Venezuelan mining push targets Orinoco region

October 2017

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Venezuela

Venezuelan mining push targets Orinoco region

It is home to numerous forest preserves, the majority of the nation’s indigenous groups and some 1,200 species of birds. But the 43,183 square-mile (111,844 ......

Puerto Rico

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Around the Region

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Centerpiece (Free Read)

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Toward a new Nafta, but not likely one Donald Trump would favor

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Venezuelan mining push targets Orinoco region

Venezuela

It is home to numerous forest preserves, the majority of the nation’s indigenous groups and some 1,200 species of birds. But the 43,183 square-mile (111,844 sq-km) region south of the Orinoco River nevertheless is being targeted by the Venezuelan government as a source of gold, diamonds, coltan and other minerals to help offset one of the country’s worst-ever economic crises. The government touted the special mining zone, the Orinoco Mining Arc, as a major advance for the country when it made the designation by presidential decree in February 2016. It estimates mineral reserves worth US$2 trillion in the area, which spans parts of the states of Amazonas, Delta Amacuro and Bolívar. “Investors have openly decided to bring their technology, their knowledge of the mining industry and the resources to get the projects up and running,” said Roberto Mirabal, the Minister of Ecological Mining Development, in an... [Log in to read more]

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October 2017

Mexico—United States

Colorado River agreement drawing fire in Mexico

Praised in the United States when it was unveiled last month, a new U.S.-Mexico Colorado River water-sharing accord called Minute 323 has drawn growing criticism ......

Mexico—United States

Sighting, ruling stir hopes for jaguar’s U.S. return

Those who wish wild jaguars would reestablish themselves north of the U.S.-Mexican border could be forgiven for feeling two glimmers of hope, the Trump administration’s ......

Brazil

Massacre report spurs indigenous-rights concern

The alleged massacre in Brazil in August of Amazon Indians living in voluntary isolation, purportedly carried out by trespassing gold miners, has rekindled concern about ......

Venezuela

Venezuelan mining push targets Orinoco region

It is home to numerous forest preserves, the majority of the nation’s indigenous groups and some 1,200 species of birds. But the 43,183 square-mile (111,844 ......

Puerto Rico

Ravaged El Yunque viewed as storm-recovery lab

Over the millennia, the tropical woodland known today as El Yunque National Forest has been pummeled by rains and rocked by hurricanes. But the prized ......

Around the Region

Solar project seen as start of renewables push in Argentina

Using 1.2 million Chinese-built solar panels, workers have begun to install three solar-power plants in northwest Argentina that will have an installed capacity of 300 ......

Centerpiece (Free Read)

Guanaco gain—and pushback—in Argentina

The Argentine Central Bank this month began printing a new 20-peso note, the third in a series of differently denominated bills dedicated to native fauna. ......

Q&A

Toward a new Nafta, but not likely one Donald Trump would favor

Ben Beachy directs the trade program at the Sierra Club, where he has worked to promote a new approach to trade agreements. This approach calls ......