Tambogrande facts for kids

Tambogrande is a small town in northwestern Peru, located in the Piura Region. It's famous for its rich farmland, especially for growing lemons and mangoes. Tambogrande produces almost 40% of Peru's lemons, and farming provides jobs for most of its people. Many people in the area live simply, and the town is known for its strong community spirit.

In 1996, a Canadian mining company called Manhattan Minerals found a large amount of gold and copper under Tambogrande. They wanted to dig up these valuable minerals. The company asked the Peruvian government for permission to mine a huge area of land for four years. This plan would have meant moving thousands of people and could have harmed the environment. The government agreed to the company's proposal.

However, the people of Tambogrande were not happy. Even though the company promised new jobs and better roads, the community worried that a big mine would destroy their farms and precious water supply. They didn't want their town to be replaced by a giant pit.

This led to a big protest. Local leaders, the Roman Catholic Church, and international groups called NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) joined forces. In 2002, the NGOs helped organize a special vote, called a referendum, for the townspeople to decide if they wanted the mine. Almost everyone voted "No." Because of this strong opposition, the Peruvian government told Manhattan Minerals to stop its plans.

Why People Were Worried

The people of Tambogrande are farmers. They said that mining would destroy their soil, water, and crops forever. Farming wasn't just how they made money; it was their way of life, their culture, and who they were. A mining project would force them to leave their homes.

Many other mining projects in Peru, like Yanacocha and Cerro de Pasco, have caused serious environmental damage. There have been cases of pollution and harm to people because of mining accidents or poor management. The people of Tambogrande were afraid the same thing would happen to them, causing "irreversible damage" that couldn't be fixed.

Local groups like Piura Life and Agriculture, along with NGOs, argued against the mining company's claims that there would be little damage. They said the mine could cause deforestation (cutting down too many trees) because mining uses a lot of water. They also worried about pollution affecting their water supply and rivers like the Piura River. This would hurt their farming. They believed these risks were "too high."

An NGO called OXFAM even did its own study of the project. It found the same problems and said the government's study was wrong. People also worried if the government was being fair, because the government actually owned 25% of Manhattan Minerals.

The Company's Promises

Manhattan Minerals tried to convince the public that their project would help Tambogrande. The company's president, Americo Villafuerte, said their plan would solve many problems for children and adults in the town.

The company created a report that talked about the low living standards in Tambogrande, the poor soil, and health issues. They said mining would bring big changes and make the town's economy much better. Manhattan Minerals promised to provide new homes and jobs for anyone who lost theirs because of the mine. They said this would reduce any negative effects on the people.

How People Fought Back

To get more support and organize their efforts, the protesters formed a group called the Tambogrande Defense Front, or "The Front." It was made up of local leaders, farmers, and residents.

However, The Front had limited resources and reach on its own. That's where the NGOs came in. By partnering with non-governmental organizations, the voices of the people were heard much louder. NGOs helped in many ways:

• Some gave money and connected The Front with people around the world.
• Others helped the community plan their next steps against the mining project.

Together, they spread the message that the mine would only destroy Tambogrande's environment and way of life. Groups like OXFAM, CONACAMI, Piura Life and Agriculture, and the local Catholic Church were part of this effort.

The National Confederation of Communities Affected by Mining of Peru (CONACAMI) helped organize many people to protest mining projects across Peru. They believed these companies were taking advantage of Peruvian communities and putting their health at risk. CONACAMI worked with the community to launch a campaign with the slogan "without limes there is no ceviche" (a popular Peruvian dish made with limes). They also helped share information with the farmers from The Front.

OXFAM, an organization that works to end poverty, helped explain the problems with the government's environmental study. Before OXFAM, many people didn't even know such a study existed. OXFAM showed its flaws and did its own study, which highlighted the environmental risks. They shared this information with residents and other international groups.

One person involved said that without the NGOs, it would have been very hard for the people of Tambogrande to stand up to a big company like Manhattan Minerals. Most of the local members had only a basic education. But with the NGOs' help, they could focus their message and spread it widely. The success in Tambogrande inspired other protests across Peru.

Mining in Peru Today

Peru is still a very important place for mining, with some of the world's largest gold deposits. Mining makes up a big part of Peru's income, and the mining industry has a lot of influence in the country.

Some experts believe that mining companies and communities can work together for sustainable development (development that meets today's needs without harming the future). They suggest that if mining companies follow good practices, like those of Gold Fields, both the company and the people can benefit. In Tambogrande's case, it seems Manhattan Minerals didn't build trust with the community.

For example, Gold Fields started a new mining project in Yanacocha in 2004. There were big protests at first. But Gold Fields succeeded because they made sure to "listen more than talk" and worked to improve living standards for people in the area. This shows that listening to communities can lead to better outcomes for everyone.

Images for kids

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  Mine protest poster in Tambogrande.

See also

In Spanish: Tambogrande para niños