Bishops Condemn Turning Panama Into A Mining Country
Date
7/7/2023 11:11:09 PM
(MENAFN- Newsroom Panama)
Bishops who attended the 2023 Episcopal conference sent a
blunt environmental message to the government on Friday, July 7.
During a
press conference, the bishops stated that they have been surprised by the way in which various governments have granted licenses for mining exploration and exploitation in various regions of the country without having carried out "effective consultations with society" and especially with the affected populations.
"The decision to turn Panama into a mining country, according to the opinion of people and organizations knowledgeable in the matter, compromises that future with serious risks for the environment, for the life and health of Panamanians and national sovereignty," indicated.
They recalled that in 2022 the Episcopal Conference together with the Mesoamerican Ecclesial Ecological Network (Reman) expressed their concern about the possible damage that open-pit metal mining could cause to life, health, ecological deterioration, and contamination of the waters.
"Well, above the economic benefits that these projects can bring, we are interested in how the people, the affected populations, and the country, in general, would be left," they indicated.
In the opinion of the bishops, although the process of the contract with Minera Panama was fulfilled, there are "justified disagreements" among the communities, organizations, and environmental leaders who have warned of the harmful effects on the health of people and the environment.
They urged the authorities not to approve more mining exploration and exploitation license concessions until the mining law is reviewed and reformed.
“Mining is a matter of public and priority interest, in which we all have a responsibility, but particularly the authorities in decision-making, considering its impact on future generations and our mother Earth”, they highlighted.
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