Argentina Reforms Glacier Law, Sparks Water Supply

• Javier Milei's government reformed Argentina's glacier law, enabling provincial authorities to decide which glaciers are protected based on "relevant water function," a move he says ends "ideological distortions" and "absurd interpretations" that hindered mining.
• Environmentalists and community members, including activist Saul Zeballos and organizations like Farn and Greenpeace, allege the reform erodes a crucial national environmental standard, threatening water security for 7 million Argentinians who depend on glaciers.
• The Veladero gold and silver mine, owned by Barrick Mining Corporation and Shandong Gold, has been accused by activists of operating illegally under the original glacier law, with past cyanide spills raising fears about water pollution in the Jáchal basin.