Tracking Amazon’s Gold Rush – Agosto/Septiembre 2021

In August and September, efforts to contain illegal gold mining in Peru have continued, in some cases with interdictions taking place in buffer zones of protected areas. In Brazil, this activity has increased in protected areas and within lands belonging to indigenous people, as well as in other countries all over Latin America, as stated by the United States Senate. Additionally, mercury health issues continued to affect indigenous populations in Brazil and French Guiana. / Durante agosto y septiembre continuaron los esfuerzos para contener la minería ilegal de oro en Perú, incluyendo interdicciones en zonas de amortiguamientode áreas protegidas. En Brasil, esta actividad ha incrementado en áreas protegidasy dentro de territorio indígena, así como en otros países de toda América Latina, según ha declarado el Senado de Estados Unidos. Además, los problemas de salud relacionados con el mercurio siguen afectando a las poblaciones indígenas de Brasil y Guayana Francesa.According to one study, 17% of Brazil’s gold exports come from illegal mining. Comparably a report from the University of Minas Gerais identified that, between 2019 and 2020, almost a third of the country’s registered gold production was illegal or potentially illegal. / Según un primer estudio, el 17% de las exportaciones de oro de Brasil proceden de la minería ilegal. Complementariamente, un informe de la Universidad de Minas Gerais identificó que, entre 2019 y 2020, casi un tercio de la producción de oro registrada en el país podía ser considerada como ilegal o potencialmente ilegal.For more news, and to access a new in-depth report about the illegal gold mining situation in Colombia’s Amazon, scroll down. / Para más noticias, y acceder a un nuevo informe en profundidad sobre la minería ilegal de oro en la Amazonía colombiana, siga los enlaces más abajo. Best regards / Atentamente FZS Gold Group

In this edition / En esta ediciónHuman Rights / Derechos HumanosIllegal Mining / Minería IlegalIndigenous Peoples / Pueblos IndígenasMarket / MercadosMercury / MercurioProtected Areas / Áreas ProtegidasTrade / ComercioPrevious Editions / Ediciones Previas

333 people rescued from slavery in Brazil mines since 2008, exclusive report shows“More than 300 people have been rescued from slave-labor conditions at illegal mines across Brazil since 2008, an exclusive report by the Mining Observatory shows, with most of these outfits operating in the Amazon and mining for gold.”

A Vast South American Wilderness Is Under Siege From Illegal Mining“The third-place winner of the 2021 Yale Environment 360 Video Contest vividly depicts how, as the Venezuelan state collapses, the nation’s corrupt leaders are controlling — and profiting from — a flood of illegal mining in what was once one of South America’s wildest regions.”Loreto: cuenca del Nanay podría convertirse en el nuevo epicentro de minería ilegal, advierte Fiscalía“El pasado 27 de agosto, la Fiscalía Especializada en Materia Ambiental (Fema) de Maynas, en conjunto con Capitanía de Puertos de Iquitos, realizaron un operativo contra diversas embarcaciones de mineros ilegales que contaminan y destruyen la cuenca del río Nanay (Loreto).”Scars of illegal mining blight Brazil’s Amazon“Wildcat miners in Brazil are pinning their hopes on a new bill President Jair Bolsonaro has sent to Congress. The proposed legislation would open up indigenous reservations to commercial mining.”Exploring Illegal Mining in Colombia’s Amazon / La minería ilegal en la Amazonía colombiana“As gold prices have skyrocketed, criminal groups once solely dedicated to the trafficking of drugs and arms have moved into illegal mining.” / “A medida que los precios del oro se han disparado, los grupos criminales que antes se dedicaban exclusivamente al tráfico de drogas y armas han incursionado en la minería ilegal.”‘Everyone’s fleeing’: Brazil cracks down on illegal mining in Amazon – for now“Government is determined to show the world a new, greener face, but activists are skeptical the clampdown will have lasting impact”Amazon bears brunt of gold-prospecting surge, study shows“A new analysis of satellite images shows the extent of mining growth in Brazil, particularly small-scale gold prospecting in the Amazon region.”Senado de EEUU denuncia alza de minería ilícita en Latinoamérica“Senadores del oficialismo y la oposición en Estados Unidos denunciaron el jueves el «alarmante» incremento de la minería ilícita en Latinoamérica en la última década, condenando en particular al gobierno de Nicolás Maduro en Venezuela.”Illegal mining in the Amazon hits record high amid Indigenous protests“Satellite data confirm incursions on protected lands as Indigenous people fight for their rights — and recognition of their role in conserving forests.”

Madre de Dios: alertan deforestación por actividad extractiva dentro de comunidad nativa“Luego de realizar un sobrevuelo sobre la comunidad nativa Masenawa del pueblo harakbut, ubicada en el distrito de Madre de Dios de la provincia del Manu, se constató la presencia de personas realizando actividades ilegales dentro del territorio de ampliación de la comunidad.”Brazil’s Munduruku tribe haunted by mercury’s deadly threat“Recent testing showed Irene’s blood with one of the highest levels of mercury in their village of Sawré Aboy, by the banks of the Tapajós river in the Amazon rainforest. He suspected illegal gold mining had something to do with her illness.”Illegal mining on Brazil indigenous land up 500% in a decade“Illegal mining expanded by nearly 500% on protected indigenous reservations in Brazil in a decade, and by more than 300% on protected park lands, according to a new study.” Yanomami shaman sees tough times ahead for Brazil’s indigenous“Shaman Davi Kopenawa, chief of the Yanomami people who live on Brazil’s largest indigenous reservation, fears a pending Supreme Court decision on native land claims could worsen an onslaught of aggressive mining encouraged by President Jair Bolsonaro.”Mountains of gold, rivers of mercury: Poisoning of Guiana and the French Amazon“The IUCN World Conservation Congress taking place in the southern French city of Marseille this week hightlights the urgency for action in protecting the planet’s biodiversity and natural habitats. RFI speaks to Claudette Labonté, indigenous rights activist from French Guiana about Covid, illegal gold mining and the poisoning of French Amazonia’s rivers.”

Inflation-wary Germans are loading up on gold“Many gold investors might be fretting over the prospect of the Federal Reserve curbing monetary stimulus, but Germans are still loading up.”Dragons fly as Chinese millennials take a shine to gold“Sales of gold bracelets, pendants, earrings and necklaces that draw on dragons, phoenixes, peonies and other traditional Chinese patterns and symbols are flying among consumers, especially those in their 20s and 30s, helping drive a rebound in gold demand in the country after a pandemic-induced slump.”Gold price shoots higher on US labor data disappointment“Gold prices advanced past the key $1,750 level on Thursday as investors sought haven after a new labor report pointed to an uneven recovery in the US jobs market.”Jewelers sell $1 gold online as Indians warm up to internet buys“Jewelers in India have started selling gold for a little over $1 online after the pandemic upended sales, forcing them to reassess traditional ways of doing business.”

Int’l study exposes worrying levels of mercury poisoning in South Rupunini Region“But the most recent study on its presence in Indigenous communities was conducted in 2017 by the World Wildlife Fund. The international non-governmental organisation was able to capture through its studies, the extent of mercury poisoning in the South Rupununi.”Eradicating mercury use in mining a ‘challenge’ due to easy access to toxic chemical – GGMC Environmental Officer“Though mercury is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the top 10 most toxic chemicals to humans, it continues to be used in Guyana’s mining sector. It remains a prevalent feature in the sector despite the efforts of successive governments to eradicate or significantly limit its use in the industry.”Mercury Chasing the quicksilver / Mercurio una huella en la selva“One of the hidden doors for mercury to slip into the Amazon is the Guiana Shield region. Legal imports of the toxic quicksilver into Guyana have made it the nexus for smuggling mercury into neighboring countries like Suriname and beyond, where it’s being outlawed.” / “Una de las puertas ocultas para que el mercurio entre en el Amazonas es la región del Escudo de las Guyanas. La importación legal de esta sustancia tóxica a través de Guyana la convierte en el vínculo para el contrabando a países vecinos como Suriname, donde su venta está prohibida.”

Expansión minera ilegal amenaza el Parque Bahuaja Sonene y la Reserva Tambopata “Respecto a los dos primeros operativos, estos se realizaron en las zonas de amortiguamiento de la Reserva Nacional Tambopata y el Parque Nacional Bahuaja Sonene, los días 14, 15 y 17 de agosto, según informó la FEMA de Madre de Dios.”Realizan nuevo operativo contra minería ilegal cerca de Reserva Allpahuayo Mishana “Área protegida de Loreto sigue amenazada por dragas que contaminan el río Nanay, principal fuente de agua potable de la capital loretana.”

Illegal gold represents 17% of Brazil’s exports — study “Brazil exported 111 tonnes of gold last year, valued at $ 4.9 billion, mainly to Canada, Switzerland, Poland, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Italy, and India — and 19 tonnes, or 17% of that gold was illegally mined, according to a new study by Instituto Escolhas.”Rich countries may be buying illegal gold that’s driving Amazon destruction“Brazil is likely feeding international demand for gold with bullion tainted by violence, deforestation and pollution, given that almost a third of the country’s registered gold production is classified as illegal or potentially illegal, a new report shows.”

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