Event Title
Corporate social responsibility for whom? The case of Canadian mining in Guatemala
Description
Canadian mining companies have played a large role in mineral extraction around the world but especially in Latin America. A post-development approach is used to examine the ways in which the Canadian government and international institutions (such as the IMF and World Bank) encourage and support neoliberal reforms in post-conflict Guatemala. These reforms enable foreign investment through reduced taxes and deregulation of land tenure systems, among others, which attracts foreign mining companies. An analysis of secondary academic, media, and advocacy sources reveal accusations of human rights violations perpetrated by Canadian mining companies and violent evictions against Guatemala's indigenous Maya population. Through a case study of Vancouver-based Skye Resources operation in El Estor, Izabel, Guatemala, we explore the concept of corporate social responsibility from various perspectives, including the Canadian government policy position, Canadian mining companies, and the effected community of El Estor in Guatemala and argue that violations will continue when enforceable accountability measures are absent. The case study on Skye Resources and the accusations of human rights violations against mining companies is based on my participation in the 2006 Geography Field School to Guatemala.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
8-3-2008 8:00 AM
Subject - LCSH
Mineral industries--Social aspects--Guatemala--Case studies; Human rights--Guatemala--Case studies; Social responsibility of business--Canada--Case studies; Mineral industries--Government policy--Canada
End Date
8-3-2008 5:00 PM
Subjects - Names (LCNAF)
Skye Resources
Session
Political Geographies
Genre/Form
abstracts (summaries)
Type
event
Geographic Coverage
Guatemala; Canada
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Keywords
Guatemala, Canadian mining, human rights, development
Corporate social responsibility for whom? The case of Canadian mining in Guatemala
Canadian mining companies have played a large role in mineral extraction around the world but especially in Latin America. A post-development approach is used to examine the ways in which the Canadian government and international institutions (such as the IMF and World Bank) encourage and support neoliberal reforms in post-conflict Guatemala. These reforms enable foreign investment through reduced taxes and deregulation of land tenure systems, among others, which attracts foreign mining companies. An analysis of secondary academic, media, and advocacy sources reveal accusations of human rights violations perpetrated by Canadian mining companies and violent evictions against Guatemala's indigenous Maya population. Through a case study of Vancouver-based Skye Resources operation in El Estor, Izabel, Guatemala, we explore the concept of corporate social responsibility from various perspectives, including the Canadian government policy position, Canadian mining companies, and the effected community of El Estor in Guatemala and argue that violations will continue when enforceable accountability measures are absent. The case study on Skye Resources and the accusations of human rights violations against mining companies is based on my participation in the 2006 Geography Field School to Guatemala.