The Argentine Association of Environmental Lawyers denounced, on their official Instagram account, that: “The Milei Government is moving forward with a decree to enable mega-mining in protected areas, eliminating the meaning of the Glaciers Law to suit mega-mining and oil companies,” noting that “it is a reform tailored to Barrick Gold and other polluting companies, disguised as modernization, but laden with impunity.”
As we have already reported in Agenda Malvinas , since Milei took office, he has been weaving a web of interests strongly linked to the large mining monopolies. The La Unión website reported that: "The initiative is being developed by the Ministry of Economy, under the leadership of Luis Caputo, with the participation of the Secretary of Energy, María Tettamanti; the Coordinator of Energy and Mining, Daniel González; and the legal team of María Ibarzabal." It will be no coincidence if the governors of the mining provinces support this new initiative with their characteristic civic enthusiasm , as they are always among the main donors of the governability so necessary to continue guaranteeing the plundering of the libertarian government.
For its part, the Nexofin website stated that: “The technical team at the Casa Rosada is working on new regulations for Law 26.639, which governs the protection of glaciers and the periglacial environment. The objective, according to official sources, is to provide legal security for investments .”
The Argentine Association of Environmental Lawyers denounced Milei's move forward with a decree to enable mega-mining in protected areas, overriding the meaning of the Glacier Law to suit mega-mining and oil companies. "They want to legalize what is illegal: opening periglacial territories to plunder, reducing the protection of our water sources to mining companies," they warn, adding that glaciers are not negotiable because "they are our strategic water reserves, they regulate the climate and guarantee life in mountain territories and the watersheds they feed."
In another act of submission to the powers of Anglo-Yankee imperialism, the government of Javier Milei will insist on the controversial change to the Glacier Law , as it urgently needs to show signs of economic dynamism and greater openness to the markets.
“The Executive branch acknowledges pressure from the business sector and maintains that it seeks to provide 'legal security' to attract investment ,” La Unión reported, as the government's intention “is to reduce protected areas to those active rock or debris formations that meet specific criteria,” such as “a minimum surface area of one hectare, persistence of at least two years, relevant water function, and registration in the National Glacier Inventory.”
To achieve this, they will not hesitate to reduce the scope of protected areas by opening up new mining and hydrocarbon exploitation zones for the benefit of monopolies. This amendment had already been included in the Basic Law , but was rejected. For that reason, and to try to avoid a new setback, this time Milei will do so by decree and without going through Congress.
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