New Publication: Promotio Iustitae 135 – Mineral mining: Boon or Bane?

15.07.2023.- We are pleased to share with you the latest issue of Promotio Iustitae (Nº135), titled Mineral Mining: Bonanza or Perdition? This issue gathers twelve reflections based on the concrete experience of Jesuit social centers, NGOs and Universities working in line with the thematic priorities of the Justice in Mining Network. 

We have not been able to include all the cases related to mining that the Jesuit social sector is accompanying around the world, but this sample of cases reflects well the diversity of realities existing in different continents and the good practices of international collaboration that can be generated through networking.  

The issue starts with an introduction by Father Xavier Jeyarat, Secretary of Ecology and Social Justice (SJES) of the Society of Jesus at the Roman Curia. The first two contributions gather reflections that were presented in September last year in Bilbao (Spain) at the event “Energy Transitions and Mining Extractivism” organized by Alboan and the University of Deusto. The first one by Professor Anthony Bebbington addresses the meaning of justice in the context of energy transition and mining. The second, written by professor and researcher Javier Arellano, gathers the main findings of the research entitled Energy Transitions, Ecosocial Conflicts and Mining Extractivism in the Amazon. 

In the following pages you will find also three cases from India: a case written by PM Tony SJ, director of Bagaicha, in memory of Father Stan Swamy and his advocacy for the rights of indigenous peoples/adivasi in the face of forced displacement induced by mining in East-Central India; two others written in succession by Tony Herbert, S.J., and Tom Kavala, S.J., about coal mining and affected communities in the Indian State of Jharkhand. 

We also received three cases from Latin America. Two related to the organization of resistance to different mining projects: one in Mexico, written by Raúl Cervera, S.J, which tells of the neighborhood organization movement in the Sierra Norte de Veracruz in response to the entry of a mining company and the role played by a popular radio such as Radio Huayacocotla; another, written by Heriberta Fernandez, from Centro Montalvo (Dominican Republic), which narrates the struggles of local communities with the Canadian mining company Barrick Gold, which is currently operating several projects in the country. The third one, by Elvin Hernandez, from the Reflection, Investigation and Communication Team (ERIC) and Radio Progreso presents the case of Guapinol and focuses on the processes of criminalization of human rights defenders and the environment in Honduras.

We also received three cases from Latin America. Two related to the organization of resistance to different mining projects: one in Mexico, written by Raúl Cervera, S.J, which tells of the neighborhood organization movement in the Sierra Norte de Veracruz in response to the entry of a mining company and the role played by a popular radio such as Radio Huayacocotla; another, written by Heriberta Fernandez, from Centro Montalvo (Dominican Republic), which narrates the struggles of local communities with the Canadian mining company Barrick Gold, which is currently operating several projects in the country. The third one, by Elvin Hernandez, from the Reflection, Investigation and Communication Team (ERIC) and Radio Progreso presents the case of Guapinol and focuses on the processes of criminalization of human rights defenders and the environment in Honduras.

In the last block we find another four contributions related to networking experiences. The first one, by professor and researcher Fernando Serrano, from the University of San Luis in the US, addresses the relationship between applied research in community health and the defense of the rights of communities affected by mining based on two cases, one in Peru and another in Honduras, the latter with the support of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States (JCCUS). The following contribution, written by Jack Piper of Australian Social Services, describes the formation of a national anti-fracking coalition to curb the development of this extractive technique in the northern territories of the country.

The last two cases address different legislative initiatives in Canada and Europe to regulate mineral supply chains from conflict-affected or high-risk areas. The first of them, written by Víctor Reyes, from Canadian International Jesuits, and Jacques Nzumbu, S.J., from the Center Arrupe pour la Recherche et la Formation (CARF), in Lubumbashi, recounts the collaboration of both centers to reflect on the impact of energy transitions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the joint campaign with other Canadian organizations to create the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) and pass a national due diligence law. Along the same lines, the latest contribution by Guillermo Otano, from the Alboan Foundation, analyzes the lessons learned from the conflict minerals campaign carried out in Europe during in collaboration with other organizations from the DRC and Colombia.

You can access the magazine at the following links.

ENG – Pomotio Iustitae 135 – Mineral Mining: Boon or Bane?

ESP – Promotio Iustitae 135 – Mining: Bonanza or Doom?

FR – Promotio Iustitae 135 – L’explotation minière: Une aubaine ou une fléau?