Radio Mundo Real

Carmen Garcia and Lucinda Moreno are two Panamanian peasants, members of the Network of Community Development of Alto Ibala, a town located in Veraguas province.

They recently appeared on the show Pueblos Libres of Radio Temblor, which focuses on environmental issues. There, they explained that it is important to organize in order to struggle and resist, but also to consolidate new ways of subsistence.

The Alto Ibala organizations had found new ways of preserving their resources. Carmen said the network she is part of has began a campaign to forest the creek shores and they chose places where hydroelectric plants are planned to be built, as a way to guarantee the forests’ preservation.

The fight of the residents of Cañazas to avoid the installation of open-pit mining projects began six years ago, but at the time plans to build dams on the river Cañazas began to be discussed.

Ecoportal website explains that one of the first conflictive situations in the region happened in 2008 when representatives of the company Natural Power and Resources and of Bee consultant, appeared to meet with the community’s spokespeople.

“The project is not good at all. Water will be polluted. We may also have health problems. We could say yes, we want the project because they will give us economic support”, said Carmen in the interview with Pueblos Libres.

Meanwhile, Lucinda emphasized the role played by women in these local processes. “We are not only dedicated to our houses. We have to take part in the activities, in the meetings. Our message is to organize and form groups, that is the only way to stop the projects”.

Photo:http://www.flickr.com/photos/intera...