Nyrstar NV today announced that it has acquired the Contonga and Pucarrajo polymetallic mines in Peru for approximately US$23 million, in line with the Company's strategy to selectively pursue opportunities in mining.  

Source: Huffington Post, 01/06/10

Author's note: Last week, following the visit of U.N. Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Rights James Anaya, the Guatemalan government agreed to abide by his requests and those of the Interamerican Commission on Human Rights, the Catholic Church, the International Labor Organization and others and has ordered the temporary suspension of operations at the Marlin Mine in the indigenous lands of Western Guatemala.

Today, June 2nd, is the 10 year mark of the mercury spill that intoxicated thousands of villagers of Choropampa (Cajamarca). Demands for medical attention and compensation still have not yet been heard.

In memory of this tragic event, Guarango has put exceptionally the full HD version of its documentary "Choropampa, the Price of Gold" for free during one week on its YouTube page for you to view it. Watch it in Spanish or with English subtitels.

Moments after assuming the presidency of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla signed an executive decree that places a moratorium on open-pit gold mining in the country.

The decree suspends “indefinitely” the “exploration, extraction and processing of the materials extracted through the use of cyanide and mercury.”

Read more here

MEXICO CITY, Apr 30, 2010 (IPS) - A violent incident in which two activists were killed in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca has raised fears among human rights groups of a return to the unrest and severe clashes between protesters and police that virtually paralysed the state in 2006.

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