Indigenous women march to Buenos Aires to protest mining impacts

Indigenous women from the Puna region of Jujuy, known as the Caminata de las Warmis, have reached Buenos Aires following a long march from the Laguna de Pozuelos area. The mobilization, which began on August 3, has traveled through Salta, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Córdoba, and Rosario to highlight the socio-environmental crisis facing their ancestral territories.

Activists report that the Laguna de Pozuelos biosphere reserve is 'totally dry' due to severe drought and intensive water and energy consumption by mining activities. Representatives of the movement, including Florencia Solís, have cited historical contamination from the Pan de Azúcar mine, which they claim has left residents with lead in their blood, and the impact of the Chinchillas mine on the local water supply.

The group is seeking to meet with legislators to demand protection for their lands, water, and biodiversity against the expansion of extractive industries. They also aim to raise awareness regarding the 175 mining claims currently pending in the basin, which they argue threaten to further degrade the environment and violate indigenous rights.