Around the world, people who defend the environment, water and land are often threatened, criminalized, imprisoned or even killed. Honduras is no exception and is one of the five most dangerous countries in the world in this respect.
The communities of Guapinol and the San Pedro sector in northern Honduras are well aware of this. Their lives have been turned upside down ever since an iron ore mine opened in Carlos Escaleras National Park.
If you missed our campaign launch webinar, which took place on September 16, 2023 with our guests from Honduras Elvin Hernández and Juana Zúniga, feel free to watch the recording HERE.
To learn more about the campaign, attend one of our workshops hosted by our animation team across Canada.
By February 25, 2024 (i.e., two years after the Guapinol Eight were released), we want to send 32,000 signatures (1,000 for each of the 32 people charged at the Guapinol camp) on a letter to the Honduran ambassador to Canada.
Your signatures will add weight to the letter, which presses the Government of Honduras to:
The Montaña de Botaderos National Park is created to protect biodiversity and ecosystems, including the sources of 34 rivers.
Communities mobilize against mining in the park.
Mining begins, polluting waterways including the Guapinol river.
Protesting the pollution, the community occupies a municipal building in Tocoa for 11 days.
Protestors establish the Camp Guapinol for Water and Life.
18 defenders are charged with usurpation, damage and the illegal appropriation of public space.
The police and army violently break up the peaceful Guapinol camp.
Jeremias Martinez, one of the Guapinol Eight, is arrested.
32 defenders are charged with the unjust deprivation of liberty, aggravated arson, theft and unlawful association.
7 defenders voluntarily appear in court and are remanded pending trial.
Tocoa declares “mining-free” and asks Inversiones los Pinares to leave.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention calls for the release of the Guapinol Eight.
One of the defenders, Arnold Joaquín Morazán Erazo, is shot dead.
Six of the Guapinol Eight are convicted for aggravated damage, simple damage and unjust deprivation. The other two are released.
The remaining six of the Guapinol Eight are released.
Aly Domínguez and Jairo Bonilla are murdered.
Aly’s brother, Oquelí Domínguez Ramos, is murdered. Their mother is wounded in the attack on their home.
The mining company suspends operations for two years. Resultant mass layoffs add to mounting tensions that force several Guapinol families to flee.
From October 13 to 24, Elvin Hernández will be taking part in events in Montreal, the Outaouais region, Ottawa and Toronto. Elvin works as a human rights investigator for ERIC-Radio Progreso (Equipo de Reflexión, Investigación y Comunicación | Reflection, Research and Communication Team), our partner in Honduras. Visit the events page to find out more.
To learn more on the Guapinol struggle, read this article by Elvin Hernández: The Irrationality of Extractivism in Honduras: The Guapinol Case.
Elvin’s visit to Quebec is funded by the Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie of Quebec.
Honduras
Juana Zúniga, Leonel George and Daniel Márquez are all involved in the effort to preserve the Guapinol and San Pedro rivers and Carlos Escaleras National Park.
Daniel is one of the Guapinol Eight, the defenders unjustly imprisoned for over two years. Juana and Leonel are members of the Committee for the Defense of Common and Public Goods in Tocoa, Colón.
Listen to their testimony filmed the day after the death of their compatriot Oquelí Domínguez, murdered in his home on June 15, 2023.
Development and Peace – Caritas Canada supports the work of ERIC-Radio Progreso through the Voices without borders in defense of life and territory project, with financial support from the Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie of Quebec.
As you support the environmental and human rights defenders fighting to preserve their land, water, culture and lives, we invite you to organize a garbage cleanup event in your community.
Take the opportunity to present the campaign and collect signatures!
We have several resources to help you spread the word about the Stand for the Land campaign. These include a poster, an Action sheet, a letter for the ambassador, a backgrounder, a short talk, parish bulletin announcements, promotional banners, and more!
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Development and Peace — Caritas Canada is the official international solidarity organization of the Catholic Church in Canada and the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis.
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