Ecuador: On January 20, roughly 12,000 indigenous people, campesinos, environmental activists and others carried out protests in 11 provinces against a controversial new Mining Law. Three-quarters of these protesters engaged in a blockade of the Pan-American Highway in the country’s central highlands as an act of solidarity with communities in other regions of the country, where mining is more likely to take place.

On January 26, the Ecuadorian legislature gave final approval to the law. Although Ecuador has engaged in oil drilling for 40 years, it currently has no active large mines. Canadian mining companies in particular have pushed for the new law, which will open up the country for large-scale gold, silver, copper and other mineral mining.

Peru: Community members opposing the development of mines in the Peruvian Amazon took four mining employees and their two guests hostage on January 15, demanding that the government send inspectors to assess environmental damage caused by exploratory mining.

Colombia: The indigenous Enbera people of Colombia’s Choco region have stepped up their opposition to Muriel Mining Corporation’s exploration in their territory. After warning the company that if the machines are not withdrawn, they will simply be removed, more than 600 Enbera have occupied a hill within the exploration area.

from Intercontinenalcry.org: Rainforest Rescue has put together a letter you can send to Colombian officials (in Spanish), asking them to respect the Embera’s rights, stop the company’s activities, and end the ongoing militarization of the region. You can read and send the letter here.