Tambogrande
Encyclopedia
Tambogrande is a small town in the Piura Province
of the Piura Region
in northwestern Peru
that is most famous for successfully opposing a mining development in the area. With a population of 19,017 (1999 estimate), it is the main town in the Tambo Grande District
. The town of Tambogrande is quite poor with high unemployment. Its main industry is the growing of lime
s and mango
es on the very good land that surrounds the town.
Manhattan Minerals, a Canadian
mining company, owned the mineral rights below the town and had found a large copper
and gold
deposit and proposed a scheme that would see the townspeople moved elsewhere and a large mine constructed. In 1996 the Peruvian government agreed to the scheme.
Despite the promise of jobs and improved infrastructure the population balked at the proposal. They did not want to see the town replaced with a kilometer wide pit and were concerned that the mining operation could generate enough pollution to destroy the region's agriculture and limited water supply.
An unprecedented protest resulted, led by local leaders of the town and the local Roman Catholic Church
as well as international NGO
s. The decade long battle became violent at times, company machinery was vandalized and the leader of the protest murdered. In 2002 the government agreed to a referendum
and only 1.3% of the population voted in favour of the mine. In 2003 the project was officially cancelled by the government of Peru. In response the president of Manhattan Minerals, Graham Clow who had repeatedly agreed that if the people opposed the mine it wouldn't be built, was fired and the company has continued to try to convince the government of Peru to restart the project.
In 2006 a movie documenting the conflict in Tambogrande was released.
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/413144/Tambogrande-Mangos-Murder-Mining/overview
http://www.guarango.org/tambogrande
Piura Province
Piura is a landlocked province in the Piura Region in northwestern Peru. Its capital, the city of Piura, is also the regional capital. The province is the most populous in the region as well as its center of economic activity.- Boundaries :...
of the Piura Region
Piura Region
Piura is a coastal region in northwestern Peru. The region's capital is Piura and its largest port cities, Paita and Talara, are also among the most important in Peru...
in northwestern Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
that is most famous for successfully opposing a mining development in the area. With a population of 19,017 (1999 estimate), it is the main town in the Tambo Grande District
Tambo Grande District
Tambo Grande District is one of nine districts of the province Piura in Peru.-References:...
. The town of Tambogrande is quite poor with high unemployment. Its main industry is the growing of lime
Lime (fruit)
Lime is a term referring to a number of different citrus fruits, both species and hybrids, which are typically round, green to yellow in color, 3–6 cm in diameter, and containing sour and acidic pulp. Limes are a good source of vitamin C. Limes are often used to accent the flavors of foods and...
s and mango
Mango
The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
es on the very good land that surrounds the town.
Manhattan Minerals, a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
mining company, owned the mineral rights below the town and had found a large copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
and gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
deposit and proposed a scheme that would see the townspeople moved elsewhere and a large mine constructed. In 1996 the Peruvian government agreed to the scheme.
Despite the promise of jobs and improved infrastructure the population balked at the proposal. They did not want to see the town replaced with a kilometer wide pit and were concerned that the mining operation could generate enough pollution to destroy the region's agriculture and limited water supply.
An unprecedented protest resulted, led by local leaders of the town and the local Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
as well as international NGO
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
s. The decade long battle became violent at times, company machinery was vandalized and the leader of the protest murdered. In 2002 the government agreed to a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
and only 1.3% of the population voted in favour of the mine. In 2003 the project was officially cancelled by the government of Peru. In response the president of Manhattan Minerals, Graham Clow who had repeatedly agreed that if the people opposed the mine it wouldn't be built, was fired and the company has continued to try to convince the government of Peru to restart the project.
In 2006 a movie documenting the conflict in Tambogrande was released.
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/413144/Tambogrande-Mangos-Murder-Mining/overview
http://www.guarango.org/tambogrande