My name is Parker Cleveland; I have been an International Human Rights Observer for the Intag Solidarity Network for the past three months and will be returning to Junin this summer.  I recently graduated from Georgia State University in Atlanta and soon after that I was off to Ecuador.  Overall, this has been an amazing experience for me and I wanted to take the opportunity to update and thank everyone who has helped to make the recent victories in Junin possible.

I arrived in Junin on the first of the year, and 2008 has been a successful year for the resistance so far.  Things in the community have been very calm, which is a welcome change of pace from the tumultuous last half of 2007.  Community members who have not spoken to each other in months or even years because of the conflict seem to be beginning the difficult task of reconciliation.  The other Observer and I were even invited to the wedding of one of the most militantly pro-mining families in the community, an invitation that would never have even been thought of last year.

Largely due to Ascendant’s illegal activities in the area, the work of the ISN and its supporters, in late January, the company’s concession in Junin was revoked.  The response of the community was cautiously optimistic.  People seemed happy to see Ascendant go but are weary of another mining company taking over the claim in the same way that Ascendant took over Bishi Metals’ concession.  However, this was also a pivotal time for the community to begin the reconciliation process, and it seems that this process has begun.  The community election held in February was said to be the most civil in recent memory.  And the new community president spoke of the need for putting the past behind the community and doing what is best for Junin.  Additionally, nearly everyone expressed the hope that the community could come back together in the wake of Ascendant’s expulsion from Junin.

As a result of the recent successes in the mining conflict, the community has asked ISN to change the focus the Observer program to reinvigorate the ecotourism project.  The Observers worked on a new tourism brochure and have been assisting in general upkeep and beautification of ecotourism facilities.  Once the rainy season is over, the Observers will spend more time in Quito and Otavalo in an effort to bring more tourists to Junin.  Additionally, Observers will be teaching English classes to community members.  It is important to continue to support the ISN in its changing role of providing environmentally sustainable economic alternatives to mining.  This will not only help the environment but will make it more difficult for another mining company to claim that it is providing economic development in Ecuador.