A CWCIT interview with Andrés McKinley, a mining and water specialist at San Salvador's Central American University (UCA). In March 2017, El Salvador became the first country in the world to ban metal mining, safeguarding its natural resources and its people's health. Leading the push was the Catholic Church and key to the effort was McKinley. Born in the U.S., McKinley has lived in Central America since 1977 and holds a master's in health administration.

According to the organization, Global Witness, environmental activists are being murdered at an increasingly alarming rate worldwide. The deadliest year on record was 2017; 207 people were killed, nearly 4 a week, and 60% of recorded killings were in Latin America.* People working on land, water and mining issues are among the most vulnerable worldwide, which makes the saga of mining politics in El Salvador all the more remarkable.

With important roles played by local citizen activists, an array of indigenous and other communities, and with contributions from the Church, something surprising is unfolding in this small country of 6.4 million people.

*Reference: https://www.globalwitness.org/en/press-releases/deadliest-year-record-land-and-environmental-defenders-agribusiness-shown-be-industry-most-linked-killings/