Research

as a tool for communities

PODER conducts strategic research together with communities, social movements, civil society organizations and other sectors affected by business operations, with a focus on human rights.

Our investigations expose the power structures underlying private projects that fail to respect human rights.

We want companies to fulfill their obligation to inform the general public–and not just investors–about their activities and their human rights impact.

As a basic principle of our work, we build tools together with communities, social movements and civil society organizations to strengthen processes for defending land, territory and the environment, and we make the information available to communities, researchers and civil society organizations in the form of open data, maps and/or analytical reports on strategic industries.

Additionally, we train, educate and accompany communities, organizations and social movements affected by corporate activities.

What do we research?

We conduct long-term research into mining, hydrocarbons, energy and infrastructure, in addition to other strategic industries, like banking and heavy manufacturing.

We focus on non-outsourceable strategic industries and global cities in Mexico and Latin America, which consist mainly of four sectors: financial and related services; extractives (mining, oil and gas); infrastructure and transportation; and heavy manufacturing.

Learn more about our methodology here.

LATEST

The Gas Industry in Latin America and the Caribbean

Dec 7, 2022 | Hydrocarbons, Research, Highlights

The use of natural gas use is a topic of debate. On the one hand it is considered a non-renewable source the combustion of which produces almost 50% less greenhouse gases (GHG) than coal or oil combustion. So in this sense it is a relative clean burning fossil fuel...

CSOs request investigations of Almaden Minerals in the U.S. and Canada for concealing information from investors

Jul 5, 2017 | Ixtaca Mining Project, Mining, Research

Mexico City, May 23, 2017.– A coalition of civil society organizations has requested that U.S. and Canadian securities regulators investigate whether Canadian-based company, Almaden Minerals, violated the disclosure requirements that companies listed in these markets...

Canadian Mining in Puebla and its Human Rights Impact (summary)

Apr 3, 2017 | Ixtaca Mining Project, Mining, Research

The gold and silver open pit mine IXTACA PROJECT, on its advanced exploration stage, is located in the Ixtacamaxtitlán municipality, in the SIERRA NORTE region of the Mexican State of PUEBLA. It occupies the South-Eastern portion of Tuligtic Project. Both concessions...

Canadian Mining in Puebla and its Impacts on Human Rights. For the life and future of Ixtacamaxtitlán

Mar 27, 2017 | Mining, Ixtaca Mining Project, Hydrocarbons, Research

THIS COMMUNITY-LED HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACT ASSESSMENT (HRIA) AIMS TO IDENTIFY, MEASURE, AND PREVENT THE IXTACA PROJECT’S NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS. More specifically, the HRIA demonstrates the discrepancy between the State’s obligations and the extent to which it...