En 1956 la empresa Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) solicitó un permiso de exploración de bauxita en el Valle del General en el cantón de Pérez Zeledón (San José). Hasta 1968 la empresa exploró las tierras sureñas y los primeros en reaccionar y protestar fueron los mismos vecinos de la zona (campesinos principalmente). En 1964, la empresa y el gobierno firmaron un contrato administrativo en el que el Estado otorgó a la empresa una concesión exclusiva para la explotación de ciento veinte millones (120.000.000) de toneladas métricas de bauxita seca por cinco años. |
In April 1970 university students successfully led civil society groups in the opposition to bauxite mining in Valle del General. Seen today as the fist manifestation of environmentalism in Costa Rica.
Description:
Basic Data
| Name of conflict: | Protests in 1970 against ALCOA, Costa Rica |
| Country: | Costa Rica |
| State or province: | Pérez Zeledón |
| Location of conflict: | San Isidro del General |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
Source of Conflict
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Mineral Ores and Building Materials Extraction |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Mineral ore exploration Mineral processing |
| Specific commodities: | Aluminum/Bauxite Land |
Project Details and Actors
| Project details | -Proyecto de minería a cielo abierto para la extracción de Bauxita. |
| Project area: | 20,000 |
| Type of population | Semi-urban |
| Affected Population: | 10.000 |
| Start of the conflict: | 24/04/1970 |
| End of the conflict: | 01/01/1976 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) from United States of America |
| Relevant government actors: | Ministerio de Industria y Comercio (MIC), Dirección General de Geología, Minas y Petróleo (DCGMP), Ministerio de Transportes (MT),Ministerio de Hacienda (MH), Asamblea Legislativa (Cámara de Diputados), Gobierno de Costa Rica. |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Federación de Estudiantes de la Universidad de Costa Rica (FEUR), Comité Costarricense de la Juventud (CCJ), la Juventud Obrera Católica (JOC), Frente Nacional de lucha contra Alcoa (FNLCA), Movimiento 11 de abril. |
Conflict & Mobilization
| Intensity | HIGH (widespread, mass mobilization, violence, arrests, etc...) |
| Reaction stage | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Farmers Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Trade unions Local scientists/professionals Religious groups Grupos de jóvenes, organizaciones de maestros (sector educación) |
| Forms of mobilization: | Artistic and creative actions (eg guerilla theatre, murals) Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Street protest/marches Property damage/arson Strikes Occupation of buildings/public spaces Mesas discusión (Jornadas de ALCOA) en centros universitarios. |
Impacts
| Environmental Impacts | Potential: Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Desertification/Drought, Food insecurity (crop damage), Soil erosion, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide Potential: Malnutrition, Occupational disease and accidents, Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…) |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Potential: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Displacement, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Violations of human rights, Land dispossession |
Outcome
| Project Status | Stopped |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Corruption Criminalization of activists New legislation Repression Violent targeting of activists Project cancelled Withdrawal of company/investment |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | La continuidad de los modos de vida campesinos (agricultura, ganaderia principalmente). |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | Yes |
| Briefly explain: | Se logró poner fin a los contratos con la empresa ALCOA ley como norma constitucional. Según algunos académicos, con este hito, nace en movimiento ecologista en Costa Rica que sentó las bases para próximas luchas tales como el Tratado de Libre Comercio con Estado Unidos y la Minería de oro en Crucitas. La figura de contrato-ley se abolió de la Constitución Política. |
Sources & Materials
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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| Other comments: | “el movimiento estudiantil fue el detonante y componente principal para alzar la voz contra una contratación leonina con ALCOA y que hubiese sido de efectos depredadores para el país” Roberto Salom, vicerrector de Acción Social de la Universidad de Costa Rica. |
Meta information
| Contributor: | Grettel Navas |
| Last update | 08/05/2022 |
| Conflict ID: | 2278 |
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