It seems that some of the most beautiful rainforest in the world is under threat.

Costa Rica literally means ‘rich coast’ and it is easy to see why.

The tiny country in Central America, formally the Republic of Costa Rica sits between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south.

The thin strip of land in between the two huge land masses of North and South America.

Amongst other exports and trades, Costa Rica is a coffee producing country.

The small country produces beans that are high in caffeine, and it is common for them to be blended with inferior beans and shipped all over the world.

Coffee production has played a key role in the history of the country and in 2006 coffee was their 3rd biggest export.

190 hectares of flawless Costa Rican rainforest, tipped by some to be the most beautiful in the world, is under threat from big business.

Infinito Gold, a Canadian mining company have had their eye on opening a gold mine even though it was opposed by 75% of Costa Ricans.

Infinito Gold has also had the audacity to slap a £1 billion lawsuit across the face of the nation because they refuse to bow to corporate fat cats and continue to protect their natural resources.

Many endangered species live in this particular rainforest such as the green macaw, many of the toxic chemicals used in the mining process such as cyanide would leak into the ground and the rivers and surely finish off the job for many animals on the brink of extinction.

This is not the first time Infinito Gold have thrown their financial weight around, they locked Venezuela into a ten year legal battle regarding a rejected mine proposal.

Fortunately they lost and ensure they do again there are several online petitions.

Please see this link here if you are interested in putting your signature to a worthy cause.

http://action.sumofus.org/a/mining-costarica/8/2/?sub=fb

We can’t let billion pound businessmen bully an entire country for ‘possible’ gold and destroy a country that has some of the richest, greenest lands on earth.

What’s your thoughts on this? Would you destroy the rainforest to hunt for gold?