‘Our territory is our life’: one struggle against mining in Ecuador

The A’I Cofan in the Amazon fight back against small-scale miners invading their land and new, large-scale concessions upriverThree A’I Cofan men were staring down at a pit of rocks, dead foliage and filthy water where two gold-panners were working. Beyond was a sluice and hoses running down to the rushing, green waters of the River Aguarico. To the right, there was mud, more rocks, more equipment, a makeshift tent and camp. Behind, to the left, a Hyundai excavator and a track runnin