
Megaprojects
International petition to protect the rain forest of Los Chimalapas (Oaxaca, south of Mexico)
In times of environmental and climatic emergency, the defense of the world’s rainforests becomes a global responsibility. The ecological role of these ecosystems is fundamental for the planetary balance and key to diminish the impacts of global changes, including climate change. Among many other functions, rainforests are large reservoirs of fresh water, as well as they can fix higher quantities of CO2 in comparison to other territories. It is clear that preventing the disappearance of these megabiodiverse regions of the planet is essential for a sustainable future. Moreover, the right to a different form of existence and the self-determination of the indigenous people who have inhabited and cared for these rainforests for thousands of years, cannot be negotiated. We cannot allow that the limitless desire for enrichment of a privileged minority and the excessive demands of materials on the industrial society to serve as excuses to destroy such a valuable heritage. The depletion of resources is not solved by extracting more until the whole planet is exhausted, but by consuming less and recycling the materials that have already been used.
On this occasion, it is the Chimalapas rainforest located in southern Mexico (Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca) that is threatened by, among other things, open-pit mining mega-projects. These extractive activities would generate enormous environmental impacts in one of the places with the greatest biodiversity on the planet, altering thousands of hectares of rainforest and contaminating the important bodies of fresh water that exist in this territory that reaches 594,000 hectares of communal property.
In response to this reality, we demand to Andrés Manuel López Obrador, President of Mexico:
- That the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources of the Mexican Government definitively deny the exploration permit for the mining megaproject called “Santa Marta”, promoted by the Canadian company Minaurum Gold Coper.
- That the Secretary of Economy of the Government of Mexico does not grant the four applications for mining concessions that are in process, that will cover approximately 107,383.63 hectares (although it would affect a bigger area) from where they intend to extract gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu) and lead (Pb).
- That the Mexican government and international organizations respect and recognize the inalienable rights of communal ownership of the territory (including the subsoil) by the Zoque indigenous people (Angpøn) who have inhabited and cared for the Chimalapas rainforest for thousands of years.
- That the Government of Mexico and international organizations articulate the necessary measures for the recognition of the ecological and biocultural values of this territory, and for its effective protection, thus assuring the life of the Zoque indigenous people of Chimalapas.
In this way we express our support and international solidarity with the defense of the territory of the Zoque people, because to save the Chimalapas forest is to take another step in the defense of the planet, life and humanity.
To sign-up this petition (before the 7th of september) fill in the following form https://forms.gle/rB8DTBQMqH5onHx56 or send an email to selvachimalapas@gmail.com according to the following: academics and researchers (name, country, institution, research groups), professionals (name, country, profession, institution/company), environmentalist and defenders of the territory (name, country and organization or indigenous people). Artists (name, country, and artistic expression they perform). Organizations and groups (name, acronym and country).

(Español) FPDTA-MPT rechaza declaraciones del presidente y exige una audiencia pública
Comunicado del Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra y el Agua
Morelos-Puebla-Tlaxcala
10-09-20
● DECLARACIÓNES DEL GOBIERNO FEDERAL SON MENTIRAS: NO ESTAN TODOS LOS AMPAROS RESUELTOS, APENAS SE HA RESUELTO EL 8% DE MANERA DEFINITIVA, EXISTEN VIGENTES 6 SUSPENSIONES
● ALERTA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS: LA DECLARACIÓN DEL PRESIDENTE IMPLICA UN AVISO DE REPRESIÓN VIOLENTA EN CONTRA DE QUIENES ESTAMOS LUCHANDO CONTRA EL PIM
● OMISIÓN DE JUSTICIA: NO SE HA RESUELTO EL CASO DE SAMIR Y LAS VIOLACIONES A LOS DDHH COMETIDOS POR EL PROYECTO
● PEDIMOS DIALOGO PUBLICO: PRESIDENTE, QUEREMOS, UNA HORA DE DIALOGO EN SU MAÑANERA
El día de hoy 10 de septiembre, en su rueda de prensa mañanera, Andrés Manuel López Obrador declaró que la termoeléctrica en Huexca estará ya funcionando para el mes de diciembre ya que “TODOS LOS PROCESOS LEGALES SE HAN RESUELTO”.
Andrés Manuel utiliza su posición de poder para mentir, manipular y violar la ley para impulsar un proyecto que hemos demostrado los pueblos afectados tanto desde lo legal como en lo ambiental los graves daños que traerán a las personas y a los territorios que habitamos cerca del volcán Popocatépetl.
El presidente dice que todos lo procesos legales están resueltos, que ya no hay problema legal, le decimos que deje de mentir, no es cierto, el Proyecto Integral Morelos de los 17 amparos activos que matenía en el primer semestre del 2020 se mantienen 15 amparos, solo el 8.5% se ha resuelto de manera definitiva, de las 8 suspensiones con efectos definitivos (en lo que dura el amparo y sus recursos), siguen vigentes 6. Los dos que declara la Ex Ministra de la Suprema Corte de Justicia, Olga Sánchez Cordero, hoy Secretaría de Gobernación, representan 2 de 8 suspensiones que se resolvieron de una manera muy cuestionable.
Actualmente existen al menos 3 suspensiones de plano que impide el uso del agua para la termoeléctrica de los ejidos de Moyotepec, Tenextepango y Valle Velazquez, 1 suspensión más que impide la descarga de las aguas de purga de la termoeléctrica interpuesto por la comunidad de Huexca, 1 suspensión de plano mas del ejido de Amilcingo que impide el funcionamiento del Gasoducto Morelos y otras mas que, mas que suspensión, es una sentencia que amparó a las comunidades de Atlixco con el Gasoducto Morelos ordenando se realice la consulta, siendo el caso que la consulta no ha finalizado y por lo tanto no se puede volver a violar su derecho a una consulta libre, previa, de buena fe y adecuada culturalmente. En total seis suspensiones de hecho, 91.5% de los procesos abiertos está lejos de haber llegado al final del debate jurídico nacional.