A peasant town in Central Mexico has begun a war on Carlos Slim, who is the world's richest man. The intent of the was is to protect the environment from the threats of the mining of gold and silver.

Located in La Espejera mountain of Tetela de Ocampo, Pubela State, the precious metal mines were  officially permitted to be mined by Minera Frisco, the billionare from Mexico, for 50 years.

The president of the grassroots organization Tetela Hacia el Futuro, German Romero, said that they would stop the war only if Slim concedes and listens to their demands.

The exploration of the site is still on and it has been expected that the production would begin in December, by the time they would have obtained a permit for mining from the Government.

Under Minera Frisco's license, 10,000 hectares of mountain land houses the gold and silver mines and if the production begins, it would pollute the nearby rivers which are a major source of water to more than 40,000 residents in that area. In other words, the mining industry would be indirect genocide as it can pollute the drinking water.

The license to mine La Esperaja would be a threat to over 5 towns in the area and also a whole forest ecosystem. The EFE group said that they wouldn't settle for any negotiation as they are dealing with the lives of people which are non-negotiable.

Congressman had also agreed to the EFE's appeals and had reacted by saying that it would only endanger a complete biodiversity that is intact. The project was not viable, they said.

The communities around the area are least concerned about the money, jobs or gold that they might be profited with if the mining starts.

(AW- Anil)