By AngretteMarlin Mine is owned and operated by a large Canadian mining corporation called Goldcorp. The corporation was recently accused of releasing waste to the river water creating a severe skin rash in the Maya population in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. In response the corporation has said that they carried out investigations along with the Public Ministry of Guatemala and determined that the river water was not "adversely impacted by the mine operations."
The Canadians were recently presented with pictures taken by a Non-Governmental Organization called Rights in Action. This pictures showed the illness that is affecting Maya people. They asserted that the NGO had no medical evidence that connected the mining with the illness. Since this issue exploded many other things have come to light as the supposedly illegal purchase of the land by the corporation as well as the environmental consequences mining is having in the land. The corporation claims to be in an outstanding, transparent position where they want to help the Maya. However the communication rate of the corporation with Maya surrounding communities is zero. In my opinion with the gross income the gold industry is making($900-$1000 an ounce) even at a time of economic recession, the mining company is not likely to accept any responsibility. The Guatemalan Government in the other hand, which has inflicted a long history of oppression and genocide to it's Maya people is even less eager to do something.
The Canadians were recently presented with pictures taken by a Non-Governmental Organization called Rights in Action. This pictures showed the illness that is affecting Maya people. They asserted that the NGO had no medical evidence that connected the mining with the illness. Since this issue exploded many other things have come to light as the supposedly illegal purchase of the land by the corporation as well as the environmental consequences mining is having in the land. The corporation claims to be in an outstanding, transparent position where they want to help the Maya. However the communication rate of the corporation with Maya surrounding communities is zero. In my opinion with the gross income the gold industry is making($900-$1000 an ounce) even at a time of economic recession, the mining company is not likely to accept any responsibility. The Guatemalan Government in the other hand, which has inflicted a long history of oppression and genocide to it's Maya people is even less eager to do something.
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