Margarita opposes mining pollution in Bolivia
Feb 02 2022
3 minutes
In the region around Oruro, there are many mining companies active. Mining causes water pollution and water scarcity. The consequences for the environment, the health of the population and the food supply are great.
Margarita Aquino Aramayo de Choque
Margarita Aquino is a fervent defender of women's and environmental rights in Bolivia. Mining pollution in the region has a major impact on women's lives. That's why she founded it together with other women National Network of Women in Defense of Mother Earth (RENAMAT - Red Nacional de Mujeres en Defensa de la Madre Tierra) op. She is currently the coordinator of this network. We put Margarita and the struggle of RENAMAT in the spotlight Expo 'On the trail of environmentalists'.
Water pollution and water scarcity
In the region around Oruro, mining companies are looking for zinc, lead, tin, gold and silverThere is a total lack of respect for environmental standards. The mining activities are therefore accompanied by serious environmental damage. Polluted water en chemicals end up in groundwater and watercourses. Mine waste is dumped in the open air. The mining industry also makes extensive use of the available surface water. The water is therefore not only polluted, but there is also serious water scarcity up. That's how it got Poopómeer, once 1340km² in size, completely dried up a few years ago.
All this has serious consequences for the Agriculture in the immediate vicinity and in the downstream area. In some areas it is impossible to grow anything, to do livestock farming or to fish.
Dangerous work in the mines
Furthermore, working in the mines is very dangerous. Social norms are not respected. There is often no inspection of the mine shafts and no control over the use of toxic substances. These substances cause eye irritation and also affect the nervous system and internal organs in the long term. Direct contact with acids and heavy metals and long hours in the sun and dust create health problems and skin diseases.
Women working in mining usually work on an informal basis. They have no health insurance or pension fund. They work mainly outdoors, for example, breaking up discarded stone blocks. Their chances of earning a living income are minimal.
The women of RENAMAT organize the resistance
The women from the region are very much affected by the mining. From different communities they have united in the network RENAMAT (Save Nacional de Mujeres en defensa de la Madre Tierra).
RENAMAT stands up for the rights of nature and complains violence against women On. At the same time the women bring alternatives for the exploitation of natural resources. They base this on the knowledge of their ancestors.
One community is mainly against water pollution and -scarcity, another community against existing and new ones mining projects. Mutual exchange makes them stronger and gives them energy.
Support from Colectivo Casa
Colectivo Casa (Colectivo de coordination de acciones socioambientales) is a small NGO in Bolivia. She focuses on the problems of mining in Oruro en PotosíTo this end, they make the local population aware of their right-wingThey show how they are violated and how they can be enforced.
Colectivo Casa focuses on support and strengthening van female local leaders, with a lot of emphasis on the exchange between the communities and the women themselves. In addition, they guide the leaders in the development and realization of various initiatives, around water supply, food production en income generating activities.
Colectivo Casa was a partner organization of until the end of last year 11.11.11Since the beginning of this year they have started a partnership with Broederlijk Delen.
