During a meeting with páramo communities, Gustavo Petro reiterated his opposition to Minesa’s Soto Norte project.
with páramo communities in the north-central Santander department, Colombian President Gustavo Petro reiterated his negative to allowing large-scale gold mining in the Páramo de Santurbán, a protected area of the Andes mountains.presented by the Sociedad Minera de Santander , a company owned by the government of Abu Dhabi through its investment arm Mubadala Investment Company.
“The issue is the flow of the water, not the border of the páramo,” Petro said. “It is irrelevant for the city of Bucaramanga if the large gold mine is established above or below the páramo’s border if the water is affected anyway.” The town hall with the páramo communities took place following a January blockade carried out by Santander’s farmers and small business owners, who were protesting the possibility of displacement due to the new boundaries proposed by the legislative power in the Santurbán area when the $1.2-billion Soto Norte project was first presented.
After noting that when he was a senator he said that such an idea was a “trap,” Petro ended up telling the people gathered last Friday, that Santurbán and its water belong to them. “After hearing from you that there is an ongoing displacement process, or the risk or threat of displacement of farmers in the area, people who have always lived there, it becomes clear to me that wherever big mining sets up shop, people end up displaced,” the president said. “I will not allow displacements in the Colombian páramos.”
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NC man faces charges for charging basketball coach after 'minor disagreement' during middle school game: copsA North Carolina man was charged on Tuesday following an incident at a basketball game where he allegedly charged the head coach of a team.
Read more »
County Board Chair touts quality of life, mental health during annual speechCounty Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas focused on improving life for families, a stronger economy, better infrastructure and mental health care, and combating homelessness during Wednesday's State of the County speech.
Read more »
Shania Twain reveals near-death experience during terrifying illnessShania Twain details her near-death experience and her struggle with getting airlifted to a hospital. The singer reveals how the incident influenced her new music.
Read more »