La Serena January 18, 2023
Special thanks from Alianza Humboldt Coquimbo Atacama go to the social and environmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, scientists from Chile and to all around the world for their support in protecting the Humboldt Archipelago.
The organizations of Alianza Humboldt Coquimbo-Atacama living in the bays and villages of the communities of La Higuera, Freirina, Coquimbo and La Serena, express sincerest thanks to all the organizations and people who have supported us in more than fifteen years of dedication to the protection of our natural heritage, the Humboldt Archipelago with all its inhabitants.
We would like to thank those who have demonstrated on the streets and thus united us by saying „No!“ to Dominga, „No!“ to ecocide, and the hundreds of thousands who have signed campaigns in different regions of the country and outside Chile, which were created on the peoples‘ own initiatives. Thank you to the 357,264 people, scientists and conservationists from 191 countries all over the world, who, in 2016 and 2017, signed campaigns to protect the habitat of the Humboldt penguin.
Thanks to the 200 Chilean scientists who signed the letter to protect the archipelago, and especially to those who made their research results available to the public.
Thanks to the lawyers who have supported our organizations and individuals in the legal proceedings and will continue to do so.
Thanks to all the Chilean and international non-governmental organizations who have accompanied us in the protection of the Humboldt Archipelago during more than 17 years now.
This support has been important to show in all clarity in Chile and around the world the irreversible impact of the Dominga project on the flora and fauna of one of the 34 "hotspots of the world", which is crucial for conservation and a place of hope for the life and health on the planet.
This support has made us stronger at a time of powerlessness in the face of Andes Iron's ongoing campaign of manipulation and truth distortion, and has been instrumental in prevent the project.
The unanimous vote of the Committee of Ministers to reject the Dominga project is a very important milestone towards the final rejection of the project.
We know that Andes Iron will appeal to the Environmental Court and we will continue to defend this natural and social heritage at all the necessary judicial authorities: in court and/or internationally, until its final rejection has been achieved.
Today, on Wednesday, January 18, we call upon you to remain watchful and continue to support this cause whenever it might be necessary.
Today we are celebrating, tomorrow we will continue the actions and negotiations to create a bi-regional marine protected area. A protected area that will care about the entire Humboldt Archipelago from Punta Porotitos in the Coquimbo region to the north of Chañaral de Aceituno in the Atacama region. This multi-use conservation zone (AMCP MU) is expected to allow running local, economic activities to continue and to set limits to industrial megaprojects by substantially involving local organizations in the process of their creation and development.
Thank you so very much!
This gratitude comes from 1. Elizabeth Balcazar, … 22. Valeria Canto, Defensa Ambiental Región de Coquimbo, 23. Nancy Duman, Sphenisco Región Coquimbo 24. Urbano Morales, concejal de la I. Municipalidad de La Higuera
(all names and organizations see Spanish version)
Our cordial thank you goes out to the members of the following 200 organizations, academic institutions, NGOs, local businesses and students in the municipality of La Higuera, the regions of Coquimbo and Atacama and throughout the country.
(among them Fundación Terram, Greenpeace Chile, Oceana, Mission Blue, others see Spanish version) .
We thank all six lawyers who accompanied us in one of the many legal instances, and those who took over the baton (see Spanish version for names). And thanks to the many who have anonymously worked together with us.
translated by Angelika Veelken
