COPAE  2009-10-19 22:17   

Download our presentation leaflet in spanish (pdf, 690k).

Mission

Our mission is to accompany the demands of the people from San Marcos, that are harmed by the exploiting natural resources policies driven by the Guatemalan State, through the concessions and licenses given to transnational companies.

COPAE origins

Since September 2003, the Diocese of San Marcos through the Peasant Workers Movement (MTC by its initials in Spanish) got involved giving accompaniment to the communities of San Miguel Ixtahuacan and Sipakapa, that denounce were being pressured to sell their lands. In 2004 began a process of information that aim to make people aware of the social, cultural, economic and environmental risks that this industrial activity causes. Also, appeared the first signs of rejection to the implementation of this industry in the department.

In 2005 due to the repressive actions against the people, by the civilian national police and by the army, the highlands pastoral region, propose that the mining problem should be one of the priorities of the Diocese, and the Diocese Commission Against Mining was formed. This commission continued with the struggle and they develop the first community consultation held in Sipakapa on June 18th 2005.

Starting in January 2007 the Diocese of San Marcos decides to form the Pastoral Commission Peace and Ecology (COPAE by its initials in Spanish) which is the Social Pastoral commission in charge of supporting and accompanying the communities that are threatened or are resisting mega projects, chemical metal mining, and hydroelectric dams that the central government is propelling in San Marcos.

We realize our work with the organized bases of the parishes and with the organizations that the different commissions and pastorals have been working with.

The base of our work is to establish one common State of Law for everyone, through the implementation of democratic actions such as community consultations, pacific resistance, research, environmental monitoring and legal counseling to make the common good prevail over particular interests.

For Information and Contact:

Comisión Pastoral Paz y Ecología

Postal Address:
10ª. Av. 6 – 28 zona 4.
Oficina 21 Casa Diocesana
San Marcos, 12001.
Guatemala, C.A.

Phone/fax: (502) 7760 2309

Email: copae.sanmarcos@gmail.com
Website: www.resistance-mining.org