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

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COinS
 
Mar 8th, 8:00 AM Mar 8th, 5:00 PM

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.