8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
1/33
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
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
2/33
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
3/33
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
4/33
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
5/33
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
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
6/33
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
7/33
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
8/33
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
9/33
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
10/33
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
11/33
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
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
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
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/8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
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.
8/3/2019 Guide for Communities - Protecting Your Community Against Mining Cos and Other Extractive Industries
26/33
22
Securityorces,hiredthugs,andotherpersonswork-
ingwiththecompanymayresorttobeatingsand
disappearances,soyoushouldbepreparedorthis
possibility.Sharereportsoanyhumanrightsvi
Top Related