W5 visited Panama as mass protests raged against a Canadian-owned mine that has now been ordered closed. Known as Cobre Panama, the massive copper mine has been the target of widespread demonstrations since October, 2023 when Panama's government signed a contract allowing it to operate for at least 20 more years.

Owned by a subsidiary of Canada's First Quantum Minerals, the sprawling 13,000-hectare, open-pit mine is bordered by jungle about 120 kilometres west of the capital, Panama City, on the country's Atlantic coast.

Pointing to its alleged impact on the environment and water supplies, a broad coalition of Panamanians – including students, environmentalists, labour groups and indigenous communities – have protested for weeks to have the mine closed.

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