Extractive Industries
The ever growing demands of an expanding world economy, dependent on mineral resources and other raw materials, have accelerated the development of extractive industries. The competition for limited natural resources continues to threaten human security worldwide and countries rich in natural resources often remain home to many of the world’s poorest people.
All that glitters is not gold
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- Undermining Africa's future or plugging the leaks? (EP debate, 15 September 2010) - CIDSE submission to the consultation on IASB discussion paper on extractive activities (6 August 2010) - Natural Resources - the right to participation (3 May 2010) |
Transnational corporations involved in extractive industries frequently arrive with promises to build schools, hospitals, roads, provide jobs. Unfortunately, local populations too often discover that all that glitters is not gold. Rather than benefiting from their natural resources, local people experience increased poverty, loss of livelihoods, violent conflict, human rights violations, environmental degradation and corruption. Civil, political, economic, social, cultural and environmental rights enshrined in international law have persistently been violated.
Natural resources belong to its citizens
CIDSE believes that the country’s natural resources belong to its citizens and should be used in the best interests of the people, with their free, prior and informed consent. In Africa, Latin America and Asia, CIDSE supports its partner efforts to counter the negative impacts of extractive industries progression, propose and implement alternatives.
Prospecting for solutions
At the 2007 World Social Forum (WSF) in Nairobi more than 90 CIDSE partners gathered to debate the impact of oil, mining and logging on development. In “Prospecting for Solutions” CIDSE partners advocate for binding regulations for transnational corporations, state responsibility and civil society support.
Exchanging successful strategies in Latin America
CIDSE member organizations have facilitated the exchange of successful strategies implemented to protect natural resources. Working with Latin American partners, CIDSE shared successes and limitations from their advocacy work on the impact of extractive industries in a project entitled "Poverty and extractive industries in Latin America". Lessons learned from this process led to the design of different tools and processes towards strengthening local capacities.
Measures to address and prevent cases of abuse
As part of its work on business and human rights, CIDSE proposes several short- to mid-term measures in order to ensure that extractive industries are held accountable through a binding, international human rights framework.
Documentary: Riqueza Privada, Pobreza Publica
Watch CIDSE's documentary below about its work with partners in Latin America on the impacts extractives industries below, Riqueza Privada, Pobreza Publica.
