Free from contaminants mining
Last Thursday, after the mobilization of indigenous peoples and environmental organizations, the mayor backed down and the ordinance went into effect. Abra Pampa in a test case of mining: a survey of the National University of Jujuy in 2007 revealed that 81 percent of children have blood lead as a result of metalliferous activity.
“Prohibits the establishment, installation or operation of metalliferous mining exploration in the open and / or mining operations that use chemicals such as cyanide, mercury, sulfuric acid and other similar toxic substances in their processes of prospecting, exploration, exploitation and / or industrialization, “states the first article of the ordinance number 51-CD-010. Article two prohibits the entry, trafficking, use, storage, marketing, production and transport of toxic substances used in mining.
The draft ordinance had been agreed by the indigenous communities in July 2010. In August was presented at the City Council and on 30 November unanimously adopted. Among the many legal arguments stand out above the General Environmental Law (25,675), in particular the precautionary principle: “Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of information and scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures measures to prevent environmental degradation. “
He also cites Article 41 of the Constitution (refer to the right to a healthy environment for residents and future generations, and on productive activities) and Article 22 of the Constitution of Jujuy: “All inhabitants of the province have the right to enjoy a healthy and ecologically balanced environment and the duty to defend. ” In the five veneers placed on record the enormous consumption of water (in an area where it is a scarce commodity) and explained that it is an activity that threatens the indigenous way of life and farming.
On 20 December, the mayor vetoed the ordinance Machaca. The main argument was that environmental care is for the province. Indigenous communities have called for a new vote last Thursday, with the support of the council. A minutes into the session were informed that they had been suspended. They decided to march two blocks to the Inspectorate.
After six hours of debate in the courtyard of the council, the mayor reversed the decree and enacted the ordinance which prohibits open pit mining. “There is plenty of evidence that mining does not bring a job or economic improvement, and yes bring pollution. Pampa is a testament to all that, “said Chairman of the Board of Communities Kolla, José Sajama.
Media reported that the province had reported Machaca demonstrators at the local police station, where he indicated that he was under pressure. The government secretary and right hand Pampa de Machaca, Francisco Mamani, neither confirmed nor denied the incident. He explained that “the only discuss the issue is the mayor” and pledged to run a telephone contact that never materialized.
When Página/12 called the quartermaster, his staff explained that emergency Machaca had traveled to the provincial capital to meet with the governor Javier Barrionuevo, who is a staunch advocate for open pit mining. Jujuy has two large oilfields in full operation, the eagle and Pirquitas, both reported by pollution. In the area of the Puna and Quebrada multiplied projects of foreign companies seeking to mine uranium and lithium.
Pampa is a town of thirteen thousand inhabitants in the north province, at 3500 meters above sea level. They worked for three decades, the lead smelter Metal Huasi, which closed in the 80s. When he retired in the town center left fifteen thousand tons of waste, “Lead Hill”, as they call it in place. Social organizations and indigenous communities in the area has always denounced the contamination, but they never answer.
In 2007, the Research Group of Applied Chemistry (INQA), University of Jujuy showed that 81 percent of children tested contained amounts of lead values harmful to health. At the end of that year, the Ministry of Health of Jujuy admitted that at least ten percent of the adult population was “critical levels” of lead in blood. Among other problems, lead causes delayed puberty, impaired vision, learning problems and damage to motor function.
Human Rights Clinic at the University of Texas investigated the situation of the town of Jujuy in 2009. “The government negligence resulted in violations of human rights” is one of the statements in the report “Abra Pampa. Contaminated people, forgotten people, “where American college failure warning and control agencies report that remediation efforts continue to be inefficient.
With the enactment of the ordinance, Abra Pampa joined the towns of Tilcara Jujuy, Cangrejillos and Huacalera, already have rules that prohibit the activity. In Argentina there are seven provinces bordering various aspects of open-pit metal mining: Chubut, Black River, Tucumán, Mendoza, La Pampa, San Luis and Cordoba, while the mining lobby tries to modify or repeal laws in Mendoza, Córdoba and Chubut . In the Congress, three bills expected to ban open pit mining throughout Argentina.
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Posted in Mining Info | Tags: contaminants mining, effect, environmental organizations, exploitation, Exploration, industrialization, mining, mining exploration, prospecting