Communities can’t take action to stop pollution without data. We collect data that shows the environmental and health impacts of companies that produce harmful waste, usually mines.
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.
We sample water, sediments, and food to show the levels of metals that the mine is releasing into the environment, and the local community is consuming.
We sample the level of dust in the air from mines to show that extraction is affecting air quality.
We sample levels of hair and blood to detect the levels of minerals in their bodies, which are contributing to health problems.
We train local personnel to build a basic environmental and social monitoring system of extractive industry activities. We enable local people to analyze water, sediments and air and to assess all social externalities caused by extractive industry activities, such as increasing violence and conflicts, alcoholism or prostitution.
We help communities regarding the strategic use of the data that we collect, such as:
How to carry out an advocacy campaign
How to obtain a negotiation table
How to negotiate with companies
In some cases, we present our studies that highlight pollution issues and human rights abuses to courts.
We assist mineral-using companies in their effort to transform their supply chain. We provide them with an assessment on the origin of their raw material, and we help define a protocol to submit to their supplier in order to help them improve their extraction system and to increase the respect of human rights inside their supply chain.
We provide first-hand, independent and effective data on extractive industries to investors in order to help them rank companies in which invest. We provide these first-hand independent data to responsible investors so that they can use it to decide where to address their investments in the resource extraction industry.
Since its beginning, Source International has carried out projects in Italian schools to create awareness about the impact of extractive industries on the environment and public health.
Since 2013, we have worked with teachers and students in secondary schools to introduce the science of environmental issues to European schools. We develop projects and training curriculums on environmental issues like climate change with the GREEEN Network, and the importance of soil conservation with EELLSS.
You can read our article in Geography to learn more about our training initiatives with EELLSS and the importance of teaching soil conservation.
Through awareness-raising activities and educational workshops we have promoted awareness of the values of equality and solidarity, giving students the opportunity to reflect on the existing connections between the global North and South, to reach personal commitment and informed action.
A training course on citizen science to committees, associations, and realities active in the municipal area of Rome (Italy) in the field of environmental, urban and social issues. This project aims to increase the communicative and political impact capacity of these realities through the acquisition of skills and tools for participatory environmental monitoring of water, soil and air.
The project aims to provide to local communities a network of scientists for training on techniques for environmental monitoring, regeneration, and management of natural resources through agro-ecological methods. The training courses will include activities on investigative journalism and environmental educational workshops to encourage the involvement of young people, schools and citizens. Beneficiaries of the project are the civil society and schools of Fiumicino (Rome) and Contadinazioni, a network of farmers in Sicily.
