A Struggle for Clean Water and Livelihood: Canadian Mining in Costa Rica in the Era of Globalization

A Struggle for Clean Water and Livelihood: Canadian Mining in Costa Rica in the Era of Globalization

by Ana Isla PhD, University of Toronto

In Costa Rica, land use is undergoing intense transformation due to the sustainable development/globalization agenda that promises to address the debt and environmental crises through economic growth. Since 1991, when sustainable development was implemented in the Arenal Conservation Area and its surroundings (one of the 11 conservation areas into which Costa Rica has been divided), an avalanche of Canadian mining companies interested in open pit gold mining has alarmed women and men of
local communities, because the mining operations have been expanded to areas never before linked to mining and involve extremely toxic and destructive processes.

Costa Ricans, women and men, are battling their national government and its Ministry of Environment and Energy - MINAE - to annul a concession to Infinito Industry S.A, a subsidiary of Vanessa Ventures Ltd, of Vancouver. They will be taking the case to court in the upcoming weeks and need your support.

Please sign this letter and send it to Mr Carlos Murillo (murillod@racsa.co.cr). Mr. Carlos Murillo will represent the Northern Front of Opposition to Open Pit Mining in the court. The Crucitas Project is located in Alajuela Province, Canton San Carlos, District of Cutris, 95 km north of Ciudad Quesada

Canada, April 24, 2002

Judge Carlos Arguedas Expediente 002714-0007-00 Sala Constitutional

Appellant: Carlos Murillo

Issue: Mineria in Crucitas

Dear Judge,

Canadians are aware that Costa Ricans are fighting against MINAE's controversial secret mining approval for the exploitation of Las Crucitas by Infinito Industry S.A, a subsidiary of Vanessa Ventures Ltd. of Vancouver, which received a 10-year licence to mine 1000 hectares. As a Canadian, I would like you to rescind that contract for two reasons:

1) The license is illegal, because it has been kept secret from the local Costa Rican population as well as from the international public. It doesn't represent the interests of San Carlos Municipality, which has rejected the idea of mining in Las Crucitas de Cutris since September 11, 1995.

2) This licence can destroy nature and people. Open pit mining that now uses the extremely toxic cyanide lixiviation technique produces severe pollution capable of destroying rivers and lakes. The contamination of water and air can produce asthma, allergies, skin irritation, gastritis, and neurological disorders. This is particular hard among rural women, who have to cope with high levels of birth defects, child mortality, schizophrenia and Down Syndrome.

For these reasons, we urge you to stand up against injustice, death and destruction.

Sincerely