SCIC NEWSLETTER SASKATCHEWAN COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION SPRING 2014

EarthbeatDusty Shoes or Golden Slippers?Mining and its impact on the people of Guatemala and Canada

Umberto Velasquez of the Committee in Defense of Mother Earth and Life explains the circle of life in San Miguel Ixtahuacan, San Marcos, Guatemala. Photo: UCC/KAIROS Guatemala Study Tour

By Ellen Wood

As we travel on the Gua-temala exposure tour, I find there is so much

to see and to experience; it is a very different life from the one I live in Canada. We have met with many people who have shared their life stories related to resource develop-ment in their communities. We have spoken with wom-en from different Indigenous territories throughout Gua-temala. It is the women who hold the family together and keep the social fabric of the community intact. Women lovingly care for their chil-dren, their partners, their elders. Each day they gather wood for their stoves. They grow and harvest fruit and vegetables for their families and for their vending stalls in the market place or out-side their front door. There is no escaping the daily tasks of survival. In community, they care for one another, discuss the issues of the day includ-ing how their territory is be-ing treated by others who have a much different view of Mother Earth.

Mining for gold has moved into the territory of their el-ders. There are big secrets not shared with the commu-nity. Little is known about why the mining company was given a license to mine for gold without asking the people of the land their opin-ion or their permission. The

women and their communi-ties have been made invis-ible even though all can see them and their dusty shoes. They walk along the side of cement highways which are covered with gold. They walk in the rain gutter beside the highway for there is no side-walk. All golden highways lead to mining sites. As they walk day in and day out their dusty shoes show the con-ditions of their life and the often deadly struggles with Canadian mining operations. The golden highway is upon their door step where their children play. The various lev-els of government in Guate-mala pay for the golden high-ways, as economic develop-

Gold is extracted by open pit mining or by tunneling un-der the earth. Both methods suck the gold out of Mother Earth. Gold mining uses huge amounts of water, and dis-places tons and tons of earth to produce one gram of gold. Soon the water is unsafe to

ment is a priority for the gov-ernment’s elite. All must bow down to the gold empire.

They walk along the side of cement highways which are covered with gold. They walk in the rain gutter beside the highway for there is no sidewalk. All golden highways lead to mining sites.

drink; people’s livelihoods are threatened. The greed for gold and the return for share-holders are at the expense of the people whose territory has been destroyed. And still the women walk with their dusty shoes to bring about hope and right relationships with those who destroy life. The women are focused on respect, dignity and equality.

I am a member of the United Church of Canada faith com-munity. I am also a contrib-utor to and eventual bene-ficiary of the United Church pension fund. I know that our pension board invests in one of the companies that is ac-tive here in Guatemala. I am deeply troubled, for I seek to walk in harmony with the women who walk with dusty shoes. I can see that my dusty shoes of solidarity with the women of Guatemala are now sprinkled with gold dust.

God has put the dusty shoes of Guatemalan women in our hearts and our future ac-tions. I, as one among many, will work to divest from gold-mining companies – to rid ourselves of the golden slippers – and to continue to walk in the dusty shoes of the women of Guatemala.

Ellen Wood is a grain, cattle and apple orchard farmer as well as an ordained United Church (UCC) minister from Richard, Saskatchewan.

Earthbeatis a publication of the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooper-ation. SCIC is a coalition of organ-izations involved in international development and committed to the recognition of the dignity of all people and their right to self-de-termination, to the protection of the world’s fragile environment, and to the promotion of global un-derstanding, cooperation, peace and justice.

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SCIC REPORT

2 SCIC Earthbeat Spring 2014

Program undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided

through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development

Spring has arrived, and with that a new year for SCIC. While we have just said farewell to Kaylee Mitch-ell, our practicum student with the University of Regina Justice Studies program, we’re looking forward to a new season working to bring Saskatchewan people together to create for a more just and sustain-able world. The SCIC team is busy planning for the next five years, and we’re excited about some new and innovative opportunities, so stay tuned!

Community EducationOnce every month during the fall and winter, SCIC joins with partners to host the Toolkit Workshop Se-ries, equipping leaders in our com-munities with the knowledge and skills they need to be more effec-tive in their work. Our winter 2014 workshops were a big hit, (with two selling out!) including Proj-ect Based Budgeting, Facilitating Effective Meetings, Intro to Social Return on Investment Evaluation, and Governance 101 for volunteer board members. We’re looking forward to offering even more cru-cial (and low cost!) skills training for community-builders across the province in the fall.

Earthbeat: The Mining IssueControversy around resource extraction and development has existed for decades. However, this crucial issue has been shoved back into the spotlight recently due to a renewed focus on harnessing resources for development. At SCIC’s Gathering of Global Minds Discussion Series, we dove deep into these issues, analysing how human rights, community consultation, colonialism, and corporate social and responsibility are all balanced (or not) in the name of development.

This issue of SCIC’s Earthbeat examines the current context of this crucial issue as human rights organizations, development NGOs, local communities, private sector businesses, and funding agencies continue to debate how best to make progress toward our shared goals of improving the lives of the worlds poor.

International Development Week During International Development Week, we were inspired to see so many people getting in-volved across the province. SCIC held 10 diverse events which saw a total of 991 people attend. Our online poetry contest garnered roughly 4000 views on YouTube (If you haven’t seen the amazing spoken word performances, check out youtube.com/SCICYouth). Three inspiring classrooms in Outlook, Regina and Vibank were profiled through video, also now on YouTube. 16 municipalities officially proclaimed IDW this year, in addition to the Province of Saskatche-wan officially recognizing the week.

Mayor Deb Higgins and Vicki Nelson sign the City of Moose Jaw’s official International Development Week proclamation at City Hall.

SCIC Earthbeat Spring 2014 3

By Jessa Pillipow

In recent decades, resource extraction companies have increasingly come un-der fire for unethical actions in all cor-

ners of the world. Almost 75% of the world’s junior mining companies are headquartered in Canada, meaning that criticism against these companies reflects on Canadians as well. A 2009 report com-missioned by the industry itself found that over the previous 10 years, “Cana-dian companies have been the most sig-nificant group involved in unfortunate incidents in the developing world,” in-cluding community conflict, environmen-tal degradation and unethical behavior. These companies have been challenged by local communities, non-governmen-tal organizations (NGOs) and the media for failing to uphold international human rights standards by, among other actions, engaging in violence against local peo-ple who speak out against mining in their communities, and failing to get proper consent from Indigenous communities to develop mines on their territories.

In response, some companies have incor-porated human rights language into their policies, creating the public image that they place just as much importance on socially and environmentally ethical prac-tices as they do on making profits. A quick visit to many of these companies’ web-sites will connect you with policies and reports on standards like, “corporate so-cial responsibility”, “responsible mining”, and “community development”. Howev-er, the apparent high standards of Cana-dian companies operating in the devel-oping world, and the continued reports of human rights abuses don’t match up. So what’s the missing link? At this point, human rights mechanisms (such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples or the Internation-al Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 169) have been created for nations, not for companies. These giants of industry float just below the surface, not quite ac-countable in their home country (Canada in this case), but not bound by host coun-try laws either. Companies set their own standards, and even if they do break them

Lining up for a community vote against mining in San Juan Ostuncalco, Guatemala in 2011. Photo: Jo5h H

Smoke and Mirrors: Mining and the Language of Human Rights

there are no consequences for these vio-lations.

For example, looking at the human rights policies from the three most prominent Canadian mining companies operating in Guatemala – Goldcorp, Hudbay Miner-als and Tahoe Resources – you find that they each have very different approach-es to talking about and implementing hu-man rights policies. Hudbay, which walks the middle line, uses the language of hu-man rights by “recognizing” that there are “important cultures, histories, and customs of Indigenous communities” where they operate. However, they don’t actually reference any international hu-man rights standards or conventions that set out rules for operating in Indigenous territories (such as those listed above). Tahoe Resources uses the language of hu-man rights the least in their policies, rare-ly even mentioning the words. They are also the only company out of the three that neglects to reference Indigenous communities entirely. This results in inci-dents like those surrounding Tahoe’s Es-cobal project, where the company claims that it has received social license to oper-ate, despite the fact that communities in the area have held referenda voting 93%-99% against chemical mining exploration.

On the other side of the policy spec-trum, Goldcorp talks about human rights the most, actually naming seventeen dif-ferent international human rights stan-dards which they say “inform their com-mitments” to human rights. By nam-ing these standards, Goldcorp creates a stronger image of being a socially respon-sible company. However in reality, none of their policies require them to take ac-tion, which means that Goldcorp’s “com-mitment” to high ethical standards has no teeth. The result is more protests and vio-lent conflicts with local communities.

As long as the protection of human rights remains both voluntary and costly, we will continue to see violations. While several groups are working on campaigns to en-sure mandatory minimum compliance standards are met by Canadian compa-nies, there is strong opposition from the industry, which is pushing back and asking to define their own voluntary standards. As Canadians, we should be concerned that our own companies have been un-willing to take human rights violations se-riously. We should be demanding more from these companies and our govern-ment to ensure that human rights and hu-man lives are not sidelined in the name of profit.

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While private-sector partner-ships for development are not new, the high-profile funding of mining compa-

nies and NGOs by CIDA in 2011 ushered in a new era for development cooperation in Canada, one which is still fiercely being debated.

While some see this as the future of devel-opment, many Canadians continue to be deeply troubled by the linking of Canada’s development assistance to private busi-ness interests, and in particular, funding an industry which has had such a long and dark history abroad. Critics see it as a shift away from the best models of develop-ment which have been rooted in sustain-able, community-led systems that focus

on the poorest of the poor. This transition was also controversial because it came on the heels of a refocusing of Canada’s coun-tries of priority, resulting in the diversion of funding away from development proj-ects in low-income countries and towards resource rich middle-income countries, the majority in which Canadian compa-nies have mining interests and projects.

The issue is rooted in a larger debate re-garding Canada’s role in the world, and our impact on our global neighbours. In 2009, the federal government began to emphasize the need to improve the corporate social responsibility of the Ca-nadian extractive industry in response to the negative reputation of Canadian companies abroad (In particular, Canadi-

an companies have been implicated in environmental degradation, rape, mur-der, ignoring Indigenous sovereignty, bribery, and even fueling local military conflict). As part of this strategy, they also began to refocus Canada’s overseas development assistance in order to promote closer relationships between NGOs and the private sector, to align Canadian foreign aid with Canadian economic interests, and to strengthen the capacity for developing countries to benefit from resource development. In 2011 CIDA announced funding for three pilot projects which directly partnered mining companies and NGOs to deliver skills training, education, nutrition and sanitation projects, often in communi-ties near mining operations.

But what of these partnerships? They were announced as pilot projects: so what types of results have been achieved since 2011, and is good devel-opment happening? What lessons have been learned so far?

The WUSC-Rio Tinto project, which re-cently concluded in January of this year, focused on strengthening village com-mittees and local governance in Ghana by training teachers and village leaders, and providing improved access to wa-ter sanitation for schools and commu-nities. The project has led to increased participation in community matters and strengthened local governance and cru-cial services, like education. Specifically, a District Development Forum was held and attended by people from 12 com-munities in the region; 126 teachers were trained in classroom challenges and gender issues; and 70 people were trained in water sanitation measures. Most notably, community members were able to successfully cut short an illegal mining operation due to training they received on transparency in the extractive sector. Important to note though, that during the course of this partnership, Rio Tinto sold its assets in the region to a Chinese company, but maintained its funding commitment.

Where AreLESSOnS LEARnED fROM

SCIC Earthbeat Spring 2014 5

Mid-term results from Plan Canada and Iamgold’s partnership in Burkina Faso indi-cate that they have made significant prog-ress on the project goals to provide voca-tional training for young people to better transition to the job sector. A study was car-ried out in order to determine which trades would best provide youth with employment opportunities. Explanations of whether this study would promote primary employment in the mining industry are conflicting, es-pecially given Iamgold’s past labour issues in Burkina Faso prior to this agreement. However, enrollment in non-formal basic education centers has increased by 96% from 2012 to 2013. A Corporate Social Re-sponsibility network between government, NGOs, and mining companies has also been created to support capacity building, trans-parency and knowledge sharing. However, Plan CEO Rosemary McCarney has indicated that Plan will likely not participate in such a partnership again because of the intense backlash they received from their donors.

Barrick and World Vision worked together prior to the CIDA collaboration, which aims to work with the local government in Peru to ensure mining revenue contributes to sustainable development. The project also focuses on consultation with community members, and supporting people to start local businesses. As of 2013, 21 small busi-ness projects have been approved, and a consultative space that brings together community stakeholders has been strength-ened. In addition, many training sessions and workshops focusing on participatory planning have taken place. However, the concern that these types of partnerships aren’t able to actually address the negative impacts of mining in developing countries has come to the forefront in Peru. Local leaders have opposed Barrick’s partnership with World Vision, arguing that it cannot address the abuses already committed, and does not foster the recognition of Indige-nous rights.

Outside of the pilot partnerships, the fed-eral government continues to promote closer working relationships between the extractive sector, local governments, and

NGOs in order to boost developing coun-tries’ mining sectors as a form of devel-opment assistance. Some of the mecha-nisms include establishing the Canadian International Institute for Extractive In-dustries and Development based out of the University of British Columbia. Addi-tionally, the Andean Regional Initiative for Promoting Effective Social Responsi-bility has been established in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia to support sustainable development projects for communities living near extractive operations, to im-prove dialogue between communities and the private sector, and – perhaps most controversially – to train local government officials in reforming their mining policies. Funding has also been distributed to help clear the way for resource development by training local governments in preventing conflict over mineral resources.

Whether the positive results of these pilot projects are a sign of successful partnerships, or simply of the NGOs’ expertise in community development, is still yet to be seen. The sustainability of these results is also in question given the conflicting goals of parties seeking primarily short-term profit and those invested in long-term community de-velopment, as highlighted by the sale of Rio Tinto’s mining assets in Ghana.

While this model has the potential to ensure that those with the most exper-tise in development and with long-term relationships in the host countries are leading the development work, it’s still unclear how these relationships will be impacted when communities don’t want the type of development offered by resource extraction, especially if companies begin to invest more of their own funding into the NGOs.

What is apparent is that despite criti-cism, these relationships have opened discussion about these multifaceted is-sues between mining companies, NGOs, local communities and the Canadian public. Groups are working in several dif-ferent forums, ranging in focus from in-novating partnerships and defining best practices in governance, to lobbying for transparency, legal protections, and accountability for vulnerable communi-ties, and even divestment from mining companies with terrible track records. However, overall opinions continue to be fiercely split between those who be-lieve that this new era can achieve more focused and sustainable results, and those who believe that there is a funda-mental difference between furthering Canada’s economic interests abroad and improving the lives of the poorest of the poor.

MInInG-nGO PARTnERSHIPSWe now?

6 SCIC Earthbeat Spring 2014

Solidarity with El Salvador

Experiencing Global Citizenship firsthand

Luther students pose with one of their hosts and a young boy from Carasque, a commu-nity located on a mountain targeted by Pacific Rim for a potential mining development.

“As an individual this trip did not make me a better student or a nicer person, but an educator, someone who will share personal experience and stories to raise awareness.”

“This experience has taught me that I need to think about all the people who will be affected by my decisions.”

Luther College High School is one of three Saskatche-wan schools profiled this year through SCIC’s Global Class-rooms in the 306. In the winter of 2014, these students took part in a global learning im-mersion program, which culmi-nated in an eight day trip to El Salvador. The grade 12 religious studies class is an innovative ex-ample of how global education, justice, and solidarity can be in-tegrated into the high school curriculum.

By Pastor Larry Fry

I had been frustrated for a long time in attempt-ing to get my high school students’ hearts en-gaged within the confines of the regular reli-

gious studies classroom. I was looking for an in-ternational experience that would challenge and excite students, one that stressed education over charity, and would be affordable and safe. So, I was all ears when my pastor returned from a trip to El Salvador excited about the potential offered by that Christians for Peace in El Salvador. I wasn’t sure Canadian parents would be as enthusiastic, but we had 24 students sign up that first year! We have just returned from our third immersion pro-gram; it’s the best thing I have ever done for my students at Luther College High School.

Included on this page are some of my students’ reflections upon returning home. They tell me that we have been successful in developing both their minds and hearts.

“Through this experience I have learned that others face the same things as my family (Myammar refugees). I felt I was not alone, but that these people have had to fight for their freedom as have my own people.”

“Whatever country we are learning about in class I am always able to make connections to El Salvador. I see history now as the stories and lives of real people.”

The program exposes students to a variety of so-cial justice issues impacting El Salvadoran youth such as gang violence, emigration, access to ed-ucation, water, and food security. The program also offers the opportunity to investigate the potential impacts of metallic mining by Canadi-an companies, both through visits with agencies and through a rural stay with host families in Car-asque, a community near the Honduran border in an area targeted for a gold mine. The rural stay is an important feature, as our hosts have helped us gain a much deeper, more personal understand-ing of what solidarity means for sustainable de-velopment.

“We learned the difference between charity and real help. Our missionary work was actually ‘reverse mission’; the people of El Salvador were actually the ones helping us! My real work begins when I get home.”

“This course helped open my eyes to the many injustices in the world.”

Upon return from the trip, students are required to apply their learning to an action project in their own commu-nity. Some students have gotten seri-ously involved with Amnesty Interna-tional, while others are pursuing glob-al, international, or development study majors at university. Last year’s class produced a video which was shown at the national Lutheran Church conven-tion; that same convention adopted a social justice statement with regards to resource development. The video was produced to give local people of El Salvador a voice to tell their story.

“Salvadorans stand up for their community against mining companies; I can stand up for my community and what I believe in.”

SCIC Earthbeat Spring 2014 7

SCIC MEMbER PROfILE

By Jennifer Henry, Executive Director of KAIROS

Miguel’s words were polite but very direct. He said them through a translator but the meaning was

crystal clear: “Do you know that the mining companies affecting us in Latin America are Canadian?”

Miguel is an Indigenous leader from Gua-temala, but earlier in the week Romanian church representatives were talking about the damaging impact of Canadian mining in a bible study on the prophet Amos. And then there was a Bishop from the Democratic Re-public of Congo, and friends from the Philip-pines, and so on…

The extractive industry is the face of Cana-da. As we come together at the 10th World Council of Churches Assembly in Busan, Ko-rea, our colleagues in the global ecumenical movement want to know how we will work with them to hold these companies to ac-count for human rights violations and eco-logical harm.

This challenge, even when said gently, is hard to hear. I am deeply grateful for the work we have done together to date, as well as for the work to come. I am able to talk about the many resolutions that address mining from our member churches, about the ecumenical mining conference hosted in Canada in 2009, about our mining video, and about education and campaigns. I can say these things because of the commitment of Canadian church people working with others in the social movements, and it helps, but it never feels like quite enough.

Canada, as home to the majority of the world’s mining and mineral exploration com-panies, has a duty to be a leader in corporate accountability in the extractive sector. Sad-ly, Canadian law has not kept pace with the globalization of the mining industry. When people in other countries are harmed by Ca-nadian corporate activity, they cannot seek justice in Canada.

Communities, workers and Indigenous peo-ples are struggling to defend their rights and protect watersheds and ecosystems as min-ing, oil and gas companies expand into more

KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives

Tanis Desjarlais, from Kawacatoose First Nation in Saskatchewan, stands in front of Gold-corp’s Marlin mine in Guatemala during a study tour hosted by KAIROS and the United Church of Canada in 2013. Photo: KAIROS/Rachel Warden

remote and ecologically sensi-tive places. Citizens are advo-cating for stronger laws in their own countries to regulate min-ing activities. Through our glob-al partnerships, KAIROS sup-ports these efforts to hold these industries accountable. Howev-er, in many cases, enforcement is weak or non-existent and vi-olations occur with impunity. As Canadians, we also have a role to play in bringing forward real accountability measures to gov-ern the international activities of Canadian companies.

KAIROS is an ecumenical social justice organization of eleven Canadian churches and reli-gious organizations. It focuses on Indigenous rights, interna-tional human rights and ecolog-ical justice. KAIROS deliberates on issues of common concern, advocates for social change and joins with people of faith and goodwill in action for social transformation.

KAIROS is participating in a national cam-paign to make Canada “Open for Justice.” Together with our partners in the Canadi-an Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA), we are inviting you to join our call for two new accountability mechanisms in Canada:• An extractive-sector Ombudsman with the power to independently investigate complaints and make recommendations to corporations and the Government of Canada; AND• Legislated access to Canadian courts for people who have been seriously harmed by the international operations of Canadi-an companies.These two mechanisms, when enacted, will offer new avenues for people from oth-er countries to seek justice. We need these mechanisms to repair Canada’s tarnished reputation internationally and prevent more conflicts and abuses in the future. Let’s make Canada Open for Justice! Visit www.kairoscanada.org/take-action/open-for-justice/

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Upcoming Opportunities & Events

8 SCIC Earthbeat Spring 2014

WED, MAY 28Gathering of Global Minds Discussion Series – Global Justice and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program7:00 PM, The Artful Dodger Café, 1631-11th Ave., REGINA

For centuries, migration has been chosen by people looking for a better life. Canada’s Tem-porary Foreign Worker Program was touted as a win-win both for Canadian businesses suffering labour shortages and for develop-ing countries that benefit from remittances sent home. But migrant dreams for a better life and improved standards of living are too often quashed by exploitation, racism, and widespread reports of abuses. Now this con-troversial program is under the spotlight once again. What are the implications of this polar-izing program? What alternatives exist that ensure fair pay and safe working conditions for all? How can Saskatchewan be a welcom-ing province for new-comers, and contribute to genuine development?

SAVE THE DATES!AUGUST 21-245th Annual Generating Momentum: Youth Activist Leadership Training CampCamp Easter Seal, MANITOU BEACH, SK

This exciting four-day training opportunity provides Saskatchewan’s young leaders and activists aged 18-29 with the practical skills, knowledge, and networking opportunities necessary to make a difference in your com-munity and around the world.A retreat-style weekend, workshops focus on uniting progressive voices and exploring the interconnected societal and economic systems that shape, constrain, and help us. We aim to create an inclusive, self-reflective, interactive, and creative space within which participants can to understand and fight all

forms of oppression.If you are passionate about social, global, and environmental justice, this camp is for you! Watch for Registration & Work-shop Details at generatingmomentum.rpirg.org

MON, OCTOBER 27Dr. Vandana ShivaREGINA (Time & Location TBD)

This fall, SCIC is ecstatic to be welcom-ing Dr. Vandana Shiva, world-renowned food-security activist, ecofeminist, phys-icist, philosopher, and pioneering glob-al leader to speak in Regina. Dr. Shiva is changing the way the world thinks about food sovereignty, environmental sustainability, and cooperative systems

of knowledge, production and con-sumption. By combining sharp in-tellectual inquiry with courageous grassroots activism, Vandana has in-spired change and empowered oth-ers through her optimism, strength and unwavering determination. Mark your calendar, and learn more about Dr. Vandana Shiva’s expansive work at eviltwinbooking.org/speak-ers/dr-vandana-shiva/

Remember to follow SCIC on Face-book or Twitter, or sign up for emails to stay up-to- date with global justice events and opportunities across the province.

Generating Momentum 2013 participants on the steps of Camp Easter Seal.