{"id":2661,"date":"2018-05-20T09:25:08","date_gmt":"2018-05-20T09:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/catapa.be\/?page_id=2661"},"modified":"2025-09-08T15:11:48","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T13:11:48","slug":"our-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/catapa.be\/en\/about-us\/our-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Our history"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column][vc_cta h2=&#8221;From BelBol to&#8230;&#8221; h4=&#8221;&#8230;a horizontal movement with partner organisations in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia; and with plenty of ongoing projects in Flanders, Europe and Latin America.&#8221; style=&#8221;custom&#8221; custom_background=&#8221;#01a053&#8243; custom_text=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221;][\/vc_cta][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1535455217709{background-color: #f7f7f7 !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;table-of-contents&#8221;][vc_column css_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1653735292505{padding-left: 50px !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Table of contents<\/h2>\n<h4><a href=\"#impacts-of-mining\">2003-2007: from BelBol to the beginning of CATAPA as a movement in Flanders<\/a><\/h4>\n<h4><a href=\"#mining-techniques\">2008-2011: CATAPA grows<\/a><\/h4>\n<h4><a href=\"#solution-strategies\">2011-2017: Campaigns in Flanders and new partnerships<\/a><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#1547656129587-ec4163d4-e175\">GOLD: FAIR?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#generation-transition\">Generation Transition<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><a href=\"#globalisation\">2017- : The mining industry as a global and technological challenge<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_images_carousel images=&#8221;6517,6496,6484,6511&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; autoplay=&#8221;yes&#8221; wrap=&#8221;yes&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221; title=&#8221;CATAPA Gallery&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1756823798309{background-image: url(https:\/\/catapa.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Cerro-de-Pasco3-1.jpg?id=35072) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;impacts-of-mining&#8221;][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;2003-2007: from BelBol to the beginning of CATAPA as a movement in Flanders&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h1|font_size:50|text_align:left|color:%23ffffff&#8221; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Quicksand%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1533743609295{margin-top: -50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The history of CATAPA began in 2003 with the foundation of BelBol, the precursor of CATAPA. The organisation was oriented towards the protection of local communities which are afflicted by the large-scale mining industry in Bolivia. In the years to come, activities were expanded to Peru and Guatemala. In July 2005, &#8216;BelBol&#8217; gained official association status and was renamed to <\/span><strong>Comit\u00e9 Acad\u00e9mico T\u00e9cnico de Asesoramiento a Problemas Ambientales\u00a0<\/strong>(CATAPA)<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and can be translated literally into Technical Academic Committee for Assistance in Environmental Issues<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>In its early years, CATAPA focused on supporting its partners in Latin America.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In the meantime, CATAPA has expanded its activities to research, networking, sensitisation and lobbying. The internal organisation also developed: the foundation of five working groups (Peru, Bolivia, Networking and Lobbying, Education and Communication, and Research) which were guided by the Coordination Team.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In its first years of operation, CATAPA took shape around two central objectives: \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the formation of a decisive and novel <\/span><b>movement in Flanders<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> concerning globalisation and sustainable development through social activism;<\/span><\/li>\n<li>the <b style=\"font-size: 17px;\">tackling of issues related to raw materials<\/b><span style=\"font-size: 17px;\"> and, more specifically, the problems caused by the mining industry in Latin America.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=&#8221;Back to top&#8221; align=&#8221;left&#8221; i_align=&#8221;right&#8221; i_icon_fontawesome=&#8221;fa fa-chevron-right&#8221; add_icon=&#8221;true&#8221; link=&#8221;url:%23table-of-contents|||&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1533754510896{background-image: url(http:\/\/catapa.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shibang.jpg?id=6798) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;mining-techniques&#8221;][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;2008-2011: CATAPA grows&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:50|text_align:left|color:%23ffffff&#8221; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Quicksand%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1533743326461{margin-top: -50px !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;mining-techniques&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2008, CATAPA became an official non-profit organisation and committed itself to further institutionalisation, with new <a href=\"https:\/\/catapa.be\/en\/how-we-work\/working-groups\/\">working groups<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/catapa.be\/en\/about-us\/catapistas\/\">volunteers<\/a>, an extensive educational program, and a stronger involvement of the volunteers, <a href=\"\/?page_id=2696\">trainees, thesis and PhD students<\/a>. CATAPA received a growing support from organisations, institutions, municipalities and provinces, and acquired a bigger public visibility through debates and lectures.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8842 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catapa.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/mining-in-paradise-300x300.png?resize=230%2C230\" alt=\"\" width=\"230\" height=\"230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catapa.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/mining-in-paradise.png?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catapa.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/mining-in-paradise.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catapa.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/mining-in-paradise.png?resize=160%2C160&amp;ssl=1 160w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catapa.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/mining-in-paradise.png?w=470&amp;ssl=1 470w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px\" \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A this point, it had become clearer that <b>the issues in Latin America are connected to what is happening here, at home<\/b>. Consumers, producers and policy makers in Flanders are co-responsible not only for human rights violations, ecological abuse and all manner of social problems in Latin America but also for the solutions and alternatives that are put forward by local communities. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That is why the organisation greatly <b>focused on the education and sensitization in Flanders.<\/b>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/catapa.be\/en\/mining-in-paradise\/\"><b>Mining in Paradise (2010) <\/b><\/a>was a highlight. This international campaign supported the inhabitants of four Northern Peruvian provinces to counteract the construction of a mining project on their territory.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the meantime, the activities in the areas afflicted by the mining industry were not standing still. CATAPA\u00a0 started up exploratory discussions in Honduras and enhanced the activities in <a href=\"https:\/\/catapa.be\/en\/cases\/peru\/\">Peru<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/catapa.be\/en\/cases\/guatemala\/\">Guatemala<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/catapa.be\/en\/bolivia\/\">Bolivia<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The reason for our existence became tragically clear once again in 200<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9: the raw materials conflict in Bagua (North-Peru) turned into a bloodbath, with a death toll of 34 people. Our volunteers who were present at the time, reported the news to the world press and, in doing so, triggered action from the Belgian government, which demanded a critical investigation from the Peruvian government.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=&#8221;Back to top&#8221; align=&#8221;left&#8221; i_align=&#8221;right&#8221; i_icon_fontawesome=&#8221;fa fa-chevron-right&#8221; add_icon=&#8221;true&#8221; link=&#8221;url:%23table-of-contents|||&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1533754537033{background-image: url(http:\/\/catapa.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/20170728-34-Jornadas-acad\u00e9micas-del-agua.jpg?id=6477) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;solution-strategies&#8221;][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;2011-2017: Campaigns in Flanders and new partnerships&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:50|text_align:left|color:%23ffffff&#8221; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Quicksand%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_id=&#8221;solution-strategies&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1533743421814{margin-top: -50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For CATAPA, 2011 was a year of innovation and reinforcement of the professional staff. For the first time, a new general coordinator took control of the day-to-day management and led two successive campaigns: GOLD:FAIR? and Generation Transition<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_tta_tour][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;GOLD: FAIR?&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1547656129587-ec4163d4-e175&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8816 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catapa.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Goud-eerlijk-300x98.png?resize=340%2C111\" alt=\"\" width=\"340\" height=\"111\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catapa.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Goud-eerlijk.png?resize=300%2C98&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catapa.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Goud-eerlijk.png?w=366&amp;ssl=1 366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 340px) 100vw, 340px\" \/><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The campaign GOLD:FAIR? was a collaborative initiative between CATAPA, Eco life and Netwerk Bewust Verbruiken which lasted three years. It was <b>a sensitisation and lobbying campaign about the negative impact of the gold mining industry in the South and about the current consumption and production of metal in the North<\/b>. A lobbying network was created with regard to sustainable alternatives for gold mining in the South, involving midfield, academics and the industry. The campaign showed that the gold exploitation causes extreme injustice, especially for native and farming communities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>From September 1<sup>st<\/sup>, 2011 until August 31, 2014, CATAPA conducted a campaign, wrote articles, collected old mobile phones, encouraged jewelers to sale Fairtrade gold, and so much more. After three productive years, our campaign ended but its core loves on in our vision and strategy: the impact of large-scale gold mining is huge. In many places in the world, even in Europe, companies are still trying to open new open pit gold mines. We must continue to fight against those mines and to limit their harmful effects. So, recycle those old cell phones, look for a bank that does not invest in mining and stand up for the rights of people affected by the ecological and social impacts of gold mining!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/goudeerlijk.be\/?lang=en_us\">Read more<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;Generation Transition&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;generation-transition&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8825 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catapa.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Generatie-transitie.png?resize=218%2C147\" alt=\"\" width=\"218\" height=\"147\" \/>Generation Transition (2014-2017) followed the GOLD: FAIR? campaign and originates from the idea that <b>the generation of young adults who will have to work until 2050 will be the actors who have to make the transition towards another economy<\/b>. In collaboration with universities and colleges, students and adolescents were equipped with information and concrete action plans with the aim to transition to a sustainable world economy. \u00a0An additional focus was the interaction of our economy with limited and non-renewable resources such as petroleum, gas, minerals and metals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/generatietransitie.be\/en\">Read more<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tour][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<b>Beyond the North-South dichotomy<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the same period, the partner organisation of CATAPA generated new dynamics. In 2011-2012, the collaboration with Honduras came to an end. A delicate political situation stood in the way of a sustainable and safe operation regarding the issues related to raw materials. The same happened in Guatemala, where larger partners ignored the international campaign against the Marlin mine. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile in Peru, CATAPA shifted its focus from Ja\u00e9n and its collaboration with Vima to <strong>Cajamarca, where it joined forces with Grufides NGO and the grassroots organisation Plataforma Interinstitucional Celendina (PIC).<\/strong> Together, they tackled PIC&#8217;s ongoing work on the golf mine in Yanacocha, but also other large-scale development plans such as Conga. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, <b>CATAPA became more active in Europe<\/b>. Since 2014, more attention was given to the mining issues in Ro\u0219ia Montan\u0103 in <a href=\"https:\/\/catapa.be\/en\/cases\/romania\/\">Romania<\/a> and in Skouries in <a href=\"https:\/\/catapa.be\/en\/cases\/greece\/\">Greece<\/a>. A year later, CATAPA entered in a partnership with <b>COSAJUCA, a youth movement that dedicated itself to the collaboration with local farming communities against the megalomaniac mining project La Colasa<\/b> in Tolima, <a href=\"https:\/\/catapa.be\/nl\/cases\/colombia\/\">Colombia<\/a>.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1533754561708{background-image: url(http:\/\/catapa.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/chuttersnap-255215-unsplash-1.jpg?id=7208) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}&#8221; el_id=&#8221;globalisation&#8221;][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;2017-Present : The mining industry as a global and technological challenge&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h1|font_size:50|text_align:left|color:%23ffffff&#8221; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Quicksand%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_id=&#8221;globalisation&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1533743497439{margin-top: -50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Multiple focuses emerged in the intervening years. CATAPA thus focused on two geographical areas with two distinct aims:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Flanders, Belgium: a more sustainable ICT supply chain<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For several years now, our work has been dominated by technology. We are further deepening our knowledge on the impact of ICT hardware (smartphones, computers and laptops). The extraction of metals and minerals which are necessary for the production of hardware is often accompanied by human rights violations and ecological destruction. The assembly of laptops and smartphones takes place in low-wage countries where labour rights are not respected and the design of ICT is not aimed at reusing the components, which denies them a second life and continues a cycle of extractivism.<\/p>\n<p>To this end, the <a href=\"https:\/\/catapa.be\/en\/make-ict-fair\/\">Make ICT Fair<\/a> project was launched at the end of 2017. In this project we work together with 10 European partners towards a more sustainable system in which human rights and the environment are respected throughout all the ICT supply chain steps. CATAPA focused mainly on raising awareness about the consequences of ICT consumption and possible alternatives. We also encouraged public bodies to pay more attention to social and environmental aspects in their ICT procurement policy.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/catapa.be\/en\/fair-ict-flanders\/\">Fair ICT Flanders<\/a>, on the other hand, focused on large ICT consumers in Flanders. The project was not aimed at individuals, but at companies, governments and higher education institutions. They were helped and supported in taking concrete steps towards a fair and circular ICT procurement and processing policy. This project was conducted on the basis of a detailed learning trajectory the development of a toolbox and tailor-made guidance for the pilot organisations.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/catapa.be\/en\/project-nemo\/\">NEMO project<\/a>, which was launched in May 2018, also focused on technology. Together with some European partners, this project aims to introduce a new environmentally friendly technology for the recycling of mining waste. The project focuses on two case studies: the Sotkamo mine in Finland and the Las Cruces mine in Spain. Within the project, CATAPA represented the local communities&#8217; perspective on mining activities and new technologies.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Latin America: expanding CATAPA&#8217;s partnerships<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In addition to this new focus on technology in Belgium and beyond, there were also developments in Latin America. In 2018, CATAPA expanded its Peru operation into the Amazon, where it worked with <a href=\"https:\/\/catapa.be\/en\/how-we-work\/partners\/\">Instituto Chaikuni<\/a> on the impact of oil extraction. Moreover, in January 2019 a new partnership was established in <a href=\"https:\/\/catapa.be\/en\/cases\/ecuador\/\">Ecuador<\/a>. With <strong>Acci\u00f3n Ecol\u00f3gica<\/strong>, we are now also monitoring the copper mining project &#8216;El Mirador&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, CATAPA has become a <strong>solid global player<\/strong> through international networks such as &#8216;Yes to life, No to mining&#8217; and the European projects Make ICT Fair and NEMO, which advanced our expertise in the metal cycle.[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=&#8221;Back to top&#8221; align=&#8221;left&#8221; i_align=&#8221;right&#8221; i_icon_fontawesome=&#8221;fa fa-chevron-right&#8221; add_icon=&#8221;true&#8221; link=&#8221;url:%23table-of-contents|||&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column][vc_cta h2=&#8221;From BelBol to&#8230;&#8221; h4=&#8221;&#8230;a horizontal movement with partner organisations in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia; and with plenty of ongoing projects in Flanders, Europe and Latin America.&#8221; style=&#8221;custom&#8221; custom_background=&#8221;#01a053&#8243; custom_text=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221;][\/vc_cta][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221;<br \/><a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/catapa.be\/en\/about-us\/our-history\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":2130,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2661","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Our history - CATAPA vzw<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, 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