A spate of local referendums may eventually make international mining and oil companies wary of Colombia as an investment destination. Over the past several months, residents across the country have — often successfully — organized and held local referendums to halt oil exploration and mine construction. The most notable of these referendums occurred on March 26 in Cajamarca, Tolima department. In that referendum, 98 percent of voters cast their ballots against a gold mine planned by South African multinational AngloGold Ashanti, leading the company to halt work. Then on June 4, voters in Cumaral, Meta department, approved an initiative to ban oil exploration in their municipality. And on July 9, voters in Arbelaez, Cundinamarca department, will go to the polls to vote on a similar measure.