The Next July 30, the Quito without Mining collective will hold an event called Firmatón, What are you looking to achieve? support of the people of Quito to prevent metal mining exploitation in the Chocó Andino area, which is located in the northwest of Quito and which brings together parishes such as Nanegal, Nanegalito, Nono, Calacalí, Covenant and Gualea.
This morning, members of the collective made the official launch of the event and announced that the collection of signatures is going very well, since at least 100,000 signatures have been collected. However, 200,000 signatures are required for the initiative to be accepted by the National Electoral Council (CNE).
In this sense, the next June 30, at least 600 volunteers will be present in squares, crowded places, to carry out the collection. According to Inti Arcos, who is part of the organization, the goal is to collect at least a few 10,000 signatures in one day. In addition, it is expected to be able to deliver the signatures in September, but in case some were eliminated, they will continue with the collection until October.
The idea is that the popular consultation, which has its origin in the citizen initiative, can be held in conjunction with elections 2023 sectionals.
In accordance with Ivonne Ramos, from Ecological Action and that also supports the initiative, at the moment in the Chocó Andino there are 12 mining concessions that are not in operation. But they have also been givenhe cases of mining that at the moment is detained for irregular issues. The first case was with the company Melina Changó, which, according to Ramos, began to extract material from the sector without the necessary permits. The community detected the issue and decided to secure 3,500 bags of material that was being illegally removed from the territory. Additionally, the mining company Natural Resources had carried out operations in a sector considered cultural heritage. In this sense, the Ministry of Culture suspended its activities because the operation caused the destruction of tolitas de Yumbos in the area.
According to those who carry out this initiative, the economic alternative for this sector is not in mining, but rather in organic agriculture, dairy production, agriculture, fruit, that supply the city for urban consumption. There is also a solid tourist activity, it is expected very soon to exceed the $14 million annually for bird watching tourism.
For Ramos, carrying out this query is powerful due to several factors. The first is that it comes precisely from the citizenry and with it it would be possible to intervene directly in the powers of the central government. If the answer to the question is yes, then the Ministry will no longer be able to make concessions in the future. But, in addition, the concessions granted may not be renewed.
Ramos explained that currently there are four ordinances of the Municipality of Quito that declare protection zones in the northwest. In addition, the area has been declared a biosphere reserve, but none of these conservation categories are sufficient to prevent mining exploitation.
Arcos, for his part, said that the consultation also manages to link the Chocó sector with the urban population. He stated that the Chocó sector represents a tourist destination, culinary culture, livestock, agriculture, activities that Quito people enjoy.
The text of the query has to do with four identical questions, but each one refers to a specific segment of mining: large, medium, small and artisanal. What is asked is: “Do you agree with the prohibition of the exploitation of metal mining in the areas of ecological, cultural importance and sustainable productive development of the Nono territories. Calacalí, Gualea, Covenant, Nanegalito and Nanegal that make up the Andean Chocó commonwealth? (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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