A total of 125 playwrights, writers, poets, painters, photographers and naturalists joined their voices in a book titled Heaven, Open up, to oppose the Valtreixal mine project owned by Canada’s Almonty Industries.
Located near the village of Calabor in northwestern Spain and close to the Portugese borders, Valtreixal is said to be a low-operational cost project with an extremely high percentage of tin content at 30%.
However, the mine’s location is opposed by artists and environmentalists who are concerned about the fact that Calabor river, flowing into the Portuguese Sabor river, is within the project area.
The source of the Calabor river is on the Sierra de la Culebra special conservation area, which is close to Valtreixal, as is the Montesinho natural park on the Portuguese side.
The online presentation of the Heaven, Open up book says: “If this project, which is expected for 2021, goes ahead, the Sierra de la Culebra ecosystem will be endangered. This is the most important habitat for the Iberian wolf. The ecosystem in the neighbouring Portuguese lands is endangered as well.”
“Water pollution caused by the mineral exploitation will impact the Calabor river, which flows into the Portugesr Sabor river, providing freshwater to the city of Bragança. The mine will also severely damage the area’s sustainable development, which is based on tourism,” adds the presentation.
The 246-page book edited by playwright Julio Fernández, includes manifestos, essays, short stories, dialogues, poems, photos and visual poems.
Famous contributors to the book include naturalist Joaquín Araújo, Guatemalan indigenous leader Aura Lolita Chávez, Spain’s National Poetry Award winner Juan Carlos Mestre, Portuguese poet Fernando Cabrita, and playwrights Jorge Palinhos and Isabel Fernandes Pinto.
Proceeds from book sales are expected to be used to fund actions against the approval of the Valtreixal project.