</image> <image source="map"></image> <label>Type</label> <label>Level</label> <label>Location</label> <label>Inhabitants</label> </infobox>The Esquel Anti-Mine Movement was an environmentalist movement active in Argentina from 2002 to 2006.
Background
In 2002 the local government granted a gold mining permit to US-Canadian mining company Meridian Gold. The permit allowed them to build a large open-pit gold mine 7 kilometres from the town of Esquel, Argentina. Concerns were raised about the potential for a cyanide contamination (used to leach gold from ore and highly toxic to humans) in the towns water supply and to nearby forests with endangered trees.[1]
Events
The movement started with the formation of a popular assembly to coordinate the action, composed of 3,000 people (in a town of 31,000). The assembly coordinated protests and invading town council meetings on several occasions. Courts ruled in the assemblies favour, and a referendum held in the town showed most people rejected the mine. Meridian refused to abandon the project, and the assembly illegally obtained recordings of a shareholder meaning discussing methods of astroturfing and bribes to win over the community. Leading to widespread anger and disgust.[1]
Results
Courts eventually blocked Meridian from construction the gold mine.[1]