Moving Glaciers

Remaking Nature and Mineral Extraction in Chile

Bibliographic Data

ID4501202
AuthorsFabiana Li (0000-0001-7722-3067, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume45
Issue5
Pages102-119
Publication date2018-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLatin American Perspectives (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0094-582X • E-ISSN: 1552-678X
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0094582x17713757
OpenAlexW2725009036
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited24

The controversial Pascua-Lama mining project, straddling the border between Chile and Argentina and operated by Canada's Barrick Gold, gained international notoriety when the company proposed to "move" three glaciers located at the mine site. The glaciers variously appeared, changed form, and disappeared as the project was developed, presented to the public, subjected to various modifications, and ultimately put on hold. The environmental impact assessment process created an inventory of the landscape that turned nature into an object of environmental management. At the same time, the element of public participation embedded in Chile's environmental impact legislation helped to mobilize local and international activism. El polémico proyecto minero de Pascua-Lama que maneja la empresa canadiense Barrick Gold en la frontera entre Chile y Argentina quedó sometido al escrutinio internacional cuando la empresa propuso "mover" tres glaciares situados en la mina. Los glaciares aparecieron, cambiaron de forma y desaparecieron conforme el proyecto se desarrollaba, presentaba ante el público y era sometido a diversas modificaciones; en última instancia, fue suspendido. El proceso de evaluación de impacto ambiental dio lugar a un inventario del paisaje que convirtió a la naturaleza en un objeto de gestión ambiental. Al mismo tiempo, la participación ciudadana fundamentada en la legislación chilena de impacto ambiental ayudó a movilizar activistas locales e internacionales

Art · Economics · Environmental protection · Geography · Glacier · Humanities · Legislation · Physical geography · Political science · Welfare economics · Environmental and Cultural Studies in Latin America and Beyond · Law · Mining and Resource Management · Water Governance and Infrastructure