The project “Open pit mining and conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon extraction: public policies watch and local communities support” aims to continue the work of creating awareness and grassroots organizational education in pacific resistance and public agenda impact to stop territorial expansion of social and environmental high impact industries, such as mining and oil extraction.
Nowadays oil and gas extraction is operational in ten provinces, and the other thirteen (in fact, the whole country except Buenos Aires) are in some stage of development – technical assessment, legal reforms and exploratory projects - for installation mining industry. If these projects have economic viability the hydrocarbon frontier could extend to the whole country and, at the same time, offshore areas.
Where the new areas for exploration occur, oil-wells are imposed, destroying native forest and violating human and indigenous rights. Where the industry has long-term operations, several studies confirm water, soil and air pollution, impacts on human health, evictions and criminalization of social protesters, and more. The situation is bound to get worse as Argentina has the third largets global reserves of unconventional hydrocarbons, which it is already extracting, using the hazardous technique known as hydraulic fracture - 'fracking'. See Observatorio Petrolero Sur.
Open pit mining is one of the most devastating ways of minerals extraction –gold, silver and copper principally - as it carries heavy environmental, social and cultural impacts. The keystone of the business is the exportation of minerals, as commodities. Nowadays ten open pit mines are already extracting and over 400 projects, in different stages, are being proposed in 12 provinces, with impacts over the rest of the country. To this expansion we include the exploration of lithium in Indigenous lands. Over 85% of global reserves are in Bolivia, Chile and Argentina (Jujuy, Salta and Catamarca salt pans). Forty transnational companies are exploring in the territory of 80 communities in Salta and Jujuy, without regarding the environmental and social impacts. See Red de Asistencia Jurídica contra la mega minería.
With this situation, and taking into account the objectives proposed, CEPPAS will carry out thematic publications, digital bulletins, campaigns and local workshops for technical and legal assistance. The regions of the country that will be addressed are Patagonia, Northwest and Andean; in coordination with collectives, social organizations and nongovernmental organizations. The horizon of our work is to promote the debate, by local organization and awareness, of what development is currently taking place and which one does our country and people need taking into account the transformation of social, cultural and environmental axis.
