Cloud over the Little Johnny mine, near Leadville Colorado.
A permanent road block in Ierissos, where people, citizens and activist surveile the entrance of Ierissos to prevent police attack.
Activists preparing the location for an antigold solidarity concert in Ierissos.
A night view of the road block in Ierissos.
Activists outside the Court of Poligiros during a trial against the antigold movement.
View of Ammouliani island from Ouranopoli, 10 km far from Ierissos.
Asterix and Obelix banner in a road block in Ierissos surveilled by the antigold movement.
Maria Kadoglou, an antigold activist.
The beach of Stratoni and the mines infrastructure. In december 2012, more than half a mile of the bay, known for its large sandy beaches, clear waters, and abundant fishing, was streaked with pollution leaked from Stratoni.
Asterix and Obelix banner in a road block in Ierissos surveilled by the antigold movement.
Road block during the night in Ierissos.
Tires in a road block in Ierissos.
Since April 2013 there are two road blocks in Ierissos, surveilled 24h by activists.
The police station in Ierissos burned in April 2013, after a police operation to arrest some activist in the village. Since April 2013 the police didn't come to Ierissos.
People in the road block in Ierissos
Skouries forest, where the El Dorado Gold company is building a new gold mine
An activist during a demonstration in Skouries forest, to protest against the installation of a new gold mine by El Dorado Gold, a canadian company.
Skouries forest, where the El Dorado Gold company is building a new gold mine
Street salesman in the centre of Ierissos
Activist preparing the traditional souvlaki during a solidarity event in Ierissos.
Child play during the solidarity music festival in Ierissos this summer.
Two elderly people stand in front an antigold banner in Ierissos.
The centre of Ierissos, a small village in Halkidiki with around 3,000 inhabitants.
Katerina Igglezi, a member of Greek Parliament with the Coalition of the Left (SYRIZA) in her office in Ierissos.
Graffiti against the gold mines in Ouranopoli, the last village before the Monte Athos territory.
Graffiti against the gold mines in Ouranopoli, the last village before the Monte Athos territory.
An antigold activist at the road block in Ierissos.
A road block situated in one of the main entrance of Ierissos, a small village without police station since it has burned in April 2013.
Activists' defense lawyer after the trial in Poligiros.
Activists are waiting for the trial in Poligiros where a couple of women are accused of violence and resistance against a police officer.
During the trial against antigold mines activists in Poligiros
A "Pallaquera" (a woman who selects stones from the mine dumps looking for gold) is pictured at work in La Rinconada, Ananea, Peru.
A "Pallaquera" (a woman who selects stones from the mine dumps looking for gold) is pictured at work in La Rinconada, Ananea, Peru.
A miner guides a truck inside a goldmine in La Rinconada, Ananea, Peru.
17 January 2013. La Rinconada: A group of miners in a security check-point inside a goldmine in La Rinconada, Ananea, Peru, are waiting their turn to work.
La Rinconada was a nice, quiet rural village in Peru’s Los Andes range twenty years ago. However, the economic crisis in the country and the discovery of gold changed the town completely during the nineties. Now, it is a crowded place where thousands of the poor from all over South America frequently immigrate looking for opportunity. The precious metal has transformed La Rinconada into a chaotic village of nearly 50,000 inhabitants (four times more than the past) with a serious lack of social services. The increase in the price of gold (25% last year and 600% in ten years) has pushed many more people to move up there.
Nowadays, the landscape in La Rinconada is full of metallic shelters built without official permits. There is no pavement, sewers and running water. It is full of rubbish and defecation everywhere. It is now a place with serious problems of alcoholism, drugs and crime. The police is nearly absent and illegal prostitution is always present. The use of mercury to separate gold from rock has created a high level of pollution that provokes aggressiveness among the population. This, added to the fact that La Rinconada is about 6,000 meters altitude, causes also breath sicknesses (especially among children) and the local clinic covers just 10% of the needs. Despite some apparent efforts of the local administration, the situation is getting worse year by year.
Photo by Albert González Farran.
"Pallaqueras" (women who select stones from the mine dumps) attend the afternoon briefing with their colleagues and the engineers of Corporación Minera Ananea in La Rinconada, Ananea, Peru.
La Rinconada: "Pallaqueras" (women who select stones from the mine dumps) go to work in La Rinconada, Ananea, Peru.
A "Pallaquera" (a man who selects stones from the mine dumps) is pictured at work in La Rinconada, Ananea, Peru.
A "Pallaquera" (a woman who selects stones from the mine dumps looking for gold) takes a rest outside her shelter in La Rinconada, Ananea, Peru.
A miner, on his way from work, crosses the main gate that connects the village with the goldmines, in La Rinconada, Ananea, Peru.