There is a growing recognition in Mexico of the collusion between industry, organized crime and the Mexican government, which is having a chilling effect on citizens and Land Defenders, while multinational corporations, including Canadian mines, are complicit in a vicious cycle of corruption and violence. In Mexico, where unrestrained mining has turned many rural communities into virtual ghost towns, there is a growing recognition of the collusion between industry, organized crime and the Mexican government, which is having a chilling effect on locals and Land Defenders. In La Guardia Blanca, the voices of citizens share stories of land displacement and the fear of reprisal for speaking against expansive extractive projects infringing on their homes. Through lush jungles, winding rivers and arid desert landscapes, director Julian Elie’s exquisitely lensed film underscores the complicity of multinational corporations, including Canadian mines, in a vicious cycle of corruption and violence. – PLANET IN FOCUS