Title,Description,References,Political Action Date,Accessed On Date,Political Action Category
2001 'Pilgrimage for Life',"In July 2001, church leader, Cardenal Óscar Rodríguez, led the “Pilgrimage for Life” protest to the Siria Valley to demonstrate mass support for the CAVS legal action against the mine and bring wider awareness of the impact of mining projects on local communities.",,2001,15 October 2020,Demonstrations
2001 First National Encounter of Communities Affected by Mining,"In March 2001, the First National Encounter of Communities Affected by Mining (Primer Encuentro Nacional de Comunidades Afectadas por la Minería) was held. At least 6 other such meetings were held over the following years to develop analysis and understanding of the impact of mining and strengthen alliances of those challenging extractive mining.",,2001,15 October 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2004 First Protests against Marlin Mine,"First protests against the Marlin Mine project in Sipacapa began in February 2004, immediately following the construction of the mine. The protestors included 500 Sipakapense farmers.",,Feb-04,11 August 2020,Demonstrations
2004-2005 Blockade of company trucks traveling to San Marcos,"In December 2004, members of indigenous communities began a 42-day blockade of Glamis Gold/Montadora Exploradora trucks passing through their communities on the way to San Marcos. On 11 January 2005, more than 1,200 soldiers and 400 police agents were deployed to break up the blockade, reportedly firing at unarmed protesters. This resulted in the death of Raul Casto Bocel, a Maya-Kaqchiquel farmer. This produced an immediate effect among local communities, who began to coordinate and organize the social mobilization against the Marlin mine affecting their territories.",,December 2004 - January 2005,11 August 2020,Demonstrations
2005 Local NGOs generate interest in mining issues,"In mid 2005, local NGO, the Santa Marta Association of Economic Development (ADES), and the Environmental Committee in Defence of Water and Culture began to generate interest in the issue of large scale mining among national NGOs in San Salvador, including the Centre for Research in Trade and Investment (CEICOM), the Salvadoran Centre for Appropriate Technologies (CESTA), the Salvadoran Ecological Unit (UNES), and the Foundation for the Application of Law (FESPAD).",,Mid-2005,5 November 2021,Awareness/Coalition Building
2005 Mesa Nacional Frente a la Minería Metálica is formed,"In September 2005, thirteen local and national organizations launched the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador (Mesa Nacional). Mesa Nacional has worked to develop and advance strategic policies to eradicate metallic mining in El Salvador, and has overtime expanded its focus to include water rights and concerns about water scarcity and contamination across the country. In particular, the group includes local grassroots groups, research-oriented and religious organizations, and local, national and also international NGOs (Spalding, 2014). ",,Sep-05,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2005 Workers' Occupation of San Martín Mine,"In October 2005, approximately 200 workers took over the San Martin mine, demanding the company recognize their union, provide medical benefits to the workers and their families, and stop the planned layoff of 27 workers.",,26-Oct-05,5 August 2020,Workers' Action
"2006 Demonstration against metallic mining in San Isidro, Cabañas","In August 2006, a demonstration opposing metallic mining was held in San Isidro, Cabañas, during which a letter and other documents were delivered to the mayor. This was the first demonstration against mining in the department and had an important impact on public opinion.",,23-Aug-06,12 August 2020,Demonstrations
2006 Mesa Nacional launches a Week of Action against Metallic Mining,"In June and July 2006, the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador (Mesa Nacional) launched a week of action against metallic mining, during which forums were held in San Salvador, San José, El Paisnal, Sensuntepeque, and San Miguel, as well as press conferences, cultural activities, and a demonstration in San Salvador.",,Jun-06,12 August 2020,Demonstrations
2006 Statement sent to Glamis Gold,"In May 2006, residents of communities directly affected by Glamis Gold Ltd's activities in Honduras wrote a letter to its shareholders to inform them of the negative impacts of San Martin and other mines.",,03-May-06,5 August 2020,Lobbying
2007 Demonstrations demanding legislative ban on open pit metallic mining,"On 17 July 2007, several major desmonstrations took place, including six roadblocks, in protest at proposed amendments to the 1998 Mining Law. Demonstrators called for the new legislation to ""ban open pit and metallic mining, revoke mining permits from companies who are contaminating the natural environment and cancel concessions in national parks and reserves.""",,17-Jul-07,8 October 2020,Demonstrations
2007 Protest by Ex Landowners in San Miguel Ixtahuacán,"In 2007, ex-landowners in San Miguel who had sold their lands to the Marlin Mine project organized protests against the company relating to the process by which their lands were purchased. These grievances further exacerbated local tensions between workers at the mine and community members.",,2007,11 August 2020,Demonstrations
2008 ACD Letter to the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment (SERNA),"On 5 June 2008, the Civic Allicance for Democracy (ACD) sent an open letter to the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment (SERNA) outlining its work to reform existing mining laws and propose new legislation that, among other things, would prohibit the use of cyanide and require public referenda and/or consultations before approving new mining licences. The letter called for a new law that gauranteed legal security to communities that call for the protection of their environment.",,05-Jun-08,8 October 2020,Lobbying
2008 Goldcorp Shareholder Tour of Marlin Mine leads to Shareholder Resolution,"In February 2008, a group of shareholders visited the Marlin Mine site to assess the human rights impact of the project. ""The group met with NGOs, indigenous people, government authorities and company representatives in order to get a clearer picture of the complex situation. The trip culminated in a shareholder resolution submitted to the company"" requesting a formal assessment of the situation.",,Feb-2008,11 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2008 Hunger strike leads to creation of MADJ,"In 2008, four prosecutors from the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) held a 38-day hunger strike to protest against government corruption. This action gave rise to the Movement for Dignity and Justice (MADJ), which became an important actor in the anti-mining movement in Honduras.",,2008,8 October 2020,Workers' Action
2008 Residents of Santo Domingo begin to mobilize against industrial mining,"Residents of the Santo Domingo municipality begin to mobilize around the issue of industrial mining, following the arrival of large scale mining activity at La Libertad Mine in 2008.",,2011,,Awareness/Coalition Building
2008 Symbolic funeral held for Pacific Rim,"On 5 December 2008, the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador organized a demonstration that included a symbolic funeral for Pacific Rim.",,05-Dec-08,12 August 2020,Demonstrations
2009 Benefit concert held against metallic mining,"On 27 May 2009, the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador organized a benefit concert, called ""I reject metallic mining"".",,27-May-09,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2009 Letter writing campaign supporting legislative ban on metallic mining,"In February 2009, the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador organized a letter writing campaign in partnership with Monseñor José Luis Escobar Alas, Archbishop of San Salvador, calling for an end to metallic mining. More than 10,000 letters from Salvadoran citizens were delivered to President Saca, demanding a definitive rejection of mining and approval of a law prohibiting the industry.",,12-Feb-09,12 August 2020,Campaigns
2009 Protest marches against Goldcorp,"In 2009, three marches were held to protest the presence of Goldcorp in Guatemala. The following organizations participated:  Madre Selva Association of Guatemala, Communities in Resistance against Mining in Cerro Blanco Guatemala, Centre for Research in Trade and Investment (CEICOM) and Honduran Centre for the Promotion of Communitarian Development (CEHPRODEC).",,2009,11 August 2020,Demonstrations
2009- Central American environmentalists join forces against extractive projects,"The relationship between the Salvadoran mining resistance movement and similar actors in the region has existed and developed from the outset. For example, in 2009 Guatemalan and Salvadoran groups participated in joint protests against the Cerro Blanco mine (Yagenova et al, 2012). According to Spalding (2014), when mining companies first began to appear in El Salvador, ""community activists were uncertain about how to respond about the prospect of mines opening in their region"". However, activists from Honduras played an important role in sharing their experiences and convincing their Salvadoran colleagues of the importance of being skeptical about promises of development. They also assisted in arranging visits to the Siria Valley to witness directly communities affected by healths complaints derived from the nearby mine. Spalding argues that ""[i]nteractions between Honduran, Salvadoran, and, subsequently, Guatemalan anti-mining coalitions helped identify commonalities and shared vulnerabilities"" (ibid). The free flow of capital for investment in mining across borders, as well as the cross border environmental impacts of mining on shared watercourses also encouraged a shared analysis in civil society organizations in Central America. In April 2017, NGOs from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua started an interchange project to exchange experiences about defending the environment against raw material extractive projects.",,27-Apr-17,4 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2009-2012 Meetings with Industry Representatives regarding New Mining Laws,"Following the election of President Lobo in 2009, meetings were held between Canadian mining company representatives and Honduran government officials 'with an eye toward writing a new general mining law' (COHA 2015). These meetings are reported to have continued over the next three years.",,2009-2012,8 October 2020,Lobbying
2010 Communities in La Montaña Region (Guerrero) begin to mobilize and share information,"In 2010, Hochschild Mining began exploratory activities in La Montaña region of Guerrero,such as helicopter flyovers and surveyor inspections. As members of San Miguel del Progreso became aware, they along with other communities met to share information and organize community opposition to the prospective mine.",,2010,29 June 2021,Awareness/Coalition Building
2010 Crossborder lobbying against Cerro Blanco,"In March 2010, a meeting was held between representatives of social organizations in El Salvador and Guatemala and Guatemalan lawmakers and deputy ministers regarding Cerro Blanco. The social organizations sought to stop mining operations. No agreement was reached.",,16-Mar-10,4 August 2020,Lobbying
2010 NGOs send letter to Canadian Embassy,"On 22 July 2010, CISPES Salvadorian Canadian Association of Ottawa and National Capital Region sent a letter to the Canadian Embassy requesting that the Embassy stop supporting Pacific Rim, lobby for passage of the Canadian law relating to mining and human rights, and suspend negotiations on a free trade agreement with El Salvador",,22-Jul-10,12 August 2020,Campaigns
2010 Pacific Rim CEO testifies before Canadian House of Commons,"On 8 June 2010, Pacific Rim CEO, Thomas Shrake, testified before the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development regarding proposed Bill C-300, an Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Mining, Oil, or Gas in Developing Countries, and the experiences of Pacific Rim in El Salvador. The purpose of the testimony was to assist the Committee in determining whether to pass this bill, which aimed to ensure accountability on the part of Canadian companies operating abroad. The Committee also heard from Professor Audrey Macklin from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, who spoke in favour of the bill. Mr. Shrake described the mining licencing process undertaken by Pacific Rim and disputed allegations against the company regarding water contamination and alleged connections with violence against anti-mining activists. He attributed what he discribed as misinformation about his company to ""bad actors"" among the NGO community, particularly the Association of Social Economic Development (ADES) Santa Marta.",,08-Jun-10,12 August 2020,Lobbying
2010 Public Statement by CAVS on 10 years of Complaints against Goldcorp Inc.,"In October 2010, the Siria Valley Environmental Committee (CAVS) released a public statement noting that over 10 years it had filed complaints and submitted proof of crimes committed by Goldcorp Inc. through its subsidiary, Minerales Entremares de Honduras, S.A. (""Entremares""), against the right to life, health and the envrionment of those living in the Siria Valley. CAVS demanded, among other things, that the Honduran judicial system respect and protect the rights of communities affected by Entremares' operations. ",,15-Oct-10,8 October 2020,Lobbying
2010 Roadblock at Guatemala and El Salvador border,"In October 2010, Guatemalan and Salvadoran NGOs and community groups formed a roadblock at the border of the two countries to protest the Cerro Blanco mining project.",,27-Oct-10,5 August 2020,Demonstrations
2011 Demonstration against attempts to legislate community consultations,"On 29 April 2011, more than 3,000 people marched through Guatemala City to demonstrate against the government’s legislative initiative to regulate community referenda via a proposed law presented earlier that year. The majority of the protestors were ""representatives of indigenous organizations from rural areas of Guatemala.""
  ",,29-Apr-11,5 August 2020,Demonstrations
2011 International Call to Stop Criminalizing Environmental Defenders,"In July 2011, fifty-two international civil society organizations called on Honduras to ""stop criminalizing environmental defenders and to ensure them personal freedom, due process and the right to continue their defense of human rights.""",,15-Jul-11,8 October 2020,Lobbying
2011 March against Mining Licences for Escobal organized by Catholic Parish,"In June 2011, residents of Mataquescuintla, Jalapa held a 5 kilometer march against the granting of exploration and exploitation licences for the Escobal mine. The march was organized by the local Catholic parish and supported by its counterparts in Casillas and San Rafael Las Flores, Santa Rosa.",,24-Jun-11,11 August 2020,Demonstrations
2011 March from San Rafael Las Flores to Guatemala City,"In 2011, community members from San Rafael Las Flores (near the Escobal mine) ""marched to the company's headquarters in Guatemala City and to the Canadian embassy to leave red carnations in an act of protest against the mining project.""",,2011,11 August 2020,Demonstrations
2011 Meeting with Goldcorp and Civil Society Groups on San Martín Mine Closure,"On 5 May 2011, a meeting was held in Toronto, Canada between representatives of Goldcorp, Development and Peace, the Honduran Centre for the Protection of Community Development (CEHPRODEC), Catholic International Development Charity (CAFOD), and the University of Newcastle (UK) to discuss the San Martín mine closure. Among other issues, the group discussed Acid Mine Draining, water quality and pollution, and other aspects of the closure plan. ",,05-May-11,8 October 2020,Lobbying
2011 Members of U.S. Congress urge Guatemalan President to suspend the Marlin Mine Project,"In March 2011, 15 members of the United States Congress sent a letter to the Guatemalan President expressing ""'serious concern' about the mine"", and urging the President to ""immediately suspend operations at the Marlin mine and address the ongoing human rights, health, and environmental concerns of the indigenous communities.""",,20-Mar-11,11 August 2020,Lobbying
2011 Open Letter to World Bank officials regarding Pacific Rim Arbitration,"On 12 December 2011, an open letter signed by 244 international civil society organizations was sent to World Bank officials on the Pacific Rim-El Salvador case, demanding that the domestic governance process and national sovereignty be respected.",,12-Dec-11,12 August 2020,Campaigns
2011-2012 Salvadoran Strategic Environmental Assessment and Mesa Nacional's response,"In the Spring of 2011, the Salvadoran government carried out a Strategic Environmental Assessment in relation to proposed legislative ban on mining (for details about this assessment, see Bebbington 2012: 1155). In March 2012, the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador (Mesa Nacional) released a response to this assessment demanding an immediate debate and approval of the proposed law banning metallic mining. Mesa Nacional opposed the conclusions of the Government's strategic assessment on the basis of, among other things, that insufficient information had been provided to allow for meaningful public consultation, there had been a lack of transparency regarding the decision to proceed with a strategic assessment and the methods for carrying it out, and the appearance that the assessment served as a means to support procedural formalities that favoured the interests of mining companies over substantive legislative changes. ",,2011-2012,12 August 2020,Lobbying
2012 Bishop holds Large Mass Rejecting Mining near San Rafael Las Flores,"In February 2012, approximately 2,000 people gathered in the central park of San Rafael Las Flores for a mass officiated by the Bishop of San Marcos, whose homily was dedicated to the rejection of mining companies in the region.",,19-Feb-12,11 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2012 Campesina March for Mother Earth,"In March 2012, the ""Campesina March for Mother Earth"" reached the capital of Guatemala after one week of marching. The group sought to have the government respond to its demands linked to the historical problem of territory and the defense and protection of natural resources, which have been threatened since the signing of the Peace Accords by economic policies that position Guatemala as a producer of raw materials.",,28 March 2012,4 August 2020,Demonstrations
2012 Civil Society Communiqué rejecting Proposed Mining Law,"In January 2012, a group of civil society organizations released an urgent communiqué raising ""serious concerns about how [a] proposed [mining] law would prioritize corporate interests over human rights.""",,24-Jan-12,8 October 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2012 Conference in Canada marches to Pacific Rim offices to protest arbitration,"On 2 June 2012, participants in the ""Shout Out against Mining Injustice"" conference marched from conference venue in Vancouver, Canada, to Pacific Rim's corporate offices. The demonstrators protested against de decision of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) to retain jurisdiction over the dispute with Pacific-Rim regarding El Salvador's national investment law.",,02-Jun-12,12 August 2020,Demonstrations
2012 Creation of the Regional Council of Agrarian Authorities in Defence of Territory (CRAADET),"In October 2012, the Regional Council of Agrarian Authorities in Defence of the Territory (CRAADET) was formed by agrarian indigenous communities in the Montaña-Costa Chica regions of Guerrero state to coordinate opposition to mining concessions.",,2012,29 June 2021,Awareness/Coalition Building
2012 Demonstration against mining and increased violence,"In January 2012, more than 5,000 people from 17 municipalities marched against mining and the increase of violence in the municipality of Jutiapa. The march ended with an open-air mass officiated by two Bishops who are historic figures in the struggle against mining in the country.",,Jan-12,5 August 2020,Demonstrations
2012 Forum on Electoral Agenda and Environmental Protection Laws,"On 25 February 2012, a group of civil and social organizations from the Department of Cabañas held a forum regarding the electoral agenda and environmental protection laws. Representatives of the main political parties participated to put forward their positions in relation to, amongst other issues, metallic mining.",,25-Feb-12,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2012 Health Tribunal Guilty Verdict Delivered to Canadian and Guatemalan Authorities,"In August 2012, community groups from San Miguel Ixtahuacán ""hand-delivered the Peoples International Health Tribunal verdict to the Guatemalan government, the Canadian embassy and Goldcorp’s Guatemalan office. The verdict clearly found Goldcorp guilty for environmental harms, health problems and illnesses and human rights violations."" Goldcorp's office did not accept the verdict.",,01-Aug-12,11 August 2020,Lobbying
2012 Honduran Civil Society Organizations Denounce Government's Failure to Consider Public Demands regarding the Proposed Mining Law,"In April 2012, the National Coalition of Environmental and Social Networks against Open Pit Mining and the Siria Valley Environmental Committee denounced the refusal of the government and National Congress to listen and attend to civil society demands in relation to the proposed Mining Law. They called on the National Congress to initiate an open and transparent participation process, in which Honduran citizens would have much to contribute.",,27-Apr-12,8 October 2020,Lobbying
2012 International Mission organized to verify Human Rights violations and criminalization of activists in Guatemala and El Salvador,"In November 2012, an International mission was organized by Friends of the Earth El Salvador (CESTA) and friends of the Earth Guatemala (CEIBA) with participation of organizations such the Transnational Institute and Vía Campesina, to verify systemic human rights violations and criminalization of environmental activists and communities resisiting mining projects, including the El Dorado and Marlin mines.",,13-19 Nov 2012,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2012 Letter to Guatemalan President seeking action based on 2012 Peoples' International Health Tribunal's findings against Goldcorp Inc.,"On 1 August 2012, the Mining Injustice Solidarity Network (MISN) from Canada, the Front in Defense of San Miguel Ixtahuacán (FREDEMI), the Parochial Commission of San Miguel Ixtahuacán Kolol Qnan Tx’otx’, the M4-Mesoamerican Movement against the Extractive Mining Model, the International Centre on Human Rights Investigations (CIIDH), and affected communities of San Miguel Ixtahuacán delivered a letter to the President of Guatemala, Otto Pérez Molina, demanding that the Guatemalan and Canadian governments regulate and penalize Goldcorp Inc. for environmental, health, and human rights harms. The demands were based on the findings of the Peoples' International Health Tribunal released the same year and delivered along with the letter.",,01-Aug-12,11 August 2020,Lobbying
2012 Medical brigade visits Siria Valley,"On 10 May 2012, a medical brigade organized by Dr Juan Almendares visited El Pedernal (Siria Valley). People from six different municipalities in Siria Valley attended to be examined by Dr Almendares. Former employees of Entremares (Goldcorp), with health problems related to working in the mine, were also examined.",,10-May-12,8 October 2020,Fact-Finding Action
2012 Petition to reiterate demands for prohibition on metallic mining,"On 9 January 2012, the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador organized a petition-based campaign to restate the continuing social and political demand for a law to be enacted to prohibit metallic mining.",,09-Jan-12,12 August 2020,Campaigns
2012 Press Conference on Health Impacts of San Martín Mine,"In August 2012, the Siria Valley Environmental Committee held a press conference in Tegucigalpa about the health impacts of the San Martin mine. It was held as part of the Continental Day of Action Against Canadian Mega Resource Extraction",,01-Aug-12,8 October 2020,Press Conference and Public Statements
2012 Protest Blocking Road Access to the Escobal Mining Area,"In June 2012, approximately 400 demonstrators blocked a road to the Escobal mine in protest at the installation of electric cables across their communities.",,30-Jun-12,11 August 2020,Demonstrations
2012 Protest encampment established to block mining operations,"In September2012, members of the community of Santo Domingo established an encampment to protest against the development of the La Libertad mine project, and block access to the site by B2Gold and DESMINIC vehicles. See Legal Action, ""2013 Criminalization of Protests and Mining Opposition Movements"" for more information.",,2012,17 November 2021,Demonstrations
2012 Public Demand for Prohibition of Open Pit Mining,"In October 2012, the National Coalition of Environmental and Social Networks repeated public demands for the prohibition of open pit mining in Honduras, and criticized the Mining Commission of the National Congress for failing to listen to clear citizen demands for the prohibition to be included in the new proposed mining law.",,Oct-12,8 October 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2012 Public Forum for the Prohibition on Metallic Mining,"On 3 October 2012, the Environmental Alliance of El Salvador held a public forum about the need to approve a general water law and a law prohibiting metallic mining.",,03-Oct-12,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2012 Results of public opinion survey on mining presented at mining conference,"In March 2012, the Center for the Study of Democracy (CESPAD) and the World Lutheran Federation presented the results of a September 2011 survey, which found that 91% of Hondurans opposed open pit mining, at a conference in Tegucigalpa.",,27-Mar-12,29 October 2020,Press Conference and Public Statements
2012 Social Organizations Sign Public Complaint against IACHR Amendment of Precautionary Measures regarding Marlin Mine,"In 2012, following the Inter-American Commission on Human Right's decision to lift an element of the precautionary measure requiring the suspension of the Marlin Mine, ""233 European, North American, and Latin American social organizations"" signed a public complaint opposing the amendment.",,Feb-12,11 August 2020,Lobbying
2012 The Council of Canadians campaign against Pacific Rim,"In October 2012, The Council of Canadians launched letter-writing and phone call campaign to ""Tell Pacific Rim to get out of El Salvador"".",,22-Oct-12,12 August 2020,Campaigns
2012 Women Struggling for a New Dawn and Defending our Mother Earth (Kolol O'nan Tx'otx) are created,"In 2012, two new organizations were formed by indigenous women opposing the Marlin Mine project, Women Struggling for a New Dawn and Defending our Mother Earth (Kolol O'nan Tx'otx). Around the same time, they were joined by a third organization, called Women's Pastoral. Kolol O'nan Tx'otx was ""one of the main forces behind the [Latin American] Water Tribunal; it has a weekly program on the parish's radio station and works in communities through its promoters.""",,2012,11 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2013 Community Anti-Mining Training Meetings,"Honduran civil society organizations, with the support of local Catholic priests, arrange training meetings (capacitaciones) to teach communities how to resist extractive industry activities. These meetings include information about the history of the anti-mining movement, the mining law, the impacts of mining, community member rights as citizens, and how to legally block the mine, among other things.",,Ongoing,5 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
"2013 Declaration in Defence of Community Territory and against the Biosphere Reserve of La Montaña, Guerrero",The Declaration by the Regional Council of Agrarian Authorities in Defence of the Territory (CRAADET) warned that the Biosphere Reserve threatened the right of indigenous communities to their territory and would facilitate mining projects.,,2013,29 June 2021,Press Conference and Public Statements
2013 Demonstrations at the Judicial Complex in Juigalpa for release of detained protestors,"In late February 2013, over a series of days there were protests by 1,000 to 3,000 people outside the Judicial Complex in Juigalpa, to demand the release of individuals arrested in relation to a violent police operation on 9 February 2013 against a protest encampment against La Libertad Mine in Santo Domingo. The relatives and community members of Santo Domingo maintained protests outside the judicial complex pending the outcome of judicial hearings against the accused, the majority of whom were released. However, twelve leaders of the opposition to the La Libertad mine were transferred to prison in Managua and only released in April 2013. See Legal Action entitled, ""2013 Criminalization of Protests and Mining Opposition Movements"".",,Feb-13,12 August 2020,Demonstrations
2013 Documentary on Mining in Honduras Released,"In 2013, the video documentary, called ""Honduras: the Earth's Martyrs"", was released. The documentary includes interviews with a local priest describing the negative health and environmental impacts of Goldcorp's mine in Valle de Siria
 ",,Jul-13,8 October 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2013 Guatemala-El Salvador Bi-National Commission on Cerro Blanco,"In Feburary 2013, the Presidents of El Salvador and Guatemala announced the creation of a bi-national commision to analyze the impact of the Cerro Blanco mine in Guatemala and potential risk of water contamination for both countries.",,Feb-13,5 August 2020,Government Action
2013 Mesa Nacional calls for Permanent Suspension of Cerro Blanco,"In July 2013, members of the El Salvadoran group, the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador, held a press conference calling for the permanent suspension of Cerro Blanco in Guatemala.",,31-Jul-13,5 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2013 Nicaraguan Government Delegation attends PDAC in Canada,"In April 2013, a Nicaraguan government delegation participated in the Prospectors Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention, one of the world’s leading mining industry events. The delegation of senior government officials was spearheading President Ortega’s stated policy of boosting investment in the mining sector. However, the Catholic church and environmental NGO, Humboldt Centre, highlighted the impact of this policy on the environment in Nicaragua.",,Apr-13,10 November 2021,Lobbying
2013 Press Conference and Forum on Metallic Mining Prohibition,"On 17 September 2013, the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador (La Mesa) held a press conference and forum in San Salvador on the new proposed law prohibiting metallic mining in El Salvador. La Mesa called for citizens to participate in the process of promoting legislative approval of the proposed law as an essential step to protect El Salvador's future.",,17-Sep-13,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2013 Public Declaration against 2013 Mining Law,"Following the passage of the 2013 Mining Law, 21 civil society organizations signed a public declaration alleging that the government passed the law ""in an atmosphere of secrecy, violence, and repression against activists."" They argued that the new law ""left water sources largely unprotected, allowed open-pit mining even though it was opposed by 91 percent of Hondurans, provided for consultation only after concessions had been granted, denied public access to information about the technical and financial aspects of the mining projects, and allowed forced convictions resulting in the destruction of entire communities.""",,Jun-14,8 October 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2013 Rally at Guatemalan Embassy in San Salvador,"In February 2013, members of the El Salvadoran group, the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador (La Mesa), ""held a rally in front of the Guatemalan Embassy in San Salvador to deliver a letter addressed to Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina to express concerns related to the Cerro Blanco mining project in the border with El Salvador.""",,Feb-13,5 August 2020,Demonstrations
2013 Salvadoran activists participate in Canada and U.S. speaking tour,"Between March and April 2013, El Salvadoran anti-mining activists, Vidalina Morales de Gamez and Sandra Carolina Ascencio (part of the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador) participated in a Canada and U.S. speaking tour, called ""Water is More Precious than Gold."" The activists sought to raise awareness of the call to ban metallic mining in El Salvador over concerns of water contamination and environmental damage.",,March-April 2013,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2013 San Miguel del Progreso community assembly vote to pursue all legal measures against the mining concession,"In July 2013, after San Miguel del Progreso received confirmation, via a freedom of information petition, of mining concessions granted on their territory, the community assembly decided to pursue all legal means to challenge the concessions.",,2013,29 June 2021,Campaigns
2013 San Salvador Archbishop suggests international complaint on Cerro Blanco mine,"In June 2013, the Archbishop of San Salvador held a press conference suggesting that environmental and human rights concerns over the Cerro Blanco mine should be taken before an international institution to seek justice if the Salvadoran and Guatemalan governments could not reach an agreement.",,10-Jun-13,5 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2013 Save Santo Domingo (MASSD) holds large demonstration in Santo Domingo,"In 2013, police broke a long running demonstration in Santo Domingo involving more that 2000 people, including Save Santo Domingo Environmental Movement (MASSD). The National Police operation resulted in the detention, and later release of approximately 47 protestors. For more information see Legal Action entitled, ""2013 Criminalization of Protests and Mining Opposition Movements""",,2013,12 August 2020,Demonstrations
2013 Urgent call to International Community regarding imminent approval of new Mining Law,"In early 2013, community and environmental organizations in Honduras made an urgent call to the international community regarding the imminent approval of the 2013 Mining Laws. The groups argued that the law threatened to lead to an environmental and social disaster.",,23-Jan-13,8 October 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2013-2017 Humboldt Centre tests water in Santo Domingo to research industrial mining,"In 2013, the Humboldt Centre began to conduct water quality tests at five points in and around Santo Domingo. The test results were submitted to the municipality during open assemblies, in which representatives of the government criticised the Humboldt Cente and the tests. The Centre continued with its research, conducting comparative tests in 2015 and 2017, challenging claims by the company and government that Santo Domingo community water supplies were at toxic levels before the mining operation, and evidencing impacts on watercourses of increased levels of heavy metals.",,2015,,Awareness/Coalition Building
2014 Demonstration at World Bank headquarters in El Salvador,"On 5 May 2014, more than 300 Salvadoran and international protesters demonstrated in front of the headquarters of the World Bank in El Salvador against Pacific Rim's complaint at ICSID regarding the El Dorado mining permits",,05-May-14,12 August 2020,Demonstrations
2014 Demonstration at World Bank headquarters in Washington D.C.,"On 15 September 2014, more than 200 protestors gathered outside the World Bank's headquarters in Washington D.C. to protest against Pacific Rim's claim against El Salvador at the ICSID.",,15-Sep-14,12 August 2020,Demonstrations
2014 Demonstrations demanding reforms to Mining Law,"In October 2014, a demonstration of 2,000 people (in which representatives of more than 50 organizations participated) presented the National Congress in Tegucigalpa with proposed reforms to the 2013 Mining Law to effectively implement obligatory community consultations in relation to mining projects.",,15-Oct-14,8 October 2020,Demonstrations
2014 International Seminar on Public Finances and the Extractive Industry,"In September 2014, an international seminar on public finances and the extractive industry was held in Guatemala. The presentations included government perspectives, the experiences of other countries, and the situation at the national level.",,14-Sep-14,5 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2014 National Meeting of communities resisting mining,"In March 2014, Guerrero community representatives and NGOs participated in the National Meeting of Peoples in Resistance against the Extractivist Model of Mining in Puebla.",,2014,29 June 2021,Awareness/Coalition Building
2014 Regional Council of Agrarian Authorities in Defence of Territory (CRAADET) visit Goldcorp mines,"In January 2014, San Miguel del Progreso community members and leaders of other communities belonging to CRAADET,visited Goldcorp mine in the Ejido of Carrizalillo, also in Guerrero, to examine the damage caused by the mine and share community mobilization experiences.",,2014,29 June 2021,Awareness/Coalition Building
2014 Regional Forum on the Impact of Mining in Central America,"In November 2014, various organizations gathered at a Regional Forum on the Impact of Mining in Central America, held in Gautemala City. The group called for the closure of the Cerro Blanco mining project and asked for the cancellation of Entremares S.A. for lack of transparency and accuracy regarding potentional impacts on the environment, among other things.",,27-28 November 2014 ,5 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2014 Small scale miners protest in Santo Domingo,"In February 2014, small scale miners marched in Santo Domingo to reaffirm their struggle against industrial mining exploitation and demand that B2Gold comply with its commitments, noting that the company had strategically created divisions between organized groups. The mayor of Santo Domingo also publicly stated that B2Gold works were contaminating the water in the municipality and that despite the mine not having an exploration or exploitation permit it was carrying out subterranean drilling, causing the water table to drop. Local NGO, CENIDH reiterated its commitment to continue accompanying the community of Santo Domingo in its struggle for the right to a safe and healthy environment.",,09-Feb-14,12 August 2020,Demonstrations
2015 Campaign against voting for Legislative and Mayoral Candidates that favour mining,"In January 2015, the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador organized a campaign relating to the 2015 legislative and municipal mayoral elections that encouraged people not to vote for candidates who were in favour of mining. Similarly, on 18 February 2015, the Environmental Alliance of El Salvador held a public forum, called ""Proposals and Positions on Environmental Issues: Candidates for deputies of the Legislative Assembly 2015-2018"". Municipal and national elections were held in parallel with one another in the same year.",,02-Jan-15,12 August 2020,Campaigns
2015 CRAADET press conference on Global Day Against Mega-mining,"On 22 July, a press conference by the Regional Council of Agrarian Authorities in Defence of the Territory declared La Montaña region free of mining and denounced the National Agrarian Registry refusal to register the community’s rejection of mining.",,2015,29 June 2021,Press Conference and Public Statements
2015 Demonstration Outside Goldcorp's Toronto Office,"Activists and community organizers gathered outside of Goldcorp Inc.'s Toronto office on 30 April 2015 to commemorate the life of a youth activist from Mataquescuintla (an area near the Escobal mine), who was shot and killed in 2014. Goldcorp's offices were chosen because, at the time, the company held a 29% ownership share of Tahoe Resources Inc.",,30-Apr-15,11 August 2020,Demonstrations
2015 Humboldt Centre presents study at National Forum on Mining in Nicaragua,"In December 2015, the Humboldt Centre presented the results of its study, ""Valorization of the Socio-Environmental  Risks and Impacts of Metallic Mining in Nicaragua (2013-2015) (Spanish)"", at the National Forum on Mining in Nicaragua. The deputy-director of the Humboldt Centre concluded the presentation noting that the results of the report showed that neither green nor safe mining exists, all the companies working in this sector have deficits, especially in relation to environmental impacts.",,Dec-15,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2015 JPIC holds Forum on the Threat of Mining and the Problem of Water in El Salvador,"On 21 November 2015, a forum, called ""the threat of mining and the problem of water in El Salvador"", was held at the offices of the Conference of Religious People in El Salvador. Presentations were given by representatives of the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador (La Mesa) and the Centre for Research in Trade and Investment (CEICOM), and Yanira Cortéz, a Deputy Human Rights Ombudsperson (PDDH).",,21-Nov-15,24 November 2021,Awareness/Coalition Building
2015 Letter Condemning Armed Attack against Mining Opponents in Mataquescuintla,"In October 2015, a group of international organizations sent a joint letter to the Human Rights Ombudsperson Office of Guatemala and other state officials expressing alarm at an armed attack against six mining opponents in Mataquescuintla, Jalapa.",,Oct-15,11 August 2020,Lobbying
2015 Maya Q'eqchi' Encampment in front of the National Palace,"In April 2015, over 400 Maya Q'eqchi' families organized peaceful encampments in front of the National Palace in Guatemala City. The group was asking for ""access to land, the resolution of agrarian conflicts, a stop to forced evictions and an end to the criminalization of community leaders.""",,27-Apr-15,5 August 2020,Demonstrations
2015 Protest at International Mining Congress in Honduras,"In 2015, communities affected by mining protested at an event hosted by President Juan Orlando Hernández, described as the “First International Mining Congress in Honduras”. ""The Congress invited international and Honduran business people and politicians to mingle with mining technicians and academics involved in the industry."" The San Martín mining project and the experiences of residents in Siria Valley served as common reference points for those protesting an ""open-door mining policy"".",,Jul-15,8 October 2020,Demonstrations
2015 Protest of World-Bank Sponsored Conference in Tegucigalpa,"In early 2015, the Honduran National Coalition of Environmental Networks and Organizations (CONROA) held a protest at a World Bank-sponsored conference in Tegucigalpa, called ""Conference on Sustainable Development of Natural Resources"". The group ""urged the Bank – and the Honduran government – to support coffee farmers instead of national and transnational mining companies, stating that farming creates more jobs, income and better distribution of wealth without the long-lasting environmental impacts, public health problems and social conflict that mining generates."" The protestors were from various communities in Honduras, including residents of Siria Valley who shared their experiences of the impacts of mining.",,09-Feb-15,8 October 2020,Demonstrations
2015 Research Institute states EITI is Ineffective,"In June 2015, the Central American Institute of Fiscal Studies (ICEFI) publically reiterated that the standards set out by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) are too limited to be an effective tool in Guatemala.",,19-Jun-15,5 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2015 Sector San Pedro begins to organise opposition to mining concession,The communitiesof Sector San Pedro began to organise and share information as news of mining concessions granted in Tocoa municipality spread and mining company EMCO made initial attempt to build access road into mining sites in Montaña de BotaderosNational Park.,,01-Jan-15,6 May 2021,Awareness/Coalition Building
2015 Speaking Tour on Militarization of Communities in area of the Escobal mine,"In November 2015, Guatemalan investigative journalist, Luis Solano, conducted a speaking tour in Canada to present his findings about the militarization of communities in the area of the Escobal mine project.",,Nov-15,11 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2015 Week long festival demanding OceanaGold leave El Salvador,"In September 2015, a week long festival, called ""IX Festival for the Sovereignty and Self-Determination of Communities: Get out of El Salvador, OceanaGold!"", was held in San Isidro, Cabañas. The festival was hosted by the Francisco Sánchez 1932 United Movement (MUFRAS-32). The principal objective was to gather as many people as possible to collectively express their rejection of the Pacific-Rim/OceanaGold mine and demand that they withdraw their complaint against El Salvador.",,15-Sep-15,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2015- Municipal Committee for the Defence of Common and Public Goods (CMDBCP) is formed,"Since 2015 members of the communities in and around Tocoahave organised themselves intothe Municipal Committee for the Defence of Common and Public Goods (Comité Municipal de Defensa de los Bienes Comunes y Públicos,CMDBCP). The Committee is a network of community organizations that originally came together to oppose moves to privatise access to water. However, in 2015 as rumours that mining concessions had been granted in the national park, the committee concluded that the most immediate threat to the water supply of Tocoa communities was the impact of the two mines andaccess roads, and later, the large iron ore pelletprocessing plant.",,2016,20 October 2021,Awareness/Coalition Building
2016 Discussion Group on Implementation of EITI in Guatemala,"In June 2016, the Central American Institute of Fiscal Studies (ICEFI held a seminar on the Extractive IndustriesTransparency Initiative (EITI), which noted that Guatamala had various legal limitations to compliance with EITI standards.",,29-Jun-16,5 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2016 Letter to Canadian Prime Minister on Greater Accountability,"In December 2016, a group of more than 200 organizations in Latin America sent Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a letter, ""calling for greater accountability in Canadian mining operations in their countries.""",,Dec-16,8 October 2020,Lobbying
2016 Protest in the Philippines calling for OceanaGold's Expulsion from El Salvador,"On 10 October 2016, around 50 people from an indigenous community in the Philippines staged a protest in front of the gates of the open pit mining site of OceanaGold Philippines Incorporated (OGPI) in Didipio, Philippines, to call for the company’s expulsion from the Philippines and El Salvador.",,10-Oct-16,12 August 2020,Demonstrations
"2016 Public Forum regarding report on Mining, CSR, Conflict and the El Dorado Foundation","On 3 March 2016, El Salvador's National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining and International Allies Against Mining in El Salvador held a public forum regarding the 2016 report, ""Mining, Corporate Social Responsibility and Conflict: OceanaGold and the El Dorado Foundation in El Salvador"".",,03-Mar-16,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2016 Sector San Pedro communities denounce local officials,"The Committee for the Defense of Public and Common Goods (CMDBCP) representing 15 communities in the San Pedro Sector issued a public statement condemning the previous and present mayors of Tocoa and other local officials for failing to consult their communities in relation to the mining concessions. It accused the authorities of working with the mining company behind the back of the affected communities. The CMDBCP stated the communities' opposition to mining projects, which would affect their lands due to the impact on their health, safety, water supplies and forestry. The CMDBCP stated that it would hold officials responsible for the destruction of San Pedro Sector lands and for any threats environmental defenders might face in retaliation for their opposition to the project.",,19-Apr-16,6 May 2021,Press Conference and Public Statements
2016 Sector San Pedro denounces mayor for cancelling consultative assembly,"Thirteen communities of Sector San Pedro of Tocoa (Las Mangas, Pinalito, Mala Falda, Vado Ancho, Tapiquil, Joconales, Meangul, San Pedro Las Minas, San Pedro Las Brisas, San Isidro, El Edén, Nueva Alianza and Las Minas) issued a press release condemning the Municipal Council for cancelling the community consultative assembly (cabildo abierto) scheduled for 29 April 2016 to discuss the mining concessions affecting the communities.",,28-Apr-16,6 May 2021,Press Conference and Public Statements
2017 Archbishop leads march to Legislative Assembly demanding approval of Ban on Metallic Mining,"On 9 March 2017, the Archbishop of San Salvador, José Luis Escobar Alas, led a 2,000 person march to the Legislative Assembly, demanding approval of the proposed law prohibiting metallic mining in El Salvador. According to field research conducted as part of The Legal Cultures of the Subsoil project, this rally constituted a turning point in the attitude of members of the Legislative Assembly toward the proposed legislative ban on metallic mining. The rally was received at the Legislative Assembly by members of the Legislature to whom the organizers of the march delivered more than 30,000 signatures collected in an eight-day campaign (Montoya, 2021).",,09-Mar-17,24 November 2021,Demonstrations
"2017 Breakfast Conference, called ""Academic Organizations and Institutions against Metallic Mining in El Salvador""","On 14 February 2017, a breakfast conference was held, called ""Academic Organizations and Institutions against Metallic Mining in El Salvador"". The date of the conference was chosen in recognition of the deadline for Pacific Rim to pay the $8 million USD costs awarded to El Salvador and a recent commitment made by the Legislative Assembly to make the prohibition of metallic mining a priority.",,14-Feb-17,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2017 Civil Society Organizations send letter to IACHR in advance of hearing on Transparency and Access to Public Information,"In July 2017, a group of civil organizations from Nicaragua, Guatemala, Peru and the Dominican Republic sent a letter to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in advance of its hearing on transparency and access to public information in the extractive industry. The letter advised that the group was ""currently in the process of developing recommendations on transparency and access to information, environmental impact assessment and free, prior and informed consent in, among others, the extractive and infrastructure industries.""",,05-Jul-17,12 August 2020,Lobbying
2017 Creation of the National Movement against Industrial Mining,"In June 2017, a group of community organizations and social movements, including the Save Santo Domingo Environmental Movement (MASSD), announced the creation of the National Environmental Movement against Metallic Mining (MONAFMI). Its purpose is to defend their territories against the socio-environmental and economic impacts of industrial mining. The movement activities include promoting access to technical information on the impacts of industrial mining and participation of local populations in consultations to exercise forms of social accountability over mining projects.",,25 June 2017,17 November 2021,Awareness/Coalition Building
2017 Environmental Organizations in Chontales adopt the Environmental Ten Commandments on Water and Life,"In November 2017, environmental defense organizations in the Department of Chontales adopted the ""Environmental Ten Commandments on Water and Life"", which set out actions for protecting natural resources, particularly in the context of climate change. 

The commandments are:
You will not destroy the forest, and you will work to re-establish it.
You will promote conservation actions and appropriate productive practices.
You will help to re-establish surface and underground water sources.
You will make effective your right to water for human consumption and food security.
You will demand sustainable human development, and respect for the rights of native peoples.
You will demand responsibility in the development of cities and settlements.
You will demand a public and private education that includes responsible environmental practices.
You will organize to resist the effects of climate change.
You will demand that the State comply with the laws that protect natural resources and our environment.
You will contribute to the construction of a healthy environment, and the sustainable management of our natural resources.",,29-Nov-17,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2017 Forum on environmental destruction caused by extractive projects,"In April 2017, 400 community representatives participated in a CRAADET organized a regional forum in Guerrero to discuss destruction caused by extractive projects. Sixteen agrarian communities committed to declare their territories free of mining.",,2017,29 June 2021,Awareness/Coalition Building
2017 Forum on Extractivism and Human Rights in Guatemala,"In July 2017, the Central American Institute of Fiscal Studies (ICEFI) held a political forum during which two panels were convened to discuss the extractive industries in the country. ICEFI presented an analysis of international practices relating to fiscal transparency in the extractive industry.",,11-Jul-17,5 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2017 Forum on State Owned Mining Companies,"In 2017, the Institute of Strategic Studies and Public Policy (IEEPP) and the Humboldt Centre held forums to deliberate on the impact and contribution of industrial mining, including developing ""New Rules in the Mining Sector: Should the Nicaraguan State get involved in the business of Mining?"" as well as considering the actual tax raising implications of the existing regulation on extractive industries. The forums also considered the social division and conflicts caused by large scale mining projects as well as the social mobilisations to limit their impacts.",,Nov-17,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2017 National Meeting against the Extractive Mining Model in Malinaltepec in the Montaña region,"In October 2017, the Regional Council of Agrarian Authorities in Defence of the Territory (CRAADET) hosted the National Meeting against the Extractive Mining Model in the municipality of Malinaltepec, Guerrero, to develop strategies for opposing industrial mining.",,2017,29 June 2021,Awareness/Coalition Building
2017 Peaceful Protest in Guatemala City,"In March 2017, the Front in Defense of San Miguel Ixtahuacán (FREDEMI) organized a peaceful rally in the Central Park in Guatemala City against the negative impacts that have been related to the Marlin Mine since 2005, calling for accountability for the irreparable damage caused by the project.",,26-Mar-17,11 August 2020,Demonstrations
2017 Permanent Demonstration established to Demand Compensation for Damages caused by the Marlin Mine,"In June 2017, residents of San Miguel Ixtahuacán and Sipacapa, San Marcos established a ""camp of resistance"" intended to be a permanent demonstration. The protesters demanded compensation for damages caused by the Marlin Mine.",,Jun-17,11 August 2020,Demonstrations
2017 Presidential Commission for Dialogue confirms damage in communities affected by Marlin Mine,"In November 2017, the Presidential Commission for Dialogue confirmed that it had completed its verification of damage suffered in five of 10 communities in San Miguel Ixtahuacán who filed complaints against the Marlin Mine. The Commission confirmed the existence of damage to homes and contamination and drying of rivers, but did not make any determinations regarding responsibility for the damage.",,13-Nov-17,11 August 2020,Government Action
2017 Protestors Block Access to the Escobal Mine,"In June 2017, protestors near the town of Casillas blocked highway access to the Escobal mine site.",,19-Jun-17,11 August 2020,Demonstrations
2017 Protestors detain Government Airplane and Block access to Marlin Mine,"Between June and July 2017, a group of 10 residents from San Miguel Ixtahuacán detained a small government airplane parked on a landing strip owned by the Marlin Mine project. The plane was held in support of community demands that the company be held accountable for environmental damage and damage to local houses caused by its mining activities. Approximately 100 protestors from 10 communities also blocked access to the mine site.",,June- July 2017,11 August 2020,Demonstrations
2017 Public Forum held to discuss the OXFAM and CEG report on Metallic Mining in Central America,"On 31 March 2017, a public forum was held in San Salvador to discuss the joint report published by OXFAM and Research Centre Gautemala (CEG), called ""La minería metálica en Centroamérica: Una valoración sobre impactos, transparencia y fiscalidad"" [Metalic Mining in Central America: An Evaluation of impacts, transparency, and taxation]",,31-Mar-17,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2017 Tahoe Reportedly Lobbies U.S. and Canadian Embassies to Intervene in Licence Suspension Case,"In August 2017, MiningWatch Canada reported that Tahoe Resources Inc. was lobbying the U.S. and Canadian embassies to intervene on the judicial proceedings in Guatemala regarding the suspension of the company's mining licences. The report was based on a public letter from Tahoe to the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala and information from the Canadian lobby registry.",,Aug-17,11 August 2020,Lobbying
2017 UDEFEGUA Denounces Threats against CALAS Director,"In April 2017, the Protection Unit for Human Rights Defenders - Guatemala (UDEFEGUA) published an open letter denouncing threats and intimidation tactics used against human rights defender and lawyer, Pedro Rafael Maldonado Flores, director of the Centre for Environmental and Socio-Legal Action (CALAS). CALAS has been involved in litigation against Tahoe Resources Inc. regarding El Escobal mining project.",,18-Apr-17,11 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2017 Xinka Demand Permanent Closure of Escobal,"In July 2017, hundreds of indigenous Xinka people held a demonstration in Guatemala City demanding the permanent closure of El Escobal.",,Jul-17,11 August 2020,Demonstrations
2018 Call to Reject Proposed Law on Indigenous Consultation Procedures,"In 2018, a petition was organized by the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) calling on the Guatemalan Congressional Labour Commission to reject a proposed law on consultation procedures for projects on or impacting indigenous territories. At the time of writing (November 2021), the draft law remained under discussion in legislative commissions.",,2018,11 August 2020,Lobbying
2018 CMDBCP establishes protest encampment,"On 31 July2018, after the CMDBCP had not received a response to its demands or complaints on behalf of the Guapinol community regarding concerns that mining works were impacting the quality of the community'swater supply from the River Guapinol, members of the community and the CMDBCP established a protest encampment on the access road to the ASP sites near La Ceibita. Approximately 400 people joined the encampment known as the Guapinol Encampment in Defence of Water and Life (Campamento Guapinol en Defensa del Agua y la Vida). It was maintained daily by approximately 100people for 88 days, blocking the entry of heavy vehicles to the mining site.

Between 12 and 15 August 2018, an interinstitutional Commission, including representatives of the Honduran Institute of Geology and Mining (INHGEOMIN), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MiAmbiente+), Colon Department government, the Human Rights Secretariat and the National Institute for Conservation, Forestry Development, Protected areas and Wild life (ICF), met with the CMDBCP at the encampment and made commitments to attend to the socio-environmental conflict. This included promising to publish a series of environmental reports on the mining project, to conduct a consultation with the Tocoa population and to establish dialogue roundtables between the communities and institutions. However, these measures were not implemented and the encampment continued.

On 7 September, whenInversiones Los Pinares (ILP) staff and a contractedsecurity company guards carried out works on the access road near the encampment a dispute occurred. After negotiation, ILP workers withdrew, but an ILP security official reportedly shot and wounded one a protester from Guapinol, Rigoberto Bonilla Hernández, in front of witnesses. In the aftermath, the last remaining ILP contractor was retained by protesters pending being handed to police to investigate the shooting. A car was also set alight, as were two containers belonging toILP. Protesters handed the ILP contractor to police unharmed, but this subsequently served as the pretext to file charges against the CMDBCP. See Legal Action entitled, ""2018- Criminalisation and detention of CMDBCP environmental rights defenders"" for details.

On 13 October, the Ceibita Permanent Vigilance Committee (Comité de Vigilancia Permanente de Ceibita, COVIPERCE) was formed by members of the Ceibita community to opposethe CMDBCP protest encampment and in support of the ILP mine. COVIPERCE reportedly received arms and also worked with the ILP security company.

On 27 October 2018, on the basis of a judicial eviction order, at least 1200 police and army personnel, including specialist TIGRE units as well as COVIPERCE members were used to violently evict the peaceful encampment. See Legal Action entitled, ""2018 Eviction of protest encampment"".

During this period of tension, members of COVIPERCE reportedly set fire to the house of a CMDBCP supporter in Ceibita, forcing her to flee. The CMDBCP denounced the attack on its supporters and sought the assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to protect human rights defenders.",,8/1/2018 to 27/10/2018,6 May 2021,Demonstrations
2018 CMDBCP hold 10-day protest outside Tocoa Town Hall,"Inversiones Los Pinares began construction of an access road to the ASP sites in April 2018 through the community of La Ceibita on the opposite side of River Guapinol. In the following months, the community of Guapinol detected large amounts of sediment and mud in the river preventing domestic consumption. The municipal authorities refused to acknowledge their complaints or respond to the CMDBCP demands for a cabildo abierto (consultative assembly) to consult on declaring the municipality free of mining. In protest, the CMDBCP and supporters held a protest outside theTocoa town hall between 4 and 14 of June 2018 demanding a consultative assembly to declare the municipality free of mining. See Legal Action entitled ""2007- Municipalities Declare Territories Free of Mining [ASP1 and ASP2]"" for more information on municipal consultative assemblies and the ""Mining-Free Territories"" declarations.",,4 June 2018 to 14 June 2018,6 May 2021,Demonstrations
"2018 Humboldt Centre launches campaign called ""Mining: Benefits for Whom?""","In February 2018, the Humboldt Centre launched a campaign, called ""Mining: Benefits for Whom?"", for the purpose of raising awareness within Nicaraguan society of the harms and small advantages generated by mining companies in Nicaragua at the cost of a series of tax breaks.",,06-Feb-18,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2018 Indigenous Xinka March against Escobal,"In April 2018, 2,000 indigenous Xinka people marched through Guatemala city to demand closure of the Escobal mine.",,09-Apr-18,11 August 2020,Demonstrations
2018 Information Exchange Forum,"In July 2018, CRAADET held the 29th Information Exchange Forum in Santa Cruz del Rincón, Guerrero. The participants highlighted the continuing threat of new mining concessions and the 22 concessions still active in La Montaña region.",,10-Jul-05,29 June 2021,Awareness/Coalition Building
2018 Mesa Nacional press release warning against threat to Law Prohibiting Metallic Mining,"On 3 April 2018, the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador (Mesa Nacional)  issued a Press Release warning about the resurgence of the ""green mining"" campaign in El Salvador as a result of the increased number of seats won by the National Republic Alliance (ARENA) in the 4 March 2018 Municipal and Legislative Assembly elections. Mesa Nacional argued that the election result increased the likelihood that the Law Prohibiting Metallic Mining in El Salvador could be amended or revoked.",,03-Apr-18,12 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2018 Protest against mining in Chontales in remembrance of previous repression,"In February 2018, more than 100 individuals protested against mining in Chontales, emphasizing that industrial mining threatens natural resources, especially water sources in Santo Domingo. The march was also in remembrance of the five-year anniversary of the repression and month-long imprisonment of artisanal miners and other opponents to La Libertad mine by anti-riot police officers during a blockade preventing B2Gold mining equipment entering the area.",,10-Feb-18,12 August 2020,Demonstrations
2018 Santo Domingo residents protest against the presence of B2Gold in their community,"In January 2018, in response to an inadequate consultation meeting held by B2G, residents of Santo Domingo marched through the streets demanding that B2Gold leave their community. For more information, see Legal Action entitled ""2018 Community reaction to Company-led 'Consultation Processes'"".",,Jan-18,12 August 2020,Demonstrations
2018 Xinka Parliament holds Press Conference on Escobal,"In February 2018, the Xinka Parliament held a press conference denouncing Tahoe Resources for generating conflict in their communities and the Guatemalan media for misleading and defamatory coverage.",,21-Feb-18,11 August 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2019 CMDBCP is awarded international Human Rights Prize,"The Institute for Policy Studies based in Washington awarded the international Human Rights Prize Letelier-Moffitt to the Municipal Committee in Defence of Common and Public Goods (CMDBCP) of Tocoa, Colón.",,04-Oct-19,6 May 2021,Awareness/Coalition Building
2019 EU delegation visits Guapinol environmentalist prisoners,"Representatives of embassies of France, Spain and Germany visited Olanchito prison in Yoro to meet with 7 detained environmentalists.",,04-Dec-19,6 May 2021,Fact-Finding Action
2019 Mam indigenous authorities call on congressional commission to ensure compliance with the guarantees for potable water mandated by the IACHR in 2011,"In April 2019, Mam communities from Sipacapa municipality met with the president of the congressional commission of transparency and probity to complain that precautionary measures issued by the IACHR in 2011 to guarantee access to drinking water had not been implemented.

Members of the Sipacapa communities affected argued that only two water access projects had been developed by the Instituto de Fomento Municipal (INFOM) which was charging community members for their use in contravention of the IACHR measures.

According to the president of the Presidential Commission for coordination human rights policy(COPREDEH), to comply with the measures agreed with the IACHR, INFOM should have constructed 11 portable water access projects for the communities, seven of which should be run at the cost of Montana Exploradora.",,2019,9 November 2021,Lobbying
2019 Publication of new report on crossborder impact of Cerro Blanco mine,"In December 2019, Salvadoran umbrella organization, National Roundtable against Metallic Mining (Mesa Nacional frente a la Minería Metálica, MNFM) held a press conference to publicise its new report. “The impact of the Cerro Blanco transborder mine on water and health in El Salvador” set out the potentially grave impacts on El Salvador’s population if the Cerro Blanco mining project started exploitation under Bluestone Inc.

The report, compiled by biologist and environmental researcher, Cidia Cortes, argued that the renewed mining activity would contaminate the water basin of the cross-border Ostúa- Metapán aquifer system, directly impacting the health of 500,000 Salvadoran inhabitants dependent on the basin’s water supply. The report also suggested that the project’s use of water would further reduce river flow, potentially resulting in increased social conflict over water resources.",,2019,21 October 2020,Press Conference and Public Statements
2019 Xinca Parliament denounces ministries for non-compliance with Supreme Court ruling,"In August 2019, members of theXinca Parliament publicly denounced the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) and Ministry of Natural Resources (MARN). They argued the ministries were failing to comply withthe Supreme Court rulingon the right of indigenous communities to consultation in relation to the mining project as the official process being undertaken wasunjustifiably excluding some impacted community representatives.",,August 2019,9 June 2021,Press Conference and Public Statements
2019 Xinka Parliament publicly denounces MEM and MARN for non-compliance with the 2018 Constitutional Court ruling confirming suspension of mining licence,"In August 2019, the Xinka Parliament issued a public statement denouncing the Guatemalan Ministry of Energy and Mining (MEM)and the Minstry of Environment and NaturalResources (MARN)for failing to comply with the 2018 Constitutional Court ruling on the obligation to consult indigenous communities in accordance with the standards of the international law. In particular, the Xinka Parliament accused MEM and MARN of seeking to manipulate the preconsulation process by restricting participation to the Municipal Development Committee(Consejo Municipal de Desarrollo,COMUDE). The Constitutional Court ruling recognised that COMUDES are not the legal representatives of the Xinka Parliament, therefore, the Ministries attempt to reduce the role of the Xinka Parliament to the participation of the COMUDES breached the terms ofConstitutional Court judgement. The Xinca Parliament called for the State Prosecutor and the Supreme Court to investigate the conduct of MEM and MARN.",,August 2019,17 December 2020,Press Conference and Public Statements
2020 Berta Cáceres and Guapinol detainees shortlisted for EU Sakharov Human Rights Prize,"A group of European Union MEPs nominated Berta Cáceres and the detained Guapinol defenders for the EU's annual human rights award, the Sakharov Human Rights Prize. The Honduran nominees were initially shortlisted in recognition of the grave threats facing Honduran environmental defenders. However, the Belarusian opposition movement ultimately won the prize in October 2020.",,17-Sep-20,6 May 2021,Campaigns
2020 Call to investigate attacks on members of Xinka Parliament,"In August 2020, 90 Guatemalan and international NGOs wrote to Guatemala’s public prosecutor calling for full investigations into attacks on members of the Xinka Parliament and others opposing mining.",,August 2021,9 June 2021,Lobbying
2020 Citizen's complaint to Xinka Parliament regarding conduct of Minera San Rafael during Covid-19 crisis,"In April 2020, the Xinka Parliament publicised a complaint it had received from residents ofSan Rafael Las Flores against the San Rafael mining company. The residents accused the company of providing food assistanceduring the Covid-19 crisisto members of communitybut onlyin return for the recipientssigning documents and providing their official personal identitynumber. The complaint argued that such measures were presumably being used by the company to argue that it enjoyed support among the community, undermining the fairness of the preconsultation process being developed as part of the measures to comply with the 2018Constitutional Court ruling.",,7 April 2020,17 December 2020,Press Conference and Public Statements
2020 EU Parliament calls for release of Guapinol environmental defenders,"A public letter written by members of EU Parliament to Honduran authorities expressed concern at continuing arbitrary detention of 8 Guapinol rights defenders and calling for their pre-trial release, particularly in the context of the health risks posed to those in detention during the Covid-19 pandemic.",,26-Apr-20,6 May 2021,Lobbying
2020 International campaign demanding release of detained Guapinol activists,Honduran NGOs and their international partners launched an international solidarity campaign on social media in support of the Guapinol water defenders and calling for their release.,,01-Sep-20,6 May 2021,Campaigns
2020 Launch of international experts' report on origins of mining conflict in Bajo Aguán,"A group of international experts (including a member of The Juridification of Resource Conflicts project) participated in a fact-finding visit to Tocoa organised by the Central American Alliance against Mining (ACAFREMIN) in June 2019 to research the origins of the mining conflict in the Bajo Aguán. As a result of their research, the group published a report and recommendations, highlighting the human rights violations that have been committed in the context of the conflict surrounding the ASP1 and ASP2 project. The report was completed in March 2020 and launched on 12 September 2020.",,12-Sep-20,6 May 2021,Academic and/or Research Campaigns
2020 Letter of Concern at Impunity for Human Rights Violations against Xinka Defenders,"In August 2020, more than 90 organizations signed an open letter addressed tothe Guatemalan authorities expressing concern at ongoing impunity for human rights violations committed against Xinka community defenders.",,August 2020,16 December 2020,Campaigns
2020 Local council demands review of environmental commitments on La Libertad mine,"In January 2020, Santo Domingo Council, supported by the National Environmental Movement against Industrial Mining (MONAFMI), issued a public statement demanding environmental and mining authorities review compliance of agreements made by Calibre Mining in relation to the La Libertad mine and the community of Santo Domingo. The local officials also highlighted the pressure placed on residents directly affected by mine to leave their homes.",,,17 November 2021,
2020 National meeting of communities in defence of the environment,"In February 2020, there was a national meeting of communities in defence of water and the environment in Tegucigalpa. A new commitment to articulate diverse resistance groups was announced. This included collective support for the demand to release the eight environmentalist defenders of Guapinol.",,25-Feb-20,6 May 2021,Awareness/Coalition Building
2020 NGOs publish report on Alternatives to Economic Development based on Metallic Mining,"In April 2020, the Central American Alliance against Mining (ACAFREMIN), the Association for the Development of El Salvador (CRIPDES), the Association for Socioeconomic Development of Santa Marta (ADES) and the University of Aarhus in Denmark,published a joint report exploring alternative forms of economic development in El Salvador. The report examined the experience ofCabañas Department to explore alternatives tometallic mining and to promotesustainability and social equality.",,30 April 2020,17 November 2020,Awareness/Coalition Building
2020 Organizations Pen an Open Letter in Solidarity with Xinka Communities,"In May 2020, 44national and internationalorganizations publishedanOpen Letter of Solidarity with the Xinka Parliament to coincide with the shareholder meeting of Pan American Silver.",,May 2020,16 December 2020,Campaigns
2020 Presentation of reports to the Honduran Ministry of Human Rights,"In October 2020, two reports detailinghuman rights violations committed in Tocoa against those opposing mining by Inversiones Los Pinares werepublished by ACAFREMIN and the International Human Rights Law Clinic of theUniversity of Virginia School of Law (UVA). The reportswere presented to the Minister of Human Rights Karla Cueva and her team.",,16-Sep-20,6 May 2021,Campaigns
2020 Presentation of reports to the Honduran Ombudsperson Office (CONADEH),"Two reports by ACAFREMIN and the International Human Rights Law Clinic of University of Virginia School of Law (UVA), documenting the human rights violations committed against those opposing the ASP1 and ASP2 mining concession were presented to the a team of the Honduran Ombudsperson Human Rights Office (CONADEH). The meeting was attended by the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Honduras and representatives of several human rights organisations.",,18-Sep-20,6 May 2021,Campaigns
2020 Public presentation of expert legal opinion on judicial persecution and detention of Guapinol defenders,"The University of Virginia School of Law, International Human Rights Law Clinic published its report on the judicial irregularities in the case against the eight Guapinol imprisoned environmental defenders and called for their immediate release.",,31-Aug-20,6 May 2021,Academic and/or Research Campaigns
2021 El Salvador’s Catholic Church leaders highlight threat of Cerro Blanco mine to nation’s water supply,"On 27 November 2021, the leaders of the Episcopal Conference of El Salvador (the archbishop and nine Bishops) issued a public letter highlighting the right to water as a social good that all should protect. The bishops pointed to the precarious situation of El Salvador’s watercourses, many of which, despite being unfit for human consumption or agriculture, continued to be used for just those purposes.

The bishops drew attention to El Salvador’s reliance on watercourses that originate in neighbouring countries and the threat posed by contamination from mining in these countries to water which El Salvadorans depend on. In particular, the bishops highlighted the threat of the Cerro Blanco mine project to contaminate the River Ostúa, which in turn would pollute the Güija Lake, then the River Lempa—the principal river on which El Salvador’s population depends for its well-being.

The Conference also criticised aspects of the recently approved General Law on water resources, and called for the rapid ratification of Constitutional reforms which recognised the right to water and adequate food as human rights.",,,3 December 2021,Press Conference and Public Statements
2021 Protest against renewed mining company activity at Cerro Blanco,"In May 2021, the Central American Alliance against Mining (ACAFREMIN) issued a public statement condemning steps taken by the local subsidiary, Entre Mares de Guatemala S.A., to conduct a survey of some of the communities in the vicinity of the Cerro Blanco mine in order to orchestrate the company’s apparent consultation of local communities and their seeming approval of the project.

ACAFREMIN reported that Bluestone Resources, a Canadian corporation and new owner of the Cerro Blanco project, which is operated by the local subsidiary, Entre Mares, was seeking to move ahead with plans to develop the project as an open pit mine rather than through the underground tunnelling of the original mining project. ACAFREMIN noted that the companies had recently built roads, painted schools and promised jobs in order to obtain support from the local population of Asunción Mita.

Despite the much larger threat of environmental damage posed by the new open pit mining plan to water sources in Guatemala and El Salvador, Entre Mares and Bluestone Resources have not submitted a new Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), necessary to obtain a mining permit. Neither the companies nor the government have made available to the communities in Asunción Mita impartial and reliable information on the new mining plans and their potential impact on the environment, raising serious questions about the nature of the consultation process with local communities.

In June 2021, ACAFREMIN, including Colectivo Madreselva in Guatemala, organized a protest against the mine. They warned of the renewed efforts of the mining companies and the Guatemalan mining authority to press ahead with the project and denouncedtheir failure to comply with legal requirements. This includes making publicly available a new EIA as well as open and transparent consultation with affected communities, including in El Salvador.",,2021,10 November 2021,Demonstrations
2021 UN experts call for release of 8 environmental defenders,"In November 2021, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders called on the Honduran authorities to release the eight environmental defenders of Guapinol. The Special Rapporteur reminded the Honduran government that Hondurashad recently joined the UN Human Rights Council and as such “Honduras should be redoubling efforts to clean up its human rights record, and an obvious first step is to release the Guapinol defenders”. Her call was backed by other UN experts, including Pedro Arrojo Agudo, Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation; David R. Boyd, Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment; and Elina Steinerte,Miriam Estrada-Castillo, Leigh Toomey, Mumba Malila andPriya Gopalan of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.",,2021,26 November 2021,Press Conference and Public Statements
Demonstration against Mining in El Negrito,"As reported, ""on 28 March 2014, thousands of residents marched against natural resource exploitation in the municipality of El Negrito, Yoro."" The march was followed by a referendum to declare the municipality free from mining. Organizers pointed to the evironmental and health impacts of the San Martín project in the Siria Valley as informing the opposition to mining in El Negrito.",,28-Mar-14,11 July 2018,Demonstrations
Humboldt Centre builds international and regional coalitions,"The Humboldt Centre has developed connections with international and regional organizations, such as the Observatory on Mining Conflicts in Central America (OCMAL), and organizations in South Africa and Canada. These efforts have included visiting Canada to meet with civil society groups, such as MiningWatch Canada, and advocating for compliance by the Canadian government with environmental and human rights standards, particularly in relation to the conduct of Canadian multi-national corporations.",,Ongoing,,Awareness/Coalition Building