Colombian Town Turns Down $35B Gold Mine to keep Environment Clean

4 April 2017

 - People in the small town of Cajamarca, Colombia understand that water is life, and that’s why they rejected a $35 billion gold mine project, choosing instead to put people and the Earth before profit. “Around 98 percent of the residents in Cajamarca said no to the mine due to concerns over the environment and water pollution.”

The South African company, AngloGold Ashanti, wanted to build the gold mine (La Colosa) in Central Colombia. It is planned to be the biggest gold mine in South America, and has the backing of the national government. However, residents of Cajamarca, the planned location of the mine, overwhelmingly rejected the project in a recent referendum.