Why care about oil, gas, and mining?
Too often, poor communities have no say in the extraction of resources from their land and receive little information about these projects.
What we’re doing
Oxfam’s Right to Know Right to Decide campaign challenges international oil, gas, and mining companies to respect a community’s right to decide if or how they want oil, gas, and mining development to take place in their community, and their right to know about the impacts and benefits of these projects.
What's new
Stories & video
Oxfam very concerned about violent acts in Guatemala
Join Oxfam in demanding that the Guatemalan government protect the lives and rights of all its citizens.
What are big oil companies hiding?
A representative of a prominent human rights and environmental organization in Ghana calls on the American Petroleum Institute to drop its court case to block the payment transparency provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act.
Citizens of polluted city in Peru take their case to US Congress.
A government decision could mean good news for families in Peru's most polluted town, and for their supporters here in the US. But the struggle to clean up La Oroya is far from over.
American-owned Doe Run polluted this small mountain community for more than a decade. Now citizens are joining with Oxfam to hold the company accountable.
Giving their lives to stop a gold mine in El Salvador
Award-winning environmental leader Francisco Pineda on the fight to protect his country's land and water--and the high price of victory.
Guatemala: Heart of our Mother Earth
Indigenous Maya people in western Guatemala are calling on the government to suspend operations at the Marlin Mine, and investigate violent human rights violations and environmental damage.
Marlin Mine: Violence and pollution lead to call for suspension
Concerns about human rights violations and the environment in Guatemala lead indigenous communities to seek a suspension of mine operations in western highlands.
Across Ghana, new leaders are emerging to voice concerns about the environment and basic justice.
Oxfam’s partner in Ghana, Wacam, is building a network of activists – many of them women – and helping them learn technical as well as leadership skills.
In Ghana, a young woman learns to lead in a village flooded by water draining from an underground mine shaft.
Spirit of the Forest - Oxfam on the ground in Cambodia
In Cambodia, Chanthy Dam is helping indigenous communities defend their rights— despite serious personal risks.
Without effective prior consultation mechanisms, human rights violation continue in the Andean region.
Sabodala: Poverty in a land of gold
In Senegal, a gold mine has displaced farmers from their fields, leaving hundreds without jobs or a decent way to make a living. Oxfam America's partner is helping farmers claim compensation and find alternative income sources.
Inadvertent destruction of an oil palm tree leads to highest compensation ever.
Victory for oil, mining affected communities
Oxfam America thanks the 20,000 supporters who pushed Congress to pass US legislation requiring revenue transparency in the oil,gas, and mining industries.
In Peru, indigenous people are awaiting legislation that would uphold their rights—rights to be consulted about oil, gas, mining, and other economic development projects on their lands.
Oxfam America report launch: People, power, and pipelines
In June, Oxfam launched People, power and pipelines. The report examines oil and mining development in Peru and the use of government revenues generated by the Camisea gas project.
The Camisea Gas Project is bringing significant changes to the Urubamba region. Despite contributing millions to Peru's government, local leaders say the project has done little to change rates of poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition.
Meet Eneyda, a young Machiguenga woman navigating the confusing waters connecting her remote indigenous community, and the environmental threats and economic opportunities presented by the Camisea gas project.
Cambodia: Working to avoid the resource curse
Cambodians are enthusiastic about the discovery of oil, gas, and minerals, but wary of possible governance and transparency issues.
High in the cloud forest of Piura, local communities understand the importance of the area's water and medicinal plants. They warn the proposed Rio Blanco copper mine would be catastrophic to the fragile environment here.
In northern Peru, small-scale farmers can earn more by growing organic products. They say the rush to mine for copper in the mountains above their farms would contaminate the region and put their futures at risk.
In Peru, local governments, community leaders, and farmers say the proposed Rio Blanco Copper Mine would be devastating to local communities. Where drinking water is scarce, pollution could lead to an environmental disaster.
In 2005, thousands of unarmed Peruvians peacefully protested against the Rio Blanco Copper Mine. Cleofé Neyra describes how she and 27 others were tortured and their struggle to defend their land and human rights.
Standing at the pump, watching the numbers tick away, do you ever wonder where the money goes? People on the other end of the pipeline are wondering too.
New potential for conflict in Peru’s Amazon
Madre de Dios could be next flashpoint in ongoing confrontation between indigenous communities and foreign oil, gas, and mining companies.
The struggle continues in Ghana
Members of a farmers’ group continue their long struggle to claim their rights in court, but one farmer loses everything in a surprise legal move.
"Africa's future is up to Africans"
President Obama's first speech in sub-Saharan Africa hits important points on good governance, responsible use of natural resources, trade, and defeating poverty.
From Oxfam America partner Publish What You Pay, calling for transparency in the oil, gas and mining industries and asking Congress to introduce the Extractive Industries Transparency Disclosure Act.
Chile: Struggling for the right to decide
Farmers use the law to defend their water and their rights—but can't block a massive tailings dam.
President Saca speaks out against mining in El Salvador
El Salvador's President Elias Antonio Saca announced that his government would not give out any mining permits in El Salvador.
Ghana's president promises disclosure of oil contracts
Mills takes step toward greater transparency, regulation.
Rio Blanco: Massive copper project proposed for Cloud Forest
Controversy and torture allegations in northern Peru as farmers resist mining in an environmentally sensitive area.
Is mining right for Central America?
Farmers and indigenous people debate the costs and benefits of mining.
Conflict surrounds expansion of Peru gold mine
Local communities turn to legal measures to protect land, water.
Photos, panel discussion demonstrate impact of oil extraction on Nigeria and other African nations
Oxfam expert explains that oil revenues do not always translate into money to fight poverty.
Ghana discovers oil, and has an opportunity to use it for development—if it can avoid the usual traps of new oil wealth in developing countries.
Student activists hear the voices behind the issues
Oxfam America CHANGE Leaders learn how US legislation can help communities affected by oil, gas, and mining.
Resource revenues elusive in Peru
Money from mines and pipelines is hard to track, and not obviously helping the poorest people in the country.
Cocoa farmers threatened by gold mine
Farmers in a small town seem more interested in keeping their farms than selling out—but the struggle to protect their land will be a hard one.
Land and heritage at risk in Ghana
A proposal to mine in a forest reserve raises concerns about the environment and the future of a nearby farming community.
An indigenous Q'eq'chi community in Guatemala struggles to defend its agricultural land.
Defending the people, and Lake Izabal
Despite threats to her life, Eloyda Mejía raises awareness about industrial mining near a beautiful lake in eastern Guatemala.
Andrea Perera explores how, for those living on gold deposits in Ghana, free, prior, and informed consent means the right to define the terms of development for their own communities.
In Texistepeque, El Salvador, farmers question wisdom of relying on mining
Concerns about water and land lead to a debate about the role of mining in long-term economic development.
Peruvian village sees pollution, few benefits from gas pipeline project
Gas spills and lack of attention to community development raise questions in the forest villages of indigenous people affected by the Camisea pipeline.
In Prestea, Ghana, gold mine expansion threatens water sources
Communities are requesting a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of a new mining project and for their right to free, prior, and informed consent regarding new ones.
The struggle of Carrie and Mary Dann, two Western Shoshone elders, to address the threat mining development poses to the sacred and environmentally sensitive lands of Crescent Valley, Nevada.
Caught on the wrong side of a gold boom
Farmers in Ghana talk candidly about the impact of gold mining on their communities and how to hold mining companies and government accountable.
Joanna Manu: community activist in Ghana
Joanna Manu learns how to defend her rights and stands firm in protecting the environment in her community.
Demolished Ghanaian village wins court decision
Mining company gets bill for houses, school destroyed in 1997.
Environmental activists receive death threats
In Guatemala, a deep-rooted culture of violence limits debate about mining and the environment.
What is the likely environmental impact of Minera Majaz's proposed copper mine?
Dead fish and acid pollution point to cyanide in stream
Farmers in Ghana affected by chemical spill call on government to investigate and punish polluters.
Río Blanco: history of a mismatch in Peru
Here is a summary of the facts that have marked the relationship between the mining company and the local communities.
A new leader of concerned farmers in rural Ghana
Emilia Amoateng helps defend the rights of fellow villagers, presses a legal case for compensation for their lost farms.
For resettled community, not all are satisfied with new home
New clinic doesn't quite make up for lost lands, higher expenses for displaced farmers.
Oxfam America partner Dr. Juan Almendares receives humanitarian award
"My greatest inspiration was my mother...When I graduated from the university, I had three callings: To work on behalf of the poor, to educate, and to dedicate myself to science."
Cambodia sees Oxfam as a partner in petroleum lawmaking process
Public forum on extractive industries attracts attention of national government.
New attention on ChevronTexaco case
President of Ecuador speaks out on environment as indigenous leaders press for justice at shareholder meeting.
Oxfam preps for oil and mining's new focus
American, Chinese, and Australian companies look to Cambodia.
Rodolfo Pocop: an indigenous perspective on mining in Guatemala
New economic realities in Central America reveal strong concerns about the future of Mayan culture.
Humberto Piaguaje is the representative of the Secoya people to the Assembly of Delegates of Communities Affected by Texaco.
Pablo Fajardo is the Amazon Defense Front's legal coordinator for the case against Texaco.
Oxfam in the news
New U.S. Law Means More Transparency for Ghana
Voice of America, Nov 30, 2012 - Ian Gary, Senior Policy Manager for Oxfam America, weighs in on new U.S. law promoting transparency and accountability
Tools for supporters
How to make a difference on campus
Aug 03, 2012 - Students, are you ready to take action? Find tips for starting and running an Oxfam Club at your high school or university, ideas for campus events, and much more.
Research & reports
Sep 26, 2012 - Oil, Gas and Mining Company Public Positions on Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)
Oil, Gas, and Mining in-depth
These publications form the foundation of the campaign
A Historical Look at Mining and Economic Development
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