A Canadian mining giant wants to expand Panama’s largest copper mine,
wreaking havoc on communities for decades to come. But the government is
feeling the heat and temporarily pulled out of the contract.

[ [link removed] ]This is our chance to bury this deadly deal for good!

[ [link removed] ]Aerial of open-pit copper mine Cobre Panamá


[ [link removed] ] Sign the petition 

   
John,

Panama’s largest and dirtiest copper mine is about to be expanded.

The mine’s Canadian operator First Quantum Minerals (FQM) thought it was a
done deal, but after massive protests, Panama’s government has just pulled
out. This is our chance to bury the deal for good! 

FQM wants to build ports and power plants to extract more copper – and the
government is more than keen to cash in the promised extra royalties. But
in reality, the deal would make only FQM richer and more powerful while
continuing to wreak havoc on the environment, water supplies, and local
Indigenous communities, for decades to come.

The people of Panama have taken to the streets, opposing the deal with all
they’ve got – and the government just pulled out to legal-proof the
contract. This is our chance: If we keep up the pressure and make sure the
world notices FQM’s horrific plans, we can stop the deadly deal.

[ [link removed] ]First Quantum Minerals: No expansion or extension of the Cobre Panamá
mine

This deal is a classic tale of modern-day colonialism: Panama’s government
receives a tiny fraction of FQM’s massive profits – all while the mine
will continue damaging communities, forests and water supplies instead of
benefiting the people. Even the Panama Canal, the country’s lifeline, is
at risk – just so big corporations can produce more electrical wirings at
a lower cost.

But a coalition of workers, indigenous communities, and unions in Panama
have taken to the streets and are not backing down: They consider the
contract unconstitutional, due to the lack of environmental and community
impact studies. They are even ready to sue the government for treason
against the Nation!

FQM is hoping that things will calm down and the deal just needs minor
changes, but we won’t let that happen. If we make sure the story gets out
into the world, the mining giant will have to look hard for excuses for
not backing out of this deadly deal.

[ [link removed] ]First Quantum Minerals: No expansion or extension of the Cobre Panamá
mine

Ekō members like you have helped win against giant corporations trying to
destroy Latin America ecosystems. For the last 9 years, more than 200,000
Ekō members have taken action to support Máxima Acuna, an Indigenous
Peruvian farmer, to keep her land safe from the world's second biggest
gold mining company. And because of your support, the mine has yet to be
built and she has kept her land.

We can win against mining companies in Panama too, but only if we take
action now.



[ [link removed] ] Sign the petition 



Thanks for all that you do,
Rosa, Angus, and the team at Ekō


More information:

[ [link removed] ]Protests against mining concession given to Canadian company intensify
in Panama
Peoples Dispatch. 28 September, 2023
[ [link removed] ]Panama to withdraw proposed contract for Canadian miner First Quantum's
unit
Reuters. 03 October, 2023
[ [link removed] ]Panama protests to protect ecosystems and canal against pending mining
deal
Mongabay. 18 September, 2023

 

 

Ekō is a worldwide movement of people like you, working together to hold corporations accountable for their actions and forge a new, sustainable path for our global economy.

Please help keep Ekō strong by chipping in $3. [link removed]