Ascendant's Mining Days in Ecuador May Be Numbered

In addition, the recent announcement that Luis Macas, president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) will run for president of Ecuador could spell more trouble for U.S. and multinational corporate interests in the country. The indigenous leader, like Bolivia’s Evo Morales, opposes free trade deals and other types of foreign investments that would not benefit the public

The next elections here, in Peru, and Nicaragua will all have potential ALBA members. Down with MNC’s!

Several hundred mining opponents, many carrying colorful banners, marched into the town square of Garcia Moreno, Ecuador on May 20 for a region-wide assembly concerning the mining activities of Canada’s Ascendant Copper Corporation.

A declaration signed by all of the Parish presidents of the Intag region was read to the crowd, which Ecuador’s daily newspaper, El Norte estimated was close to 1,000 people. The declaration demanded that the company depart immediately. Polibio Perez, the president of the council of communities, said the company would have until June 4 to leave.

The majority of speakers at the four-hour event denounced the company and the environmental destruction the proposed mine would bring. Chants of “the people united will never be defeated” were repeated after each anti-mining speaker. Only two people spoke in favor of the mine.

ImageGary Davis, President and CEO of Ascendant, downplayed the significance of the event. He said that according to three independent journalists (he was unable to recall their names) and company personnel the numbers didn’t exceed 180 people – a huge disparity from Upside Down World, El Norte, and local police estimates.

Edmundo Lucero, the president of Junin, has been baffled by Davis’ refusal to recognize the magnitude…

Posted by ByAnyMeans
Lost and very much alone in the heart of the empire.

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