In 2006, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in San Salvador to denounce gold and silver mining projects. The protestors, angered by reports that exploration activity by the Canadian firm Pacific Rim had reduced access to fresh water for farmers along the Lempa River, demanded an end to that project. They also called for a ban on all metallic mining on grounds it could lead to widespread contamination of rivers and streams. Such concern runs deep in El Salvador, where more than 90% of surface water is polluted and which has the least amount of water available per capita of any Central American country, according to studies conducted for the United Nations. But when the National Roundtable on Metallic Mining (Mesa), a coalition of... [Log in to read more]