International Forum on Mining, Society, Environment and Development

city of Cajamarca, Peru

The Forum explained and discussed the situation of mining in communities where it becomes established. The participants at the event prepared and approved the following

DECLARATION:

The three hundred participants from the entire country at the International Forum on Mining, Society, Environment and Development gathered in Cajamarca on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, September 11, 12 and 13, 2003, hereby address:

• The authorities of the Central Government and regional and local governments, especially those responsible for the sectors of Mining and Health;
• Transnational and national mining companies;
• Leaders and members of grassroots social organizations, NGOs and peasant and rural communities affected by mining activities, and,
• Public opinion in general

TO EXPRESS THE FOLLOWING:

Given:

• The decision to promote mining as a high priority economic activity, ignoring the rights of communities to decide on their own development;
• That mining activities are having a negative impact on the ecosystem, society and culture of the communities;
• The consolidation of the global economic model that assigns to our economies the role of producing raw materials and the destruction of traditional ways of life,

WE DEMAND:

• That mining respect the sustainable development strategies of our peoples and of local communities wherever mining interests exist;
• That mining not be carried out where it could endanger the lives of peoples and that it respect decisions made by communities to choose their own road to development, the cases of Tambogrande, Cerro Quilish and others.
• That the Peruvian Government assume the responsibility for initiating legal reforms to stop the systematic human rights violations and environmental damage due to mining activities.
• That the present Ministry of Energy and Mines and National Environmental Council authorities be replaced because their pro-mining background does not guarantee the protection of citizens.
• That there be transparent environmental management mechanisms (in EIAs, PAMAS, and environmental monitoring) with effective participation by communities in monitoring programs.
• That institutionalized dialogue mechanisms be created for resolving social and environmental conflicts.
• That the financing of mining activities by transnationals and international banks be stopped where there is no agreement by affected communities to allow mining companies to operate.
• That human rights be respected and the persecution of community leaders by mining companies and civil agencies that support them be stopped.

Signatures…

Indigenous Peruvian woman, expressing her grief over the problems caused by the World Bank financed Antamina mine