It is reasonable to say that recent political sanctions against mining in Mendoza have the general consent of the population. There is a strong sense of "good bye and good riddance" to the evil foreign companies that are applying to extract metals from the Cuyo region.
With this in mind, it is interesting to note that when a foreign oil company announces a significant petroleum find (as one did recently in Neuquen) the national reaction is one of "Yippee, we're rich!"
Now whilst this writer is no "drill baby drill" advocate, it is not hard to notice the hypocrisy in the triumphant cries of the oil gush and the contrasting apoplectic shrieks of resistance to all things metallurgical.
Most people here are against mining because of the justified fear of water pollution yet seem oblivious to the fact that modern oil extraction requires prodigious amounts of water pumped into the ground to force the sacred oil out. This water is forever contaminated and can never be cleaned up and recycled.
Another example of double standards at play in the whole mining debate is that the environmentalists who take to the streets, sign petitions, get on the phone and protest on the airways, don´t seem to notice the glaring contradiction in them using cars, cellphones, TVs and computers to do so. Modern appliances would not exist without mining. In fact, the modern world would not exist without mining. What people should be protesting is the political pollution that is at the heart of the mining problem as it is corrupt regulatory practices that allow mining companies (and oil) to get away with mucking up the environment.
A recent anti-mining protest took to the streets of Mendoza with placards proclaiming "Honk your horn if you´re against mining." People beeped accordingly. I wonder if the banners had read "Stop driving your car if you're against mining" would the reaction have been so enthusiastic?
