The Globalisation of Mining and Its Impact and Challenges for Women

Citation:

Tauli-Corpuz, Victoria. 1997. “The Globalisation of Mining and Its Impact and Challenges for Women.” International Conference on Women and Mining, Baguio City, Philippines.

Author: Victoria Tauli-Corpuz

Abstract:

In the following paper, which was delivered at the conclusion of an International Conference on Women and Mining held in Baguio City, in January 1997, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz considers the impact of large-scale mining with particular focus on its impact on women. As the dominant players in large-scale mining are transnational corporations, and in view of the role played by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization in facilitating the expansion of such mining, she argues that the local struggle against mining has to become an integral part of the national and world struggle against globalisation itself.

Annotation:

Quotes:
 
“The World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have played significant roles in facilitating the opening up of large-scale mining in our countries, through loans which are given to the governments to build the infrastructure needed to support the mining operations (roads, energy sources, etc.) or through direct loans to the mining companies themselves, and by helping draw up the blueprint for the economic development of our countries.” (Tauli-Corpuz, 1997, p. 1)
 
“Since the 1970s up to the present, the Third World have been under the Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) of the WB-IMF. The main elements of such programmes have been the privatisation of state-controlled corporations (e.g., mining corporations), removal of subsidies, tightening of government budgets, with cutbacks on social services, reforms in tax codes, liberalisation of the agricultural and mining sector, etc. to allow the entry of foreign mining corporations. This also means liberalisation of investment codes, mining codes and agrarian reform codes.” (p. 2)
 
“State violence against women is used to weaken the peoples' opposition to destructive mining operations and to the entry of mines.” (p. 3)
 
“We have come up with many recommendations and proposals on how we should address the problems which we have identified. The general recommendations are the following:
1. More systematic and widespread information dissemination and sharing of experiences on the different forms and levels of struggles on the mining issue.
2. Education campaigns to increase awareness of the communities on the global restructuring of the mining industry, globalisation in general and the relation of these to their local situation.
3. Alliance-building with the other sectors of society who are also marginalised and oppressed.
4. Networking among women and among communities affected by mining operations.
5. Joint campaigns on common issues and concerns. Pressuring governments not to sell out to foreign mining corporations and instead give priority to the interests of the majority population in the country.
6. Strengthening viable alternatives on the local levels which can be built up to the regional and national levels. (Third World Resurgence No. 93, May 1998).” (p. 4-5)

Topics: Development, Extractive Industries, Gender, Women, Globalization, International Financial Institutions

Year: 1997

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