The Social Impact of the Development of a Copper Mine on the Ngöbe Bugle Indigenous Community of Cerro Colorado in the Republic of Panama

Abstract

This dissertation explores the situations which have been taking place within Panama with regards to the emergence of a mining sector. A very controversial topic, this dissertation looks to analyse the social impact mining might have on the indigenous Ngöbe Bugle community of Cerro Colorado, one of the world’s largest copper reserves. Tensions skyrocketed in Panama at the beginning of 2011 as the government of President Ricardo Martinelli approved a new law that changed the 1963 Mineral Resources Code. This action led to protests from thousands of people including various NGOs, environmental groups and indigenous communities who looked to voice their disapproval of the change in the Mineral Resources Code and the development of a mining sector. In order to gain an appropriate understanding of the situation within Panama, within the Ngöbe Bugle communities and within the mining companies themselves a thorough analysis of literature was carried out as well as email and telephone interviews.