In Esquel, a confluence of academics from the National University of Patagonia and individuals not belonging to political parties or organizations formed the Esquel Neighborhood Association (AVE) to confront the mining project.
In Argentina little was known about mining. The most important project (called Alumbrera, in the northern province of Catamarca) was advertised as a blessing and the echo of criticisms toward the activity had yet to arise.
"The provincial government and the Mayor tried to defuse any possible challenge to the mining project, planting in the media the idea that the mine was good in every way", said Gustavo Macayo, activist and one of the lawyers of the Assembly.
With a population of 30,000 people, a process of forming assemblies began to grow (in late 2002) amounting to more than 600 neighbors. Then came the first alarm bells about mining: cyanide, explosions, the danger of contamination, the huge consumption of water for this activity.
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