Mining In El Salvador
Declaring that El Salvador’s fragile environment could not sustain metal mining operations, legislators across the political spectrum approved the ban, which had broad support, particularly from the influential Roman Catholic Church. Other countries are unlikely to follow El Salvador’s national ban. But, the law sets a powerful example to communities that oppose large mining projects and bolsters the case against mining in environmentally delicate areas. "General water law" In El Salvador The General Water Law is a legislation proposing to add water as a human right to the El Salvadoran Constitution with a clear mandate for the prioritization of this resource. This legislative piece prioritizes water for human consumption, then for ecosystems, sustainable agriculture, and finally for marketing. Another important aspect of this legislation is that it establishes a water tribunal. The purpose of this court is to enforce the law regarding the prioritization of water and assign responsibility to individuals and corporations for their impact on this resource. The bill has opened eyes to nations around the world in asking the question if water is in fact a given right or a commodity. El Salvador is currently on the road to making it a right. |
Flint
In January of 2016, the Michigan National Guard was deployed to distribute water, President Obama declared a state of emergency, and $5 million in federal aid was authorized for Flint. Michigan’s Governor, Rick Snyder commenced the Child Lead Exposure Elimination Commission two months later to prevent future lead exposure. Criminal charges were filed against officials responsible for the decisions that preceded the water poisoning. In the wake of Flint’s issues, the EPA approved $1.9 million grant for a nationwide lead study. Though the problem is persistent, legislative actions have been taken time and time again to counteract the water crisis. Despite reactive legislation, the citizen’s trust in the government has been buffeted.
In January of 2016, the Michigan National Guard was deployed to distribute water, President Obama declared a state of emergency, and $5 million in federal aid was authorized for Flint. Michigan’s Governor, Rick Snyder commenced the Child Lead Exposure Elimination Commission two months later to prevent future lead exposure. Criminal charges were filed against officials responsible for the decisions that preceded the water poisoning. In the wake of Flint’s issues, the EPA approved $1.9 million grant for a nationwide lead study. Though the problem is persistent, legislative actions have been taken time and time again to counteract the water crisis. Despite reactive legislation, the citizen’s trust in the government has been buffeted.