Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ottawa (Fides) - The President of the Episcopal Conference of Canada, His Exc. Mgr. Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau, expressed solidarity with and support for the Episcopal Council of Latin America CELAM in its hearing before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), where those most negatively affected by extractive industries are Indigenous peoples (see Fides 17/03/2015). Solidarity was expressed in a letter from Mgr. Durocher to the President of the Episcopal Council of Latin America (CELAM), Archbishop Carlos Aguiar Retes.
The note sent to Fides by the CELAM emphasizes the importance of the event: it is the first time that the Catholic Church defends these people in front of such an important body like IACHR and it also receives the support of Canada, a country that is involved directly in various events in the continent, in Guatemala (see Fides 06/10/2014), Mexico (see Fides 23/10/2013), Nicaragua (see Fides 16/10/2013), Honduras (see Fides 23/07/2014).
"It is a particular concern to us - writes the Archbishop of Gatineau - that the majority of mining operations in Latin America are controlled by companies registered in Canada". Despite some entrepreneurial companies have taken positive steps regarding social responsibility, environmental protection and respect of human rights, their efforts - the letter reads - were overshadowed by the scale of damage caused by other competitors in the industry. Mgr. Durocher also points out that mining and the extraction of other resources is capable of providing economic development. However, the situation in Latin America has in general not yet produced these benefits due to weak regulatory schemes in many Latin American countries and the frequent failures of some international companies to fully respect the environment and human rights. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 23/03/2015)
