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Digging in

Residents of El Porvenir and Cedros municipalities in central Honduras are campaigning against an open-pit gold and silver mine run by Minerales Entre Mares, a unit of the Canadian Glamis Gold. They say mining has destroyed the forests and dried up water sources in the area.

The villagers are locked in a battle with the neighbouring municipality of San Ignacio, whose residents support the mining activities as it has brought them considerable wealth. Eduardo Villacorta, manager, Entre Mares, claims environmental safety standards are being adhered to and trees would be replanted.

San Ignacio deputy mayor Victor Lopez says the residents of El Porvenir and Cedros "oppose the mines because we're the only ones receiving the benefits'.

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