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The indigenous communities of the Quechuans of the California desert and the Mayans from the Guatemalan highlands have been impacted by the activities of the Canadian mining company Glamis Gold.  Photo used by the permission of Madre Silva In Guatemala, Glamis Gold, with the support of a $45 million loan from the World Bank, plans to begin commercial production of the Marlin mine. The mine includes two open pits, an underground mine, mill and plant facilities, a tailings storage facility and a waste rock disposal facility. The members of indigenous Mayan communities fear that the mine could have a substantial impact on their limited water supplies and continue to violate indigenous rights, and have come together to fight against the construction of the mine. Two members of the indigenous community have been killed by security forces in connection with protests around the mine. In California, Glamis Gold wants to develop three 800-feet open-pit heap leach gold mines directly on top of pristine land that is sacred to the Quechuan tribe of the Colorado River. After the California State Legislature passed legislation that requires the remediation and clean-up of the mine site, Glamis filed a lawsuit against the U.S. using NAFTA’s investment provisions demanding $50 million in compensation for a perceived "loss of profit." Below are links to articles and reports on Glamis Oxfam America September 2003: In conjunction with Friends of Earth, Oxfam America wrote a briefing on Glamis lawsuit in California under Chapter 11. (pdf) February 2004: Launched "No Dirty Gold Campaign" in conjunction with Earthworks concentration on respecting individual rights, the environment and providing social benefits to communities affected. Published Report "Dirty Metals: Mining Communities and the Environment" September 2005: Article written by Adolfo Pocop "An Indigenous Perspective on Mining in Guatemala" Article highlighting deficiencies in CAO report on Marlin Mine "World Bank Report describes Mining Problems in Guatemala" Ongoing Earthworks Ongoing: Sign-On letter that can be addressed to Glamis Executives or World Bank requesting increased community consultations and a subsequent withdrawal of IFC loan. Continued "No Dirty Gold Campaign" in conjunction with Oxfam Friends of the Earth, FOE, headquartered in Washington DC, is an international network of grassroots organizations. FOE also has a HQ in Guatemala (Asociación para la Promoción y el Desarrollo de la Comunidad) Sign on letter addressed to World Bank concerning the deaths associated with mining blockade Rights Action (formerly Guatemala Partners) Projects funded in Guatemala February 2005: Published "A Backwards, Upside-Down Kind of Development" report on Mining practices in Honduras and Guatemala MiningWatch Canada December 2004: Published Article "Glamis Gold Accused of Violating Indigenous Rights" January 2005: Prensa Libre Articles "Canadian Government Supports Canadian Mining Companies in Guatemala" February 2005:Published Article "Failure to Disclose Material Risk: Are you aware of how Glamis Gold Limited operates in Central America? Is your investment truly "Low Risk?" March 2005: Published Article "Two Killed so far protesting Glamis Gold in Guatemala" Published Article "New Country, Same Story: Review of the Glamis Gold Marlin Project EIA, Guatemala" April 2005: Amnesty International Article "Death Threats in Guatemala Against Community Leaders Opposing the Mining Operations of Glamis Gold, a Canadian/U.S. Mining Company" Rights Action Article "Killing of Alvaro Benigno Sanchez by Security Guards Working for Glamis Gold Subsidiary in Guatemala" August 2005: Published Article "Leaked Review Slams World Bank Over Canadian Mine in Guatemala" Published Article "Internal Review Slams World Bank Over Lapses at Guatemala Mine – Backgrounder" Bank Information Center March 2005: Published "Glamis in Guatemala: a Project Alert on the Marlin Mine" April 2005: Published "Guatemala Update: A Country in the Balance" July 2005: Published Article "Guatemala: Sipacapa community says No to Mining!" September 2005: Published analysis of CAO report submitted by Madre Selva to IFC Global Response August 2005: Access article on Guatemala court ruling in favor of Glamis Access video from FOE on mining in Guatemala October 2005: Access New York Times article on Gold Mining practices Ongoing: sign-on letter to the president of the World Bank and the director of Guatemala’s Human Rights Commission Halifax Initiative January 2004: sign-on letter to Mr. Marcel Massé, Canadian Executive Director of the World Bank Group May 2005: sign-on letter to IFC directors, Mr. Gino Alzetta, Belgian Executive Director to the World Bank June 2005: Published Article "The World Bank and Extractive Industries - The Divisive 'Demonstration Impact' of the Marlin Mine" Additional articles available Peace Brigades
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