Salvadorans March to Protect the Enviornment

For international environment day, hundreds of Salvadorans gathered under an implacably blue sky and bright sun to march from the Savior of the World statue to the Legislative Assembly and present their demands for stronger, more coherent, and more effective environmental policy. The organizations, communities, and individuals gathered had three main asks for the Legislative Assembly: discuss and pass the general water law presented, that would protect citizens’ right and access to water, discuss and pass the law against mining developed by the National Roundtable Against Mining in 2006, and to discuss all of the other law proposals previously presented by civil society.

To see a slideshow of pictures from the march: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybd2yP9WN-M

In El Salvador, over thirty different laws influence water policy, but there is no one law that solely addresses water policy. Current laws do not designate a process or policy for addressing competition for water use between the drinking water, energy, irrigation, and other sectors. A recent study published by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources shows that 92% of Salvadoran rivers are contaminated, and only 11% can be cleaned up effectively.

A coalition of thirteen organizations organized the march, including the Salvadoran Ecological Unit UNES, and the National Roundtable Against Mining. Many church groups, schools, and community environmental committees participated as well. Father Luis Salazar of Mary Mother of the Poor Parish in La Chacra commented, “I am happy there are a lot of young people.” Many young faces filled the crowd, from schools, communities, and NGOs.

When the march arrived at the Legislative Assembly, representatives of the FMLN came out and declared their intent to bring environmental laws to the floor for discussion, and to pass a law prohibiting mining. They thanked marchers for bringing attention to environmental vulnerability and the need for sustainable environmental policies.

In their own words: Salvadorans speak about the importance of environmental protection.

“It is important that we march so that the president listens to the people and implements laws for the care and protection of the environment. We are demanding a water law and policies that protect the environment from mining and contamination.” -Cindy Mariela, Zaragoza

“It’s important to march in order to help create conciousness that we need to protect the environment and natural resources from disappearing or becoming contaminated. The authorities need to take into account the rescue of our water and land. We are responsible for the present and the future.” Margarita Yesenia, Madre Cría Water Committee

“We are demanding something they are killing. They are robbing life with all these projects, and the government hasn’t put a stop to it. We come from the communities and we are trying to sow life. Our rivers are contaminated with the waste of the big businesses. Near where we live Herbert Saca wants to cut down another 100 acres of forest. We are denouncing this because it would cause great destruction and damage to our home. These are our communities and we can’t leave them.” -José Arnulfo Recinos, Zona Sur, San Pedro Nacelhuat, Río Jiboa

“I am from Berlin and I want to let the authorities know what we suffer through in our communities. The water in our communities is contaminated. When it rains, the earth can’t absorb the water the way it should, because of the deforestation. Our roads get badly washed out and damaged because of this. I have seen more and more plastic containers thrown in the rivers. Even when we clean it up, next year there is always more. It’s important raise awareness about the importance of where they throw their trash.” -Vicente Patri Ramirez, Berlin, Usúlutan

“We want to recuperate the beautiful creation the our Father and Mother God created. In caring for the creation, we care for life.” -Milagro, María Madre de los Pobres Parish

“This planet needs our solidarity. We need laws that allow for human development and quality of life. We need to raise awareness about the water problems in our communities. If mining projects begin, it will affect everyone, because it will contaminate the water that we all consume. It would contaminate the Lempa river, which provides water for 70% of San Salvador. The environment here is already deteriorated and vulnerable, if we add mining to that, it will cause irreversible damage to our water and land, damage that would take centuries to undo. We need laws that promote environmental sustainability, that protect our water resources. We need the General Water Law.” -CRIPDES representative speaking via bullhorn during the march