The Talamanca Anti-Oil Movement or Talamanca Anti-Oil Campaign refers to a massive campaign to completely ban oil drilling from the Talamanca region of Costa Rica from 1999 to 2002 led by indigenous groups and environmentalists.
Background
In November 1999, newspapers and local media outlets in Talamance informed residents that a deal had been broken between the Costa Rican government and US oil companies allowing them to begin drilling in the region.
Events
Angered by the fact that their communities had not been consulted in the deal, and foreseeing the ecological devastation and economic exploitation that would result from oil exploration in their region, Talamancan residents formed the Anti-Petroleum Action (ADELA) coalition to protest the concessions. Comprised of environmentalists, indigenous groups, indigenous rights organizations, religious groups, community groups, farmers’ organizations, fishermen’s unions, small-business owners, marine biologists, and eco-tourism organizations, ADELA sought to repeal the decision of allowing oil companies to drill in their communities. Over the next three years, a long line of lawsuits, public debates and protest marches were lead by ADELA. The oil company began also paying for its own media in the area, promising well-paying jobs to poor and unemployed residents. However, ADELA eventually won with superior numbers.
Result
The campaign not only resulted in a ban of oil drilling in the region, but also a total ban of future open-cut mining projects in Costa Rica. It also demonstrated the ability of community groups, organised workers, scientists, environmentalists and indigenous people to work together and defeat much more powerful governments and corporations.