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A further Stage Win and a Huge Question Mark
Landau, 9 February 2020.
On 7 February we published the text "A further Stage Win“ here: „Five years ago, on 30 January 2015, the Cruz Grande Port Project of the company CMP (Compania Minera del Pacífico S.A.) was approved. At that time Sphenisco, together with Chilean environmentalists, called attention of President Michelle Bachelet and relevant authorities to the dangers for the sensitive maritime region and to serious shortcomings in the environmental impact assessment. Without any success.
For unknown reasons the company CMP has not started the construction of the Cruz Grande Port in the last few years. The approval was limited to five years and expired end of last month. Therefore, the NGO Oceana is requesting an official confirmation from the Ministry of the Environment of the Coquimbo region that the deadline for the construction project has expired and thus also the approval is no longer valid. Sphenisco rejoices with the inhabitants of the coastal villages in the municipality of La Higuera and their fellow campaigners in Chile.“
All facts are correct and yet, unfortunately, there is a significant snag in the good news, as we have learned in further research. The company CMP (Compania Minera del Pacífico S.A) could not or did not want to start building the port. Instead, they intend to start planting trees, a compensatory measure to which the company was committed when the port was approved. They applied for planting trees to CONAF (Corporación Nacional Forestal) in Coquimbo in January, which was within the deadline. However, the plot which has been chosen to be planted is too small for the required number of trees. So far CONAF has not decided on the application. CMP now takes the view that the construction of the port began with the application and that therefore the licence has not expired. Given the current orientation of government policy, it is unfortunately not impossible that CMP will get away with this "trick" at CONAF and the Ministry of the Environment. Oceana and the environmental movement view things differently. They are considering legal action and want to provide clarity with the initiative at the Ministry of the Environment..
CMP's (unsettled) hesitation has improved the prospects of saving the precious ecosystem, so it is already a stage win. To preserve it, however, a lot of work and commitment are still required in the future.
W.K.
translated by Angelika Veelken
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Between Repression and Reform
Landau, La Serena 5. November 2019.
Everyone is surprised: the government, the political parties, the non-parliamentary opposition, and probably even more so the Chlilean citizens. Since the middle of October they have demonstrated in masses, and demanded comprehensive reforms. The grassroots movement has not (until now) been represented by any leader or particular organization. And although many protests have proceeded peacefully, it nevertheless comes again and again to physical disputes between security personnel and those protesters with a high propensity to violence. As previously during earthquakes and tsunamis, criminals have used the protests as an opportunity to plunder.Actually, Sphensico wanted to report here in detail about the conference ‟Áreas Marinas Costeras Protegidas a dos años del IMPAC IV (the status of the marine protection area two years after the Global Conference on Marine Protection Areas – IMPAC IV). Nancy Duman and her staff (Paola Vargas and Valeria Portus) had prepared for the seminar for months, and conducted it on October 3rd. Philipp Robert (a French specialist from the IUCN on Marine Protection Areas), Chilean scientists and environmental protectionists reported to the 150 participants and discussed with them the further developments relating to the Humboldt Archipelago. In impressive fashion, the meaning of a marine protection area in this valuable coastal and marine region was again identified and perspectives regarding sustainable use were presented. The conference was also live streamed. Simultaneously, there was an exhibition at de Armas Square. Sphenisco had invited local action groups to report on their concerns, and provided them a place to offer their products. After the conference, Nancy Duman´s small team was exhausted, and busy with making sure to politically and publically make use of the positive energy of the event.
Partial Victory! Chilean High Court Rejects the ‟Dominga”Project.
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Summary of the Efforts for a Marine Protection Area
- Sphenisco organises a conference in La Serena -
The Coquimbo Region has been waiting since March for the decision from Chile’s highest court on “Dominga” (s.a. Article from 5. March), and along with that, also on the issue of the ̏Humboldt Archipelagoʺ. During the preliminary stages of the UN Climate Conference (COP 25) in Santiago, it appeared that the Chilean government was making efforts to prevent negative press, so as not to affront either potential investors or environmental protectionists. The conflict in the Coquimbo Region was, as much as possible, not mentioned, and they were hoping that it would be forgotten.
Arguments Against ‟Dominga”
La Serena, Landau 06 July 2019
On 11 June, 2019 Rosa Rojas (from the citizens action group, MODEMA) and Nancy Duman (from Sphenisco) spoke at the Coquimbo Regional Government’s Environmental and Energy Commission under the topic,‟The Infeasibility of the Dominga Mining and Port Project” (see PDF file). The presentation briefly summarized the most important arguments. The majority of the advisors did not allow themselves to be convinced by these arguments (naturally), but were nevertheless obviously impressed with the presentation.
translated by Erich Greiner