Campaign against the power plants
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
Straight to the Point! „Humboldt Alliance“
Campaigns and Events for a Healthy Environment
Landau 4. March 2019.
The mega-project from the Andes Iron Corporation has been rejected by the majority of the populace for some time now. The decision of the Environmental Court in Antofagasta and the plans of the Piñera government, to push large projects through without any consideration for the environment and the interests of the population, has outraged more and more people. Therefore, citizens have intensified their participation in campaigns in support of a healthy environment. Since the beginning of the year, environmental groups have organized many small and large campaigns and Events:
Civil Society Organizations Disgusted by Land Use Plan
Shame to the person who thinks badly of this. On 27. December – between Christmas and New Year’s, at the beginning of the summer vacation period – the Consejo Regional (advisory body of the Coquimbo Region) approved an intercommunity land use plan with thirteen votes to three. With this plan, it will be possible to industrialize areas that actually must be prioritized as protected areas. This plan would therefore allow port infrastructure to be built on the coast of La Higuera; the environmental importance of the region would thus be relegated to the background.1. an already-existing plan, as well as the collective, scientific literature regarding the coast and the ocean area of “La Higuera-Isla Chañaral”, were not taken into account at all.
2. the residents of the affected area were not involved in the decision, and their interests and needs were not respected.
3. the plan opens the way for a contaminating industry (see Cruz Grande and “Dominga”), at the expense of an ecosystem of global importance.
“Reform” of the Environmental Review in Chile Planned
-Sphenisco Organizes a Seminar on the Ramifications-
For over 20 years in the La Higuera Region (northern Chile), industrial projects have been planned that again and again threaten the “La Higuera-Isla Chañaral”ecosystem, and with it, the natural habitat of the Humboldt Penguin. It is SEIA’s task (the agency responsible for conducting the environmental compatibility assessment) to properly and in conjunction with subject-matter experts’ assessments, review and appraise the planned projects. In this process however, through intensive lobbying and maneuvering, corporations have continued to attempt to minimize imposed environmental conditions and to push through concessions from the government. The review processes usually take many years to complete, and are often finally decided in court.No Sacrificial Zones!
Pursuit of Profit is Against Nature – and Against Environmental Protection
For over 20 years, conservationists and environmentalists have been defending the habitat of the Humboldt Penguin and have demanded that the “La Higuera-Isla Chañaral“ ecosystem (northern Chile) be preserved through the creation of a marine protection area. Last year, it appeared that all the efforts at protection were finally paying off. The Coquimbo Regional Government and the cabinet of then-President Bachelet rejected the corporation Andes Iron’s proposed“Dominga” port and mining project. Shortly before the new administration took over in March, the Chilean Committee of Ministers unanimously voted in favor of the “Pinguino de Humboldt” Marine Protection Area. Bitter setbacks followed these advances. In May, the Chilean Supreme Court rejected the legal action against the Cruz Grande port project from Compania Minera del Pacífico S.A.-CMP, and the Chilean Environmental Court in Antofagasta granted Andes Iron’s appeal against the rejection of the “Dominga” project (see previous reports on this website). Environmentalists have since initiated legal action against these court decisions, before an international court against the approval of the Cruz Grande project, and at the Chilean Supreme Court against the “corrected” rejection of the “Dominga” project. Most recently, fishery unions have initiated legal action at the Chilean Constitutional Court. Many people view the verdict for “Dominga”as an expression of state despotism and a danger to the rule of law. This action by the Chilean court has disgusted and strengthened the citizens’and environmental movements.Consejo Consultivo
Landau 5. February 2018.
Consejo Consultivo Conjunto de Reserva Nacional Pingûino de Humboldt y Reserva Marina Choros-Damas is the advisory body of the Humboldt Penguin National Protection Area and the small protection zone of the Humboldt Penguin in the „La Higuera-Chañaral Island” region. Government institutions such as CONAF and Sernapesca, scientists from the universities of La Serena and Coquimbo, small fishing, farming, and tourist associations, as well as NGOs are all members. This advisory body is led by Rosa Rojas.
Consejo Consultivo’s Mission
Consejo Consultivo‘s mission is to have citizens – also in the form of its organizations – as well as scientists, participate in activities that contribute toward the preservation of protected species and their living conditions. Through civic activism, problems in the protection area and protection zone are to be solved. Information is regularly disseminated about the importance of the marine region La Higuera/Isla Chañaral.
Through participation of citizens in the past years, it has been possible for Consejo Consultivo to reduce tourist activities in the National Protection Area, and have measures instituted that enabled the tourism to be organized in a more sustainable fashion. The advisory body also supported measures for the protection of Choros Island; these measures resulted in the previously-introduced invasive species of European rabbit being purged from the island. As a result, the vegetation on the island was able to recover such that the breeding situation for the Humboldt Penguins and the Peruvian Diving Petrel improved (s.a. Breeding Situation on the Island of Choros Improved, La Serena, 1. February 2014).
In 2009, Consejo Consultivo had already taken the initiative for the creation of a marine area with limited use (Área Marina y Costera Protegida de Múltiples Usos- MACP-MU), and worked with the NGO Oceana, to submit an application with the regional environmental ministry for the approval of a marine protection area. Progress moves like a snail, such that the Coquimbo Regional Government first applied with the Chilean Federal Government this January for the creation of this marine protection area. It is possible that the 
parting government of President Bachelet will pass a law creating this area of protection.
Chairperson
Rosa Rojas (long-standing President of Movimiento en Defensa del Medio Ambiente-MODEMA)
Members
- regional governmental institutions:
CONAF (Environmental Protection Agency), Sernapesca (Fischery Agency), Gobernación Maritima (Naval Agency), Secretaria Regional Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (Regional Environmental Ministry), Bienes Nacionales (Ministry of Governmental Property), Municipalidad (The Community of La Higuera), Sernatur- Secretaria Regional de Turismo (Regional Tourism Agency), Dirección de Obras Portuarias (Port Building Authority) - scientists from the University of La Serena and the Catholic University of Northern Coquimbo as well as Ceaza (Center for Scientific Pioneering Studies in Desert Regions), also in Coquimbo
- organizations from civil society,
- small fishing councils from Los Choros and Punta de Choros,
- small fishing cooperatives,
- Federación de Pescadores de La Higuera (Federation of Fishers from La Higuera),
- Organisación de desarrollo y fomento del turismo-ODEFOT (Organization for Development and Promotion of Tourism),
- Committee for Drinking Water in Los Choros and Punta de Choros,
- Social and Environmental Protection Organizations,
- Olive Farmers of Los Choros,
- Bomberos de Punta de Choros (Fire Department from Punta de Choros), - NGOs
W.K.
translated by Erich Greiner
Fishers Open Letter to President Piñera
Sebastián Piñera Echeñique
President of the Republic
Dear Mr. President,