Leonardo Elizalde * Our guest

Mining: reflection and debate

The Mandate Mining seeks to become an element of reflection and debate period of analysis, however, was promoted from the ideological and political burdens with which it was issued, however, with the intention that this hour of meditation is useful for the country must carry out with objectivity and detachment. Objectives and serenity to remember that mining has been one of the basic tools for building modern civilization, contributing to human well-being and strengthening of a pluralistic society and equitable, based on appropriate and sustainable management of resources.

The reflection and debate proposed by managers Mandate Miner, unfortunately, are based on prejudices as the number of mining concessions made, a procedure described as a "holiday", losing sight of the fact that neighbouring countries, developed and tested in the field, handled concessions realistic policies, Peru has 23,000 concessions compared to 4,000 in Ecuador since the technique to more concessions, the greater the chances of finding a mine, statistically variable search-finding regarding mining 1,000 to 1.

So, it is clear and unquestionable that one of the most complex stages of mining is to achieve investment in the global circuit of capital are promoted thousands of proposals for mineral evidence of them, just one or two generating interest, ignore this logic leads to the hasty disqualification of mining activity to that of branded corrupt and speculative.

In table discussion also often brings the issue of community involvement in the so-called prior consent, the matter that analyzes the National Assembly, an instrument that would not be anything other than the extension, certain groups, the capacity Lock projects of national importance.

In this scenario, it is worth reflecting on the costs in time and training would be required to train those who hold this extraordinary power of decision from the assumption that those who act according to the common good, otherwise, the prior consent override any possibility of development and welfare.

Another strange argument to reality is pointing to mining as a disruptive element of the communities in project areas, omitting that outbreaks of clashes arise from extreme positions of activists who work in the vicinity of the greatest discoveries made miners just two years ago, losing sight of that entire villages as Portovelo, Zamora, Ponce Enriquez, lived, living and live in mining, a productive activity that has summoned them to work and unity.

The truth is that the Mandate Miner away from opening a valid period for the sector organization has created an unfortunate climate of legal uncertainty, financial uncertainty and unemployment for thousands of Ecuadorians; despite the devastating result of the edict, mining companies responsible approach this time reflection and debate from a positive point of view, understood as an opportunity to create a new Mining Law technique that emerges from dialogue and consensus and become a real engine of the new Ecuadorian mining industry.