"European capital’s dealings in commodities from South America and Africa: the case of Glencore", 2013

[T]he massive exploitation of [Bolivia’s] immense mineral reserves has brought very few benefits to the Bolivian people. The areas... mined are among the poorest and most damaged in the country... these jobs are characterised by a high degree of instability and multiple health risks... Glencore has been accused by the miners of making its workers bear the burden of its supposed losses caused by the fall in mineral prices. It does this by freezing or cutting wages, increasing hours of work and even laying off large numbers of workers. This has led to frequent social protests against the transnational... In 2007, an inspection by the Prefecture of Oruro found that “colas” (oily water) from Bolívar Mine was being dumped in the Antequera River.... the entire watershed was declared an emergency zone, “due to the imminent risk to human health and food security as a result of the long-term presence of pollution and soil salinization caused by mining activities in the region”...the Vice-Ministry of the Environment found that levels of zinc and cadmium in the water were higher than the permitted levels... causing the disappearance of water sources, the death of fish... as well as reducing the quality and quantity of crop yields... The Bolivian government has made a series of changes with the objective of re-nationalising mining... in June 2012, Colquiri was nationalised by means of a Supreme Decree... [leading to] a major conflict in the area with the cooperative miners... Dozens of people were injured and one died as a result. In October 2012, the government announced that Sinchi Wayra-Glencore would be investigated, as the company is suspected of having incited the violent clashes between miners.