A black coffin was consigned to the flames amid music and fireworks as dozens of people from Salvadoran communities that fear the impacts of gold and silver mining celebrated a "symbolic burial" of the Pacific Rim Mining Corporation, a Canadian-based company.
"We want the El Dorado mine to close," said 21-year-old Juan Carlos Moreno, who took part in the Dec. 5 demonstration held in downtown El Salvador.
The protest was held by the "I Reject Metal Mining" campaign launched by members of organisations opposed to the granting of mining concessions because of the threats to water resources and public health.
Pacific Rim hopes to start mining for gold and silver at the El Dorado mine in the village of San Isidro in the department (province) of Cabañas, about 65 kilometres from San Salvador, once it obtains the necessary permits from the government.
The company acquired the property, an area of 144 square kilometres, in 2002 when it ...