CAMP IN DEFENSE OF BARROSO
No to mines, yes to life!
In August 2021, the doors of Quinta do Cruzeiro were opened to welcome friends and companions who share our struggle, from all over the country and the world. The community of Covas do Barroso welcomed them as it always welcomes all who visit us in good faith: with an open heart, a smile on our face and doors wide open.
Following this very successful and rewarding experience for both the visitors and the community, and since our struggle continues, the Camp in Defense of Covas do Barroso return for a second edition!
Between 12 and 15 August 2022, we invite once more all those who wish to join us for four days to share experiences and stories.
Our struggle is the same but it it's also different. We once believed we would only have to confront the mining company and the government but we now know everything goes. We were confronted with threats, with attempts to interfere with democratic processes and shameless "divide and conquer" manipulation tactics. We learn not to underestimate how low the unbridled pursuit for profit can go.
Against the insidious tactics orchestrated by the mining lobby, we count on the support, solidarity and camaraderie of other communities who share in our struggle in Portugal and around the world, as well as the strength of the union of our community.
This year, in the face of conflict and war, the world is forced to reflect on what the “energy transition” really means and its costs. We want to explore and deconstruct the “energy transition” narrative that promotes unbridled extractivism and the ultimate certain exhaustion of natural resources, the destruction of rural land, and the incessant pursuit of profit. We would like to discuss our experience of the social engineering and judicial terrorism tactics we faced and our battle against the capitalist frenzy that wants to grow at the expense of our people, our hills and our waters.
Above all, we want to prevent a profit-hungry company from destroying our mountains and our ancient history. We want to challenge the neocolonialist mentalities, which sacrifices rural communities and regions to the most unacceptable injustices in the name of the common good that they will never benefit from.
We will not be fooled by the “Emperor’s New Clothes” and will not have anyone fool us or shame us into saying that grey is green, that mines are sustainable and we do not and will never regard mining companies as saviors that can bring us sustainable development.
We are tired of claims that mining in the EU is subject to the highest environmental and social standards worldwide- it has been proved it isn’t and we are left vulnerable to abuse. In Covas do Barroso we hold the proof that laws are worth little or nothing if they are not enforced and more so if the government and public institutions are willing to bow and bend to the will of mining companies.
In Covas do Barroso, we that have always lived sustainably and resent being sacrificed so that others can maintain their resource intensive way of life.
We would love to be able to tell you our story, introduce you to our community, and share with you our history and heritage that we fight to protect.
We have several proposals, but we want to hear yours as well.
Join us and add your voice to ours!
Yes to LIFE. No to MINES.
GREEN IS BARROSO!