Mexico Denies Gold Mining Permit to Canadian Company

Monday, February 22, 2010 — Barnard Thompson, MexiData.info (Reprinted in its entirety with permission) http://www.mexidata.info/id2566.html

Mexico Denies Gold Mining Permit to Canadian Company

Last December the Mexican media, in part reviewed by Frontera NorteSur, reported that the door could be closed to some foreign-owned mining operations in Mexico — the case in point being a planned open pit gold mine in Baja California Sur (Canadian Mining Companies at Odds with Many in Mexico).

Well, that door has now been slammed shut, in large part due to the opposition of local residents and activists — which just might be a harbinger of what to expect in the future.

According to the story at the time, area residents opposed a mine within the buffer zone of the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve, the Paredones Amarillos gold mine, planned byCanadian-owned Vista Gold Corporation.  The mining company was awaiting a final step in the process, a requisite federal land use permit, in order to begin operations towards the extraction of an estimated 1.2 million ounces of gold over a 9.3 year period.

Critics contend that metals and chemicals used in the mining operations could contaminate vital ground water supplies (including seepage from a planned sluice residue basin), damage ecosystems, and threaten public health. Further, they express concern for coastal sea turtle and whale habitats that could be jeopardized from the construction of a proposed desalination plant.

Vista Gold President Fred Earnest, and project manager Carlos Calderón, both disputed the contentions that Paredones Amarillos would cause ecological harm. According to Calderón, Vista Gold would use environmentally sensitive, state-of-the-art mining technology and practices, and uphold “the highest international standards.”

Over the past two months opponents of the Paredones Amarillos mining project have been meeting with state of Baja California Sur officials, and on February 4, 2010 the Mexico City daily El Universal reported:  ”Baja California Sur Governor Narciso Agúndez Montaño has promised to work for the stoppage of the Paredones Amarillos gold mine project.”

The newspaper said that Ariel Ruiz, a representative of the Baja California Sur “Water is worth more than gold” organization, told the governor of concerns due to the negative social and environmental impacts the open pit gold mine could cause in the area, especially due to the risk of contamination to aquifers in the region.

“We are expressing our concern because the costs that the mine could bring are much greater than the benefits.  Not only is it a community, it is the entire region that could be affected,” Ruiz said

Ruiz added that Governor Agúndez supported his point of view, and the governor would ask the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) not to allow the project to go forward.

On February 19 El Universal reported: “The Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources denied the Paredones Amarillas project change of land use application, for the operation of an open pit gold mine in the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve.”

“The Mexican Environmental Law Center (Cemda) reported that, according to a communiqué from the Canadian company Vista Gold, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the federal agency rejected the application as it deemed the information insufficient in order to certify that the mine would not cause erosion or an impact on biodiversity,” the newspaper stated.

“Interviewed by El Universal, Agustín Bravo Gaxiola, an attorney with Cemda Northwest, said that the majority of the claims in the company’s technical justificative study ‘lacked support.’  He noted that the investors must certify they are the property owners, or that they have a concession for the area.  The permits they have are for temporary occupation, he emphasized, [and] not for operations on national properties as are most of the lands that they want to exploit, and that were previously designated for preservation by the National Protected Areas Commission (Conanp).”

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— Barnard Thompson, MexiData.info

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Todos Santos Film Festival

Todos Santos Film Festival – 7th Annual

Film transports us to unknown territories andchallenges us with eclectic and provocative ideas. Film, with its light, illuminates us. - Sylvia Perel, Founder Director

For the past 6 years, Todos Santos has held an event of growing acclaim, the Todos Santos Film Festival. Last year a documentary was screened highlighting the nearly timeless lifestyle of the rancheros still living in the local mountains. In fact, many of the featured stars joined the premier to a standing ovation. This year should be just as exciting as the Todos Santos Film Festival brings to Todos Santos and La Paz Latin American cinematography of great artistic and educational merit, while celebrating local and national Mexican film culture. This year the festival offers a selection of the best and most recent fiction, documentary and short films from Latin America and Mexico.

The Todos Santos Film SFF promotes youth education through film and supports women in film while avoiding stereotypes and violence as entertainment. It also supports the protection of the environment and the fight against domestic violence. Film transports us to unknown territories and challenges us with eclectic and provocative ideas. Film, with its light, illuminates us.

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Todos Santos Water is Worth More than Gold to Its Citizens

Agua Vale Mas Que Oro

The following is an email summarizing the great progress made by denizens of Todos Santos, Cabo, La Paz and others by coming together in our opposition to the proposed open pit gold mine in the local mountains. A notoriously dirty industry. This letter is reprinted in its entirety with the permission of Elena Morena. While this undoubtedly this is the first of many battles, congratulations to everyone involved and thank you, thank you sincerely for all your efforts. You are all of our heroes on the ground.

“At the urging of Congresswoman Esthela Ponce Beltran, last Wednesday Governor Narciso Agundez Montaño finally agreed to meet with representatives of Agua Vale Mas Que Oro.  During the meeting the group was able to fully express the concerns of the Todos Santos community and present the Governor with petitions that demonstrate wide opposition to the Paredones Amarillos mining project. Scientists also attended the meeting from the University Autonoma of Baja California Sur and CIBNOR, as well as representatives from SEMARNAT and aids to Congresswoman Ponce. At the end of the two-hour meeting the Governor announced that he would vote against the change of zoning in the Sierra de la Laguna Reserve that would permit mining.  He also made a formal administrative request that SEMARNAT suspend permits allowing the company to initiate mining and that federal agencies formally extend the limits of the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere reserve. Yesterday Congresswoman Esthela Ponce introduced federal legislation to cancel the mining permits for the Paredones Amarillos mine, the Governor says he will support the legislation.  Governor Agundez stressed the importance of developing sustainable projects in the mountain communities that will offer employment to the many families living in the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere.

The Governor’s announcement follows an intense week of protests and anti mining activities in Todos Santos, La Paz and Los Cabos.  Our local Congresswoman Ady Nunez Abin introduced a resolution in the state congress opposing the mine and Municipal President Rosa Delia Cota Montaño made public statements in opposition to the Paredones Amarillos project.  Senator Josephina Cota Cota on the federal level is also applying pressure.

The Governor’s public opposition to the project is an enormous milestone and a tribute  to what we can accomplish as a community when we come together in common purpose.  Nevertheless, we are also keenly aware that the mining company will continue to fight to open the mine and we know that there are other mining interests developing in the San Antonio – Las Planes area.   Agua Vale Mas Que Oro and the Todos Santos and Pescadero communities are united in our determination to stop any projects that threaten our water, our health and the unique quality of life that brings so many people to Baja California Sur.   If we destroy our precious natural resources we compromise the very qualities that make our state so special.

A congratulations to our friends at Niparaja and all the other NGOs and individuals who have helped in this campaign.  We have certainly come a long way…together!”

Un abrazo fuerte…

Elena Moreno

Agua Vale Mas Que Oro

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Todos Santos Art Festival 2010

Thirteenth 13th Annual XIII Todos Santos Arts Festival – January 30, 2010 to February 6, 2010

Indisputably the festival of Todos Santos that captures the imagination of the most locals and tourists alike in Todos Santos has taken place each year since 1997 at the end of January or early February. It is then Todos Santos hosts its art festival. This year, in 2010, the festival starts Saturday January 30 and ends on the following Saturday, February 6th, 2010.

Workshops and education such as teaching latin music and folk dancing is offered along side displays by regional artists and performances, recitals and readings by musicians, writers and filmmakers in several venues all a short stroll from the central plaza.

While the crowd continues to grow each year and is not representative of the small artist escape, it’s a great time to get to know Todos Santos. While not the primary draw, there’s also a chance to purchase furniture, weavings, pottery, delicacies of the gastronomical delicacies, including local libations made from age old recipes. It’s also an opportunity for local non-profits to raise attention to their causes, such as turtle conservation, the fragile dunes of Todos,and presumably the prospect of a local gold mine that has many citizens concerned.

If you are thinking of visiting Todos Santos during the art festival, you should secure your accommodations early this is high season. It can sometimes be difficult to find availability. There’s still an opportunity to rent a luxuriously furnished villa at www.CalyCanto.com.

TODOS SANTOS ART FESTIVAL DAY-BY-DAY

The festival will feature two permanent exhibitions throughout the week, the Fourth Biennial art exhibition by denizen paintings by Carlos Olachea Painting and a photo exhibit of Giants of the Bay of La Paz, the whale shark, both at the Cultural Center of Professor Néstor Martínez Agúndez from 10am to 6pm each day.

Each day there will also be an exhibition and sale of local craftsmanship near the Hotel California, in front of the Nuestra Señora del Pilar Church.

Our favorite, the Grupo Tortuguero de Todos Santos will present an exhibition on the protection and conservation of sea turtles, on Saturday January 30, at 10am in the public square in front of the Church. The program will continue with a book fair in front of the theatre Manuel Marquez Leon, which will remain open until 6 pm. Both activities will continue until Sunday 31.

At 1pm on Saturday , January 30, watch Ballet Folklorico by the Municipal Department of Culture of La Paz. The dancers will perform a show in the public square.

The official opening of the Festival will be held at 8pm, with the presence of various authorities and the organizing committee until they hand off the festivities to the live band Cantares del Valle from Colombia.

On Sunday, January 31 in the public square, from 12:30 pm, the University of Baja California Sur will present a musical program along side their Polynesian Dance Group, followed by Bios chamber music, ending at 8pm, with the group of Latin American music, Sac-Be.

The festival will continue on Monda, february 1, at 10 am, with the presentation of the documentary film and, at noon, the Folkloric Ballet will perform several pieces in the public square, along with a music and dance performed by differentlocals, ending at 8pm with the participation of the theater group at the Cultural Center.

On Tuesday February 2, at 9 am, there will be a children’s performance, by the kindergarten of Todos Santos and Pescadero, at the Los Pinos Park amphitheater. This continues with the screening of the film Transamerica en la Sala at 10 am. At night, the academy willinterpret a Polynesian dance performance in the public square.

On Wednesday, February 3, at 9:30 pm, the theater group will perform the work “The Call of the Sierra” in the Cultural Center. The international film series will continue at 10 am, with “The Zookeeper.” At 5 pm, the Association of Writers in Baja California Sur will meet in the Cultural Center. The day ends with a classical guitar recital performed by the soloists Mario Charles, William and Jesús Avilés Gallo, in front of the church.

On February 2 and 3, a workshop will be offered to promote reading at the secondary level, at the Cultural Center from 4-5pm, which will be taught by Edna Aponte. At the same time and place is a painting workshop for children in fifth and sixth grade by Ramón Castillo Domínguez.

From February 2 to 5th workshops on pre-Hispanic traditions will be offered under the instruction of Veronica Carlos Martinez, in which students in the group Meliton Albáñez School will be trained in the development of musical instruments and costumes as well as the implementation of pre-Hispanic dances.

On Thursday, February 4th, there’s a screening of the British film Wonder Boys, at 10 am, leading to an 11:30 conversation with writer Ali Victor Torres. The theater group will perform an award winning play at 8pm at the Cultural Center.

The International Film cycle continues on Friday, February 5, at 10 am, with screenings of the film “Illuminated Spanish” . At 6pm, the book “The Life and Work of Fernando Jordan Juarez” written by José Luis Aguayo, again, at the Cultural Center  will be presented with a commentary by Leonardo Reyes Silva and Ruben Rivera. At 7pm, in the public square, a music and dance group, Ometeotl,will perform a dance that is a pre-hispanic ritual with the participation rate of children in the community, concluding at 8pm with a Limanya percussion performance with the show by a group African music and dance combined with circus disciplines.

On Saturday, February 6, at 7pm, the Zodiac troupe will perform two works in the public square, the Red Petticoat and Consultation. A half an hour later a sample taste of Todos Santos cuisine.

The official closing will take place at 8 pm in the Public Square, featuring dance and the folk music of the Colombian group Solomon Valley, highlighting the group’s involvement of Sinaloa.

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