Host Organisation

SIRGE Coalition, Earthworks, Confederación Nacional de Mujeres Indígenas de Bolivia - Plataforma Boliviana Frente al Cambio Climático- organización nacional de mujeres indígenas andinas y amazónicas del Perú

Description

Tailings are the toxic waste left after mining and extracting metals. They can contain crushed rock, water, and arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury plus processing chemicals like cyanide and acids. They are often stored in massive dams that can last, and leak, forever and can contaminate sacred waters, hunting/fishing grounds, and farmlands. The mining industry produces billions of tonnes of tailings every year. While there is no comprehensive global registry of tailings dams, the number is estimated at ~30,000 to 40,000 tailings dams worldwide, many old, unstable, and unmonitored, often built on or near Indigenous Peoples’ lands. Mining companies dump an estimated 180+ million tonnes of tailings into rivers, lakes, and oceans annually. Tailings dams are often built on or near Indigenous Peoples’ lands without their consent. This violates Indigenous Peoples’ right to Self-determination and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). When tailings dams fail, they impact Indigenous Peoples’ lives, livelihoods, health, cultures, and the biodiversity around it. Toxic metals from tailings leach into water, soil, and dust for decades, with acid drainage and airborne dust continuing long after mining stops. Children and Indigenous Peoples living nearby can suffer DNA damage, increased cancer risks, chronic illness and loss of culture. Environmental experts agree that the safest tailings facility is one that is never built. When mining does take place, safety must be the guiding principle. Importantly, tailings dams must never fail, even during the most extreme weather imaginable, this is even more important given the climate crisis that is exacerbating extreme weather events. Most importantly, communities must have the right to choose whether a tailings dam should be built or expanded. Indigenous People also have a right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent and should be allowed to exercise oversight over such projects.

Speakers

Jan Morrill, Earthworks

Indigenous Representative from Brazil

Indigenous Representative from a mining affected community

Willma Mendoza Miro- Confederación Nacional de Mujeres Indígenas de Bolivia

Kety Marcelo - organización nacional de mujeres indígenas andinas y amazónicas del Perú

Juan Carlos Alarcón - PBFCC

Languages

EN - SP