‘Water yes, mining no!’: the 87-year-old farmer who became a nature hero in Colombia
Porfirio Garcés is one of the ‘Jerico 11’, who face kidnapping charges after opposing a copper mine. Now, with a far-right president prioritising extraction, their fight has become more urgent
TL;DR
- Porfirio Garcés, an 87-year-old farmer, is leading a movement to protect water sources from the Quebradona copper mining project in Jericó, Colombia.
- Garcés and 10 other farmers, known as the 'Jericó 11', face criminal charges for opposing the multinational AngloGold Ashanti's mining plans.
- The farmers argue the mine threatens the region's water supply and its traditional agricultural economy.
- AngloGold Ashanti maintains its project complies with Colombian law and poses no threat to water sources, citing environmental studies.
- The National Mining Agency has extended the exploration phase for the Quebradona project until December 2027.
- Colombia's current far-right president prioritizes expanding resource extraction, intensifying the conflict.
- Local organizations have declared AngloGold Ashanti and its subsidiary 'entidad no grata' (unwelcome entities).