Wednesday, 24 November 2010 01:59 | Author: Hassan Reyes

Open Letter to our Community

Quierid@s hermanas y hermanos:

This week the Hispanic Business Association (along with various other entities) will be presenting awards to the ’10 most influential Latin Americans’ of 2010. This event has taken place for several years with little controversy or protest. It has been genuinely received as an attempt to recognize people in the community who have laudable achievements or are making contributions to Latin Americans. However, this year is different.

This year, the unfortunate decision has been made to include Barrick Gold as a key sponsor and selector of the award winners. Barrick Gold is the largest pure gold mining company currently undertaking mining and exploration projects in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Peru. Barrick Gold has been the subject of much controversy around workers’ rights and environmental degradation, among other issues in Latin America.

The list of concerns related to Barrick Gold includes:

1. At least 50 deaths on the construction site of the Pascua Lama project in Chile and Argentina
2. Accusations of violent repression of strikes in Peruvian mines
3. Allegations by the former environment minister of Argentina that she was forced to resign due to threats against her family by mining interests
4. More than 400 workers from Pueblo Viejo, Dominican Republic, becoming sick from suspected inhalation of mining chemicals
5. The depletion of 56% to 70% of three glaciers in the Pascua Lama project which will also severely impact 94,000 farmers in Chile and Argentina if chemicals such as cyanide, sulphuric acid and mercury are released into the Huasco valley’s riversⁱ.

Moreover, Barrick Gold President Peter Munk has views regarding Latin American politics that are offensive to Latin Americans but especially to those impacted by coups and autocratic governments. Showing complete disregard for the democratic will of the Venezuelan people, Munk compared President Hugo Chávez to Hitler in the New York Post and stated that the world should “not give President Chávez a chance to do the same step-by-step transformation of Venezuela.”ⁱⁱ This echoes Henry Kissinger’s statement about the ‘irresponsibility’ of the Chilean people who elected Salvador Allende.

Of course, Munk would be familiar with Kissinger’s statement as he too was an apologist for General Augusto Pinochet, lauding his “transforming Chile from a wealth-destroying socialist state to a capital-friendly model that is being copied around the world.” Regarding the tens of thousands arrested and tortured and the thousands killed, Munk states that “the end justifies the means because it brought wealth to an enormous number of people.”ⁱⁱⁱ

At a time when our own government has been looking to make Canadian mining companies more accountable for their human rights and environmental impacts, allowing a corporation with these kinds of allegations and track record to select ‘representatives’ for our community is nothing short of shameful. The dignity and integrity of our community cannot be sold to the highest bidder.

While we applaud and support initiatives to recognize those making contributions to our community, we cannot support the involvement of companies that have a record of acting against the interests of Latin Americans. We urge the organizing Latin American entities, recipients and past recipients to restore credibility and reject any involvement of Barrick Gold in this event.

Our people and interests are not for sale – neither here nor in Latinoamerica!

Barrio Nuevo

To endorse this letter, send an email to  [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

i) www.protestbarrick.net

Related posts:

1. Barrick caught with blood on its hands
2. Latin American Migrant Workers Brutally Massacred in Mexico
3. Canadian Mining Companies SLAPP Independent Publishers and Academics
4. After 10 years of War, Afghanistan is Open for Business
5. Justice for Alwy Open Letter to the Arab Community Centre of Toronto

Intn'l, Local