Honduras: Anti-mining activist Juan Lopez shot dead

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🗞️ Driving the news: Honduran anti-mining activist Juan Lopez was shot dead after leaving church in Tocoa, marking the fourth murder of a member from his environmental group since 2023
• President Xiomara Castro condemned the killing and has ordered an investigation to find those responsible

🔭 The context: Lopez was a prominent member of the Municipal Committee for the Defense of Common and Public Goods, fighting to protect local rivers and forests from mining companies
• The group has faced years of threats, with other members killed in apparent retaliation for their activism

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Honduras is one of the most dangerous countries for environmental activists, with mining companies often targeting those defending natural resources
• Lopez’s death highlights the severe risks environmental defenders face in protecting ecosystems from destructive industrial practices

⏭️ What's next: The Honduran government has vowed to fully investigate Lopez's murder, but activists continue to call for stronger protections for environmental defenders amid ongoing threats from powerful corporations

💬 One quote: "His life was an example of struggle. He never gave up in his incessant battle... to preserve natural resources," said Attorney General Johel Zelaya

📈 One stat: 85% of the world’s environmentalist murders in 2023 occurred in Latin America, with 18 recorded in Honduras alone

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