“How communities in El Salvador are organizing to block mining projects”, 4 Mar 17

…Communities and organizations in northern El Salvador continue to organize referendums in an effort to keep their territories free of mining…On the books for years, the mechanism had never been used, but it now plays an important strategic role in the country’s movement against metallic mining. The most recent referendum took place on February 26…in the municipality of Cinquera…The final tally was…98.1 percent of participating registered voters…cast a ballot opposing metallic mining exploration and exploitation…[I]n El Salvador, until 2001, the population basically didn’t know what a metallic mining exploitation process entailed….A process of exchange began with other communities, especially in the Siria Valley in Honduras, and people travelled there to see the results of an extractivist model. They saw the poverty, destruction and social conflicts that was the result of the mining company’s presence…