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Lands in Resistance: Mining and the voices of communities through the power of documentary cinema

Written by Francesca Serafini

As part of the Right to Say No Campaign, we hosted the Lands in Resistance documentary screening and discussion that gave voice to those who rarely make it to the mainstream stage: communities directly affected by mining projects. Instead of boardrooms and parliamentary halls, these stories come from mountains, forests, and communities under threat. We presented two powerful documentary films:

  • The Illusion of Abundance by Erika Gonzalez Ramirez and Matthieu Lietaert
  • Savanna and the Mountain by Paulo Carneiro

At a time when the so-called green transition is accelerating, with politicians calling for more mining to extract lithium and other materials for a “cleaner future,” we ask:
At what cost? Whose land? Whose health? Whose life?

Before the lights went out…
Before the screenings began, we shared heartfelt video messages from the directors, offering their insights and intentions behind each work. These personal introductions framed the evening and reminded us that filmmaking is also a form of activism.

After the screening…
We invited the audience to share their thoughts and reflections on cards, some of which we share below. These contributions were a fundamental part of the collective experience we created around the screenings. They offered not just reactions, but deep and often emotional responses that enriched the space of dialogue and connection.

Beyond the reflection cards, spontaneous discussions also emerged, particularly after the screening of the first documentary on mining in the Global South. The conversation quickly expanded to include extractivism as a broader issue, not only affecting communities in the South but also increasingly present in the Global North. The audience reflected on the European Union’s role in the ongoing expansion of extractive activities. In the race for critical raw materials to fuel the green transition, the EU has selected a list of mining projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act.

A small detail? Local communities were not consulted during the decision-making process. Among the selected projects is a mining project in Serbia, developed by global giant Rio Tinto, which disregarded the will of the Serbian people. The Act also includes the project featured in the film Savanna and the Mountain that local populations have been resisting for years. Hence, this conversation naturally anticipated the themes explored in the second film, Savanna and the Mountain, creating a sense of continuity and connection between the two screenings.


Screening of the Illusion of Abundance at Pangea, KU Leuven on the 11th March

The Illusion of Abundance
This film follows three women from Honduras to Brazil to Peru: Bertha Cáceres, Carolina de Moura, and Máxima Acuña. They confront some of the world’s most powerful transnational corporations. Despite constant threats, repression, and personal risk, they continue their fight to defend their communities, their environment, and their future. It’s a film about courage and imbalance: how those who profit from destruction are rarely held accountable, and how those who resist are often the ones who pay the price.

And the audience reacted powerfully.
From the frustration and sadness in the face of fundamental issues that are still too little known and discussed,

“It makes me sad not to have known about this. People are being killed, and we hear nothing.”

A driving force towards action also emerged, leading to a reconsideration and expansion of knowledge:

“I’m from Bolivia, and I saw so many parallels with what’s happening there, especially how governments prioritise mining over human rights.”

“The movie challenges my assumptions about development actors! And it highlighted how much more organised and widespread environmental activists are in the Global South, more than is perceived in Europe.”

“Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We need to change our way of life.”

And finally, some felt the strength and hope that come from action and connection. Inspired by the empowerment of communities resisting, many found new courage and motivation.

“This movie inspired me deeply in the sense that I always thought it was too difficult, not to say impossible (or even useless) for communities to resist against corporations because it feels like nothing can change, BUT IT ACTUALLY CAN.”

“The courage of these women is inspiring. They don’t sell out, no matter what’s offered to them.”


Screening of Savanna and the Mountain on the 30th March in Filmhuis Klappei, Antwerp

Savanna and the Mountain
Set in Covas do Barroso, a village in northern Portugal, this docu-film follows the residents as they organise to resist the planned construction of Europe’s largest open-pit lithium mine by British firm Savannah Resources. It’s a poetic and politically sharp film where the villagers themselves reenact their struggle through songs, theatrical acts, and seasonal rituals. Part documentary, part ballad, Savanna and the Mountain becomes a collective act of storytelling and resistance, intensely local, yet globally resonant. Some of the most inspiring quotes from the audience’s reactions:

“I did not know there are mining projects in Europe. I believed they were predomintanly outside of Europe”

“I’m scared by the scale of power involved in these mining projects”

“Sometimes the Green Deal just seems like a good excuse to exploit and extract more and more…”

“This was my first time hearing about it, and it really opened my eyes.”

“Songs are such a powerful tool of resistance and of people coming together”

“No pasarán” (“They won’t pass”)

Resistance is not a slogan: it’s a practice
Both films shed light on the injustices and struggles faced by communities who are forced to bear the consequences of a lifestyle that benefits others, often far away from the mines, dams, or damaged lands. These stories remind us that behind every battery, every megaproject, there are real people, often silenced, fighting for their land, their rights, and their lives. They are resisting, and their voices need to be heard. In cultural projects like this screening series, we want to raise awareness and amplify their voice, helping these communities defend their “right to say no”.

Cinema and art in general are not just entertainment; they’re a mass vehicle for truth, resistance, and collective awareness. Especially now, in a moment of geopolitical shift when Europe is making significant decisions about its extractive future, it is more important than ever to centre the voices of those affected first and foremost. Their lives, land, and resistance must be part of the conversation. We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us, shared their reflections, and helped create a space where these powerful stories could be seen and heard.


Become an ESC volunteer at CATAPA

CATAPA is opening up two ESC positions. This year we are looking for an international campaign & partners volunteer and a campaigner against planned obsolesence.

Both volunteers will be  trained to think critically and to spread knowledge of key issues such as degrowth, circular economy and mining within the framework of system change, encouraging others to become active citizens. The tasks are flexible depending on your learning goals and the needs of the organisation.

Both positions will start the 1st of July 2025 and last for a full year.  The deadline to apply is the 4th of May. Please read the vacancies below for all details and to discover where and how to apply.

CATAPA is committed to diversity, inclusiveness and equal opportunity.

EU chooses metal over people

The European Union wants to mine new metals and minerals and ignores the plight of local communities. Its Critical Raw Materials Act came into force in May 2024. The goal: to make Europe more independent in terms of raw materials that the EU considers essential for its economy. A call for projects that could help realise this was immediately launched. Last week, the 47 projects that will receive funding and fast tracked permits were announced. 23 of these are mining projects.

The voice of local communities is not being ignored
Local communities were not consulted in the decision-making process. The four open-pit lithium mines that Savannah Resources wants to dig in Covas do Barroso, Portugal, are on the list. This despite years of protest from the local community. The Anglo American mine that would drive the Sámi from their land in Finland: on the list. The Euro Sun Mining mine in Rovina, against which the local population won a court case, you guessed it: on the list. Cinovec in the Czech Republic? Yup.

The EU gives geostrategic interests precedence over the health and living environment of thousands of people. In doing so, it is trampling on its own Aarhus Convention. It is mandatory for local communities to be given access to environment-related information about their living environment, to be granted meaningful participation in projects that have an impact on their living environment and to be given access to an independent court to guarantee this right. The EU is ignoring its own legislation to let companies dig for metal.

Mining = environmental disaster
It is only logical that people protest against the opening of new mines. European regulations on mining are limited to the 20-year-old ‘Extractive Waste Directive’, hopelessly outdated legislation. Even countries with a history of destructive extractivism, such as Brazil and Peru, are doing better in this area. Europe also has a history of far-reaching destruction through mining. In 1998, a dam at a Boliden mine in Aznacóllar, Spain, collapsed, releasing 6 million tonnes of toxic mining waste into the environment. Boliden declared its Spanish branch bankrupt and never took full responsibility for the damage it caused. In 2000, a dam in Baia Mare burst, releasing enormous quantities of cyanide. The drinking water of 2.5 million Hungarians was poisoned and 80% of the fish in the Tisza River died.

In the event of a break or leak, the dams for storing mining waste that will be built for the current mining boom could cause that damage multiple times over.. It is striking that the EU’s list of strategic projects is full of companies that are guilty of ecocide. The copper mine Cobre Las Cruces discharged arsenic into the area around Seville, drew groundwater at a faster rate than permitted, had three of its managers convicted of environmental crimes and in 2019 suffered a landslide on its premises, but today it is coolly receiving additional funding and easier access to permits from the EU. This is nothing new. Companies like this have been receiving funds from the EU for ‘green mining’ for years, among others through the Horizon project. The scale (and therefore the consequences) will however be a lot bigger now.

Yet mining does not need disasters to destroy the environment and the living environment. The mining sector is responsible for an estimated 4 to 7 percent of global emissions. Mining requires huge amounts of water and thus depletes aquifiers that are sources of drinking water for communities. Mining waste and its storage is polluting and (as shown in the previous paragraph) risky. In Kiruna, Sweden, an entire village recently had to be relocated because it was literally falling into a mine.

Jadar, Serbia
The EU’s current focus is on Jadar, Serbia. It is said to have the largest underground reserve of lithium in Europe. Rio Tinto, a company known for ecocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes around the world, wants to excavate this reserve. However, it is facing huge protests from the Serbians. The EU will soon announce which strategic projects it will support outside the EU and is very keen to include Jadar on that list. Like a true colonial institution, the EU is letting its propaganda run free in the hope of drowning out the voice of the local population. Catapista’s recently wrote several opinion pieces about it in Dewereldmorgen and De Standaard. Unfortunately, major media outlets do not allow the local population to have their say in their recent articles about mining.

There is an alternative
The dominant discourse says that we need new mining to enable Europe to continue to meet our needs. But what needs? We do not need new electric cars, but more, better and free public transport. We do not need new weapons. Nobody is asking for more disposable gadgets with lithium-ion batteries. Yet that is where a large part of our new production will go. And it doesn’t stop there. Building a mine costs so much money that once it is open, it has to continue producing. That means production will be for mining and not the other way around.

Only if the gigantic sums that will be freed up for new mining were invested in degrowth and recycling, in collective transport modes, in ensuring that electronic products last a long time, only then will Europe be truly independent of materials.

DocVille cancels the screening of pro-mining documercial ‘Not in my country’

DocVille documentary festival cancels screening of pro-mining propaganda film ‘Not in my country’

  • Docville cancelled the screening of ‘Not in my country’, a movie that criminalises local communities and activist that oppose destructive mining projects in their country
  • The screening was cancelled under pressure of planned protest
  • We call on everyone to listen to the voices of local communities and respect their right to refuse mining projects

Leuven documentary film festival DocVille cancelled the session ‘ethisch mijnen, kan dat?’ (ethical mining, is it possible?). The discussion would have been centered around the movie ‘Not in my country’, a documentary made by Peter Tom Jones, the director of the KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals. This piece of propaganda criminalises people protesting against lithium mining in Jadar, Serbia by Rio Tinto. It argues that they are puppets for the extreme right and the Kremlin.

The agenda is clear: Peter Tom Jones wants more mining in Europe and to accomplish that goal local communities fighting the destruction of their environment by mining need to be silenced and marginalized.

Criminalisation of activism
A recent opinion piece by Catapistas in De Standaard sums up the problems with Jones’ stance: “Jones suggests that climate activists form “unnatural alliances” with far-right groups. This is a dangerous and unjust framing, reminiscent of the way Indigenous and local communities worldwide are systematically criminalized when they resist destructive mining projects. The legitimate opposition of concerned local communities, whose immediate environment and way of life are threatened, is dismissed as extreme, unreasonable, or selfish. How can we speak of a fair debate when one voice is marginalized from the outset?”

It was clear that this movie was not a backdrop for a fair debate. You don’t preface a debate about PFAS, with a clip by 3M or a panel about arms ownership with a movie by the NRA. It doesn’t come as a surprise that people were planning to react to this events. Belgian academia and arts launched an open letter denouncing the neocolonial narrative of the movie. Marginalising voices wanting to defend their lands is indeed reminiscent of the way colonial powers tried to justify their exploitation. People in Barroso (Portugal) and Jadar (Serbia) had already voiced their anger at the screening of this movie. Together with different groups in solidarity, they were preparing to give the voice Jones is trying to marginalise a platform at the screening. People have the right to say no against mining on their lands.

Cancellation of the debate
We understand that DocVille aimed to foster a serene debate and, as a result, decided to cancel the screening of the documentary. The film has proven to be highly polarizing, and the criminalization of local communities understandably leads to outrage. Anyhow, CATAPA rejects any form of intimidation or violence.

However, we must not overlook the broader issue: communities worldwide that resist mining projects frequently face repression, violence, threats, and even murder. Organizations such as Amnesty International have extensively documented these human rights abuses. The very same corporations that this documentary seeks to defend are the ones silencing these communities and violating their right to free speech. We strongly condemn these tactics.

The documentary—referred to as a “documercial” in the open letter—unilaterally promotes the interests of Rio Tinto, a company with a troubling track record of human rights violations, environmental destruction, and internal misconduct, including cases of sexual violence and racism. Rio Tinto has been implicated in war crimes, the destruction of Indigenous sacred sites, and the dumping of toxic mining waste, such as cyanide. Given this background, it is not surprising that such a one-sided portrayal of the mining industry is met with resistance.

Furthermore, the close ties between the mining industry and certain academic institutions raise concerns about conflicts of interest. Research institutions, particularly those benefiting from EU-funded Horizon projects, often collaborate with industry players, leading to biased narratives that overlook alternative solutions. Rather than focusing solely on increased mining, we should prioritize material reduction, efficiency, recycling, and urban mining—strategies that receive far too little attention. The claim that there is “no alternative” to large-scale mining in the EU is not only misleading but also politically motivated.

We call on everyone to listen to the voices of local communities, respect their right to refuse mining projects, and foster a truly open and democratic debate—one that is not dictated by corporate interests but by genuine concern for social and environmental justice.

 

The Academic World Has Too Close Ties with the Mining Industry


Protests defending the Jadar region against Rio Tinto’s mining activities.

The Academic World Has Too Close Ties with the Mining Industry
Discrediting protests against mining is not the right path to a green future

Peter Tom Jones, director of the KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals wrote an opinion piece in Belgian newspaper De Standaard defending European lithium mining and smearing ecological defenders. Catapistas Kim Claes, Alberto Vázquez Ruiz, Robin Roels & Hanne Cottyn wrote a response.

De Standaard Published at 16/03/2025

In his masterpiece 1984, George Orwell describes how a constant state of war is used to control the population: it creates fear, justifies authoritarian measures, and suppresses critical voices. In his opinion piece (DS, March 7), Peter Tom Jones, director of the KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals, applies similar rhetoric to the debate on mining and Europe’s raw materials supply. Jones claims that concerned citizens and NGOs opposing mining are “missing the point” and undermining the green energy transition. Instead of engaging in a constructive debate about the future of resource policy, he dismisses anyone who questions the necessity of large-scale mining as an enemy of progress. This is no longer an academic discussion—it is a politically charged attack on democratic participation.

Jones suggests that climate activists form “unnatural alliances” with far-right groups. This is a dangerous and unjust framing, reminiscent of the way Indigenous and local communities worldwide are systematically criminalized when they resist destructive mining projects. The legitimate opposition of concerned local communities, whose immediate environment and way of life are threatened, is dismissed as extreme, unreasonable, or selfish. How can we speak of a fair debate when one voice is marginalized from the outset?

Moreover, Jones asserts that there is “no alternative” to increased mining in the EU, while numerous possibilities remain largely unexplored. The drastic reduction and more efficient use of metals are barely mentioned. Why is the focus so one-sidedly on primary extraction? The answer partly lies in the overly close ties between research institutions and industry. For years, the industry and some academic institutions have collaborated within EU-funded Horizon research projects. While such cooperation is not inherently problematic, the risk of conflicts of interest is real when there is no public oversight. How independent is research when the same industrial players are systematically involved?

A Long List of Disasters
A key question arises: are we truly exploring the most sustainable solutions, or only those that fit the business model of mining companies that channel their profits to shareholders? Jones uses EU research funds to promote mining within the EU. This raises concerns about the scientific integrity of his argument, especially when he highlights only the benefits and downplays the drawbacks. How scientific is it to systematically ignore the International Resource Panel (the United Nations expert panel on natural resources)? The negative impacts of mining on local communities and ecosystems are well documented, yet Jones barely mentions them.

A common argument is that Europe has “better” mining standards than the rest of the world and can therefore engage in “responsible mining.” However, there is no guarantee that Europe would actually do better. Just over fifteen years ago, Europe had the second-highest number of mining tailings dam failures in the world. There is also a long history of mining disasters, conflicts, human rights violations, flawed public consultations, and ecological devastation within Europe.

We are at risk of repeating the same mistakes, with the recently proposed Omnibus legislation and the broader dismantling of environmental protection regulations in the EU. This will lead to weaker environmental impact assessments and the erosion of permitting procedures. Natura 2000 areas—the most valuable natural habitats in the EU—are under threat, and local communities have little say in the matter.

A False Choice
This is supposedly all necessary to ensure that Europe does not lose the geopolitical race. The narrative that Europe will “lose its prosperity” if it does not act quickly primarily serves the industry’s agenda. We are constantly being instilled with fear: from Chinese control over electric vehicles, Russian influence in mining protests in Serbia, to American threats in Greenland. By framing Europe as being in a geopolitical struggle where mining is the only salvation, we are presented with a false choice: either we dig more, or we lose our prosperity and geopolitical standing. Just like in 1984, this rhetoric is not meant to foster open debate but to silence critical voices. However, we do not need to blindly follow this economic war rhetoric. The real issue is not that people resist change, but that the proposed change primarily benefits certain economic actors rather than society as a whole. A fair transition requires policies that prioritize well-being over profit. This means a resource policy aligned with the recommendations of the International Resource Panel, emphasizing drastic material-use reduction and international cooperation. Such an approach would actually make Europe more independent from major powers like the U.S. and China. A focus on material efficiency, recycling, urban mining, and circular strategies rather than unchecked extraction. Full participation of local communities, with respect for their right to say “no.” A critical look at the entanglement of science,  policymakers, and industry, with strict regulations and public oversight to prevent conflicts of interest. The transition is too important to be left to an industry that only serves its own interests. Let’s conduct the debate based on honest information—without fearmongering and without discrediting critical voices.

Throwback: Stop #ExpresDefect Autumn Campaign

We have been in 2025 for a while, but it’s still worthwhile to look back at our CTRL ALT Delete campaign. We created unforgettable moments with Catapistas. We are pleased to share these memories here.

All Catapistas worked hard in these activities. We carried them out in the spirit of love, respect, and friendship. It was a journey of hard work, determination and responsibility to ourselves, society, and our world. So, what did we do during this period? We would like to share our campaigns with you!    

12 October 2024 : Presentation during a Repair Cafe in Destelbergen

The municipality of Destelbergen organises repair cafés on the second Saturday of each month. On October 12th, CATAPA was invited to give a presentation.

Which stage in the life cycle of an electronic device do you think has the greatest impact on the environment? How many kilograms of electrical and electronic equipment waste are collected per inhabitant annually on average in the EU? What does a “refurbished” product mean? Through a quiz, Catapistas Bert and Stan started a discussion around planned obsolescence and how to fight these destructive practices implemented by manufacturers. 

CATAPA has created, throughout the years, different tools in order for citizens to inform themselves on this devastating phenomenon but also spread the information/message to others. A quiz on planned obsolescence, mining and e-waste, a Stop#ExpresDefect selfie mirror, an ewaste installation, flyers, a guide ‘Tips voor duurzame elektronische toestellen’ etc. Send a mail to maud.marcial@CATAPA.be for more information.

19 October 2024: Smartphone funeral for International Repair Day

On International Repair Day, Circusplaneet, a circus school housed in a former church, set up a repair cafe. It was an excellent opportunity to provide a visible performance and draw people’s attention to the significance of the day. 

Because multinational corporations, driven by profit, often produce products that fail, it’s not uncommon for your phone to slow down even after an update, or for your laptop to stop working after a few years. That is not an accident; it is known as planned obsolescence. These firms force us to buy, replace, and waste products. That is why CATAPA organized a funeral service at the church for electrical items that departed from us too early.

During the funeral of a smartphone, the Catapriest informed the public about the environmental cost of a smartphone – 62 different metals extracted from the earth, causing pollution and ecosystem destruction- and its social cost – human rights violation as the communities are often stripped of their right to say “no” to mining. 

Beyond highlighting the serious consequences of the production and premature death of a smartphone, the priest encouraged the participants and operators of this repair café to join us in the fight against planned obsolescence.

Read our charter here. 

Digital Week 2024 : Tips voor duurzame elektronische toestellen

The Digital Week program aims to promote and increase digital interests, skills, and accessibility related to digitalisation. This year, from November 2 to 10, a variety of interesting activities had been scheduled throughout Flanders and Brussels.

For this reason, Catapistas Stan, Alfi and Bert and Brendan created a guide on how to consciously and sustainably buy and use digital and electronic tools. For example, if people can use their electronic devices for longer, repair them when they break, or buy refurbished ones, they would generate less e-waste and reduce the need for mining.

 The CTRL ALT Delete team distributed the booklets to libraries  hosting Digital Week events.

We will proudly share the booklet at the next events as well! For now, Read our guide here

29 November 2024: Black Friday Action

Catapistas organised an action against the notorious day of mass consumption known as “Black Friday.” It is a day of continuous deals and discounts, ensuring the continuation of planned obsolescence. CATAPA highlighted the hidden costs of overproduction and overconsumption of electrical devices.

The broad idea of the action was decided at the 2024 Movement Days in Autumn, and it was shaped through a series of meetings and working groups. A group of Catapistas gathered in Kouter and marched through Veldstraat, Korenmark and Langemut carrying pankarts, costumes, and a shopping cart full of technological waste materials. 

In fact, in order to produce always more electronic devices, entire ecosystems are being destroyed, the water is being polluted, and the rights of the local communities being violated and their voices silenced. The responsibles? Mining companies and manufacturers, driven by profit, exploit resources without reason. Our devices, often designed by these companies to have a short life, become very fast ewaste, aggravating the exploitation of resources. 

Catapistas created five separate costumes. Two people were portrayed as monopoly billionaires, notably CEOs of electronic products and mining corporations, who have a lot of money but did not care about anything else. The water pollution costume was designed to highlight the environmental damage caused by the mining of raw materials needed in the manufacture of technological gadgets. The Human Rights costume depicts communities that have been badly damaged by mining activity and do not have a voice before businesses or governments. The e-waste monster costume served as a visual critique of the fetishisation of electronic product overproduction and consumption on Black Friday. A Catapista, Elisa,  wore a jacket completely covered in e-waste and pushed an e-waste-filled shopping cart.

Elise, another Catapista, used a megaphone to explain why and how to avoid Black Friday, while other Catapistas handed out brochures describing the reasons and strategies for avoiding Black Friday. The brochures highlighted the negative effects of mining new raw materials on the environment and local residents, as well as the unnecessary cost of purchasing costly new items. Furthermore, it encouraged people to resist the seduction of marketing and consider the necessity of obtaining a new device. They recommended repairing as the best option but also suggested reusing or purchasing refurbished items as alternatives.

The action extended beyond the street protest, as we collaborated with the AVS Channel to provide CATAPA Black Friday Action news to a wider audience. Catapista, Elise, also interviewed the channel and explained the reason for being there. You can find the news HERE.

We would like to say thank you to everyone who contributed to such unforgettable and impactful movements!

Thank you to all the Catapistas involved!

Yuturi Warmi – Indigenous Women Resist Gold Mining

Margot Tjolle studied a MSc in Environment and Development at the University of Copenhagen. For her Master’s thesis, she went on field work in the Serena community with her two research partners, Filippo De Rossi and Marie Eenens. They decided to collaborate and live with Yuturi Warmi to conduct a research project aiming to understand how endangered communities can build alternatives to mining and extractivism.

The scourge of industrial gold mining
In recent years, the Ecuadorian Amazon has been increasingly impacted by the scourge of both illegal and “legal” gold mining. However, the mines operated by official companies are often also considered illegal by the local populations, as they notoriously enter their territories without their prior free and informed consent, and operate without environmental permits.

The negative impacts of industrial gold mining start with the deforestation and contamination of the soil and rivers by the toxic chemicals used in the extraction process, predominantly mercury. In addition to destroying the precious biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest, the contamination brings an array of health issues to the communities that depend on the river water to survive, such as skin diseases and cancer. The soil contamination prevents anything to grow, jeopardizing their agroforestry organic farms, a vital part of their lives and indigenous cultures. Mining also sabotages other more environmentally-friendly sources of income such as tourism, as the contaminated land and rivers are not attractive to the foreigner’s eye anymore. Another important impact to mention is the rise of insecurity and delinquency the mine brings to the communities, as the resulting lack of educational or economic opportunities breed alcoholism, prostitution, and drug abuse and trafficking.

“Yes, sometimes I get angry, because these mining companies want to enter our territory, they want to damage the water, especially water is our life. Water is for children to bathe, for cooking and for us to drink. By entering, the miners want to leave the timber trees well damaged. In our territory to plant cassava, banana, those will also be very damaged, when they throw away chemicals. And that’s why we, the women here, from this Community of Serena, stand hard. We stand hard so they don’t enter. That’s why we became the Yuturi Warmi association.” – Corina from Yuturi Warmi

The resistance of Yuturi Warmi
Yuturi Warmi is the first indigenous women’s led guard of the Napo province, in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Yuturi Warmi translates directly to “conga woman”, “conga” being a certain species of ants which are considered warriors in the Kichwa culture. Conga ants are peaceful until their territory is threatened: if an unwelcome presence gets close to their nest, they unite and bite the individual to defend themselves. More than 40 Kichwa women are dedicating their daily lives to resist mines from entering their land. By using Indigenous Justice – spears, chili peppers, tobacco and nettles – as arms, they stop the miners from entering the Serena community which is one of the last areas that gold mining has not infiltrated and polluted their rivers, soil and bodies. They also regularly patrol the area, and make traditional artisanal products such as beaded jewelry, weaved bags, and ceramics, as an additional source of income. Together with the support of their families, they march in various protests to raise awareness that there is indeed an alternative to the destructive development path that the mining companies promote.

“In other places or in other communities, they tell us that mining brings money. And if there are some families who turn to mining and sell their land it’s due to lack of money, out of necessity.” – Leila from Yuturi Warmi

Unfortunately, the precarious economic conditions in which many communities live, coupled with the lack of opportunities, forces them to accept leasing or selling their land to the mines, for the meager promise of a short-term economic benefit. It is crucial for communities to have the means to build alternative sources of income to the mine, which do not jeopardize their future. In other words, it is vital for communities to practice their right to say no to extractive projects on their territories and their right to say yes to their chosen way of living and relation with their surroundings.

“For the future of the Yuturi Warmi, we have always been talking about focusing on community tourism. Because if we do community tourism we can bring foreigners to know and respect our territory, know our rivers, our waterfalls, our mountains… And also to provide work for students. Here, our high school graduates are not given work unless they have 2-3 years of experience. And if they do not have a third-level education, they do not have a job. So, doing community tourism would help us a lot because our children can be jungle guides, rafting guides, chefs. So there is work here in the territory and they don’t have to emigrate. That is our dream, that is our future. And with that, resist more because there are people who are getting to know us.” – Elsa from Yuturi Warmi

Community-led resistance tourism
As the president of Yuturi Warmi mentions, their dream is to develop a community-led tourism project. The community envisions building a lodge on the bank of the Jatunyacu River, on their communal land. They also wish to create a botanical garden around the lodge, where they would plant different medicinal and traditional plants and label them, in an effort to conserve and share their knowledge. On this land, they already started building a roofed space dedicated to the practice of the Wayusupina, a traditional early-morning tea ceremony important within the Amazonian Kichwa culture. They plan to finish the construction of this site to have a space where they can celebrate and practise different aspects of their culture, as well as simply meet with the guests. Moreover, the lodge would serve as a venue to sell their traditional handmade beaded jewellery and crafts. This project would provide them with an alternative source of income to destructive gold mining, which would not only help them fight extractivism but also share their culture with visitors.

However, this collective dream is no small task to achieve. Once the funds needed to develop the plans, buy the materials, and build the project are collected, efforts need to be continuous to ensure that the lodge thrives. Different challenges appear when introducing tourism as an alternative source of income. Tourism can be seen as an extractive activity that puts stress on the natural environment and can make local communities dependent on another volatile economic sector. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the touristic project is sustainable and based on the needs of the community. For example, a small-scale sustainable tourist project means limited numbers which means limited financial gains to support the related activities. It is also important that the women and the community itself retain ownership of the project. Although external investments can help fund the project, it can also shift control to other hands, like travel agencies. A monitoring system could be put in place to ensure the continuous sustainability of the project, and respond to emerging issues in a timely manner. Over-performativity and ‘selling’ one’s Kichwa culture and practices to entertain the foreigner’s eye, can also be viewed from a critical lens. The line is thin between the benefits that sharing and reproducing cultural practices can have for the preservation of indigenous knowledge, and its exaggeration to unrealistic standards which could provide a stereotypical and romanticised image of the community. Finally, as the area is surrounded by illegal mining activities, security concerns need to be evaluated, whether concerning the water contamination or the potential tensions with pro-mining groups in the region. 

A financially and informatively well-supported community resistance tourism project can not only allow the women of Yuturi Warmi and the Serena community to achieve their dream of self-subsistence and territorial protection, but also ensure their resilience and adaptivity in the face of such challenges.

The students started an ongoing crowdfunding to support Yuturi Warmi in their first steps towards the development of their dreamed community tourism project. Your contributions will support the organisation in their fight against the mines for the protection of their territory and the Amazon rainforest. The collected funds will support the construction of a tourist lodge, a botanical garden, and a traditional handicrafts shop.

Link to the crowdfunding: https://whydonate.com/en/fundraising/Yuturi-Warmi
For any questions, contact us at: margot.tjolle@hotmail.com

Call closed – ESC Volunteer Vacancies 2024

The deadline for this call has passed the 4th of June 2024 at 23h59. If you are selected for the interviews you will be contacted in the beginning of August. Please try to minimize questions, as there are a lot of interested volunteers. If you still have an urgent remark or question you can contact the relevant Catapista for the volunteering position you applied to:

If you want to learn more about CATAPA, feel free to browse our website.

Campaigning & Movement (pdf download)

Partners & Networks (pdf download)

Communication & Social Media Campaigning (pdf download)

About CATAPA

CATAPA is a movement which strives for a world in which the extraction of non-renewable resources is no longer necessary. The extraction of such materials always entails major social and environmental impacts and fuels conflict. In working towards global social and environmental justice, we focus on mining issues (ecological disasters, human rights violations, etc.). In Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and Colombia we work together with grassroots movements and support local communities who are threatened by large-scale mining projects. In Belgium, we activate citizens to denounce the current overconsumption and overproduction of electronics.

Our main activities are:

  • Campaigning on the impact of mining and sustainable production of electronics in Flanders.
  • Supporting partners and local communities in Latin America that are threatened by large-scale mining projects.
  • Creating a movement around sustainable production and consumption of metals.
  • Networking, research & stimulating alternatives.

CATAPA is dependent on the work of volunteers – the Catapistas.

 

Our campaigns

  • The Right to Say No – Mining activities cause devastating environmental impacts and human rights violations across the globe. CATAPA is campaigning on the Right to Say No. Communities opposing extractive projects face severe repression and human rights violations. A just transition requires local communities having the decisive say over extractive projects within their territories.
  • CTRL ALT DEL – Stop#ExpresDefect – Our current linear model of consumption and production is a driving cause of the climate crisis. In this “throwaway” model, electronic products are designed to make repair difficult or unfeasible with limited life spans. This is planned obsolescence. The infinite supply of electronics is at odds with planetary boundaries. We cannot continue extracting more and more metals and minerals. Through our (mainly Dutch) Ctrl Alt Delete: Stop#ExpresDefect campaign we are activating Flemish civilians to advocate for strict regulations to ensure electronic products are eco-designed, repairable, and made to last.
  • Bankswithoutmining – Bankswithoutmining is a newly formed working group aiming to push banks in the Global North to divest from mining activities. This initiative addresses the critical need to tackle the environmental and social impacts of bank investments in mining companies. Our campaign seeks to elevate mining issues in public debates, persuade investors to withdraw support from harmful mining practices, and form equal partnerships with organisations in the Andes and Europe to strengthen our efforts and create impactful change.

Our main campaigning activities are:

  • Our main campaigning activities are:
    • Raising awareness of the broader public: (social media) campaigns, educational activities, public actions, …;
    • Searching and supporting solutions & alternatives;
    • Collaboration & networking with other organisations that focus on mining issues, Degrowth and Circular Economy;
    • Advocating for an end to planned obsolescence via our Ctrl Alt Delete – Stop#Expresdefect campaign; 
    • Collaboration with grassroots organisations in Latin America, defending the rights of affected communities via our campaign on the Right to Say No to mining;
    • Push banks in the Global North to divest from mining activities.

Possible tasks and requirements

Intro

Click on the volunteer opportunity of your preference below to learn more about the possible tasks and requirements.

Campaigning and Movement

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an ESC (European Solidarity Corps) volunteer to support the CATAPA movement, and in particular the campaign Ctrl Alt Delete – Stop#ExpresDefect. The volunteer will be trained to think critically and spread knowledge of these issues and to encourage other people to become active citizens. The tasks are flexible depending on your learning goals and the needs of the organisation.

You will be part of our office team (4 part-time staff + 3 ESC volunteers + variable number of interns) which supports the work of the movement. Since CATAPA is a volunteer movement, you will be working in close collaboration with volunteers with a diverse and broad experience.  

Possible tasks

  • Help with the development and implementation of the campaign strategy, communication and tools for the Ctrl Alt Del – Stop#ExpresDefect campaign
  • Co-coordinate the Ctrl Alt Del – Stop#ExpresDefect campaign
  • Help organise movement activities such as the movement weekends (twice a year) or movement days 
  • Help follow-up the engagement of volunteers in CATAPA.
  • Help with setting up awareness raising and training activities for a variety of target groups (training or movement days/weekends, documentary screenings, workshops, info evenings, public actions, …).
  • Support the Right To Say No activities
  • Support the divestment campaign 
  • Some administrative tasks related to the daily functioning of our office with the possibility to get an insight in the management of a non-profit organisation.
  • Write, revise and proofread articles, blogs, educational tools and reports.
  • Possibility to develop and implement your own projects. 

Requirements

Essential:

  • Motivated to work with volunteers
  • Motivated to motivate others
  • Interest in learning about the social and environmental movement, planned obsolescence, e-waste and mining issues
  • Good command of English 
  • Independent, proactive worker
  • Good communication skills
  • Willing to contribute to positive change in the world we live in
  • Team player with a flexible attitude 
  • Willingness to travel through Flanders and to Brussels
  • Age below 31 years, no residence in Belgium (this is a requirement of the ESC programme)
  • Agreeing with a flexible work schedule where you sometimes will work in the evening or in weekends since events and meetings often take place in the free time of the attendees and our volunteers
  • Ability to learn on the job and DIY spirit 

Nice to have:

  • Knowledge/experience on or interest to learn about:
  •  Implementation and coordination of campaignsDevelopment of campaign strategy 
  • Organising educational or training events and tools
  • Project writing and management
  • Volunteer engagement
  • Advocacy and networking 
  • Activist and movement organising
  • Circular and degrowth economy, environmental movements and/or social movements
  • Knowledge of Dutch and/or Spanish

Interested or more information?

Please send your CV and motivation letter to karlijn.vandenbroeck@catapa.be at the latest the 4th of June 2024 at 23h59. If you have any questions concerning this vacancy, don’t hesitate to contact us. 

More information: www.catapa.be

Partners and Networks

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an ESC (European Solidarity Corps) volunteer to support the CATAPA movement, and in particular the Right To Say No campaign. The volunteer will be trained to think critically and spread knowledge of these issues and to encourage other people to become active citizens. The tasks are flexible depending on your learning goals and the needs of the organisation.

You will be part of our office team (4 part-time staff + 3 ESC volunteers + variable number of interns) which supports the work of the movement. Since CATAPA is a volunteer movement, you will be working in close collaboration with volunteers with a diverse and broad experience.  

Possible tasks

  • Participate in the follow-up of our partners in the Andes region through online meetings
  • Engaging in networks on social and ecological justice and defending our partners demands in these networks
  • Help looking for funds and campaign opportunities for our partners
  • Proofreading and contributing to fund applications and reporting of our partners
  • Actively participating and supporting the CATAPA working groups “right to say no” and “divestment”
  • Helping with the development and actions of the Right To Say No campaign
  • Assist in planning activities on the Right To Say No campaign, which gives the voice to environmental defenders from affected communities to share their stories and build international solidarity
  • Write, revise and proofread articles, blogs, educational tools and reports.
  • Support communication from and with partners in Latin America
  • Some administrative tasks related to the daily functioning of our office with the
  • Possibility to get an insight in the management of a non-profit organisation
  • Help organise movement activities such as the movement weekends (twice a year) or movement days  
  • Support the divestment campaign 
  • Help follow-up the engagement of volunteers in CATAPA
  • Possibility to develop and implement your own projects.

Requirements

Essential:

  • Motivated to work with volunteers
  • Motivated to motivate others
  • Interest in learning about the social and environmental movement, planned obsolescence, e-waste and mining issues
  • Good command of English 
  • Independent, proactive worker
  • Good communication skills
  • Willing to contribute to positive change in the world we live in
  • Team player with a flexible attitude 
  • Willingness to travel through Flanders and to Brussels
  • Age below 31 years, no residence in Belgium (this is a requirement of the ESC programme)
  • Agreeing with a flexible work schedule where you sometimes will work in the evening or in weekends since events and meetings often take place in the free time of the attendees and our volunteers

Nice to have:

  • Knowledge about/experience in or interest to learn about:
  •  International Cooperation and Human Rights
  • Fundraising
  • Project writing and management
  • Organising educational or training events
  • Advocacy and networking
  • Volunteer engagement
  • Circular and degrowth economy, environmental movements and/or social movements 
  • Latin-American politics
  • Knowledge of Dutch and/or Spanish
  • Volunteering experience

Interested or more information?

Please send your CV and motivation letter to karlijn.vandenbroeck@catapa.be at the latest the 4th of June 2024 at 23h59. If you have any questions concerning this vacancy, don’t hesitate to contact us. 

More information: www.catapa.be

Communication and Social Media Campaigning

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an ESC (European Solidarity Corps) volunteer to support the CATAPA movement, and in particular the communication within the campaigns on the Right to Say No and Planned Obsolescence. You will be working alongside our communications officer. The volunteer will be trained to think critically and spread knowledge of these issues and to encourage other young people to become active EU citizens. The tasks are flexible +depending on your learning goals and the needs of the organisation.

You will be part of our office team (4 part-time staff + 3 ESC volunteers + variable number of interns) which supports the work of the movement. Since CATAPA is a volunteer movement, you will be working in close collaboration with volunteers with a diverse and broad experience.

Possible tasks

  • Contribute in managing our social media channels and create content for those channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn). We mainly communicate in Dutch, but also regularly in English and Spanish. 
  • Help with the communication and promotion for events. 
  • Assist with the social media aspects of our central campaigns. 
  • Help in keeping our website updated. 
  • Write, review and proofread articles. 
  • Create low-threshold graphic design (for example for a poster, a flyer or for a social media post). 
  • Support communication from and with partners in Latin America
  • Support the Right To Say No activities
  • Co-coordinate the Divestment working group 
  • Build and support the Communication Working group of volunteers with the help of the movement and communication officers
  • Some administrative tasks related to the daily functioning of our office with the possibility to get an insight in the management of a non-profit organisation.
  • Possibility to develop and implement your own projects. 
  • Possibility to support other working groups you’re interested in

Requirements

Essential:

  • Interested in learning about the social and environmental movement and mining issues
  • Good knowledge of English (written and oral)
  • Independent, proactive worker
  • Motivated to work with volunteers
  • Good communication skills
  • Willing to contribute to positive change in the world we live in
  • Team player with a flexible attitude 
  • Age below 31 years, no residence in Belgium (this is a requirement of the ESC programme).
  • Agreeing with a flexible work schedule where you sometimes will work in the evening or in weekends since events and meetings often take place in the free time of the attendees and our volunteers

Nice to have:

  • Knowledge/experience on or interest to learn about: 
  • Communication strategies and campaigns
  • Design and layouting 
  • Circular and degrowth economy, environmental movements and/or social movements
  • Volunteer engagement
  • Managing social media and websites
  • Knowledge of Dutch and/or Spanish
  • Movie editing skills
  • Ability to work with a camera
  • Volunteering experience

Interested or more information?

Please send your CV and motivation letter to koerian.verbesselt@catapa.be at the latest the 4th of June 2024 at 23h59. If you have any questions concerning this vacancy, don’t hesitate to contact us. If you are selected for an interview, it will take place on the 24th, 25th or 26th of June, please keep that in mind when making your schedule.More information: www.catapa.be

What do we offer?

  • A warm welcome in our horizontally organized movement with plenty of learning opportunities and new connections.
  • A dynamic & motivated team of employees and volunteers.
  • Monthly fee: cohousing accommodation of your choice (with a max. rent contribution of 500) and a reimbursement to cover daily expenses of €550.
  • A personal learning trajectory coached by one of CATAPA’s employees, one language course (Dutch, English or Spanish) and opportunities for personal development.
  • Work-related expenses are paid by CATAPA.

CATAPA is committed to diversity, inclusiveness and equal opportunity. 

! Important: This call is part of the European Solidarity Corps, a European Union initiative which creates opportunities for young people to volunteer in projects abroad. This means people based in Belgium can’t apply for this vacancy. If your current residence is in one of the countries in this list, then you are able to apply.

The best farewell gift to Frauke? Stop #ExpresDefect to the rescue! Here is what you can do.

I hope you are all happy and well. First of all I have some sad news. April was my last month working for CATAPA. A replacement is foreseen in mid August. Meanwhile Maud will continue to coordinate the Stop #ExpresDefect campaign. But now more than ever, we need you all on board to keep the campaign rolling and not lose momentum. 

Success
Last year we achieved a lot. We developed several campaign tools, we organised or participated in many events, and several new and old catapistas joined our campaign. Many people put an amazing effort in Stopping #ExpresDefect! Big huraaay for all!

Help us keep the train rolling
So let’s keep this train rolling! Not having an overlap with someone coordinating these efforts is complicated,  but CATAPA is a non-hierarchical volunteer movement, what we achieve depends on all of us. I am confident we can make this work if we make it a joint effort! Hopefully you are confident too!

Help us promote this campaign and CATAPA at events and places in your area or community. Pick a campaign tool that suits you, and take it to your local library, community center or favourite ICT shop. Bring it to your amazing birthday-, family- or tupperware party.  Get it to a lecture, workshop or any other event and place you can think of. 

Small or big action, doesn’t matter. Help us take CATAPA and Stop #ExpresDefect out there, together we stop mining and planned obsolescence! 

What can you do?

  • Follow, share and like our campaign posts on CATAPA’S social media
  • Organise or promote a quiz with questions relating to mining, e-waste, planned obsolescence.
  • Share our flyer. 
  • Find a nice spot for our amazing roll-up banner. 
  • Find another nice spot for our selfie-mirror, and have people post on social media. 
  • Pick and choose some slides and give a presentation or workshop
  • Find a new home for our e-waste installation after the expo at MIAT finishes in September. 
  • Organise or promote a photo-exposition with amazing contributions from Catapistas Camilla Del Fabro, Dayana Corzo, Brendan Brown and Simon Lenskens. 
  • Pitch CATAPA or the campaign to your friends, family of colleagues. 
  • Take out our CATAPA infostand
  • Write a contribution for our newsletter or website
  • Follow up and share Stop #ExpresDefect related topics.
  • Join our monthly campaign meetings! contact maud.marcial@catapa.be
  • Propose something yourself!!

Spread the Stop #ExpresDefect Charter
Last but not least, if you cannot do any of these, just help us spread our Charter. It is finally ready to overtake all local municipalities in Flanders. The goal of this whole campaign is to convince local authorities to sign our Charter and commit to stop this throwaway culture, specifically the planned obsolescence of ICT products. We want to achieve this by reaching out to a handful of citizens in municipalities all over Flanders who want to convince their local or favourite politicians to sign our Charter. Just once a year we all meet to evaluate the progress. Want to help out to reach this goal? 

We decided to have an extra campaign meeting with all those amazing catapistas that want to Stop #ExpresDefect and discuss how we can assure the continuity of this campaign. On Tuesday the 30th of April @ 19u in the Catapa office or online. You are very welcome to join! It’s my very last day, it would be the best farewell gift to see many of you there!

Carolina and the Right to Say No

Carolina is an environmental defender from Falan, Colombia. She fights for the right to say no to extractivism and yes to a strong and resilient community. Along with Don Wilder she will tour Belgium this March during the Right to Say No Tour. Join the events to hear about the experiences of these environmental defenders, how our “green” trasition is impacting their lives and how degrowth might help their struggle.

My name is Carolina Monje and I am a land defender. To me, this place is not only a geographical space but a home that holds our history, culture and traditions. I defend our territory because I believe in the importance of preserving our identity and the legacy we have inherited from our ancestors. My role in defending the territory is multifaceted. Not only do I work to protect our common good and ensure environmental sustainability, but I also advocate for the rights of our communities. As an activist, I take on the responsibility of being the voice of those who cannot be heard, fighting for the right to say “yes” to a future that respects our needs and values. 

The right to say “yes” means empowerment for our community. I seek not only to preserve what we have, but also to ensure that we have the ability to decide our own destiny. I believe in self-determination and the importance of being the protagonists of our own history. Collaboration with activists from international organizations is crucial in our struggle/fight. Their support can help provide resources, visibility and diplomatic pressure to strengthen our position. Together we can build alliances that address the common challenges we face.

As I look to the future of our land, I see challenges, but also opportunities for positive change. I believe in the ability of the community and of activists and defenders to inspire meaningful transformations. With the continued support of international organizations and global awareness, I envision a future where our territory/land flourishes, protecting its cultural and natural richness for generations to come.