Rights Action invites you to join an educational delegation to guatemala

July 7-15, 2012

MINING & "MEGA-DEVELOPMENT" BUSINESSES VS. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, INDIGENOUS & HUMAN RIGHTS

This educational delegation will investigate environmental and health harms and other human rights violations caused by large-scale "development" projects - particularly gold and nickel mining operations - in the context of Guatemala's historic and on-going impunity, corruption and lack of justice; exploitation and widespread poverty; and generalized lack of democracy.

Over 7 days (& 8 nights), delegation members will meet with development, environmental, indigenous and human rights activists and experts.  The group will travel by van to and spend a couple of days visiting with:  Mayan-Qeqchi communities in eastern Guatemala, suffering harms and violations caused by Canadian nickel companies (Hudbay Minerals, Skye Resources, INCO); and, to Mayan-Mam communities in western Guatemala suffering harms and violations caused by the Canadian gold mining company Goldcorp Inc.

Led by Grahame Russell, co-director of Rights Action, this trip will enable participants to learn first-hand about community development and indigenous and human rights struggles and organizing, about the unjust global "development" model, about particular problems caused by the global mining industry (as well as other "mega-development" industries such as hydro-electric dams, production of African Palm trees and sugar cane for bio-diesel fuels), and about how to be involved in education, activism and organizing work in support of community-controlled development, the environment and indigenous and human rights.

COST: US$800.  This covers: 8 nights of hotel; 3 meals a day for 7 days (a few days, there will only be 2 meals); transportation in-country; trip organization, guiding, translation; honorariums for some people and communities we meet with, etc.  Participants pay for their own travel to and from Guatemala.

DATES:  Arrive in Guatemala City on Saturday July 7; depart on Sunday July 15. (There are no delegation activities planned for these dates)

FOR WHOM:  Citizens and activists, donors, professors and educators, media, health, environment and legal professions, who are concerned about global exploitation-poverty-"development" / foreign interventions and repression / environmental destruction / ... and about community-based resistance and work for equality, justice and locally controlled development and environmental well-being.

INFORMATION, contact Grahame Russell: info@rightsaction.org, 860-352-2448, www.rightsaction.org

* * * * * * *

    * Please re-post and re-publish this information

    * Get on-off Rights Action's listserv: www.rightsaction.org 

    * Follow Rights Action on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RightsAction.org