A House of Commons e-petition created by APG Steering Committee member Arturo Esquerro-Cañete and supported by Member of Parliament Elizabeth May is NOW LIVE!
It calls on the Government of Canada to respect the rights of the Xinka Indigenous People to self-determination and decision-making about the Escobal mine in Guatemala, owned by Vancouver-based Pan American Silver.
As we heard during the visit of Xinka defenders Marta Muñoz and Marisol Guerra last fall, the Xinka have been courageously organizing for over 15 years - amidst smear campaigns, death threats and lethal attacks - seeking to permanently shut down the Escobal silver mine in order to prevent more devastating impacts. Last May, following a court-ordered consultation process, the Xinka announced they would refuse to give consent for the mine. Yet Pan American Silver has ignored this decision, failing to report it to shareholders and deliberately mischaracterizing the consultation process as a negotiation towards the re-opening of the mine.
We need at least 500 signatures by April 23 to ensure the petition is tabled in Parliament and the government is required to provide a formal response. We have already surpassed this number and aim for many more signatures to send a strong message to government decision makers.
This is a vital way to show your support for the rights of the Xinka People!
👉 Please sign the petition here and share with your networks. [Note: be sure to watch your email for a message from the House of Commons asking you to confirm your signature. Without this, your signature will not count. If you don't see this email, check your spam folder.]
👉 Need motivation? Watch this powerful press conference on Parliament Hill when Marta and Marisol, accompanied by Elizabeth May and APG's Viviana Herrera of MiningWatch Canada, explained why they are calling on the Canadian government to support the closure of the Escobal mine.
