Victory! Marlin Gold Mine to Close in Guatemala

After years of struggle, protest, and advocacy, indigenous communities in Guatemala and their allies around the world have succeeded in closing the Marlin gold mine in San Miguel Ixtahuacán, Guatemala. The mine, operated by the Canadian firm Goldcorp, has polluted rivers, destroyed sacred mountains, poisoned the people who live around it, and divided their communities. In response, the communities impacted by the mine protested, organized popular consultations to demonstrate their opposition to mining, and filed complaints with international agencies.

Their dedication paid off. After rulings against the mine by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the International Labor Organization, and the UN Commission on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the government of Guatemala has responded by suspending the mine's permit.

You can read more about the history of this struggle on Upside Down World