Guatemala, International Mining, and Autonomous Community Resistance
Saturday, May 3rd, 7:00pm
MonkeyWrench Books, 110. E. North Loop
Fausto Valiente Roberto de Leon represents the Pastoral Commission for Peace and Ecology (COPAE), and will speak about community struggles against gold and silver extraction in San Marcos, Guatemala. COPAE is an organization that has accompanied communities through community consultations in Sipakapa and other forms of resistance. COPAE works to monitor the health, social, and environmental affects of mining and supports community efforts to exert their right to autonomy against transnational corporations and create locally determined economic alternatives for development. In addition to discussing the devastating affects of mining on rural communities, Fausto will address how the international system and the neoliberal model facilitate the entry of Northern mining companies in Guatemala.
Also shown will be part of the short documentary film, Sipakapa No Se Vende (Sipakapa Is Not For Sale) which focuses steep environmental and human costs of gold mining that have lead Maya communities in the Sipakapa municipality of Guatemala to exercise their right to be consulted about the expansion of mining operations into their area.
Food will be provided. Donations to cover Fausto's travel costs are gladly accepted.