Mining, social conflict and alternatives in Peru and Colombia

Large-scale mining projects are strongly backed by the Colombian and Peruvian state as a source of revenue and jobs. However, they have a long record of damaging social and environmental impacts. They harm people’s health and disrupt food production. They contribute to biodiversity loss and pollute water sources. Local communities are frequently displaced, repressed and criminalised for protesting against these projects, triggered by the lack of effective channels of social participation into decisions affecting their livelihoods.