BINGHAMTON, NY – Binghamton University will host a discussion on “The Fight for Sovereignty, Social Justice and the Environment: A Talk on Gold Mining in El Salvador,” at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in room 143 of the Science 2 building, on campus. This event is free and open to the public.

Speakers include Alexandra Early and Zulma Hernández. Early is a co-coordinator for the U.S.–El Salvador Sister Cities network and liaison between El Charcón and the Binghamton-El Charcón Sister City Project. Hernandez, a longtime organizer with CRIPDES (the Association for the Development of El Salvador) has been a leader in the anti-mining movement, specializing in efforts involving women’s empowerment and political youth organizing.

El Salvador is a country burdened by high debt, high unemployment and countless environmental threats and challenges. Since the early 2000’s mineral mining has been added to the list of threats to the environment and the well being of the Salvadoran people, as North American mining companies have sought to start up gold mining operations in northern El Salvador. However, the formidable Salvadoran social movement has been fighting back, educating, organizing, and pushing for a ban against mining, even in the face of violence against anti-mining leaders.

This event is sponsored by the Binghamton University Environmental Studies Program, Harpur College Deans Office, Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program, Departments of Sociology and Anthropology and the Binghamton – El Charcón Sister City Project.

For more information, contact Julian Shepherd at (607) 777-6538 or by e-mail at jshepher@binghamton.edu.