In Buenos Aires, a tense first public hearing is being held on the reform of the Glacier Law. The hearing features harsh speeches against mining, with the exception of the Minister of Production of San Juan, who defended the initiative passed by the Senate. The hearing began at 10 a.m. under the leadership of the presidents of the Natural Resources and Constitutional Affairs committees. The public meeting is taking place amid high tension, with protests from some speakers and opposition deputies at times, where pro-mining speakers are booed and interrupted. "Out with mining, out with mining," shouted the speakers waiting in the Annex C room. There was also a moment of tension between the deputies, Sebastián Pareja and Mario "Paco" Manrique, over the course of the session and opposition complaints about the limitation of speakers. The first speaker was Marcelo Alberto Arteaga from Chubut, who stated: "The only two streams that are left are polluted. In Las Heras, the oil left and nothing remained." With an emphatic speech against the reform of the Glacier Law, Arteaga said: "We have landfills and a camp. Only 0.50% of water is consumed for mining," he added. Another speaker who strongly defended the current Glacier Law was Marta Maffei, a former deputy of the Civic Coalition and unionist from the "White Tent," who actively participated in the passing of that law. "This law is not convenient and respects nothing of the current legislation. Today a liter of water costs more than fuel. The National Constitution establishes minimum budgets for the entire country. It is regressive in terms of current environmental treaties," she stated. "It has a facade of federalism and achieves discretion for the provinces to do whatever they want," Maffei shot back. The story is developing... The people are watching you and are going to judge you. It violates ILO Convention 169.
