Tintaya Copper Mine
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COOPERACCIóN: CONSOLIDATING ACTION FOR DEVELOPMENT
Any country like Peru that depends on natural resources for economic development has to strike a balance between making money from mines and other industries, and protecting the environment. So when impoverished communities that depend on the natural world for their livelihood come into conflict with industries like mining, people need help and training to learn how best to approach a solution to the problems they face, which can include pollution, health problems from environmental contamination, or loss of income.
To support these communities, Oxfam America works in partnership with CooperAcción, a Peruvian organization established in 1997 that assists local communities in the protection of the environment. CooperAcción trains people how to monitor the environment, and document the damage being done. By supporting communities' environmental research needs, CooperAcción helps them to be more precise about their grievances, and build a stronger case for compensation. The organization also provides legal assistance and generally helps communities to project a stronger, more unified posture that demands respect from mining companies in negotiations.
In the area near the Tintaya Copper Mine in Espinar, CooperAcción is assisting communities affected by the contentious history of lands acquisition by the mine and subsequent human rights abuses perpetrated against community members. CooperAcción is collaborating with the organization CORECAMI-Cusco to help the communities affected by the mine to improve their capacity to advocate for themselves, provides legal accompaniment, and conducts environmental research. This is helping the communities to demonstrate a high degree of social and environmental vigilance, which encourages the company to respect the communities' social, economic and cultural rights. Strengthening these peasant leaders and their organizations helps them be more effective in the dialogue with BHP Billiton in Tintaya (owner of the copper mine), and hopefully achieve a fair agreement.