Justice in Mining Network joins key advocacy groups in South Africa

Nine members of the Justice in Mining network are in Johannesburg this week to participate in the Thematic Social Forum on Mining and the Extractivist Economy.

The Justice in Mining representatives join more than 300 delegates from faith-based and community groups around the globe to discuss issues arising from mining activity, including environmental damage and human rights abuses.

Julie Edwards, the global leader of Justice in Mining, said: “We see this as an exciting opportunity to forge relationships with other organisations operating in this field and thereby strengthen our own advocacy work.Mining projects are frequently international in nature, involving large corporations headquartered in one jurisdiction with operations in another. It follows that collaborating with our peers internationally can enhance the effectiveness of our Network.”

The nine Justice in Mining delegates represent every Jesuit region, and will contribute local perspectives and experience to discussions at the forum. Justice in Mining will also present a workshop highlighting the Ignatian approach to advocacy and drawing on field experience of members from Mexico, Democratic Republic of Congo and India. “We have already seen the benefits of networking across the Society of Jesus,” Ms Edwards said. “By connecting with other advocates we take this networking to the next level.”

The Thematic Social Forum is modelled on World Social Forums and is organised by the People’s Dialogue and a range of partners includingFranciscans International and CIDSE (Coopération Internationale pour le Développement et la Solidarité”/ International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity). Full details of the event, which will run from 12 to 15 November, can be found at www.thematicsocialforum.org.

In introducing the event, organisers note that mining projects can have devastating environmental and social impacts. “Affected communities, especially women, indigenous peoples, workers’ and environmentalist movements, as well as scholars and researchers who investigate these phenomena have identified the need to unite, articulate, and enhance their often isolated or fragmented efforts….In this scenario, we proposed  a Thematic Social Forum on Mining and Extractivist Economy,… with the aim to consolidate a broad movement of resistance and social control over extractive activities, as well as the launching of the Campaign for the “Right to say no” to socially and environmentally degrading projects.”

Justice in Mining will be tweeting from the event: http://www.twitter.com/justiceinmining