Protesters Begin Hunger Strike to Stop Crucitas Gold Mine

Activists protested open pit mining in Costa Rica Saturday in front of Casa Presidencial. The protest against the Crucitas open-pit gold mine, a project that is on hold near the northern border with Nicaragua, will involve a hunger strike by activists, including Costa Rican actress Rocío Carranza.

Environmentalists in the protest said the hunger strike will be a period of indefinite fast.

Said Carranza in a statement, “My name is Rocio Carranza Maxera, I’m an actress and now am part of the movement against mining.” She urged others to join in the fast.

The hunger strikers intend to help enforce the final repeal of Decree 34801-MINAET, which was signed by the government of former President Oscar Arias and declared the gold mine in Costa Rica’s interest. For now mining has stopped as the case goes through the judicial process.