First Ortega says no open pit mining in Vz period.

Then two weeks later she amends to, we are going to restudy open pit mining with regards to reversibility of environmental damage, implying that she will modify her no open pit mining order. She reiterates, however, that there will be no open pit mining in the Imataca Forest.

Now we find out from Beano's exellent translation-I think for now on we should call him El Beano- from the Sanz 4/15/2008 video that Chavez has given Sanz the charge of reviewing the entire mining sector (including Las Cristinas) to determine not if damage will result but only if the resultant damage is reversible.

From this we can conclude that reversibility is high on Hugo's agenda and he will accept developement of Las Cristinas only as long as he can be satisfied that the Imataca Forest will not be sacrificed further.

So now both sides of the argument are doing studies analyzing the capacity for reversibility.

Eventually both sides will hand a report to Chavez.

If Sanz can show Chavez that Las Cristinas can be restored to its original splendor as opposed to the cesspool that it currently is-and we all know this can be done-then Hugo will issue the permit.