Mining the Truth: Why a Publisher Buried a Book Exposing Human Rights abuses by Canadian Mining Companies in Guatemala.

The co-edited book titled "Canadian Mining in the Aftermath of Genocides in Guatemala" was peer reviewed, and on its way to bookstore shelves until a surprise legal review came forward against the book.  Springer Nature, the publisher, then informed the authors that they were canceling the publication contract, and returned the manuscript to the editors.  What happened?  Why would a well-researched book prepared by two highly accredited writers be suddenly quashed?  What is in this book that is so worrisome to publish?  Is the mining industry trying to hide something?  Could this research hold abusers of human rights to account?  And what is the message to other academics who are pursuing research on human rights abuse?  Tune in to this episode of GDP to get the whole scoop. Catherine Nolin is a Professor of Geography and Chair of the Geography Program at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) in Prince George, BC. Catherine was recently made a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) and, since July 2020, is also Chair of the Conference of Latin American Geography (CLAG). CLAG is the premier organization for geographers engaging in research in Latin America and the Caribbean and works to foster research, education, and service related to Latin American geographical studies. Catherine is a long-time insurgent researcher and social justice advocate, including more than 25 years grappling with the afterlives of the Guatemalan genocides. Grahame Russell is a non-practicing Canadian lawyer and, since 1995, Director of Rights Action – an organization that works in Honduras and Guatemala in support of community / environmental / human rights / territory defenders resisting widespread harms and (often deadly) violence caused by different sectors of the global economy, including mining, hydro-electric dams, African palm, sugar-cane, bananas, coffee, tourism, the garment industry. Rights Action carries out education and activism work in the US and Canada focusing on how our governments and companies (and the US military) often contribute directly to and benefit from human rights violations (including repression), environmental harms, exploitation, corruption and impunity in these countries. Grahame is also an adjunct professor in the Geography Program at UNBC and, since 2004, worked with Catherine to co-lead delegations and field schools to Guatemala for Canadian university students. Follow Dr. Bob on Twitter: @ProfessorHuish