Oil, gas & mining

Many poor countries face a resource curse: while nonrenewable resources can generate significant revenues, countries that depend on them can also suffer from higher rates of corruption, social unrest, and human rights violations.

Oxfam advocates directly with corporations, financial institutions, and governments to ensure respect for the rights of communities. We support new ideas for greater corporate social responsibility; global campaigns to create new human rights and environmental standards; and greater transparency of oil, gas, and mining revenues.

Tell Big Oil Companies: It's Time To Come Clean
More than 1.5 billion people live in countries rich with natural resources like oil and natural gas, but are forced to survive on less than $2 a day. For these people, living near oil and mining companies doesn't mean a share of the wealth – it means environmental damage, loss of land and human rights abuses. Tell oil companies to stop fighting transparency rules – sign the petition today.
Help Peruvians - Hold Doe Run accountable!
Since Doe Run Peru took over the lead smelter in the city of La Oroya, public health has suffered. Tell Congress: stand with the people of Peru – not Doe Run – and hold the company accountable for cleaning up La Oroya and protecting public health.
Suspend the Marlin Mine in Guatemala
It has been more than ten months since the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights ordered the temporary suspension of the Marlin Mine in Guatemala. Right now, Congress is circulating a letter asking the Guatemalan President to suspend operations at the mine. Please ask your legislator to sign onto this important letter.
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Protect Community Rights and Resources Fact Sheet
Over 60 percent of the world's poorest people live in countries rich in natural resources—but they rarely share in the wealth. Too often, poor communities have no say in the extraction of resources from their land and receive little information about these projects.
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The Right of Indigenous Peoples to Prior Consultation: The Situation in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru
This study illustrates the barriers to exercising the right to prior consultation and consent in each of these four countries, and is intended to encourage broad debate.
Ghana's Oil Readiness Report
Civil society groups in Ghana have produced a report on the country’s readiness to deal with the challenges and meet the expectations of joining the league of oil producing nations.
Case Study: Bolivian Government Consultation with the Guaraní Indigenous Peoples of Charagua Norte and Isoso
Proposed hydrocarbons exploration project in San Isidro Block Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Community-based human rights impact assessments: Practical lessons
Report from an international meeting, Canada 2010
Review of Major Mining, Oil, and Gas Company Policies on Free Prior and Informed Consent and Social License
The following document is an attempt to cull publicly available statements concerning community consent by leading oil, gas and mining companies. It is not intended to be exhaustive, but is merely our best effort to compile existing statements by corporations on this issue. In any exercise of this kind, it is almost inevitable that relevant pieces of information will be overlooked. Where that is the case, we welcome feedback from companies or other stakeholders that will supplement the information provided here. We see this as a living document that we will attempt to update on an occasional basis.
People, power, and pipelines
Lessons from Peru in the governance of gas production revenues
Review of IFC Performance Standards and Sustainability Policy
Recommendations from Oxfam International
International Conference on Extractive Industries Contracts
Conference Report
Mining conflicts in Peru: Condition critical
Metals, mining, and sustainable development in Central America
An assessment of benefits and costs
More research
Watching the watchdogs
Evaluating independent expert panels that monitor large-scale oil and gas pipeline projects
Protect Community Rights and Resources Fact Sheet
Over 60 percent of the world's poorest people live in countries rich in natural resources—but they rarely share in the wealth. Too often, poor communities have no say in the extraction of resources from their land and receive little information about these projects.
Fund-raising for Oxfam: Frequently asked questions
Your community-led efforts can provide essential support as Oxfam fights poverty and responds to disasters.
Menu of event ideas
Want to raise awareness about poverty and hunger? Find ideas for events you can host at your school, on campus, in your community, or or in the workplace.
Oxfam America organizing guide
From reaching out to your legislator to making your voice heard in the media, follow these tips to take action on the issues that move you.
Oxfam America House Party guide
Tools for hosting a high-impact event
More tools for activists
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.
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.
The New Pornographers for Oxfam's Gulf Coast Program
The New Pornographers and Oxfam collaborate to bring you their new video for the song "Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk," featuring local residents still reeling from the BP oil spill.
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.
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.
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.
Oil and mining booms and sustainable development
Lessons from Peru for development planning and revenue management at the national and subnational level.
A new generation
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.
Big changes in the Amazon
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.
Can Ghana Beat the ‘Oil Curse’? Countdown to First Oil
On April 26, 2010, Oxfam America hosted a panel discussion on the Ghanaian oil industry, scheduled to begin production later this year.
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La Oroya, Peru: Poisoned town

La Oroya, Peru: Poisoned town

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.

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Giving their lives to stop a gold mine in El Salvador

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.

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Marlin Mine: Violence and pollution lead to call for suspension

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.

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Knowledge is power

Knowledge is power

Across Ghana, new leaders are emerging to voice concerns about the environment and basic justice.

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Leadership from the bottom up

Leadership from the bottom up

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.

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Looking them in the eye

Looking them in the eye

In Ghana, a young woman learns to lead in a village flooded by water draining from an underground mine shaft.

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A new law changes the landscape for Peru's indigenous people

A new law changes the landscape for Peru's indigenous people

Oxfam and partners joined forces to support the consultation law, which gives communities greater decision-making power over their natural resources and economic development.

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Guatemalan human rights and environmental advocates under threat

Guatemalan human rights and environmental advocates under threat

Oxfam calls on government to ensure safety of CALAS officials and investigate origins of death threats.

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Guatemalan government continues to ignore ruling of human rights commission

Guatemalan government continues to ignore ruling of human rights commission

Public events put spotlight on non-compliance with precautionary measures recommendation.

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The right to be consulted

The right to be consulted

Without effective prior consultation mechanisms, human rights violation continue in the Andean region.

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Oil in Ghana: Civil society groups launch country’s readiness report card

Oil in Ghana: Civil society groups launch country’s readiness report card

Civil society groups in Ghana have produced a report on the country’s readiness to deal with the challenges and meet the expectations of joining the league of oil producing nations.

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Oxfam and partners hail Ghana for enacting law on petroleum revenue

Oxfam and partners hail Ghana for enacting law on petroleum revenue

As Ghana joins the league of oil producing nations, Oxfam America and its local partners congratulate the country for putting in place the legal framework for ensuring judicious use of anticipated financial gains.

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Ghana adopts West African mining principles

Ghana adopts West African mining principles

After almost two years of its enactment by West Africa’s regional body, Ghana joins Senegal in adopting the principles on mining in the region.

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Civil society groups in Ghana insist on transparency

Civil society groups in Ghana insist on transparency

Citizen organizations push for accountability in the oil sector.

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ECOWAS sets up committee on mining reforms

ECOWAS sets up committee on mining reforms

Latest step in effort to improve, standardize requirements for oil, gas, and mining in West Africa.

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Some justice for a palm tree

Some justice for a palm tree

Inadvertent destruction of an oil palm tree leads to highest compensation ever.

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Waiting for justice

Waiting for justice

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.

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Chevron shareholders vote for transparency

Chevron shareholders vote for transparency

At Chevron’s annual meeting, shareholders representing approximately 160 million shares voted in favor of a proposal calling for a transparent payment disclosure policy.

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Countdown to oil drilling in Ghana

Countdown to oil drilling in Ghana

As Ghana prepares for a billion-dollar industry, Oxfam convenes the experts to discuss how oil revenues can help, not harm, the people of this West African country.

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Pacific Rim case against the Salvadoran government begins

Pacific Rim case against the Salvadoran government begins

Civil society group criticizes handling of dispute between mining company Pacific Rim and the Salvadoran government, says environmental issues and the rights of the local communities are overlooked.

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