The indigenous groups fighting against the quest for ‘white gold’

Protesters in the Andes mountains of Jujuy, Argentina, are voicing concerns over the environmental and societal impacts of lithium mining, a growing industry linked to the demand for electric car batteries. The region, known as the “lithium triangle,” holds the world’s largest lithium reserves. Indigenous groups like those led by spokesperson Nati Machaca fear that the extraction process, which demands vast amounts of water, is depleting soil and contaminating water sources, jeopardizing their traditional way of life. Despite assertions from some that lithium mining could help combat climate change, these communities remain resolute in their efforts to halt constitutional reforms and protect their land and environment for future generations.

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