The 18th of June, on the 19th day of the regional strike against the Conga mining project, a hunger strike was initiated. This dramatic method of non-violent resistance shows the despair of some protesters. It is an ultimate attempt to draw the attention of the Peruvian government, who has been ignoring the voice of the Cajamarcan people since the installation of the Conga project.

After the publication of the international expert report, president Humala announced that the Conga project is viable, if the mining company is willing to adjust the exploitation plans to the environmental recommendations, proposed by the experts. One of the main recommendations is the preservation of two mountain lakes, that, according to the company’s original plans, normally would had to be displaced. How did the different stakeholders respond to this statement?

Just a few days before the publication of the international expert report on the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Conga mining project, the Peruvian government decided to send army and National Police squads to the localities that would be affected by extractive activities.

From February 1 to 11, a broad coalition of Peruvian civil society organizations, regional and local authorities and communities is organizing the March for the Right to Water and Life. The start will be celebrated at the mountain lakes of Cajamarca, threatened by the USD 4,8 billion open pit gold mining project Minas Conga. From Cajamarca and several other regions, marchers will head to Lima with specific demands. You can support the March. Follow our English blog on the case, congaeuropa.wordpress.com.