwithaninternational

organization.

Reerendums / local votes

Theideaolocalreerendumsorvotesonnaturalresourcedevelopmentgainedpopularityin2002,

aterthecommunityinTambogrande,Peruvotedto

rejectaminingproposal.Sincethen,thepracticeo

localvotes(orreerendums)onminingprojectshas

spreadtootherpartsoPeru,Guatemala,CostaRica,

Argentina,Mexico,Chile,Turkey,thePhilippinesand

elsewhere.Invirtuallyeverycase,votersoverwhelm-

inglyrejectedextractiveprojects.

Thisapproachmaynotworkinsomecases;the

votesarenotalwaysacceptedbynationalgovern-

mentsandmaynotbelegallybinding,orthecompa-nyorgovernmentmayinvestheavilytothrowthe

reerendumtheirway.Nonetheless,reerendums

arebecomingapopularwaytodemocratizethe

decisionmakingprocessaroundnaturalresource

use.Theycanalsoderaillargeprojectswithund-

ingromtheWorldBanksInternationalFinance

Corporation(IFC),sincetheIFCsPolicyonSocial

andEnvironmentalSustainabilityrequiressuch

nancingapplyonlytoprojectsthathaveproven

broadcommunitysupport.


16/33

2

Iyouwanttopursuealocalreerenduminyour

community,theEnvironmentalDeenderLawCenter

isagoodresourceormoreinormationandassis-

tance(seeResources).

2E. Obstruct the Process

Thepurposeistomakethingsdicultorthe

company,delaythework,andmaketheprojectmore

expensiveorthem.Delayingtacticscostthecompa-

nymoney,upsettheinvestors,andgiveyoumore

timetoorganizeresistance.

Purchase critical land

OneothemostvaluablethingsDECOINdidatthe

beginningotheirresistancetotheminingproject

wastobuylandorcommunitiesintheminingarea.

Owningthelandbecameanimportanttooltostoptheminingdevelopment.Thislandeventuallywas

usedbythecommunitymostatriskromtheproject

aspartotheircommunityecologicaltourismproject

onemorereasonorthecommunitytoprotect

theirorests.

Challenge and delay the TOR

AssoonaspossiblegetacopyotheTermso

Reerence(TOR).Haveitreadbysomeonewith

experience(aninternalorexternalally),andtryto

opposeitonlegalandtechnicalgroundsinplenty

otimebeorethegovernmentapprovesit.Insistthatitisincompleteandthatotheraspectsshould

beconsidered(impactsonexistingproductivealter-

natives,protectedspecies,andarcheologicaland

culturallysignicantsites).Muchwilldependonthe

lawsandConstitution.Icommunityconsultation

isrequired,trytoproveitwasneverlegallycarried

out;thismaydelegitimizetheTORs.

Challenge and delay the EIA

Communitiesmustinsistonasubstantive

EnvironmentalImpactAssessment(EIA)beoreanyminingoperationsareestablished.TheEIAshould

bedonebyaneutralagency(onenotundedbythe

miningcompany).Insistthatitincludeanexperton

environmentalhealth.ItheEIAidentiesdrastic

potentialimpacts,itcanplayakeyroleinbuilding

oppositiontotheproject.Sometimestheinorma-

tionromtheassessmentcanbepowerulenough

topreventthestartominingoperationsinaregion

(unusual,butpossible).

Sometimes,thecommunitycanblockaccesstothe

projectsitetopreventthecompanyromcompleting

theEIAstudy.Inmostcountries,companiesshould

notbeabletotrespassonprivateproperty,sobeon

thelookoutorthis.Findoutwherethecompanyis

workingandhowmuchtimetheyspentoncertain

studiesthismayhelpyouinvalidatethestudylater.

ItheEIAhasbeendone,obtainacopyandgetit

reviewed.Youmightconductyourownreview,but

itotenrequiresexpertadviceperhapsanorga-

nizationwhosespecialtyistoreviewEIAs(see

Resources).Iyoucanaordit,hiringalawyerexpe-

riencedinmininglawisawisedecision.Ateryou

haveanalyzedtheEIA,summarizeitscontentsand

reproduceanddistributeyourndingstoallrele-

vantorganizationsandcommunities.Makesureyou

includeashortenedversionpointingoutitsfaws,andtherealimpactsotheproject.Atthesametime,

youcanpressurethegovernmentorcompanyto

produceadocumentwiththisinormation.Pointing

outthestudysfawsmayprovidelegalgroundsto

stoptheproject.

Find,andpresenttogovernmentocials,asmany

technicalandlegalerrorsaspossible,andreasonsto

rejecttheEIA.Examples:Riversorstreamsthatthey

shouldhavebutdidntstudy,protectedspeciesthey

overlooked,areastheysaidtheystudiedbutdidnt,

wrongelevation/rainallinormation,incorrect

boundaries,incompletelistochemicalsusedor

drillingequipment,andinadequatesocialevaluation.

Iyouoryourlawyernoticeillegalitiesinhowthe

EIAwaspreparedorhowitisbeingimplemented,

suetohavetheprojectstopped.Similarly,ianyo

theproceduresorworkviolatestheConstitution,

seekaconstitutionalinjunctionorsimilarlegal

measure.(Seesection2Donusingthelaw)

IyouareunabletostopEIAapproval,explora-

tionwillgoahead.Explorationcancausesigni-

cantenvironmentaldamageandsocialimpacts(inspiteogovernmentorcompanyclaims).Makesure

youareabletoeitherobtainaccesstoareasbeing

exploredtoassessithecompanyiscomplyingwith

theEIA,orelsegetinormationromaninsider(Are

theyusingstreamsthattheyarentsupposedto?Did

theybuildtheaccesstrailorroadwiderthanindi-

catedinassessment?Aretheydumpinggarbageor

usingdierentchemicalsthantheoneslisted?)Iso,

denounceittothelocalandnationalauthoritiesand

toallyourallies.


17/33

NOTE:Communitiesthatocusonthelegaland

technicalaspectsoextractiveindustrieswillprob-

ablylosethebattleitheydonotalsohavestrong

localsupportromresidentsandinternationalallies.

Inotherwords,this is a political struggle and you

cannot rely on technical approaches alone,because

miningcompanieswillalmostalwayshavemoremoneytospendontheirownexperts.Forthis

reason,itismostimportanttopreventacompany

rombuyingororcingconsentromthecommunity,

i.e.obtainingthesociallicense.

Prevent the social license

Itisdiculttoghtagainstthecompanystactic

obuyingopeople.Theypayhighwages,oer

everythingtoeveryone(suchasmedicalservices,

newschools,andjobs),andhirepeopletodonoth-

ing,justtogetthemontheirside.Createtheanti-miningandpro-communityawarenessthatisneeded

todeeattheseprojects.Highlighttherisksinvolved

tothecommunityswelareanditssocialcohesion.

Thisisbestdonethroughorganizingyourselvesand

educatinglocalpeopleabouttheminesrealimpacts.

Create economic alternatives to mining

Whileitsimportanttosaynotomining,yourstrug-

glewillbemuchmorerespectedbythecommunity

iyouworktocreatealternativesandhelptosolve

theproblemopovertygivingpeopleanalterna-

tivetobeinghiredbythecompany.

IntheIntagregionoEcuador,localorganizations

createdtheollowingalternatives:

Shade-growncoeeassociation

Severalcommunityecologicaltourisminitia-

tives(attheminingsite)

Severalhandicratgroups

Hand-madesoapandshampooproducts

Vegetableivoryproducts

Marmaladeandsyrupproduction Sustainableagriculturalorganizations

Fisharmingandeggproduction

Alternativeeconomicprojectsareimportant,but

rememberthatthecompaniescanpaymuchmore

atleastorashortormediumtermthanwhat

theseactivitiesgenerate.Intheend,thesocialand

environmentaleducationalprojectsaremostcrucialto

demonstratethelongtermdevastatingconsequences

ominingandthesustainabilityoalternatives.

Capitalize on their mistakes

Keeponthelookoutormistakesthecompanyor

governmentmakes,andpounceonthem.Iconces-

sionswheregiven,ndinormationabouthowthey

weregiven,andlookcareullyorirregularitiesor

illegalities.Thiscanbekey,butitisuselessunless

youpublicizeitasarandwideaspossible.

WhenthecompanyinIntagusedparamilitaries,anti-

miningactivistshadadvancenoticeandhadpeople

lmingandphotographingtheencounter.Allowingviolenceagainstdeenselesscommunitymembers

tobephotographedandlmedwasabigcompany

mistake.

2F. Publicity: Spread the Word

Publicitymeansgettingyoursideothestoryoutas

muchaspossible,bothnationallyandinternationally.

Highlightissuessuchasrichbiodiversity,thepres-

enceoendangeredspecies,pristinewatersourc-

es,nearbyprotectedareas,primaryorests,areas

oarcheological,spiritual,andculturalsignicance,threatstoindigenouscultures,andplacesatrisko

earthquakes.Inotherwords,presentasmanyhooks

aspossibleororganizationstolatchontoandget

involved.IanEIAhasbeencompleted,itmaybea

goodsourceorthisinormation.

Seeitheresaspecialcharismaticspeciesyoucan

useasarallyingcry(Condor,Jaguar,Panda).

Youwantyourstorytobeheardbyasmanypeople

aspossibleintheworld.Thegoalistwoold:(1)

tohighlighttheimpactstonatureandsocietythat

aprojectmaypose,and(2)topubliclyshameacompanyandmakeitharderorthemtoobtain

undingbydiscreditingthem.Theinormationhasto

be100%truthulsothepressand/orinvestorscan

trustit.

Websites

TheInternetisavaluableresourceandnotexpen-

sive.CreateaWebpagewhereyoucanpublish

mapsandprojectdetails,exposeliesandmisdeeds

otheminingcompanyandgiveinormationabout

This is a political struggle and you

cannot rely on technical approaches

alone.


18/33

yourworkoresistance.Itcanbeupdatedotento

includenewdevelopments,newallies,newsrom

thelocalcommunitiesetc.Considercreatingablog

toalloworinputromothers.

Thecompaniesareverywealthyandcangreen

washtheirparticipationinaminingproject.Yourwebpagemaybetheonlysourceoinormation

tellingtheothersideothestory,soitisimportant

togetasmuchaccurateinormationaspossibleand

getittopeoplewhowillshareitwidely.Thismeans

thatyoushouldaskasmanynationalandinterna-

tionalorganizationsaspossibletopostnewsoyour

campaignontheirwebsites.CreatinganEnglish

versionoyourwebsitewillacilitatethis.

The press

Itisessentialtounderstandthepowerothepress

andtheimportanceodevelopingbasicskillsorusingit.

Encouragevisitingreportersasmuchaspossible,

givingaewtherstshotatreportingastory.Make

suretheyaretherewhensomethingimportant

happenssotheycanreportit(thissavesonpublic-

itycosts).Visitthemedia,invitethemtothecommu-

nities,andsupplythemwithasteadyandactual

streamoinormationonthecompanystacticsand

activities,andthethreatstheprojectsposetothe

communitiesandtheenvironment.Youcanalsohold

newsconerencesinamajorcity,invitingthepresstoabreakastorlunchitsmorelikelytheyll

showup.Makesureyoulearnhowtopreparepress

kitsandpressreleases(seeResources).Theinor-

mationcouldincludegoodqualityphotographs,

videoclips,copiesodocumentsandinterviews,and

contactinormation.

Dontorgetlocalresourcesaswell.Youmightstart

anewspapertoinormlocalpeople.Hopeullyyoull

havesomeonewhocanwritereasonablywell.Inot,

trytoberiendasupportivereporterorsomeoneina

localorganizationtogiveyouahandinwritingandsendingoutasmanynewsbulletinsaspossibleon

thesituation.Createanddistributeposters,videos,

brochures,andbookletsonbiodiversity,waterand

theimpactsominingonthem.Theremayalsobe

organizationsthattraincommunityjournalists,so

contactthemorassistance.Dolocalandregion-

alradiospotsonminingandtheimportanceo

conservingwater,theorestsandbiodiversity.Ino

localradiostationexists,considerstartingone.

Ithepressshowsnointerestinreportingyour

story,youmayhavetobuyspaceinnewspapers,on

radio,orTVtoinfuencepublicopinionwithinor

outsideyourimmediatearea.

Photos and videos

Anotherthingthatcanhelpalotistoproducevideo

documentaries,bothinEnglishandyournative

language.However,thistakestimeandresources

andrequires,amongotherthings,learningtousethe

equipment.Thechancesoyourstorybeingheard

outsidemaydependonthequalityothephoto-

graphs,audiorecordingorvideoclipsyousupplyto

thenewspapers,radioortheTVstations.Ipossible

givevideosandDVDstopotentialalliesorree.

Rememberonepicturecanbeworthathousand

words.

Youcanprintanddistributepostcardsshowingtheresultsothecompanyspresenceinotherplaces

(violentconrontations,deadanimals,oraruined

community).Sendthesetojournalistsandother

publicgures.InIntag,DECOINpublishedapost-

cardotheparamilitariesattackingthecommunities,

andpeopleromthecommunitiessentmessagesto

Ecuadorspresidentonthem!

Protest demonstrations

Marchesinthemaincities,tospreadthenews

outsideyourarea,canworkbutcanalsobeexpen-sive.DECOINhelpedmobilizehundredsopeople

whowenttothecapitalcity,Quito,severaltimes.

Theymarchedtowheretheconstituentassembly

memberswerewritingtheconstitution,andother

keyplaces.Itseemedtobeworthit.Itmaybeavery

eectivewaytogalvanizesupportoryourcause

andraisetheproleotheproblem.

Play or puppet show

Puttingonaplayorpuppetshowtoillustratethe

eectsominingcanbeagreatwaytocommuni-

cate,especiallytoanon-literatepopulation.Itcould

beasimpleplotshowingbeoreandater,prom-

isesvs.reality.Typically,thiskindostreettheater

involvesoneormorepersonsrepresentingthe

communityandanotherpersonrepresentingthe

company.Someothebeststreettheatercombines

comedywithseriousdrama.(seeResourcessection

orAmnestyInternationalsHowtoUseStreet

Theater)

Insummary,getthewordout,anddoitrelentlessly.


19/33

2G. Organize Globally

Alotothisworkreallycomesdowntolevelingthe

playingeldbetweencorporationswitheconom-

icandpoliticalcloutandlocalcommunities.Ithe

companieshavethecourtsontheirside,youcan

havethepress,localcommunities,andhopeullylocalgovernmentsonyours.Internationalorganizations

canbeahugehelptocountertheimbalancetoo.

Take the struggle beyond the local arena as soon as

possible

Thebattlehastobeoughtonmanyrontsatonce

local,regional,nationalandinternational.Global

attention,whetherromgovernments,thepress,

orNGOs,willhaveanimpactinyourcountry

nationallyandlocally.

Campaign in the country o origin

Itsimportanttocreateandsustaingoodrelation-

shipswithoneormoreinternationalorganization,

ideallyintheminingcompanyshomecountry,(such

asMiningWatchinCanada,andEarthworksand

OxamAmericaintheUSA).Getthemtohelpyou

publicizeyourstoryandshamethecompanyback

home,becausethatswheremuchothepowerin

thisstruggleis.

Contactnewspapersinthecompanyscountryo

originandsendarticles,denunciationsandpetitionstotheirgovernment.Itheinormationisreliable

andthecompanywantstoappearresponsible,that

canleadtochangesinpoliciesormanagement.Ia

companyhasawell-earnedreputationorbeinga

responsiblecorporatecitizen,itmaydroptheproject

altogether(ocourse,youmaygetaveryirrespon-

siblecompanywithnoreputationtolose).

Ipossible,traveltothecountrywherethecompany

isbasedandbringattentiontoyourareasunique-

ness.DECOINwenttotheCanadianParliamentto

denouncetheactionsothecompany,andgaveradio

andnewspaperinterviews.Again,theullsupporto

anoverseasorganizationiscriticalorthistowork.

Havelocalresidentssendapersonalmessagetothe

countryspresidenttodenounceillegaloraggressive

tactics.

ReportthecompanytotheSecuritiesandExchange

Commission(orequivalentintheircountryoorigin)

inaneorttohavethemdelisted(preventedromtradingintheexchanges).Forthisstrategytowork

itisimportanttopointoutanyalseorraudulent

inormationthecompanymaybepublishing.The

SecuritiesandExchangeCommissiononlylooksat

thistypeoconcreteinormation.Keeparecordo

allcommunicationwiththeSecuritiesandExchange

Commissionandshareitwiththein-countryally

organization.

Anotherstrategyistolealawsuitagainstcompa-

nyocialsandtherelevantstockexchange.The

mainobjectivesaretodelistthecompanyromthe

exchangeandtodrawthepublicsattentiontohow

theirstockexchangesareundinghumanrightsabus-

esoverseas.Thelawsuitmayalsohelptopressurethe

governmenttoimplementstrongstandardstoregulate

itsextractivecompaniesworkingoverseas.

Human rights groups

Focusyourdenunciationsonhumanrightsissues

asmuchaspossible.Assoonasthecompanyorits

representativeshittheground,ormanalliancewith

areputablehumanrightsgroup(seeResources)so

thatthecompanyhastotreadcareully.Askthemtoreportonhumanrightsabusesiatallpossible.

International observers

Companieshavetobeverycareulinthepresence

ointernationalobservers.Contactorganizationsthat

willsendinternationalobserverstowitness,record,

anddenouncewhatisgoingon,thusreducingthe

likelihoodoviolentconrontation.Somein-country

humanrightsgroupsmayhavesuchaprogram.

Buy shares in the mining company and contact

other investors

Averyimportant,butotenoverlooked,strategyis

togoatertheinvestorswhobuyshares.Buysome

sharesintheminingcompanysoyoucanattendtheir

shareholdersmeetings.Thisallowsyouto(a)talk

directlywithsomeothebiggerinvestorsaboutwhat

thecompanyisdoing,orpointouttothemthelegal,

environmentalorsocialobstaclestotheproject;(b)

submitashareholderresolution,and(c)possiblynd

outmoreaboutwhattheyareplanninginormation

The battle has to be ought on many

ronts at once local, regional, national

and international.


20/33

thatmaybeotherwisehardtoobtain(askingatthe

meetingorbeorehandbyphoneorletter).

Describingthethreatsominingtoyourcommunity

onlyworkswithinvestorswhohavesomedegreeo

socialorenvironmentalconscience.Manyonlylook

athowmuchmoneytheyaremaking.Butitheyarepublicizedenough,youractionsmayworktoscare

opotentialinvestors.

Writingletterstosomeotheselargeinvestorscan

beimportant(seebelow).Ithecompanyispublicly

traded,itshouldntbediculttogettheircontact

inormation.PossibilitiesincludeSedar(Canada),

CorpWatchandtheUSSecuritiesExchange

Commission(USA),andRainorestInormation

Centre(Australia).

Letter-writing campaigns

Letter-writingcampaignscanbeveryeectiveasa

waytoraisetheproleoastruggle.Theymakeit

dicultorgovernmentocialstoglossoverthe

issue.Theyalsodrawtheirattentiontoaproblem

theymaynotbeawareoorwellinormedabout.

Moreimportantly,theyletcompanyocialsknow

thatthelocalsarenotalone.Internationalsolidar-

itycankeeplocaloppositionleaderssaebymaking

themmorepublic,thuslessvulnerabletohuman

rightsabuses.InEcuador,lettercampaignshelped

protectactivistsandconvincethegovernmentto

dropchargesagainstthem.

2H. Direct Action

Partothestrugglemayinvolvedirect,physical,

communitymeasurestodelaytheexplorationor

exploitationprocess,andtostopthecompanyrom

gainingground(directactionorcivildisobedience).

Makeeveryeort,however,tokeepthesemeasures

nonviolent.Youwanttheworldtoseethecompanys

violence,notyourown.Peaceultactics,eventhough

theymaytakelongertoachievetheirgoal,arepre-

erabletousingviolence.

GandhiandMartinLutherKing,amongothers,have

demonstratedtheeectivenessonon-violentdirect

actionorcivildisobedience,wherepeopleorganize

andintentionallybreaklawsthattheyconsiderunjust.

Theobjectiveistocreateacrisisandostertension,

sothatanorganizationthathasreusedtonegotiateis

orcedtoconronttheissue.

Iyoudecidetoengageincivildisobedience,itis

importanttotrainparticipantsinthepracticeo

non-violentresistance(seeResources).Beaware

thatcompaniesmighttrytoinltrateyourgroup

andurgeyoutoundertakeviolentactionsinorder

todiscredityourgroupandlandyouinjail.When

someonesuggestsviolentactions,besureyou

considerwhothatpersonisandwhathismotives

mightbe.Considerwhethercommittingviolence

reallyservesyourpurposeornot.

Inordertominimizethelegalimpactsodirect

action,priorlegalcounselisabsolutelynecessary

anditmustbegoodlegalcounsel.Directaction

mayormaynotworkdependingonthelevelo

nationalandlocalsupportortheminingproject.It

isaparticularlysensitiveissueatthistimeinhistory

sincemanygovernmentscanusethetermterrorist

againstyou.Itheymakethelabelstick,thepower

othestateandmilitarycancomecrashingdownon

yourorganization.Also,ithearmyhasaninterest

intheproject,itisbesttoholdo(thusthegreat

importanceodiggingdeeptondoutwhoreallyisbehindtheproject).Iyourleadersarearrestedori

yourcampaignlosesessentialbackingyoucanpay

abigprice.Itmayalsoturnpublicopinionagainst

yourstruggle,andthelegalcostsinvolvedcouldput

aseveredrainonyourcoer..

Despitetherisks,therearetimeswhendirectaction

cangalvanizelocalopposition,anditcanbecome

apowerulsymboloresistance.Blockingaccess

roads,sit-ins,hungerstrikes,andcreativeormso

non-cooperationhavebeenusedsuccessullyby

well-organizedcommunitiesoneverycontinent.Keepyourgoalinmindandchoosethemostprom-

isingtacticstogainsupportoryourposition.See

Resourcesorexamplesonon-violentdirectaction.

Iyoudecidetogoaheadwithdirectaction,plan

inadvance,indetail,orbestresults.Makesurethe

setupisoptimal.Itcanhelptohavemembersothe

pressandhumanrightsobserverspresent.Hereare

someplanningquestionsyoushouldanswer:What

needstobeinplacetoobtainthegreatestbenets

(e.g.havemembersothepressandhumanrights

Blocking access roads, sit-ins, hunger

strikes, and creative orms o non-

cooperation have been used successully

by well-organized communities on everycontinent.


21/33

observerspresent)?Whatarepossiblenegative

consequences,andwhatcanbedonetoneutralize

them?Whatarethelikelyshort,mediumandlong-

rangeresults?Whataresomeollow-upactivitiesto

beimplemented,sotheactionsarenotwasted?

2I. I Mining Goes Forward or isAlready Underway

Inmanycases,theconcession/explorationprocess

mayalreadybeunderwaywhenyoustarttoorganize

againstit.Remember,almosteveryactiondescribedin

thissectioncanbeusedthroughouttheprocess,and

canbeeectiveatanystage.Do whatever it takes to

delay or interrupt the process, at any stage.

Theremaybesituationsinwhichyoucannotstop

theextractiveprocess.Insuchcasesitsimportant

toreduceitsimpacts.Astrongcommunityorganiza-tion,independentromminingcompanyinterests,is

essentialtominimizingtheprojectsimpacts.

Health precautions

Iitappearsthatminingwillgoahead,insistthatthe

miningcompanytakestepstoassurethehealtho

localcommunities.Identiypossiblehealththreats

andestablishasystemtomonitorthetoxiceects

ominecontaminantsonlocalpopulations.Conduct

abaselinesurveyonhumanhealthandtheenvi-

ronment(air,water,soil,oodstus)todetermineexistinglevelsoheavymetals,arsenic,cyanideand

otherpotentialminecontaminantsinwatersources

andbodies.Makesureitisdonecareullyandaccu-

rately,inadvanceominingipossible.Thisisakey

responsibilityotheminingcompany.Thesebaseline

levelsarenecessarytomeasuretheimpactomining

activities.

Anyplanstosaeguardhealthmustbetailoredto

howlocalpeopleidentiyandprioritizetheirown

healthneedsandaccesshealthcare.Theirvoice

mustbeincorporatedintoanyproposedhealth

programsthathaveanyreasonablechanceosuccess,andtheprogramsmustbeinclusiveand

promotetherightsolocalcommunities.

Compensation

Adequateundsmustbeassuredtocompensatelocal

communitiesortreatinghealthproblems,death,loss

oagricultural,shing,andhuntingcapability,orced

relocation,thelossolivelihoodthatthesecause,

andothernegativeimpacts.

Community oversight

Thecreationoastrongcommunityorganizationtodothingslikenegotiateinrastructureorservices

improvements,approvenewbusinessestablishments

(todenybrothelsandcantinas),andapprovenew

personnel(insistonpolicerecordandcommunity

reerence)mayhelptoreducethelevelothesocial

upheaval.Theorganizationmustremainindependent

andreetodenounceirregularitiesorillegalitiesto

theproperauthorities.

Communitymemberscansetupasamplingprogram,

toestablishbaselinesandtrackenvironmental

parameters,suchaswaterquality,airborneparticu-

lates,healthindicators,etc.Thisisapowerulwaytokeepcommunitiesinvolvedintheprocessand

inormedaboutrisks.

Powermustbekeptwithinthecommunitiesasmuch

aspossiblepreerablyinthehandsooriginal

residents.However,itisasadactthatotenthe

mostcommittedindividualssoonleavethecommu-

nitiesaterlarge-scaleminingmovesintotown.Ia

singlecommunity-electedcommitteeisresponsible

ornegotiatingwiththecompany,thecompanywill

belesslikelytodivideandconquerbybuyingo

individualsandkeepingthecommunityragmented.Whileitspossiblethatthecompanywilltrytobuy

otheleadersothecommittee,itsstillbesttohave

ademocraticallyelectedcommunity-basedoversight

committee.Thecommitteecanalsodemandthatthe

companykeepromdestroyingcertainresources,

implementmoreenvironmentallysoundminingprac-

tices,uselesstoxicsubstances,andndmoreappro-

priatedisposalsites.

Establishingcommunityoversightmayhavemany

otherbenetsinadditiontoreigningincompany

abuses.Anoversightcommitteecanbeamodelorotherorganizedgroupssuchaswomensorganiza-

tions,2conservationprojects,small-scalecommunity

hydroelectricprojectsandagrouptoseekamunici-

palecologicalordinancetoestablishamunicipal

protectedarea.

2Womenalmostneverbenetromminingprojects.Miningismostdenitelyamansactivity,butwomenareotenthemostimpactedbyminingprojects.Thecreationostrongwomensgroupsmayplayasignicantroleinstoppingminingprojects.


22/33

Thestrategiesintheprevioussectionarehighest

priority,andmostareuseulatanystageothe

exploitationprocess.Thissectiondescribesaew

tacticsusedbysomecompaniesatcertainpointsin

theprocess.Whilenotallmayapplyinyoursitua-

tion,itisgoodtobepreparedortheminadvance.

Company Tactic Visit with alse identityTheminingcompanyisapplyingorconcessions,

oralreadyownsconcessions,andsendsateamto

assessthelocalsituation.Theywanttondout

theleveloknowledgeamongthepopulaceonthe

miningissue,andthedegreeoopposition.Atthis

stagetheymaystartidentiyingpossiblekeycommu-

nityorlocalgovernmentpersonstogetontheir

side.Theymaycomewithaalseidentity(suchas

posingasanNGOrepresentative)inordertoobtain

inormation.

Countermeasures

Bewaryopeoplesolicitinginormationwithouta

goodreason.Makesurestrangersarewhotheysay

theyaregettheirIDinormation,telephone,and

address,toollowup.Writedownwhattheyare

proposingoroering.Itheyarelying,youwantto

beabletoproveitandexposethemorwhatthey

arelater.

Iyoususpectthatthismaybeaminingorother

extractiveproject,studythelegislationtoseewhat

theirnextobligatorystepsare(seeSection2A).

Company Tactic 2 Open meeting

Whentheyhaveoundalocalally,thecompany

maycomeinopenlyandmeetwiththelocalgovern-

mentorcommunitytotalkabouttheproject.They

areverylikelytoarrangemeetingsthroughriend-

lylocalgovernmentorcommunityocials.Bythis

timetheocialsmayhavebeenpromisedsome

benets(notjustmonetary).

Countermeasures

Itisimportanttobeawarethatthecompanymayusemeetingsaspartogettingcommunityaccep-

tanceotheproject(thesociallicense),inorderto

complywithnationalorregionallegalobligations

(thisisknownasashamconsultation).Insome

casesthecompanymightcarryoutameetingnot

tellingtheparticipantstherealobjectiveothemeet-

ing,andusetheopportunitytoinormthegovern-

mentthatthecommunityisinullagreementwith

theproject.

KNOWthelegislation,stopanypossiblemisuseo

communitymeetingsand,whenevernecessary,clariythatmeetingsarenotsatisyinglegalrequirement

(suchaspriorconsultation).Keepyourownminutes

othemeeting,andaskthecompanytoprovide

youwiththeirminutesothemeeting.Getasmuch

inormationromthecompanyaspossible:nameo

companyocials,wheretheyarerom,addresses,

telephone,andspecicinormationontheconces-

sions(concessioncode,boundaries,andphysical

extentinhectares).Askthemoramapshowing

concessions.Itheycannotorwillnotdeliverthis

inormation,itmaybewisetopreventthemeeting

romtakingplaceuntiltheysupplyalltheinormationyouneed.

Company Tactic Manuacture

the social license

Whilenegotiatingwithacommunity,thecompany

maydecidetonegotiatewith(andthusstrengthen)a

groupthatdoesnotrepresentthecommunitysinter-

ests,iiteelsthegroupwillbeeasiertomanipu-

late.Thisinitselisdivisive,andisonemeasure

usedtodestabilizeacommunitysdeensemecha-

nisms.Italsocandrasticallyupsetacommunityspowerbalance.Itherearenomanipulablegroups

inthecommunity,thecompanymightsimplycreate

anewonewithpeopletheycancountontosupport

miningdevelopment.

Thisgroupwillbethecompanyschampionin

thepublicarena,notonlydeendingandactively

supportingtheproject(nanciallybenettingrom

thecompanyspresenceallthewhile),butalso

implementingsomeothecompanyson-the-ground

socialprograms.But,themostimportantobjectiveis

. Company Tactics & Community Countermeasures

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you,

then they fght you and then you win.Gandhi


23/33

9

orthealsecommunitygrouptogivethecompany

thelegitimacyitneedstoconvincethepublic,their

investorsandgovernmentocialsthattheirproject

hasobtainedthenecessarysociallicense.

Iacommunityisabletodeeatthistactic,the

companyanditsready-madedevelopmentorgani-zationmayworkwithnearbycommunitiestoturn

theseagainstthecommunitywhichisresistingtheir

project.Theendresultisinter-communityanimosity

andagreatincreaseinpressureonthoseresisting

theproject.

Countermeasures

Beorethecompanyhasachancetocreatetheir

organization,educatecommunitymembersabout

thistactic.Iitstoolatetostop,denounceitto

asmanypeopleandorganizationsaspossibleto

preventthealseorganizationromsigningcontractswithotherorganizationsorgovernmentinstitu-

tions.Makesurethecompanysinvestorsinpartic-

ular,othercommunitiesandgovernmentocials

areawarethatthesupportthealseorganizationis

givingisjustthat:alse.

Company Tactic False ront

organization

Ithecompanycannotndawillingallyamong

existingcommunityorganizations,itmaycreateanewlocaldevelopmentorganizationtosmoothits

way.Oritmaycreateaparallelgoverningstructure,

orempowerapro-companyleader.Theremaybea

lotomoneyavailablerightawayorthisnewgroup.

InGhana,thegoldminingcorporationsdidthiswith

youthgroups,armersgroups,aith-basedgroups,

andwomensgroups.Insomecasestheyhelped

createthesegroups,whileinothercasestheysimply

corruptedtheirleaders.

ThecompanymaydothisbeoreoratertheEIA.

Theirobjectivesare(a)tocreatemistrustwithinthe

communityand(b)notbeseenastheBigNastyForeignerorBigBusiness,butratherasworking

throughatrustedlocalorganizationorlocalperson,

ideallysomeonewithagoodreputation.

Countermeasures

Youneedtobeonestepaheadandtrytoreach

thoseinfuentialpeoplebeorethecompanyrecruits

them.Givethemreliableinormationaboutthe

proposedprojectinordertogetthemonyourside.

Iyouareunabletodoso,exposeanyconfict

ointeresttheymayhaveorotherreasontobe

suspicious.

Iyoucan,showthattheminingcompanyhasbeen

dishonestinthepast.Pointoutthatthecompanys

realinterestisextractingtheresourcesandmaking

money,notthewell-beingothecommunity.

Company Tactic Signing trick

Thecompanymaysendrepresentativestothehomes

ounemployedpeoplepromisinghigh-payingjobsi

theysignajobapplicationwhichisreallyapeti-

tionshowingsupportortheproposedmine.The

RosemontCopperCorporationdidthisinaneort

tosecureaconcessioninSantaRita,Arizona.Inthe

ZamboangaPeninsulaothePhilippines,Toronto

Ventures,Inc.deceivedtheSubanenindigenous

peoplebyhavingthemsignablanksheetopaperandlateruseditasevidenceotheirgivingconsent

toTVIsminingproject.Thissigningtrickisalsoa

ormowhatactivistscallshamconsultation.

Countermeasures

Donotallorthistrick.Beverycareulbeoresign-

inganything.Ipeoplecannotread,thenhavea

trustedassociateorriendreadthedocumentor

them.Neversignablanksheetopaper-makesure

theheadingonthepapercoincideswithwhatyour

signatureisneededor.

Company Tactic Purchase o

critical land

Thecompanywillusuallyattempttopurchaseaccess

routesandothercriticallandromlocalpeople.

Sometimesthisisdonebyorcinglocalarmersto

selltheirlandatpricesdeterminedbythecompany.

Andtheysometimesuselandpurchasingtodebili-

tatecommunities.

Countermeasures

Thebestwaytocombatthisisthrougheducation

andorganization.Ipeopleunderstandthatselling

landtothecompanywillputtheirowncommunity

atrisk,orthatitmayprovokelandinvasionbyland

trackerswishingtomakeakillingbuyingand

sellingland,theymaybelesslikelytosellout.Also,

startcommunitydiscussionsabouteconomicalter-

nativestominingsothatpeoplecanimaginenew

economicopportunitiesitheykeeptheirproperties.


24/33

20

Company Tactic Oers o services,

projects and jobs

Thecompanysobjectivehereistoseducesomeo

thelocalresidentsandtherebydividethecommuni-

ty,inordertoobtaintheneededsociallicense.

Thecompanymaypromiseservicesandinrastructure

projectstolocalcommunitiesandgovernment,such

asroads,bridges,clinics,schools,aulltimedoctor

andmedical/dentalcare,andeducationscholarships.

Theymayalsooerhigh-payingjobs(orawhile),

singlingoutcertainamilymembersandindividu-

als,tosowresentmentanddistrust.Theymaydothis

directly,orthrougharontorganization,buteveryone

willknowthatcompanymoneyisbehindit.

Whilesomepromisesarekept(atleastatthebegin-

ning)manyarenot.Theeectistoimplantthenew

ideathatthecommunityispoor,andtomakemate-

rialwealthmoreimportantthanculturalandsocial

wealth.

Thisstrategyominingcompaniescreatesdepen-

denceontheirpresenceandthegoodsandservices

theyprovide.Itisimportanttomakepeopleaware

othedangersothisstrategyanditsconsequences.

Dependenceoncompanyservicessetsthesocietyup

oreventualcollapsewhenthecompanyleaves.

Countermeasures

Thisisverydiculttocounter.Communitiesmaybe

desperateoraroadoraclinic.Itheresahighrate

ounemployment,manypeoplemaywanttowork

orthecompany.Thistacticismuchmoreeective

inareasabandonedbygovernments,wherecommu-

nitiesmaynothaverealalternatives.Thewayto

addressthisistotrytogetlocalgovernmentsor

riendlyoundationstoprovideservicesandinra-

structure.Bynowyoushouldhavedistributedas

muchinormationaboutthecompanyandtheproj-

ectsharmulimpactsaspossibleandenlistedthe

supportolocal,regional,nationalandinternation-alallies.Constantlyremindthemthatwhateverthe

companyisoering,itisnotworththepermanent

anddevastatingsocial,environmental,andeconomic

costsotheproject.

Reect beore signing.Iyourcommunitywants

tonegotiateaneconomicdealwithanextractive

company,letthemknowthatsuddeninfuxeso

moneyhaveresultedinlongtermpovertyorthe

majority,irreplaceablelossosocialandcultural

values,long-termenvironmentaldegradation.I,on

theotherhand,theyvaluetheircommunityswell-

beinginallitsdimensionsnotjusttheeconomic

onethentheywillopposethecompaniesand

theirakeversionodevelopmentandwell-being.

Youwilldenitelywanttocreateeconomicalterna-

tivestomininginyourcommunity.

Company Tactic Inltration and

surveillance

Ienoughmoneyisatstake,thecompanymay

resorttospyingontheoppositiontolearnabout

thecommunitysplansandactions.Theymaysetup

digitalvideocamerasandelectronicrecordingequip-

menttomonitorkeyspots.Occasionally,companies

haverecordedphoneconversationandmeetings,

andinterceptedthee-mailocommunityactivists.

Theymayenlistorplantspiesinyourcommunity

ororganizationtogatherinormationtouseagainst

you.Thespymaybecomeacorememberoyour

group,joiningprotestactionsandhostingaction

meetings.Usuallythespyistheretogatherinorma-

tion,butsometimesthespymaypushthegroupto

doactions(usuallyillegalones)thatintheendhurt

yourcause.

Countermeasures

Whendiscussingdelicatematters,usethesaest

meansocommunicationpossible,suchasace-to-acemeetingsinplacesunlikelytobemonitoredby

thecompanyorgovernment,andonlywithpeople

youtrust.Land-linetelephonecommunicationis

muchsaerthancell-phone,butnotcompletely.

Emailsarenotsae.Thereareprogramstoencrypt

emailtext,suchasHushmail(www.hushmail.com).

Thesearemuchsaerthanregularemail,butstillnot

100%sae.

Thereisalmostalwaystheriskobeinginltrated

andspiedon,sothisistobeexpectedandshould

notmakeyouoryourorganizationoverlyparanoid.Iyoudiscoveraspy,denouncethispersonandthe

companypublicly(andnon-violently),andmakethis

violationknowntothelocalandnationalmediaand

toyourinternationalallies.Ultimately,however,the

beststrategyistomakesureyourgroupmaintains

itsmoralintegrityandissupportiveooneanother.

Company Tactic 9 SLAPP suits

SLAPP(StrategicLitigationAgainstPublic

Participation)lawsuitsaretypicallycivilorcriminal
http://www.hushmail.com/http://www.hushmail.com/


25/33

2

deamationlawsuitsbroughtbycompaniesortheir

allies.Theirpurposeistointimidatelocaloppo-

nents,andtocostthemtimeandmoneydeending

themselves.

Countermeasures

Hireagoodlawyerromthestarttoadviseyou,and

trytoormtightallianceswithwell-knowninterna-

tionalorganizations,sothatthecompanyknowsthat

whentheytakeyouon,youwillbesupportedby

theseinternationalorganizations.Mostresponsible

largecompanieswontgoaterpeasantsbecauseit

willmakethemlookridiculous,especiallyithey

knowthatsomeonelikeAmnestyInternationalor

GlobalWitnessisreadytobackyou.

Company Tactic 0 Company claims its

no use ghting

Theminingcompanymayclaimthatiyought

themo,anotherminingcompanywillthencomein

withalesscommunitysensitive,lessenvironmental-

lyriendlyproposal.Youarebetterowithus,they

claim.Suchclaimsarenonsense.

Countermeasures

Letthemknowthatanyothercompanywillbeaced

withthesameoppositionastheoneyoujustmount-

edorthem.Businesspeoplewouldthinktwice

aboutinvestingmillionsodollarsinre-developinga

controversialconcessionsurroundedbycommunities

which,throughtheirinitialght,havegrownstron-

gersocially,culturallyandperhapseveneconomically.

However,onemuststillremainvigilant.

Company Tactic Lawsuits, trumped up

charges, and death threats

Ithecompanyeelsthreatenedbytheopposition,it

maystartusingaggressivetactics,suchaslawsuits,

trumped-chargestoimprisontheoppositionslead-ers,orevendeaththreats.

Inordertopubliclydiscreditmainoppositionlead-

ers,acompanymayspreadalserumorsormanu-

acturealsecrimes.Insomecases,companies

havebeensuspectedopayingminorstosaythey

havebeenraped,thustriggeringcriminallawsuits.

Similarly,theymaypaypersonstosaytheyhave

beenrobbedorassaultedbykeyleaders.Forthis,

leadershavetobeawarethesethingscanhappen

andtobecareulnottoallintothesekindsotraps.

InIntag,Ecuadorscase,whenthecompanynice

guytacticsailed,strong-armapproacheswereused,

includingpayinglocal/statepolicetoharassanti-

miningactivists.Thiscanescalateintodeaththreats

againstoppositionleaders.

Countermeasures

GetintouchwithHumanRightsorganizationsyou

cantrustandreportthesetacticsrightaway.Ask

themtoperiodicallyvisityourareaandhavethem

producereportsyoucanuseatalllevelstodenounce

thecompanysactions.Trytogetinternational

observerstoliveinthecommunitiesandrecord

aggressiveand/orillegalbehavior.

Ikeyleadersreceivedeaththreats,theymayhaveto

beprotectedbyothercommunitymembersaround-

the-clock.Insomecases,dependingonthetrust-

worthinessothepolice,youcanaskor24hourpoliceprotection.Youmayneedtoprovidebonus

pay.Besuretodenounceallthreatstotheauthori-

ties.Aninternationallettercampaign(e.g.Amnesty

InternationalandGlobalResponse)canalsoprotect

communityleaders.

A paper trail is indispensable.Keepallnotes,

minutesomeetings,copiesodocuments,photo-

graphsanythingthatyoumightbeabletouse

laterincourtsortodiscreditthecompanyina

saeplace(orseveralsaeplaces).

Company Tactic 2 Security orces, para-

militaries, beatings, disappearances

Intheaceosignicantopposition,companies

mayhiresecurityrmstoprotecttheirpersonnel

andinrastructure(suchasminingcamps).Thisis

otenmeantonlytointimidateyou,butthenext

stepisparamilitarizationaveryseriousstageo

thestrugglewhereyourphysicalwell-beingmaybe

threatened.

Countermeasures

Iyoususpectthismayhappen,highlightthethreat

inadvance.Manycommunitiesandgovernmentswill

rejectthepresenceoparamilitariesorprivatesecu-

rityorces.Checktoseeithesesecuritycompanies

arelicensed,andithepersonnelarelicensedtocarry

rearms.Humanrightsorganizationsmaybeable

toaccessinormationabouttheparamilitarygroups

thatyoumaynotbeableto.Takephotographsand

makevideooraudiorecordingsasevidenceotheir

activities.


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Securityorces,hiredthugs,andotherpersonswork-

ingwiththecompanymayresorttobeatingsand

disappearances,soyoushouldbepreparedorthis

possibility.Sharereportsoanyhumanrightsvi

Documents

Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries