Don't approve license for mining exploitation in "Páramo de Santurbán"
Don't approve license for mining exploitation in "Páramo de Santurbán"
La causa
It seems to us unacceptable that the government of Colombia is taking advantage of our apparent vulnerability due to the COVID 19 pandemic currently afflicting the world, and also misusing the state of emergency to attempt some anti-democratic measures that affect not just the interests and fundamental rights of the community but also the environment, this, with procedures that contradict the rule of law and the constitution.
The imperious demands of certain economic sectors along with the considerations of high rank members of the government, such as, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Alberto Carrasquilla, and the Environment Minister, Mr. Ricardo Lozano, are clearly showing to what extent they don’t care about the life and wellbeing of millions of Colombian citizens. Promoting the approval of an Environmental License only for the benefit of the interests of the mega mining project proposed by the recently created mining company, MINERIA DE SANTANDER (MINESA S.A.), is a despicable crime, even more, if it is done in the current circumstances, and through illegal and unconstitutional procedures. This license will undoubtedly mean the destruction of the “Páramo de Santurbán”, since the MINESA mining project is located in the vicinity of the same fragile and environmentally protected area.
Regretfully, we have to admit, that traditionally our country has been an example of bad practices in regards to environmental policies, reality that has happened with the complicity of past administrations, national and foreign economic sectors and politicians taking side in the process itself and interfering in mining and energy projects that have serious impacts on the environment and natural resources, causing the destruction of jungles, forests, rivers, wetlands and moors, and by doing so, dramatically disturbing eco-systems that are fundamental for the sustainability of life itself. It is unreasonable that today, when a pandemic is destroying human life at an almost inexorably rate, we are not aware that the virus is the result of the deterioration and destruction of the environment.
Access to drinking water is a fundamental human right and a determining factor for the survival of human life. New errors and oversights in the political decisions of the high government, cannot take away from us the right to existence that more than 2.5 million people in the “Gran Santander” have. For this reason, we make an urgent call to action and appeal to the sense of solidarity that has united us in this pandemic and time of isolation which gives us an opportunity to rethink the world we long for and envision, one that must be based on the fundamental principles of respect and the safeguard of nature, the environment and life.
The “Páramo de Santurbán” is our exceptional passport to the future. It is framed in an ecosystem that emerges in the highest part of our mountains in the province of Soto Norte, (Alto del Viejo, municipality of California), irrigating fields and rural communities, until reaching the perimeter of cities in the area. The idea of trying to establish a delimitation of this natural place, with an arbitrary physical line, is opposed to science, and therefore, incomprehensible. Santurbán is our pure, unique and integral ecosystem. At all levels, it owns important interdependent components that contribute to make it work as a single body and as a prodigious, majestic water factory.
On the other hand, rigorous studies have established that Santurbán is one of the most valuable regions in Colombia. Located between the provinces of Norte de Santander and Santander, with an extension of 142,000 hectares. It is the WATER STAR that supplies precious liquid to the population of various municipalities, including, Cúcuta, El Zulia, Ábrego, Arboledas, Ocaña, Cucutilla, Pamplona, and the municipalities that correspond to the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area, among others. The current system for the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area takes water from the Suratá river, to supply the Bosconia plant, from the Tona river, to supply the La Flora and Morrorico plants, and from the Frío river to supply the Floridablanca plant. The main tributaries of the Suratá river are the Vetas, Charta and Tona rivers.
Mr. President, the current environmental legislation prohibits any mining project located above the intakes of the Bucaramanga water system (aqueduct). The MINESA mega-mining project, with its alleged exploitation by sinkholes, will cause changes in the microclimate and the multiplication of pathogens in pools and areas with stagnant waters.
The presence of uranium, not recognized in real proportions, but identified in studies carried out by government officials, leads us to conclude that exposure to uranium and the consequent emission of radon gas (radioactive gas produced naturally when the uranium in soil and rock breaks down), radio and sulphuric acid will greatly contaminate both surface and underground water sources, not to mention, diseases and serious health problems that will occur in humans. The population that currently inhabits Santurbán, should not be displaced by the mega-mining activity. In addition, it is very important to keep in mind that the concept of damages in perpetuity does not yet exist in Colombian legislation, but in industrialized countries it does, along with the current rules that regulate it.
It is our obligation to warn the government and the general public about the extensive social, economic and environmental damage that the MINESA mega-mining project can cause in the Páramo de Santurbán. For this purpose, we will invoke Bill 99 of 1993, the precautionary principle and backed by the provisions of the Constitution (Articles 2 and 79) regarding the protection of collective rights, which establish: all people have the right to enjoy a healthy environment; the existence of ecological balance and the rational management and use of natural resources to guarantee their sustainable development; the conservation of animal and plant species; the protection of an area of special strategic ecological importance, the unique water basin supplying water for the subsistence of life to different municipalities in the departments of Norte de Santander and Santander, securing safety, economic development and public health.
By altering the existing conditions of the Páramo de Santurbán, the MINESA company, based in the United Arab Emirates, threatens the lives of the people of Santander. It is well known that the lack of clean water not only causes population displacement, but it also affects, in a serious manner, food production, industry and services. The purpose of our call is to ask that decisions on environmental public policy be based on reason and common sense. The gold is ours, nevertheless, the Arab company will take it out of our country, without any compensation for the irreparable damage caused, in perpetuity, by water pollution and the destruction of an ecosystem.
It is well known to all of us, that the royalties offered to the region in exchange for the mining exploitation will never compensate the value of the lives of millions of people. The tax policy of your government, with unacceptable treatments that only privilege the mining multinational companies and the very rich people of this country, has only served to widen inequality and promote misery and abandonment in the mining areas.
Our pressing request to the national government is that, in accordance with the Law and the public interest, the ANLA (Agencia Nacional de Licencias Ambientales) must consider the application of the precautionary principle and must refrain from issuing a license or authorization for the exploration and exploitation of gold to any national or international company in general, and in particular, to the Sociedad Minera de Santander S.A. MINESA, since the approval of such license will have disastrous consequences for the Páramo de Santurbán and the departments of Santander and Norte de Santander. Having this in mind and considering the above detailed explanation, it is our demand that any mega mining activity currently taking place, or that is intended to take place, in the Páramo de Santurbán be suspended effective immediately.
Colombia, will be another country tomorrow. A better country. Nature and the environment will be our priority of life, through this fundamental principle, we will find the path that will lead us to the construction of a sustainable, just and equitable society.
MCC Movimiento Cívico Conciencia Ciudadana
http://concienciaciudadana.org/
Find us on facebook:
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La causa
It seems to us unacceptable that the government of Colombia is taking advantage of our apparent vulnerability due to the COVID 19 pandemic currently afflicting the world, and also misusing the state of emergency to attempt some anti-democratic measures that affect not just the interests and fundamental rights of the community but also the environment, this, with procedures that contradict the rule of law and the constitution.
The imperious demands of certain economic sectors along with the considerations of high rank members of the government, such as, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Alberto Carrasquilla, and the Environment Minister, Mr. Ricardo Lozano, are clearly showing to what extent they don’t care about the life and wellbeing of millions of Colombian citizens. Promoting the approval of an Environmental License only for the benefit of the interests of the mega mining project proposed by the recently created mining company, MINERIA DE SANTANDER (MINESA S.A.), is a despicable crime, even more, if it is done in the current circumstances, and through illegal and unconstitutional procedures. This license will undoubtedly mean the destruction of the “Páramo de Santurbán”, since the MINESA mining project is located in the vicinity of the same fragile and environmentally protected area.
Regretfully, we have to admit, that traditionally our country has been an example of bad practices in regards to environmental policies, reality that has happened with the complicity of past administrations, national and foreign economic sectors and politicians taking side in the process itself and interfering in mining and energy projects that have serious impacts on the environment and natural resources, causing the destruction of jungles, forests, rivers, wetlands and moors, and by doing so, dramatically disturbing eco-systems that are fundamental for the sustainability of life itself. It is unreasonable that today, when a pandemic is destroying human life at an almost inexorably rate, we are not aware that the virus is the result of the deterioration and destruction of the environment.
Access to drinking water is a fundamental human right and a determining factor for the survival of human life. New errors and oversights in the political decisions of the high government, cannot take away from us the right to existence that more than 2.5 million people in the “Gran Santander” have. For this reason, we make an urgent call to action and appeal to the sense of solidarity that has united us in this pandemic and time of isolation which gives us an opportunity to rethink the world we long for and envision, one that must be based on the fundamental principles of respect and the safeguard of nature, the environment and life.
The “Páramo de Santurbán” is our exceptional passport to the future. It is framed in an ecosystem that emerges in the highest part of our mountains in the province of Soto Norte, (Alto del Viejo, municipality of California), irrigating fields and rural communities, until reaching the perimeter of cities in the area. The idea of trying to establish a delimitation of this natural place, with an arbitrary physical line, is opposed to science, and therefore, incomprehensible. Santurbán is our pure, unique and integral ecosystem. At all levels, it owns important interdependent components that contribute to make it work as a single body and as a prodigious, majestic water factory.
On the other hand, rigorous studies have established that Santurbán is one of the most valuable regions in Colombia. Located between the provinces of Norte de Santander and Santander, with an extension of 142,000 hectares. It is the WATER STAR that supplies precious liquid to the population of various municipalities, including, Cúcuta, El Zulia, Ábrego, Arboledas, Ocaña, Cucutilla, Pamplona, and the municipalities that correspond to the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area, among others. The current system for the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area takes water from the Suratá river, to supply the Bosconia plant, from the Tona river, to supply the La Flora and Morrorico plants, and from the Frío river to supply the Floridablanca plant. The main tributaries of the Suratá river are the Vetas, Charta and Tona rivers.
Mr. President, the current environmental legislation prohibits any mining project located above the intakes of the Bucaramanga water system (aqueduct). The MINESA mega-mining project, with its alleged exploitation by sinkholes, will cause changes in the microclimate and the multiplication of pathogens in pools and areas with stagnant waters.
The presence of uranium, not recognized in real proportions, but identified in studies carried out by government officials, leads us to conclude that exposure to uranium and the consequent emission of radon gas (radioactive gas produced naturally when the uranium in soil and rock breaks down), radio and sulphuric acid will greatly contaminate both surface and underground water sources, not to mention, diseases and serious health problems that will occur in humans. The population that currently inhabits Santurbán, should not be displaced by the mega-mining activity. In addition, it is very important to keep in mind that the concept of damages in perpetuity does not yet exist in Colombian legislation, but in industrialized countries it does, along with the current rules that regulate it.
It is our obligation to warn the government and the general public about the extensive social, economic and environmental damage that the MINESA mega-mining project can cause in the Páramo de Santurbán. For this purpose, we will invoke Bill 99 of 1993, the precautionary principle and backed by the provisions of the Constitution (Articles 2 and 79) regarding the protection of collective rights, which establish: all people have the right to enjoy a healthy environment; the existence of ecological balance and the rational management and use of natural resources to guarantee their sustainable development; the conservation of animal and plant species; the protection of an area of special strategic ecological importance, the unique water basin supplying water for the subsistence of life to different municipalities in the departments of Norte de Santander and Santander, securing safety, economic development and public health.
By altering the existing conditions of the Páramo de Santurbán, the MINESA company, based in the United Arab Emirates, threatens the lives of the people of Santander. It is well known that the lack of clean water not only causes population displacement, but it also affects, in a serious manner, food production, industry and services. The purpose of our call is to ask that decisions on environmental public policy be based on reason and common sense. The gold is ours, nevertheless, the Arab company will take it out of our country, without any compensation for the irreparable damage caused, in perpetuity, by water pollution and the destruction of an ecosystem.
It is well known to all of us, that the royalties offered to the region in exchange for the mining exploitation will never compensate the value of the lives of millions of people. The tax policy of your government, with unacceptable treatments that only privilege the mining multinational companies and the very rich people of this country, has only served to widen inequality and promote misery and abandonment in the mining areas.
Our pressing request to the national government is that, in accordance with the Law and the public interest, the ANLA (Agencia Nacional de Licencias Ambientales) must consider the application of the precautionary principle and must refrain from issuing a license or authorization for the exploration and exploitation of gold to any national or international company in general, and in particular, to the Sociedad Minera de Santander S.A. MINESA, since the approval of such license will have disastrous consequences for the Páramo de Santurbán and the departments of Santander and Norte de Santander. Having this in mind and considering the above detailed explanation, it is our demand that any mega mining activity currently taking place, or that is intended to take place, in the Páramo de Santurbán be suspended effective immediately.
Colombia, will be another country tomorrow. A better country. Nature and the environment will be our priority of life, through this fundamental principle, we will find the path that will lead us to the construction of a sustainable, just and equitable society.
MCC Movimiento Cívico Conciencia Ciudadana
http://concienciaciudadana.org/
Find us on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Mov.CivicoConcienciaCiudadana/
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/mcc_conciencia - @mcc_conciencia
Suscribe to our Youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/mccconciencia
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Petición creada en 13 de mayo de 2020