Conference & Discussion
Resistance to mining
“Human Rights, Canadian Mining and Free Trade”
Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. / le mardi 15 février, 19h à 21h
Café Alternatif, basement Pavillon Simard (SMD), University of Ottawa
550 Cumberland St., Ottawa
Guest speakers / Conférencières invitées: Sakura Saunders and / et Alicio Uribe
Public lecture presented in English and Spanish. Translation will be available. A short documentary film will be presented to facilitate the discussion / Cette conférence aura lieu en anglais. Un documentaire sera présenté afin de faciliter la discussion.
Colombia is experiencing the synchronized action of powerful paramilitary and transnational groups co-opting the country’s political, legislative, military and economic powers. The alliance has modified the constitution and introduced a new legislative package which includes laws governing forestry, water, deserts, uplands and rural lands, royalty transfers and labor, and has weakened the mining code to ensure a tighter control of the country’s resources and population for the benefit of transnational companies and local elite monopolies. The new laws have negatively affected most Colombians but mainly those of Indigenous and African ancestry. How are the affected communities organizing to resist the new conquerors? This panel invites you to debate the foregoing topics.
Alirio Uribe is a Colombian human rights lawyer awarded with the 2003 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders while working with the human rights organization Jose Alvear Restrepo Lawyer’s Collective. Alirio received the award for his dedication to working for the victims of human rights violations in Colombia despite the numerous death threats he has received.
Sakura Saunders is the editor and co-founder of ProtestBarrick.net, an all-volunteer online network of groups researching and organizing around mining issues, particularly involving Barrick Gold. Every year, Sakura organizes a tour of impacted communities in Canada, to learn from each other’s campaigns as well as bring their stories to Barrick’s shareholders, Parliament, the public and the United Nations. Sakura is also very involved in the Munk OUT of UofT campaign that is focused on ending CEO Peter Munk's influence at the University of Toronto.
This public lecture is free and open to the public. It is not required to register. For further details, please contact Mining Justice Minière – Ottawa – mjm.ottawa@gmail.com. Parking is available on and around campus.
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