Latin America Bureau, Rights Action and Guatemala Solidarity Network present:SIPAKAPA IS NOT FOR SALE / SIPAKAPA NO SE VENDE"
by Caracol Producciones, Guatemala, November 2005
Date: Tuesday 18th July
Time: 6.30pm
Price: £3
The film will be followed by talks and the opportunity to discuss the impact of mining companies in Guatemala.
Speakers: Jane Pelly, Rights Action
Dr. Rachel Sieder, Institute for the Study of the Americas
Spaces are limited for this event. To pre-register for this event please email: dkenner [at] lab.org.uk
Venue: The Library - Latin America Bureau, 1 Amwell Street, London, EC1R 1UL
This documentary analyses the debate on mining exploitation in Guatemala and demonstrates the dignity of the Sipakapan People as they fight to defend their autonomy in the face of encroaching neo-liberal "development" megaprojects.
This 55 minute documentary (with English sub-titles) is about the struggle of the Sipakapense-Mayan people, in San Marcos, Guatemala, in defense of autonomy, locally controlled development and environmental well-being, against the harms and violations associated with the open-pit gold mining operation of the Glamis Gold mining company.
In 2005, Montana Exploradora, subsidiary of the Canadian/US transnational company Glamis Gold, received 45 million US dollars in financing from the World Bank to exploit an open-pit gold mine in Guatemala. There was never any consultation with the local Mayan Sipakapense and Mam communities about the 'concessioning' of their lands and territories to a global mining company that, furthermore, is using the most harmful method of gold mining – open pit, cyanide leaching processes.
In accordance with ILO Convention 169, the Constitution of Guatemala and the Municipal Code, a Community Consultation was held in Sipakapa on 18 June 2005, to establish whether the population would accept or reject mining exploitation in its municipality. The result was a resounding NO to mining.
"Sipakapa is Not for Sale" contrasts the daily life and struggle of the Maya Sipakapan people with the arguments of representatives of the mining company that operates in their territory. It analyses the debate on mining exploitation and demonstrates the dignity of the Sipakapan People as they fight to defend their autonomy in the face of encroaching neo-liberal "development" megaprojects.
