Everything Under The Sun: Demonstrations Against Mining Damages

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Demonstrations Against Mining Damages

Yang Yang performing in Munich.

Last month, while the US was focusing its attention on Presidential primary races, protests were occurring in Munich. The protest was against Chinese bank groups supporting the Mirador mining project, across the ocean, in Ecuador.

Protesters came from the YASUNIDOS coalition, ACCION ECOLOGICA, and the LATIN AMERICAN NETWORK OF WOMEN DEFENDERS OF SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS. They quietly occupied the lobby of Munich's Philharmonic Hall (Gasteig Munchen) during the intermission of a scheduled concert that featured Chinese pianist Lang Lang. They were holding posters and distributing leaflets.

Joined by German environmental groups, the Ecuadorian demonstrators were calling upon Lang Lang to demand that the banks funding the Chinese owners of Ecuacorriente SA, end their monetary support. This company was being held responsible for its role in the environmental and social damages to the CORDILLERA DEL CONDOR, situated in southern Ecuador.

Once the Hall's security personnel became aware of the demonstration, they ejected the groups, despite the developing interest of concertgoers.

The groups chose Lang Lang because of his being sponsored by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and the China Merchants Bank, two of the banks that are involved. In fact, he is Global Brand Ambassador for the latter bank.

The day prior to the Philharmonic Hall demonstrations, protesters had presented a letter directly to Lang Lang, where he was appearing to promote the concert at a Munich shopping mall. They also presented letters to the banks' Munich offices and to the Chinese consulate.

Sit-in in New Zealand, similar to the one in Munich.

The demonstrations were in support of the Shuar peoples who reside near the mines. There were promises to continue the groups' campaign at future concerts and through social networking.