Testimonio: Canadian Mining in the Aftermath of Genocides in Guatemala Shortlisted for “Jim Deva Prize for Writing That Provokes” →

 
 

The “Jim Deva Prize for Writing That Provokes” is awarded “to the author(s) and/or illustrators of an original work of published writing (poetry, fiction or nonfiction for adults or children, including graphic novels or picture books) that challenges or provokes the ideas and forces that shape what writing, art, and/or society can become.” https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/categories-and-criteria/jim-deva-prize-for-writing-that-provokes/

 
 

Liisa North writes:
Catherine Nolin and Grahame Russell have woven together riveting testimonials from thirty Guatemalan and Canadian journalists, lawyers, academics, filmmakers, human rights defenders, and Indigenous community leaders who have stood up to fight the “projects of destruction” that are called “development” by Canadian mining companies, their defenders in the Canadian Embassy in Guatemala, and the Guatemalan and Canadian governments. Their witness reveals a trail of land grabbing, water contamination, environmental destruction, repression of community organizations, and even assassinations—a trail with which Canadians and our courts must deal.

Liisa L. North, professor emeritus, politics, York University, and founding fellow, Center for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean

Maude Barlow writes:
Ten years ago, I had the privilege of touring the sites of several Canadian mining operations in Guatemala, including the infamous Marlin Mine, owned by Goldcorp Inc., and the now ever more infamous Fenix Mine, then owned by Canadian mining company Hudbay Minerals. I was the guest of Grahame Russell of Rights Action who has tirelessly worked for mining justice in that country and others for many years. Successive Guatemalan governments have given the green light to hundreds of foreign mining companies, many of them Canadian, who destroy the local vegetation, pollute waterways and endanger the lives of local communities and Indigenous People. I met with many courageous people who were victims of this system. The price paid by those who oppose these mines is horrific, including beatings, killings, imprisonment, gang rape and constant threats and intimidation by Guatemalan police and military, by company security guards and by local thugs supportive of the mines. I was deeply moved both by their stories of courage and of Grahame's unstinting support.

So reading Testimonio was a very personal experience for me and brought back the outrage I felt at the governments of Guatemala and Canada for allowing these atrocities to continue. The book tells the story of what the UN has called ‘state planned and carried out genocide’ against Guatemala’s Indigenous People during the 36-years of government repression against the Guatemalan people and military conflict with a small armed rebel group, and the book tells the story of the continuation of human rights abuses even after the formal “peace accords” were signed in 1996. It is a very powerful indictment of a system of oppression and environmental destruction that continues to this day. Testimomio serves as a challenge to Canadians to call out our governments for not putting a stop to these abuses by our mining industry and calls to us to take action. A must read.

Maude Barlow, Activist, Water defender, Author, @MaudeBarlow

Testimonio: Canadian Mining in the Aftermath of Genocides in Guatemala
Between the Lines, 2021 / ISBN: 9781771135627

Canadian CourseReadings
https://canadiancoursereadings.ca/product/testimonio/
promo@canadiancoursereadings.ca