""They want us to show these gringo companies where the minerals are and then go and hand over everything, all without a fuss. That's concerning, because where does it leave us, as Mexicans? Basically, they are going to keep stealing from us.""
""In the lush Sierra Norte cordillera, stark black mountains of manganese ore and slag piles are set off by smoking chimneys from a plant run by Autlán, a major Mexican mining company. Homes nearby are drenched in black stains.""
""According to NATO, manganese is one of 12 minerals critical for the weapons industry; it is used in submarines, fighter aircraft, tanks, and torpedoes. For Mexico, however, manganese is a source of distress before it is even processed.""
The U.S.-Mexico Action Plan on Critical Minerals aims to secure the U.S. supply of essential minerals, raising concerns among Indigenous communities in the Sierra Norte mountains. The plan includes price floors and geological mapping but offers no benefits to Mexico. Local residents, like Miguel Sánchez Olvera, express fears of exploitation and environmental degradation. The Sierra Norte region, rich in critical minerals like manganese, gold, and copper, faces health risks from mining activities, with residents suffering from pollution and environmental damage.
Read at Truthout
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