Reducing power disparities in large-scale mining governance through counter-expertise: A synthesis of case studies from Ecuador

Espinosa, Cristina

doi:10.1016/j.exis.2021.101000

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…They do this by critically engaging with the relevant, formal technoscientific knowledge, identifying its gaps, and re-interpreting it in a way that foregrounds recognition of the power relations which cause the initial (intentional or unintentional) gaps (Nilsen, 2010;Casas-Cortés et al, 2008. See also Arancibia and Motta, 2019;Espinosa, 2022). The source of this counter-expertise can be relevant experiential knowledge, such as local/traditional ecological knowledge gained through hands-on experience with the environment (see Berkes et al, 2000;Fischer, 2000).…”

Section: Movement Knowledge and Activists As Knowledge Producersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Activists as Knowledge Producers: How Can Grassroots Activism Contribute to Green Criminological Scholarship?

Sargin

2023

The Emerald International Handbook of Activist Criminology

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Social movements are sites of knowledge production. Green criminologists are interested in activism both as an informal response to environmental harms/crimes and in their explorations of a possibility of activist green criminology. In this chapter, I call attention to a related issue -the significance of knowledge produced in social movements. Drawing on my research on resistance movements against hydropower in Turkey, I discuss how movement knowledge can contribute to green criminology in relation to the (i) complexity of harm and victimization, (ii) politics of knowledge in identifying harm, and (iii) limits of formal processes in preventing harm. I conclude by highlighting the importance of recognizing activists as subjects who produce knowledge, in academic engagement with activism.

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Section: Movement Knowledge and Activists As Knowledge Producersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Activists as Knowledge Producers: How Can Grassroots Activism Contribute to Green Criminological Scholarship?

Sargin

2023

The Emerald International Handbook of Activist Criminology

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“…Ecuador is a new player on the large-scale mining scene in the Latin American regional context. This entry on the scene, produced during Rafael Correa's government, is part of the so-called neo-extractivist policies [3]. Specifically, the Ecuadorian government directly links future mining exploitation with reducing poverty and the country's development by applying the principles of responsible mining and increasing benefits from taxes and royalties for social programs [7].…”

Section: Of 21mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, the arrival of large-scale mining in the Andean zone is causing important changes at the level of territorial control and use of natural resources, which generate a high level of socio-environmental conflict. In response to this phenomenon, the interethnic dimensions and the discourse of indigeneity emerged as very relevant elements in the articulation of local resistance to the Project [3]. While the indigenous inhabitants of the Andean zones consider themselves the legitimate owners of the territory and exercise their property rights through global titles, the mestizo peasants and ranchers are immersed in the process of protest against what they consider the irregular and unjust process of purchase of their individual titles, or the threat of being evicted from their lands under the figure of servitude [10].…”

Section: Socio-economic Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The global market for minerals and precious metals has soared, and the quantities extracted have multiplied exponentially [1,2]. Gold (Au), recognized as one of the most sought-after and demanded elements in international trade, is also the most exploited precious metal in world mining production [3][4][5]. In the case of South America, member countries, such as Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil, and Argentina, are notable for Au production and exports, a market in which Ecuador has become increasingly competitive during the last few years as part of a strategy to diversify its productive output [6,7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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History, Socioeconomic Problems and Environmental Impacts of Gold Mining in the Andean Region of Ecuador

Mestanza-Ramón

Ordoñez-Alcivar²,

Arguello-Guadalupe

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Mining in Ecuadorian territory comprises three stages of Ecuadorian history: pre-Columbian, colonial, and republican times. In its beginnings, this activity did not have regulations or a legal foundation. The first Mining Law dates back to 1830, and it has been modified until the most recent update in 2009. The Andean region consists of 10 provinces, 9 of which have registered gold concessions, the most important of which are Loja, Azuay, and in recent years, Imbabura and Pichincha, which are the provinces with the highest number of reported concessions. The objective of this study focused on analyzing the historical and current situation of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASGM) and the emergence of large-scale (industrial) mining. For the elaboration of this study, different methodological techniques were used, such as literature review, field interviews, and expert judgment validation. The main findings show that the provinces of Loja, Azuay, Imbabura, and Pichincha are the most conflictive areas in the region due to the impacts caused by mining activities. In socio-economic terms, there are conflicts between inhabitants in favor and against these activities and problems associated with human health. In environmental terms, the findings suggest historical contamination of water sources by heavy metals, which has altered the surrounding aquatic and terrestrial systems. Finally, the study concludes that implementing public policies should be promoted to balance socio-economic and environmental aspects in gold mining activities in the Andean region of Ecuador, strengthening the use of new technologies and education to raise awareness of the serious effects of mining activities.

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“…However, local communities usually lack techno-scientific knowledge, which represents a barrier in large-scale environmental conflicts. Some studies demonstrate that counter-expertise networks bringing together local experiential, techno-scientific and legal knowledge can be an alternative to reduce power/knowledge imbalances in environmental conflicts [48]. SI plays a key role in these processes of co-creation of knowledge between different local and non-local actors [49].…”

Section: Social Innovation and Socio-environmental Conflictsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Conflicts and Social Innovation on the Balearic Islands (Spain)

Savall

2022

Sustainability

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New environmental conflicts arise all the time as a consequence of the industrial economy and economic growth. The search for new energy and new materials jeopardizes the margin to promote sustainable development in many local communities. In this paper, we examine a conflict related to hydrocarbons projects in the Balearic Sea (Spain) from the social innovation perspective. This novel approach allows us to focus on how socially innovative responses can be triggered by environmental threats. A set of mixed methods (qualitative analysis and social network analysis) are implemented to study the emergence and development of Alianza Mar Blava in Ibiza–Formentera. This is an initiative that successfully activates new social relations and new collective practices that contribute to transform the environmental conflict. In this study, we highlight the strategic factors that allow the conflict to be transformed as well as other social processes that ultimately promote local sustainable development beyond the conflict.

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Reducing power disparities in large-scale mining governance through counter-expertise: A synthesis of case studies from Ecuador

Cited by 6 publications

References 49 publications

Activists as Knowledge Producers: How Can Grassroots Activism Contribute to Green Criminological Scholarship?

Activists as Knowledge Producers: How Can Grassroots Activism Contribute to Green Criminological Scholarship?

History, Socioeconomic Problems and Environmental Impacts of Gold Mining in the Andean Region of Ecuador

Environmental Conflicts and Social Innovation on the Balearic Islands (Spain)

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