Examples of environmental (in)justice in Mexico, Cuba, and/or northern South America?

February 28, 2011 1:21 PM

Looking for examples of environmental (in)justice in Mexico, Cuba, and/or northern South America.

What are some specific examples of the link between social justice and environmental degradation in Cuba, central Mexico, Venezuela, the Andes of Colombia and Ecuador, and/or northern Peru?

I'm looking for instances where a lack of social justice has led or contributed to environmental impacts - or the reverse, where a rise in social justice has led to a decrease in pollution, overfishing, clear-cutting, etc.

I know oil exploration in the upper Amazon is one good example. What are some more?

posted by gottabefunky to Society & Culture (4 answers total)

the coke-water connection?
posted by anya32 at 2:04 PM on February 28, 2011

This may not be what you're looking for, but here is some info on migrant workers in Canada, including those from Mexico. My friend who is active in the cause has talked to me about the social and environmental impacts in Mexico of migrant work done in other countries - for example, kids lonely for their parents, and crops in Mexico left untended.
posted by analog at 3:46 PM on February 28, 2011

Does this fall into your category? NAFTA prevents Mexico from banning the dumping of hazardous waste (2) (3)

On the more general subject of securing social justice, you could discuss the Zapatistas...
posted by shii at 6:29 PM on February 28, 2011

There's the gold mining issue in Ecuador.

http://www.miningwatch.ca/en/canada-ecuador-when-stock-exchanges-fuel-human-rights-violations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlv0wSJ3BWg
posted by batboy at 4:30 AM on March 17, 2011