Conclusions from Maicao Forum

During the months of June and July of 2012 several forums discussing the effects of large-scale mining in La Guajira and Colombia took place in different municipalities of La Guajira. This document includes some brief conclusions of the forum that took place in the city of Maicao.


The Forum “Impacts of coal large-scale mining in La Guajira and the Colombian Nation,” which took place in La Universidad de La Guajira (Maicao campus) was attended by more than 500 people, including Wayuu indigenous people, students, workers, professionals, politicians, and the civic and social sectors of Maicao and its surroundings. The attendants, as it has been the case in previous forums, stated a sonorous NO to the “mining locomotive”, the project of the change of the course of the Rancheria River by El Cerrejón , the impacts of the Canaverales Spring, and the prospects of CCX to build a railway across the territory.
The presenters exposed the different effects that his large-scale coal mining has brought to La Guajira, such as the collapse of the productive apparatus to impose extractive mining, the deep environmental damages (destruction of creeks, rivers, forests, etc), and the social and cultural impacts brought by the displacement of large human populations (Tabaco, Roche, Patilla, Barrancos, Las Casitas, etc). The forum presented as conclusions how the mining business in Colombia is supported by a set of politics framed as “mining locomotive” designed to benefit the interests of multinational corporations.
If Cerrejon does change the course of the Rancheria River, it will destroy the aquifers that provide water to the river and to the populations of Albania, Maicao, Manaure, y Riohacha. It will also displace or destroy the native flora and fauna near and in the river, as it increases the degree of contamination of the main source of water of the department. In addition to this, it is possible that the river will dry out downstream, making the mangroves disappear. This is exhacerbated by the likely increase of 5 degrees in the next 30-40 years in La Guajira and the desertification that may reach La Sierra Nevada in the department of Cesar.
To make this situation worse, the open-pit coal exploitation planned by CCX will have significant negative impacts to the Canaverales spring, and even its possible disappearance. Similarly, the contruction of the railway, more than 150 kms long expanding from San Juan del Cesar to Dibulla, will originate once again a segmentation and division in the department. This will be accompanied by more contamination and displacement of people and the fauna living in the zone of influence of the railway and the mining port.
Finally, we make a call to the people of Maicao, and La Guajira in general, to keep strengthening the Comite Civico de la Guajira in Defense of the Rancheria River; an organization that coordinates the different fights and struggles of people against the large-scale mining in the La Guajira. Furthermore, we invite everyone to join the Great March/Carnaval that will take place in Riohacha on August 1st to defend the Water and Life and state a profound “NO” to the change of the course of the Rancheria River, the impacts of the Canaverales Spring, and the new regime of Royalties. As a conclusion, we say “NO” to the social licenses for the expansion mining projects in La Guajira.
Affiliated organizations:

UNIVERSIDAD DE LA GUAJIRA

SINTRACARBON.

CENTRO DE ESTUDIOS DEL CARBÓN

RECLAME GUAJIRA

AACIWASUG

ORGANIZACIÓN DE MUJERES WAYUU

ASORANCHERIA

FEDERACIÓN DE IMPORTADORES DE LICORES FIMDECOL

POLO DEMOCRATICO ALTERNATIVO

PARTIDO LIBERAL

POLO DEMOCRATICO ALTERNATIVO

PARTIDO LIBERAL

PERSONERIA DE MAICAO.

ASOCIACION NACIONAL DE USUARIOS CAMPESINOS DE MAICAO

INSTITUCIONES EDUCATIVAS DEL MUNICIPIO DE MAICAO

ASOCIACIONES DE JUNTAS DE ACCIONES COMUNALES DE MAICAO

ARTICULACION SENA INSTITUCION EDUCATIVA NUMERO 2 DEL MUNICIPIO DE MAICAO

GRUPO PAINWA  DE LOS MUNICIPIOS DE MAICAO, MANAURE, ALBANIA Y RIOHACHA

ESTUDIANTES DE LOS DIFERENTES PROGRAMAS DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE LA GUAJIRA Y REPRESENTANTES DE LOS ESTUDIANTES ANTE EN CONSEJO ACADEMICO.

ASOCIACION ALEJIA WAKUAIPA