Posing by La Puerta del Diablo in El Salvador. January 2012. (Photo by Beatrice Carletti)
One of my resolutions this year is to learn more about my birthplace and cultural homeland: El Salvador.
I can already tell you that 2013 was the right year to commit.
This is an election year, there’s a remarkable truce happening between rival gangs, it’s been 25 years since my uncle became a national hero … and, oh yeah, my little country is locked in an extremely high-stakes legal battle with a Canadian mining company that could bankrupt the government in one not-so-unlikely scenario.
On that last point: El Salvador wants to become the only country in the world to completely forbid mining. Needless to say, Pacific Rim is not prepared to let them do that.
The Fab Files 
The Government of El Salvqdor had already given the ok for Pacific Rim to mine for gold , then after Pacific Rim had already spent millions of dollars, the Government of El Salvador pulls the plug and says no. That they can’t mine for gold. Pacific Rim is owed the money they have already spent. Then the poorest region in El Salvador with the worst crime starts to blame Pacific Rim for murders that after investigations showed they weren’t committed by Pacific Rim’ but rather by El Salvadors own gang members. You say one of the poorest countries, this could be the one thing that helps the country pull itself up. The water supply will be cleaner when the mining is finished by filtration and recycling of the water. This is a chance to provide jobs and help your people. Quit blaming Pacific Rim for what your own Goverment has brought on.