And Yet We Exist shows the struggle of the communities of Torres de la Paz against the U.S. company Vulcan, which, in its arbitration claim for more than US$1.5 billion against Mexico, denies the very existence of affected communities in the region.

The documentary exposes the reality of investor-state panels, where transnational corporations can demand multimillion-dollar compensation from countries for expected but unrealized profits. These unilateral and opaque mechanisms are often established to prevent the implementation of public policies aimed at protecting the environment, especially in the Global South.

Through direct testimonies, the film offers an intimate look at the environmental damage, human rights violations, and attacks on Mexican sovereignty perpetrated by the largest asphalt company in the United States.

And Yet We Exist  shows us that the Torres de la Paz communities' assertion of their existence is not trivial, but rather an expression of their resistance. The documentary brings to light voices that these arbitration panels do not want to hear, demonstrating the power that affected communities can have when they organize and fight for their rights.

Don’t miss this important online film premiere and live discussion, register now to be part of the conversation.

Speakers:

• Romain Champalaune, Filmmaker

• Quetzal Tzab González, Mayan Indigenous Lawyer

• Teresa Gutiérrez Haces, researcher, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM)

• Aracely Domínguez Rodríguez, president of Ecologist Group Gema del Mayab

• Raul Benet, community environmental advisor

Moderation: Lucía Bárcena, Transnational Institute and Manuel Pérez Rocha, Institute for Policy Studies