Social Movement Successes

The intensification of criminalization and violence against mining-affectd communities and other social movement actors is a response of states and industry to successful efforts to defend land and the environment. Here are just a few of the successes against extractivism in the Americas to date.

Recent Victories

More Social Movement Successes by Country

Argentina

▷ Several provinces have banned open-pit mining in glacier and peri-glacier ecosystems nationally. ▷ Organized communities in Esquel, Chubut and ...
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A group of Indigenous protesters gather behind a sign that reads "No mining our sacred headwaters"

Canada

▷ In Ontario, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI), Wahgoshig and Ardoch First Nations prevented mining projects from getting past the exploration stage ...
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A Banner reads Our Thirst for Gold will leave us Without Water, No to Pascualama

Chile

▷ Barrick Gold was forced to suspend its Pascua Lama project in 2013. The mine is located at 4500 metres ...
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Poster on a wall in Támesis, Antioquia, Colombia reads Yes to Life No to Mining

Colombia

▷ Several communities have declared their ancestral territories no-go zones for large-scale mining. The Resguardo Indígena Cañamomo Lomaprieta in Riosucio ...
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in Costa Rica, a man hangs a banner that reads No to the Mining Industry

Costa Rica

2010-2011 ▷ A strong citizens' movement pressured the Costa Rican government to close down Infinito Gold's Crucitas project and pass ...
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A sign with a skull and mining tools for the crossbones reads Mining Pollutes and Mining Kills

El Salvador

▷ Three municipalities in Chalatenango have held local plebiscites, declaring their territories free of mining. 2008 ▷ Since 2008, successive ...
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woman stands with her hand held up stands in front of a line of Guatemalan National Police in riot gear

Guatemala

▷ Three civil lawsuits are proceeding in Ontario courts agains HudBay Minerals for security guard violence agains Maya Q'eqchi' Indigenous ...
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Berta Cáceres, murdered for her struggle in defence of Lenca Indigenous territory in Honduras on March 2, 2016.

Honduras

▷ Three civil lawsuits are proceeding in Ontario courts against HudBay Minerals for security guard violence against Maya Q'eqchi' Indigenous communities ...
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image of a community meeting with Gustavo Castro in Chiapas, Mexico

Mexico

2013 ▷ The Federal government authority denied the Esperanza project now owned by Alamos Gold and environmental licence.  Area residents, environmental ...
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A group of around 100 community members are gathered together to block a dirt road.

Peru

2013 ▷ The Cerro Quilish and Massive Conga expansion projects of the Yanacocha mine, jointly owned by the US company ...
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