Mining
Underground, Above Board
Since 1991, small-scale miners in the Philippines have been banned from using explosives or machinery, but digging by hand has long been unviable even for those keen to follow the law. Now they are organizing to defend their livelihoods.
The Sacrificed Mountains
Under the banner of a “green transition,” the EU is rushing to revive mining to secure critical raw materials. Plans to build large, open-pit mines in northeastern Portugal have been met with strong opposition from local communities, who are contesting the state’s authority to grant mining licenses without their consent.