CATAPA

CATAPA is an environmental and social volunteer movement in Flanders that works towards a world in which the exploitation of non-renewable raw materials is no longer necessary. We focus specifically on issues related to mining and extraction in Latin America and support local communities in Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and Colombia that are being threatened by big scale mining projects, and their social and environmental consequences. The mining industry's impact on the social, economic, cultural and ecological level is often disastrous and fundamentally unjust. Such injustice felt in poorer regions is the result of economic policies created in the wealthier parts of the world. We seek to address these structural causes of poverty and exclusion by forming a resolute front spread across the globe. CATAPA wants to activate citizens in Flanders and Brussels and offer them concrete action perspectives to work towards a more fair and circular world. Our main strategies are: - Raising awareness: We raise awareness to a broad public in Flanders and Brussels to increase knowledge on the impacts of our metal consumption (e.g. through electronic products like smartphones and laptops) and the consumer society we live in. We try to raise awareness on the impacts of mining and alternative ways of production and consumption of metal containing products by setting up all kinds of educational activities like info-evenings, debates, workshops and speaker tours and spread information about our cases and projects through newsletters, social media and our website. - Networking: We are active in (international) networks on social and ecological justice and collaborate actively with universities, NGOs and other civil society organizations in Belgium, Europe, Latin America and other parts of the world. We support partners in Latin-America in their struggle against big scale mining projects by exchanging knowledge, internationalizing their struggle and setting up joint projects to target negative consequences of mining and promote ecological alternatives. - Research: We analyse the environmental, socio-economic and health impact of big scale mining, write reports and search for alternatives to mining and the consumption of metals. - Creating a movement: We keep our movement dynamic by motivating and supporting volunteers based on their individual interests and competencies and by organizing weekends, camps, trainings, teambuilding activities, etc. CATAPA wants to activate citizens in Flanders and Brussels and stimulate critical citizenship and international solidarity and cooperation.