Under fire from international human rights and environmental organizations, Canada’s Goldcorp has struggled to improve its image in Guatemala, where its Marlin gold and silver mine has stirred widespread opposition. The difficulty deepened in September when a report by the Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University alleged a lack of proper environmental regulation and oversight at the site. The report, “Searching for Gold in the Highlands of Guatemala,” cites risks of water contamination and suggests that a lack of planning for the mine’s eventual closure could result in toxic heavy metals seeping out of the tailings pond. “Besides the risk to human health, the greatest long-term environmental risk of the mine is that its lasting and widespread water contamination will undermine agricultural... [Log in to read more]