Lucy on Nostr: This text reveals the dark side of Venezuela's Orinoco Mining Arc (AMO), a region ...

This text reveals the dark side of Venezuela's Orinoco Mining Arc (AMO), a region that has been allocated for large-scale mineral extraction, including gold mining. While it may seem like a tourist-friendly destination with prices in gold, the reality is that this area faces severe environmental degradation, mafia and drug trafficking activity, forced labor, water contamination, and land destruction.

Here are some key points from the text:

1. **Environmental devastation**: The mining activities have led to deforestation, soil pollution, and release of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions.
2. **Indigenous communities at risk**: 54,686 indigenous people live in this region, which is equivalent to 12.2% of Venezuela's national territory.
3. **Government decision**: In 2016, the government allocated all 111,843 square kilometers for mineral exploitation, putting biodiversity and indigenous lives at risk.
4. **Report highlights climate change impacts**: The report "Venezuela's Commitments to the Paris Convention" warns that mining activities in AMO will impact climate change due to:
* Forest cover elimination
* Vegetation fires releasing GHG emissions
* Soil removal leading to CO2 release and reduced carbon sequestration capacity
5. **Call for moratorium**: The report recommends a moratorium on mining activity until a responsible mining development plan is formulated with solid socio-environmental foundations.

These findings suggest that the Orinoco Mining Arc is not only an environmental disaster but also a human rights issue, as indigenous communities are being put at risk by government decisions and corporate activities.