This past weekend, 80 Representatives of communities effected by environmental conflicts met in Cobquecura, Chile, for the first of four meetings (noted on the map) to take place by the end of this year.
Summoned by the Action Network for Environmental and Social Justice (RAJAS), the meetings are being held “For the Resistance and Mobilization Against Looting;” all of which are aimed at discussing and organizing a consolidated strategy against the problems they commonly face–namely, those presented by socio-territorial mining projects, hydroelectric, urban and forest plantations and the cellulose industry.
According to a recent communique (posted on Mapuexpress) during the most recent gathering, all the communities shared in the dramatic consequences of, for example, the current forestry model in Chile which is causing a decrease in surface and subterranean water; as well as the effect of the cellulose industry which is directly causing the death of marine ecosystems and is impacting the health and agricultural practices of millions.
For this reason, several of the participants highlighted that all the issues should not be dealt with separately, but rather should be considered a general problem. They also pointed out the importance of connecting all the effected communities…
The next three regional meetings will all take place in the following month. The next one, focusing on Mining and Water is scheduled for November 3 in Vallenar. The third, focusing on Hydroelectric projects, will take place on November 17 in Panguipulli; and the final meeting, where they will discuss urban issues, will take place November 24 in Santiago.
Following these, Rajas will also be holding it’s interregional gathering in Santiago on December 1 and 2, bringing together all members of the Network of the six regions involved (Atacama region, Coquimbo, Metropolitan, del Biobio of Araucanía and Los Rios), to discuss the Interregional agreements made at the earlier events, and thus define the lines of actions and political strategies until next year.
It’s in Spanish, but if you would like more information, you can head over to http://ecoterritorios.blogspot.com