Derrick Hindery

Assistant Professor

Research Interests

My research currently focuses on impacts of global economic restructuring and post- neoliberalism on sensitive ecosystems and indigenous communities in Latin America and the U.S.

Specific research projects include:

1. Impacts of neoliberal economic restructuring and post-neoliberalism on sensitive ecosystems and indigenous communities in Bolivia, focusing on:
   1. a comparative analysis of impacts of Enron (now Ashmore) and Shell's Cuiabá and Bolivia-Brazil pipelines and associated mines on Bolivia‟s Chiquitano Forest, Pantanal Wetlands, Chaco Forest and indigenous communities under neoliberalism (1985-2005) versus post-neoliberalism (post-2005), using qualitative research, field observations, remote sensing, and GIS data sets (ongoing project, since 1999). PI. Collaborative project with Alexis Aguilar (Salisbury University) and Danny Redo (Texas A&M University).
   2. a comparative analysis of deforestation in Bolivia's Santa Cruz Department under neoliberalism (1985-2005) versus post-neoliberalism (post-2005), centering on large-scale commercial agriculture. Co-PI. Collaborative project with Andrew Millington (Texas A&M) and Danny Redo (Texas A&M University).
2. Environmental, social and policy impacts of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects along the commodity chain, from source areas of extraction in Bolivia and the Peruvian Amazon to sites of distribution and consumption in Southern California, Oregon and Mexico. The study focuses on marginalized communities disproportionately affected by construction and operation of LNG receiving terminals in Baja California, Mexico, Southern California, and Oregon. This research is contextualized within the current debate between the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and state agencies over the siting of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) receiving terminals.
3. Collaborative research with Joshua Muldavin (Sarah Lawrence College) on environmental consequences of Chinese foreign direct investment and Japanese aid in South America. Specifically, this research concentrates on impacts of rapidly expanding Chinese investment in mining, hydrocarbons, forestry and agriculture sectors as well as impacts of aid from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In Bolivia, specific cases include a) Japanese investments to mine the Salar de Uyuni lithium deposits for electric cars (where 50% of the world‟s lithium exists) b) Japanese financing of Enron (now Ashmore) and Shell‟s Bolivia-Brazil gas pipeline.
4. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and San Bartolome Mine in Potosi, Bolivia: Since 1999 my research in Bolivia has documented contractual violations and internal policy violations with respect to OPIC‟s financing of Enron (now Ashmore) and Shell‟s Cuiabá pipeline (a $US 200 million loan which was ultimately cancelled). I am now beginning to conduct research on OPIC‟s financing of the San Bartolome silver mine in Potosi, Bolivia, expected to be one of the largest silver mines in the world (famous for formerly bankrolling the Spanish Empire). I am beginning to compile evidence of non- compliance based on correspondence between highland indigenous groups, OPIC and COEUR Mining Corporation.