El Salvador is the most water starved country in Central America, 92% of our rivers are unusable for drinking. We are the most deforested country in continental America. According to the United Nations, El Salvador is the most vulnerable nation on earth.

Now we face the threat of a Canadian company attempting to force El Salvador to give it a permit to open a mine in Cabanas. Cyanide and arsenic used to extract the gold from that mine could pollute the Rio Lempa and poison the drinking water for more than half of El Salvador’s population.

Join Sandra Carolina Ascencio who will be visiting from El Salvador to explain the dangers of renewed metal mining. An expert in public health, Sandra is on the Commission of Human Rights at the Queen of Peace Parish in Soyapongo, El Salvador, works with La Mesa, and assists the Franciscan Commission of Justice, Peace and Ecology.

There will be food and refreshments. This event is free and open to the public but a suggested $5 donation to defray costs will be appreciated. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

For more information contact IPS New Mexico Fellow, Javier Rojo at 202-787-5273 or javier@ips-dc.org.

Co-sponsors: Institute for Policy Studies, Oxfam America, CISPES, SHARE and Foundation Earth.