The Council of Canadians is issuing a statement of solidarity as hundreds of
protestors gather in front of the Canadian embassy in Mexico City (1pm EST) to
express their outrage at the growing death toll of community activists opposing
Canadian mining in Mexico.

Most recently, in the state of Chihuahua, a married couple who have led the
struggle against the Cascabel mine owned by Canadian firm MAG Silver, Ismael
Solorio Urrutia, and Manuela Martha Solís Contreras were shot to death on
October 22, 2012.. Ismael and his son had previously been beaten by a group of mining
company employees.

Both Ismael and Manuela were members of the small farmers association called El
Barzon which had been campaigning to protect scarce water resources in the
area. According to Amnesty International, just a week prior to the tragic death
of the two community activists, El Barzon was denied a visit with officials of
the State of Chihuahua to follow up on complaints issued about recent death
threats. MAG Silver is currently operating without the consent of the community
in violation of its legal obligations.

The Council of Canadians demands that the State of Chihuahua, the Mexican
federal government and the Canadian government take action immediately to
protect members of El Barzon and other opponents of the MAG Silver mine in
Chihuahua. Canadian and Mexican authorities must investigate the murders and
bring those responsible to justice. We also demand that MAG Silver cease to
operate illegally in the area.

Mexico-city based Blue Planet Project organizer Claudia Campero Arena will be at
the protest and available for comment.

What you can do?

1. Send appeals to Chihuahua State Interior Minister:

Lic. Raymundo Romero Maldonado

Palacio de Gobierno 1er Piso

Calle Aldama No. 901

Colonia Centro C.P. 31000

Chihuahua, Chih. Mexico

Fax: +52 614 4299 341

And the Mexican Minister of Interior:

Dr. Alejandro Poiré Romero

Secretaría de Gobernación

Bucareli 99, 1er. piso, Col. Juárez

Delegación Cuauhtémoc

México D.F., C.P.06600, México

Fax: +52 55 5093 3414

Email: [email protected]

With copies to:

Local Organization Centro de Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres, CEDEHM

Email: [email protected]

2. Contact the mining company to share your outrage and demand that it cease to
operate without community consent and take responsibility for the safety of
activists in Chihuahua:

The investor relations manager can be reached at:

Investor Relations Manager

Drew Martel

ph: 604-630-1399

toll: 866-630-1399

fax: 604-681-0894

[email protected]:[email protected]

3. Contact Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Baird at:

[email protected]:[email protected]<

Tel: 613-990-7720