A battle is being waged in the rainforests of Panama – between those who want to keep their way of life, and those who want economic growth. At stake: billions worth of precious metals.
Published June 15, 2012
As Canadian mining companies seek to expand their presence in Central America, some locals worry that the mining could endanger their rainforest and water supply.
"The New Conquistadors," a documentary report produced through a collaboration between the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and the CBC News, explores the battle between the Canadian companies and local communities in Panama.
The plan to unearth billions of dollars worth of precious metals is a boon for these communities, according to the companies, as they bring in jobs and stimulate economic development. But for the peasant farmers and indigenous people, the rewards aren't worth sacrificing the environment.
"The New Conquistadors" will air on CBC on June 18, 2012 on The National. A one-hour version will be featured on Tuesday June 19th on CBC-NN.
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Dimiter Kenarov and Mellissa Fung take their respective reporting on shale gas and mining to University of Miami for Global Goods/Local Costs event.
Delano and Fung share their reporting on the impact of logging and mining on indigenous peoples in Malaysia and Panama.
Gateways
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Grantee
Award-winning journalist Mellissa Fung has been with CBC Television since 2000. As a national correspondent, she has been on the frontlines of a wide range of stories on both Canadian and world...
Grantee
Lynn Burgess is a documentary producer with the CBC’s flagship newscast The National, focusing primarily on investigative and foreign journalism. Among her producing credits are “Canada’s...
