
Have a question about the climate? We're happy to give you some answers. Greenpeace.
Yes, I’ve got a climate question. What are you going to do with Pascua-Lama and the destruction of three important glaciers?? Here in Chile we have a very serious problem and it seems that nobody can hear us.
Pascua Lama is a big mining project of Barrick Gold Company which proposes a millionaire inversion during its construction and operations, but with a very high human and ecological cost. This mining project is located in The Andes Mountain between the Chilean and Argentinean international limit to 150 kilometers southwest of Vallenar city. And it is based on the exploitation of an open pit of mineral deposit to obtain gold, silver and copper concentrate. Since its beginnings, this project has been questioned for the negative environmental impacts that mining activities could generate in Huasco Valley. However, the Government of Chile has always supported Barrick Gold Company. For instance, few weeks ago, this enterprise finally obtained the last legal license, a planning permission which allows them to build all kind of facilities there. For many years, Pascua Lama has been the worst nightmare to many of us (ecologists, farmers, teachers, reporters, etc.) and it seems that never is going to have a happy ending. Here, in Chile, we have done many activities to stop Pascua Lama mining project. Programs, videos on TV and on the radio, marches on the streets (many times), straights, etc. are some of them. Nevertheless, we have being watching, with anger, the destruction of Toro I, Toro II and Esperanza. Three Andean Glaciers which are an important and invaluable source of water in our dry region. It is sad that, nowadays, these glaciers are seriously damaged because of Barrick´s mining activities. According to CONAMA, an important environmental office in Chile, there is a decrease in the surface of Toro I, Toro II y Esperanza glaciers, due to works that this company has being making in the sector. Since Barrick is working there, these glaciers have diminished from 65 hectares to 23 (more than 50%). And this is just the beginning of the destruction of Huasco Valley. I know that around the world we have serious problems with climate change. But here, we have three glaciers which have been covered with a thick layer of dust that has accelerate their melting. Barrick Gold Company has dug holes on these glaciers. They have used explosives to explore these glaciers. And, what are we doing about it?? Why are we allowing this catastrophe? The destruction of Toro I, Toro II and Esperanza is not an effect of Global Worming. It is just because we are only staring how Barrick gold company is destroying them. We are doing anything together to stop this corrupt Company. We can’t fight alone anymore, We need your help!!!!
Pascua Lama is a big mining project of Barrick Gold Company which proposes a millionaire inversion during its construction and operations, but with a very high human and ecological cost. This mining project is located in The Andes Mountain between the Chilean and Argentinean international limit to 150 kilometers southwest of Vallenar city. And it is based on the exploitation of an open pit of mineral deposit to obtain gold, silver and copper concentrate. Since its beginnings, this project has been questioned for the negative environmental impacts that mining activities could generate in Huasco Valley. However, the Government of Chile has always supported Barrick Gold Company. For instance, few weeks ago, this enterprise finally obtained the last legal license, a planning permission which allows them to build all kind of facilities there. For many years, Pascua Lama has been the worst nightmare to many of us (ecologists, farmers, teachers, reporters, etc.) and it seems that never is going to have a happy ending. Here, in Chile, we have done many activities to stop Pascua Lama mining project. Programs, videos on TV and on the radio, marches on the streets (many times), straights, etc. are some of them. Nevertheless, we have being watching, with anger, the destruction of Toro I, Toro II and Esperanza. Three Andean Glaciers which are an important and invaluable source of water in our dry region. It is sad that, nowadays, these glaciers are seriously damaged because of Barrick´s mining activities. According to CONAMA, an important environmental office in Chile, there is a decrease in the surface of Toro I, Toro II y Esperanza glaciers, due to works that this company has being making in the sector. Since Barrick is working there, these glaciers have diminished from 65 hectares to 23 (more than 50%). And this is just the beginning of the destruction of Huasco Valley. I know that around the world we have serious problems with climate change. But here, we have three glaciers which have been covered with a thick layer of dust that has accelerate their melting. Barrick Gold Company has dug holes on these glaciers. They have used explosives to explore these glaciers. And, what are we doing about it?? Why are we allowing this catastrophe? The destruction of Toro I, Toro II and Esperanza is not an effect of Global Worming. It is just because we are only staring how Barrick gold company is destroying them. We are doing anything together to stop this corrupt Company. We can’t fight alone anymore, We need your help!!!!
Yours.
Lesly Carreño Mercado
Chile

