Event and Action with Miriam Pixtún Monroy and Teresa Muñoz
Thursday, November 13, 12:30 – 1:00 PM
201 W Liberty St., Reno
At our public event in Reno, we will hear from Miriam Pixtún Monroy, a Maya Kaqchikel woman from San José Nacahuil, San Pedro Ayampuc in Guatemala and Teresa Muñoz, an anti-mining activist from Jalapa, Guatemala.
We will also present a letter to the Nevada Mining Association alerting them to human rights abuses in Guatemala at mines owned by Kappes, Cassiday & Associates. We will demand that the Nevada Mining Association take action on this member company to expel Kappes, Cassiday & Associates from the Association as long as these abuses continue. Furthermore, we will urge the Association to require its members to uphold the highest human rights standards, and to deny any future membership to companies that violate human rights, like Nevada-based Tahoe Resources.
For those who can’t be present in Reno, please join us by:
1. Sending an email to the Nevada Mining Association
2. Tweeting at the Nevada Mining Association during our delivery of the letter on Thursday, November 13th.
Sample tweet: @nevadamining: Deny membership to any company that does not uphold #humanrights
3. Leaving a message for the president of the Nevada Mining Association on Thursday, November 13th (tomorrow!) at 775-829-2121.
Sample SHORT script: Hi, my name is ________ and I’m calling from [state]. I’m calling to let Mr. Tim Crowley know that I support residents of Nevada in calling for you to revoke the membership of Kappes, Cassiday & Associates. All US companies should uphold the highest human rights and environmental standards, and the Nevada Mining Association should deny membership to those who don’t, like KCA.
Sample LONG script:
Hi, my name is ________ and I’m calling from [state]. I’m calling to leave a message for Mr. Tim Crowley.
I’ve been shocked to hear that US companies, including members of the Nevada Mining Association, have continued their operations in Guatemala despite ongoing human rights violations.
If the Association wants to live up to its claim to be “a worldwide leader in mining and mining practices” it should deny membership to any company that does not uphold the highest human rights and environmental standards. I join with residents of Nevada in calling for you to revoke the membership of Kappes, Cassiday & Associates and deny any future membership to Tahoe Resources.
Background
KCA’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for its El Tambor mine in Guatemala was called by mining expert Dr. Robert Moran “the worst quality EIS I have reviewed in more than 42 years of professional hydrogeology/geochemistry experience, involving hundreds of mines, worldwide.” Another US expert and mining engineer, Robert Robinson, reviewed the EIS and stated that, “The analysis is so bad that it can’t help us predict or prevent the negative effects of the mine. It gives no confidence that the mining company will protect the environment or the health of the communities.”
- Residents who live near the mine were neither informed nor consulted about the project.
- In March 2012, alarmed at the advancement of the construction despite their concerns about the environmental impact, residents set up a 24-hour roadblock at the entrance to the mine site which became known as “La Puya.”
- Residents have maintained this roadblock despite official and unofficial attempts to intimidate the protesters as well as outright attacks, including the shooting of anti-mining leader Yolanda Oquelí and a violent eviction of the roadblock in May of 2014.
There have been violent conflicts related to the El Escobal Mine in Guatemala, owned by Tahoe Resources, including the shooting of seven peaceful protesters by mine security and the death of a young anti-mining activist.
- Residents of the towns around the El Escobal Mine have voted against the project in 14 community consultations, but the mine has moved forward anyway, and has led to various acts of violence.
- In April 2013, the government declared a state of emergency in four municipalities around the mine.
- On April 27, 2013, seven men were shot by security as they protested outside the mine’s gates.
- On April 13, 2014, 16-year-old Topacio Reynoso, who had been active in organizing youth against the mine, was shot and killed. Her father was seriously injured in the same attack, and no one has been arrested for the assault.
We wouldn’t tolerate the actions of these companies in the US; they shouldn’t be tolerated abroad. Join us in telling the Nevada Mining Association that Nevada-based companies must abide by the highest human rights standards, regardless of where they are operating.
Guatemala Human Rights Commission 