Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) is a grassroots movement founded in 2012 to organise mining-affected communities against exclusion, dispossession, environmental harm and the “toxic alliance” between mining companies and the state. MACUA challenges mining licences, development plans and policy processes that exclude affected communities. It campaigns for Free, Prior and Informed Consent, meaningful participation, and the right of communities to say no to destructive mining. It also investigates if mining companies deliver promised community development, linking this work directly to rights to housing, water, education, health, work and development.
In addition to the work done directly on mining, MACUA also works on environmental justice and the right to a healthy environment. It holds campaigns against water contamination, roads, mine pollution, abandoned mines and community safety. Furthermore, its climate justice and Just Transition work focuses on coal-affected communities, critical minerals, green hydrogen, community benefit-sharing, and the development of community-led transition standards.
In doing all this work, MACUA ensures that women’s and youth leadership in mining affected communities are strengthened and any related work is done in collaboration with other social movements.
