At Source International, we travel to some of the most polluted areas of the world to take the scientific evidence that proves companies are causing severe health problems in nearby communities, and lasting damage to the environment.
Cerro de Pasco is one of the most polluted places on Earth. Source International has been performing studies and working with community members since 2008 to show the severe health damage and environmental consequences of the mine, and to protect the human rights of the community.
read storyThe ERICA project aims to address the socio-environmental impacts of the fossil fuel industry. It leverages citizen science initiatives for independent environmental monitoring, enhancing public engagement and data reliability.
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In collaboration with Forest Peoples Programme we conducted an investigation to ascertain whether sugar cane is illegally cultivated near rivers and perfomed an analysis of the supply chain of the sugar to determine its destination.
read storyThis European Horizon Project seeks to provide new insights, resources, events, and learning materials to help foster a rebalancing of capitalism and democracy.
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Together with our local partner Friend of Cochamò and local communities we are working to restore trails, promoting sustainable tourism and protecting this territory against extractive projects and mass tourism.
This citizen science project aims to reduce indoor radon levels through measurement of exposure and increased awareness of radon risks and mitigation measures in houses and working places in Abbadia San Salvatore, one of the most radon-affected municipalities in Italy.
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The citizen participatory science project was born from the bottom up to monitor the quality of the Apuan waters impacted by marble extraction activities and to ask the institutions for urgent policies to protect water resources.
read storyThis project involves 250 students of primary and secondary schools in Piemonte on an educational journey about drought and the importance of protecting water resources.
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One of our first studies provided major evidence for the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights enacted in 2010, which ordered Guatemala to require the company to improve the safety of their extractive operations.
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The San Martin mine was releasing heavy metals into the water consumed by nearby communities in Honduras. A study by Source International was used when the Supreme Court of Honduras ruled mining laws unconstitutional and required more regulation
read storyAn open pit mine near the community of Carrizalillo in Mexico was polluting the water and increasingly damaging the health of miners and residents. In 2012, delegates from Carrizalillo presented this severe health damage to the International People’s Court of Health, with the help of Source International. GoldCorp paid $50 million in damages to the community of Carrizalillo for misuse of land and pollution.
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In both Ult and Buuruljut valleys nomadic herders are deprived of their traditional land and resources of grass and water because of illegal mines. After Source International's investigation on the human rights abuses, the leader of the local movement Muckhbayar Tzetzegee was freed from jail, where he was convicted for his activism. The Buruljult valley was declared protected.
When locals of Lakardowo, Indonesia complained of illegal pollution from an industrial waste processing plant, Source International investigated heavy metals in the water, soil, and rice. We found high concentrations of heavy metals, especially in the soil in which local crops are grown. This pollution is the likely explanation for the health problems community members are experiencing. Our findings are being used to lobby the government to hold the plant accountable.
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The case of the Madre Viaja river is representative of the environmental and social impact of water and land hoarding by agribusiness companies. The reduction of water flow is causing irreversible damage to the ecosystem and bringing local communities into poverty. Together with our local partner Utz’Che we are trying to denounce the companies in order to stop the deviation of the river.
Two open pit mines near communities in Moatize, Mozambique, are releasing huge amounts of dust into the air and water, taking the water that local communities depend on, and causing deforestation in the area. This is leading to health problems and conflict. Source International studied the air and water, and trained local residents on how to monitor the mines’ environmental impacts so that they will have the evidence they need to take action.
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Source International is expanding its communal monitoring system to the textile industry. The apparel industry is recognized as the second highest polluting industry worldwide. Cotton production alone uses 10% of the world’s pesticides. Starting with the community monitoring system, Source International’s ultimate goal is to change the way in which textiles are produced by incentivizing environmental accountability.
The Firestone Natural Rubber Company, Africa’s largest producer of natural rubber, won the Public Eye Award for “irresponsible corporate behavior” at the World Social Forum in Davos, Switzerland in 2007. Source International performed the first independent, open-access study on Firestone’s environmental impact and found that its pollution posed a significant danger to the health of local communities.
We provide local communities with high-level scientific studies. We use the best instruments and the best methodology to perform analysis of water, sediments, air and biological samples (blood, hair, nails). We analyze social implications scientifically, through direct observation, quantitative and qualitative questionnaires and external analysis.
