Posts Categorized: Mining

Beyond Serendipity

Communities in Peru and the U.S. join forces in the fight against  toxic metals By Jed Koball | Mission Co-worker Peru The encounter between residents of Herculaneum, Missouri and La Oroya, Peru over 15 years ago was nothing less than serendipitous. Twenty years ago, when the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) was launching its Joining Hands… Read more »

Twenty Years of Work for Transparency in Mining, Oil and Gas

RELUFA advocates for improved policies on transparency in revenues from the exploitation of natural resources By Jaff Bamenjo | RELUFA The Joining Hands Initiative (JH) was launched 20 years ago by the Presbyterian Church USA through its Presbyterian Hunger Program, marking a new approach to its hunger ministry. The approach is anchored on the understanding… Read more »

Churches Unite in Defense of Earth

Red Uniendo Manos Peru helps organize Peru Node of Churches and Mining By Jed Koball | Mission Co-worker Peru ¨We need a change of paradigm in all our economic activities, including mining. ¨ With these words, the Peru Node of Churches and Mining publically launched its effort to motivate the universal church to stand with… Read more »

Communities Finally Receive a Share of Mining Revenues

New mining regulations in the Democratic Republic of Congo favor the development of local communities By Jean Marie Kabanga | POM, Joining Hands Network in the Democratic Republic of Congo In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), it has been common for local communities to bear the brunt of the negative impacts of the mining… Read more »

New Mining Legislation in DR Congo Promotes Sustainable Development

Communities affected by mining now involved in mining contract negotiations By Jean Marie Kabanga | POM, Joining Hands DR Congo   The Mining Code for the Democratic Republic of Congo was revised and published on March 09, 2018 and the Mining Regulations that followed on June 8, 2018 offered a new glimmer of hope for… Read more »

The Hunt for Gold and Diamonds Leads to Deeper Poverty in East Cameroon

Families abandon farms and schools for small-scale mining only to be trapped in a cycle of poverty By Jaff Bamenjo | RELUFA, Joining Hands Cameroon Artisanal mining, or small-scale mining using limited machinery, is the only direct means through which local communities can benefit economically from the mineral endowments of their country. In the east… Read more »

Why Visit?

By Jed Koball, PC(USA) Mission Co-Worker in Peru ¨I don´t understand why you are here!¨ The words came from an elder woman in the group we were meeting with in La Oroya. She had not spoken the entire time. In fact, it was the first time I had ever heard her speak. She was someone… Read more »

Peruvian Communities Affected by Mining and Oil Make Formal Demands

By Conrado Olivera | Red Uniendo Manos Peru Representatives of the communities most impacted by contamination from mining and oil industry activity met earlier this year with Health Minister Abel Salinas Rivas. Leaders from Espinar, La Oroya, Pasco, San Mateo, Chiriaco, Bambamarca, Puno and Cuninico were present, and they requested that the dialogue begun with… Read more »

Mining Fails Communities in DR Congo

cobalt mine DR Congo Civil society works to revise the mining code so that communities benefit from increased mining investment By Jean Marie Kabanga | Joining Hands DR Congo Since the enactment of the new mining code of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002 and the implementation of its mining regulations in 2003, promises for the development of local communities… Read more »

Pope Meets with Indigenous Communities in Peru

Amazonic tribes and Andean communities are celebrated by Pope Francis as models for caring for our Common Home By Jed Koball | Mission Co-worker Peru On a hot and humid January day, gathered in the town of Puerto Maldonado in a region of the Amazon Rainforest devastated by massive deforestation and the contamination of rivers… Read more »