New Venezuelan law would lure U.S. firms into ‘blood gold’ trade, critics warn.
March 24, 2026 | MiamiHerald
A proposed mining law in Venezuela, emerging during a fragile political transition after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, is facing strong opposition from civil society groups. They warn it could “legalize ecocide” by formalizing destructive mining practices in regions like the Orinoco Mining Arc and the Guiana Shield.
The law is criticized for weakening environmental protections, enabling human rights abuses, including child labor and forced work, and allowing greater executive control with limited oversight. As mining expands, it threatens vast areas of rainforest, Indigenous communities, and public health, raising concerns that economic recovery is being prioritised over environmental and human well-being.