Protests across Panama against new contract for Canadian copper mining company in biodiverse north

PANAMA (AP) — Protesters marched across Panama against a contract extension for copper mining in a biodiverse region. Teachers, construction workers and environmentalists led the demonstrations Monday. In areas outside Panama City police met protesters with tear gas. The protests were set off by the president last week signing a contract for a huge copper mine to continue operating in central Panama for 20 more years. The mine is the country’s largest private investment and already brings in 3% of the nation’s gross domestic product. The unions and environmentalists protesting say forested land and crucial groundwater are threatened. They also say the contract cedes self-determination by destroying the environment.