Posts Categorized: Mining

Corruption Challenges Continue Despite New Mining Code in DR Congo

By Elie Kadima | POM, Democratic Republic of Congo After twelve years of implementing the 2002 Mining Code in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the problem of community poverty in mining zones had not been resolved. This was due to the absence of provisions in the code to boost community development. POM (Platform of Civil… Read more »

Strengthening the Kin-dom in Perú

By Milushka Rojas | Coordinator, Red Uniendo Manos Perú Perú is a country blessed by its natural riches in which we continue to learn to value cultural, geographic, economic, and political diversity. I remember my parents were always questioning and reflecting on the problems of Perú. In 2000, when our country was experiencing the end… Read more »

Major Victory Against Mining Toxins in Peru

By Jed Koball | Mission Co-worker, Peru Inside the government palace, sitting at the opposite end of the conference table from Prime Minister Mirtha Vasquez, Yolanda Zurita, representing communities affected by toxic metal poisoning in Peru, posed the question, ‘Why not ease our suffering by implementing our dream – a comprehensive and integrated health care… Read more »

Celebrating the Life of Jean Marie Kabanga

Joining Hands mourns the loss of a friend and a powerful advocate for change in Congo By Valery Nodem | Presbyterian Hunger Program Staff   We are very saddened about the passing of our friend, colleague, and partner Jean Marie Kabanga. Jean Marie was the coordinator of the Platform of Organizations of Civil Society Intervening… Read more »

Systemic change with a big pay off

Advocacy to change the mining code in the DRC leads to community development By Valery Nodem | Presbyterian Hunger Program Despite being one of the world’s richest countries in natural resources, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is among the world’s poorest countries. This contradiction, fueled by endemic corruption and a dysfunctional public administration, can feel… Read more »

The Eyesores that Give us Sight

Sojourning with Joining Hands towards Global Solidarity By Jed Koball | Mission Co-worker Peru In a shanty town on the edge of Manila, families gathered their belongings as bulldozers waited on the fringes ready to raze their homes. Preparing to receive world leaders for a gathering of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the government of… Read more »

Partners in La Oroya Join Presidential Commission on Environmental Health

By Jed Koball | Mission Co-worker Peru In the midst of a pandemic lockdown in Peru, Joining Hands partners continued their advocacy work online and gained a significant victory in the fight for environmental health justice in La Oroya. By Supreme Decree 034-2020 PCM, the Prime Minister of Peru declared in July the formation of… Read more »

Advocacy for Mining Wealth to Benefit All

Joining Hand Congo works for community development in mining zones By Jean Marie Kabanga | POM, Joining Hands Democratic Republic of Congo Despite its vast mining potential and all the wealth mining brings to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), it ranks among the poorest countries in the world, with a human development indicator of… Read more »

Two decades of journey for social change

Joining Hands Cameroon celebrates gains for communities By Jaff Bamenjo | RELUFA In September 2009, I joined RELUFA, the Joining Hands network in Cameroon, as an intern after finishing my master’s degree in development at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, Netherlands. As a young Cameroonian graduate, I came back home with a… Read more »

Falling in Love with Peru

By Ellie Stock | Teaching Elder, Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy The Earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it…Psalm 24:1 For I am longing to see you…that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith… Romans 1:11-12 Fifty-five years ago, in the spring of 1965, as a Junior in college, I was preparing… Read more »