opinion

For various weeks a "blacklist" has been circulating, in which Petaquilla Minerals prohibits the entry into the area of the project some 30 persons and entities, among whom I am included. Given that the company hasn't up to now denied the existence of this list, the concept of "he who remains silent agrees" and proves its veracity. Well, then, in the first place it pleases me to be part of the honorable group of those listed, among whom there do not appear drug traffickers, white collar criminals, corrupt politicians or anyone of that sort, but on the contrary, there are social leaders, professionals and people committed to our country.

In the second place, the list is an admission of bad behavior. In what sense? If the mining project was pure, environmentally clean and beneficial for society, why does it hide? On the contrary, the list should be an invitation to the honored invitees to get to know the alleged benefits of the mine.

In the third place, evidently for the mining project those of us on the list are undesirable or threatening to the project, but Petaquilla Minerals is going to have to find a lot of paper to expand it. For example, it will have to add thousands of Panamanians who day by day have a greater environmental consciousness; it's going to have to add the organizations that for months have publicly called upon President Torrijos for a moratorium on strip mining for metals --- and still have received no response --- for the reason that the circumstances that surround strip mining put fragile ecosystems at risk, particularly in tropical rainforests, exposing soils to erosion and landslides and the population to water, air and land pollution, and affecting great expanses of forest.

The Santa Rosa mine, in Veraguas, gives clear testimony about the negative precedent in our country. I am concerned that some of the present and future mining projects could affect the Meso-American Biological Corridor, of which Panama is a part along with Mexico and Central America by way of an international treaty. Countries in the region are re-evaluating their mining policies. In fact, in 2002 Costa Rica prohibited the opening of new strip mines on its territory, accomplishing by this initiative a true and permanent source of sustainable development. These experiences make it worth our while to review our mining laws.

And now, the use of the concept "black" as the qualifier of the list, isn't good because of the connotation of discrimination against those of African descent that it carries with it. If they're going to put a color on it I suggest "greenlist," to symbolize the vitality of the environment and the hope against those who make predation and pollution their design.

One more thing. Some months ago the Petaquilla mining company moved into the building next to the place where I work. I don't know if the list includes their office or the passage of pedestrians on the sidewalks, but much to the contrary they are invited to come over and talk, as I don't believe in exclusionary lists, nor in ghettos, nor in gags, but I do bear in mind that "The word is to tell the truth, not to cover it up," as José Martí wrote.