Patagonia: Students, Environmentalists reject mining company "assistance"
Published by MAC on 2009-03-22Source: Patagonia University Federation, others
A plan by Canadian mining company, Aquiline Resources, to fund a University's environmental training" programme in Argentina's Chubut province has been roundly rejected by students and envrionmenalists.
For a University that Creates Professionals for the People, not Businesses
Patagonia University Federation
Natural Sciences Student Council
Environmental and Social Forum of Trelew
Trelew, Chubut, Argentina, March 2009
The Natural Sciences Student Council, the Patagonia University Federation, and the Environmental and Social Forum of Trewlew wish to make clear our complete rejection of the project of "environmental training" realized by students and professors at the Trelew campus of the Patagonia University Department of Natural Sciences, with funds from the Canadian-owned mining company Aquiline Resources.
There are plans to develop the project in the central plateau of Chubut province, a region that could be seriously affected by the pollution produced by the lead-silver project Navidad. We understand that the content of the proposal serves to greenwash the image of a company that uses methods questioned for their environmental impact, especially in vulnerable ecosystems.
In light of the prior experience of resistance by the people of Esquel faced with the installation of a gold mine, this company intends to generate consensus in the areas possibly affected by the mine. Under current legislation, the regulation of mining is scarce, the royalties for the state are nil and it is an activity that generates very little employment. It is necessary, once and for all, that those of us that make up the public university put the interests of the people first.