AMERICA/MEXICO - Bishop of Zacatecas: The closure of mines is everyone’s problem

Zacatecas (Agenzia Fides) - The social situation in the region of Zacatecas is very tense due to the layoff of about 400 workers in the mines of a large Canadian company in Peñasquito. According to an official report of the company, the drastic measure is considered "temporary" because of lack of resources and funding. The company in question has about 1,300 workers, therefore 400 layoffs are a substantial number.
In Mazapil, where more than 3000 workers are employed, all the roads have been blocked due to demonstrations.
Speaking of the conflict of the mines in Penasquito and Mazapil, the Bishop of the diocese of Zacatecas, His Exc. Mgr. Sigifredo Noriega Barceló, pointed out that there are situations in which we are all involved. "This involves knowing how to govern: by involving everyone, even when there is a conflict, means looking for ways to appropriately solve problems together", he said in his homily yesterday.
The Bishop explained that there may be different positions and points of view, even on issues such as ecology, the way contracts and agreements are made.
Mgr. Noriega recalled the particular situation of migrants and people working in the mines and then, in the desert region of Zacatecas, which is even worse for the many difficulties they encounter. "However, the Catholic Church has three parishes and five priests involved in the area", he highlighted. Then he stressed: "We must be realistic, it is a desert region and it is very difficult to survive. That is why we must show solidarity, recognizing that it is a situation that affects everyone, workers, business, government, all of us". (CE) (Agenzia Fides 19/01/2015)