Underreported Struggles #34 (URANIUM MINING IN ZAMBIA: Signing the Contract of Death)

Comment:  Mining corporations are not a nice group to welcome to your community!  Demand our leaders to ban uranium mining and milling!
Underreported Struggles #34, January 2010
Friday, February 05 2010 @ 05:50 AM UTC

Contributed by: Admin

In this month’s Underreported Struggles: Philippine community blocks entry of large mining firm; First Nation begins blockade in northern Ontario; Malaysian authorities destroy homes in Iban village; US Dept. rules against native rights; Indigenous People in Algeria March for Autonomy

Underreported Struggles #34, January 2010
In this month’s Underreported Struggles: Philippine community blocks entry of large mining firm; First Nation begins blockade in northern Ontario; Malaysian authorities destroy homes in Iban village; US Dept. rules against native rights; Indigenous People in Algeria March for Autonomy

Jan 27th – URANIUM MINING IN ZAMBIA: Signing the Contract of Death – Zambia is yet to make another big mistake of not taking the concerns of the people at heart when striking deals on Uranium Mining. Dennison Mines is Canadian and African Energy Resources is Australian, are there not Uranium Fields in these countries? Has anyone in the government tried to follow up what happens in these countries with regards to Uranium countries so that informed decisions are made?

Jan 26th – India: Protests follow govt. approval of POSCO mining project – The Indian government’s grant of the final environmental clearance to a Korean giant firm, allowing it to acquire 3,000 acres of ‘forest lands’ in the eastern state of Orissa, has prompted a fresh spate of protests from more than 4,000 families that will be affected by a proposed mining project.

Jan 26th – First Nation pushes back against ‘Ring of Fire’ mine, rail project – Last week about 15 protesters from Marten Falls First Nation began protesting near two mineral exploration camps in northern Ontario, because the community of 300 was not consulted.

Jan 25th – Indonesia: Halt Mining that Threatens Indigenous Peoples! – The Manggarai, Leragere and Kedang Indigenous peoples are calling on the government of Indonesia to halt all mining in East Nusa Province and conduct a genuine consultation process with communities affected by any ongoing and proposed mining projects.

Jan 25th – Chile: environment authorities procede with sanction process against Pascua Lama Project – Chilean environmental authorities have begun a probe into the construction of Barrick gold’s Pascua-Lama project, which could lead to fines or even a revoked their concession. The environmental commission CONAMA said the probe was looking into a water source for the project, monitoring of construction noise and controlling dust levels.

Jan 23rd – Klamath Tribes agree with basin restoration plan – The news reports that the Klamath Tribes in Oregon are the first to approve a $1 billion agreement for restoring Klamath River salmon and bringing peace to the long-standing water battles in the basin.

Jan 21st – Dept. rules against native rights, says Eagle Rock isn’t sacred – The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has shamelessly and underhandedly given its final approval for a nickel and copper sulfide mine on the Yellow Dog Plains. In issuing the approval, the MDEQ overstepped the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s treaty rights and their religious rights.

Jan 21st – Indigenous People in Borneo win landmark court ruling over land rights – A Malaysian court has ruled in favor of indigenous communities in a dispute over land rights just two days after authorities “arbitrarily” destroyed 25 Iban homes in the village of Sungai Sekabai in Sarawak.

Jan 20th – Malaysian police destroy homes in Borneo indigenous community – Malaysian authorities yesterday destroyed two dozen homes in an indigenous Iban community near the town of Bintulu in Sarawak, alleges a human rights group.

Jan 19th – Philippine community blocks entry of large mining firm – The community of Anislagan on the island of Mindanao has successfully blocked the Philex mining company from entering their lands. The company was planning to begin work on a “livelihood training center-”perhaps, to replace the community’s actual livelihoods, which the company will destroy if they go ahead with their project.

Jan 18th – Message from Ecuador to Chevron CEO John Watson: We don’t want to continue dying from cancer – A heartfelt message from Amazon rainforest communities in Ecuador to the new Chairman and CEO of Chevron: “We don’t want to continue dying of cancer.”

Jan 18th – Tsilhqot’in Government denounces “rubber stamp” approval for the Prosperity mine project – The Tsilhqot’in National Government denounces the BC Environmental Assessment Office decision to grant an environmental assessment certificate (EA) to Taseko Mines Ltd. for a proposed massive mine at Teztan Biny (Fish Lake), an area where the Tsilhqot’in Nation holds proven Aboriginal hunting and trapping rights.

Jan 16th – UN report paints grim picture of world’s indigenous peoples – The world’s 370 million indigenous peoples suffer from disproportionately, often exponentially, higher rates of poverty, health problems, crime and human rights abuses, says “the State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples”, the first ever United Nations report of its kind.

Jan 13th – Carbon Markets Violate Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Threaten Cultural Survival – Indigenous Peoples are being forced to sign over their territories for REDD to the Gangsters of the Century, carbon traders, who are invading the world’s remaining forests that exist thanks to the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples,” denounced Marlon Santi, President of the CONAIE, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, one of the most powerful native organizations in the world. “Our forests are spaces for life not carbon markets.”.

Jan 11th – Government Study: Chilean Gold Mine Threatens Local Glaciers – Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold, the owner of what would be Chile’s largest gold mine, Pascua Lama, could face legal sanctions after Chile’s national water commission (DGA) reported that the company is failing to comply with Chile’s environmental laws.

Jan 10th – Call to 1st International Meeting for Those Affected by Vale – Social, environmental and labour movements and organizations in Brazil call on the social, environmental and labour movements in Canada, Chile, Argentina, Guatemala, Peru, Mozambique, Australia, Norway, New Caledonia, South Africa and Indonesia to the 1st Meeting of People, Communities and Workers affected by the aggressive and predatory activities of the company, Vale, from 12th to 15th of April 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Jan 8th – Black Mesa Wins! Peabody’s Coal Mining Permit Revoked – Peabody Coal’s massive coal mine project on the traditional lands of the Hopi and Dineh People in northeastern Arizona, was dealt another major blow this week by an administrative judge in Salt Lake City.

Jan 5th – Peru’s gold rush sparks fears of ecological disaster – The high price of gold has drawn thousands of miners to a region of south-east Peru, but deforestation and the high levels of mercury used in mining has led to fears of an imminent ecological disaster.

Jan 5th – Amnesty calls on El Salvador to investigate the recent murder of environmental activists – Amnesty International has called on the Salvadoran authorities to investigate the killing of two environmental activists who opposed mining projects in the central Cabañas area, and threats against the staff of a community radio station.

Videos

Interviews from Defenders of the Land 2008 – Recorded during the Defenders of the Land gathering in 2008, Joseph Dore, a grassroots activist and member of the Anishnabe Nation, talks about his community’s struggle with mining and logging; and our greater, common need to defend the Earth. This is one of thirteen interviews with participants from the historic gathering.

Wade Davis: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World – In this talk, delivered at the Cowell Theatre in San Francisco, California, on January 13, 2010, Canadian anthropologist Wade Davis takes us on a journey through the ethnosphere—and reminds us of our own cultural imperative as human beings.

Wisdomkeepers by Harvey Arden – A former Senior Writer for National Geographic and Author of numerous books, on Jan. 15 2009, Mr. Arden sat down at the Institute of Noetic Sciences in Petaluma, CA to read from his writings and share some of the lessons he’s learned in the course of his life.

Read more:
http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=2010struggles34

Canadian mining firms face abuse allegations

Comment: The Canadian's mining corporations are invading America and have threatened the state of Colorado with threats about CO mining laws. The Canadians will be invading Virginia to mine uranium. Does Virginians want this type of Corporations, Heck NO!!! Write the state and local leaders to ban uranium mining now!(thanks KM)

Published On Sun Nov 22 2009

A private member's bill aims to impose controls on powerful Canadian mining companies that operate overseas

Canadian mining companies are facing allegations of abuse and assault on local citizens in dozens of developing nations.

The companies say they have done nothing wrong – mining copper, gold and other metals brings only prosperity to these poor regions.

Yet locals in countries like Ecuador allege some companies have used armed guards to violently trample their opposition to mines that threaten rainforests and their way of life.

The word "Canada" is so reviled in some places that travelling Canadians mask their citizenship by wearing American flags on their caps and backpacks.

In Ottawa this week, at a House of Commons committee, MPs will continue debating a Liberal private member's bill designed to put controls on mining companies overseas.

THE ALLEGATIONS are severe: From Ecuador comes a lawsuit, filed in Ontario, alleging that in 2006 a Canadian company's armed security forces attacked unarmed locals with pepper spray first, then fired guns to dampen protest near a proposed mining site.

In El Salvador, allegations of violent attacks against anti-mining activists. In Mexico, allegations of human rights and environmental abuse that led a Mexican court to close a Canadian-owned mine.

While MPs in Canada consider controls, foreign pension funds have signalled they will not invest in Canadian mining companies unless they adopt firm corporate responsibility rules abroad.

International Trade Minister Stockwell Day says there will be no legislative action because it would not work, and the companies do not need it.

"As you know, one country doesn't develop laws that apply in another country," he said in an interview.

The allegations of human rights abuses come from at least 30 of the world's poorest countries and have named companies of all sizes, from giant corporations to junior mining companies.

Company spokesmen at some firms say they are the target of false allegations that stem from poorly run or corrupt governments where mines are located.

"The biggest challenge out there is a lack of governance capacity in developing countries," says Gordon Peeling, CEO of the Mining Association of Canada, which represents the interests of Canada's largest mining companies.

"If (countries) had the capacity to protect civil rights and live up (to) their international obligations with appropriate justice systems, etc. we wouldn't have much to talk about."

Forty-three per cent of the mining exploration around the world can be attributed to Canadian mining companies.

"In many countries, when foreign investors arrive, it happens too often that local, even national governments will wash their hands of these regions," says Louise Léger, director general of Foreign Affairs Canada's Trade Commissioner Service.

"In other words a company wants to invest, and all of a sudden it becomes responsible for building schools, roads, setting up health-care services, and providing basic services that all governments must ensure their citizens."

But watchdog groups like MiningWatch Canada and the Halifax Initiative, both based in Ottawa, allege some companies spend money buying guns, employing paramilitaries, bribing officials and forcefully relocating entire communities.

Allegations like these caused John McKay, Liberal MP for Scarborough-Guildwood, to introduce the private member's bill being debated in committee.

"Not only is there a behavioural risk to an individual company, but there is also a risk to our national reputation."

POLITICIANS HAVE long squabbled over how best to deal with the accusations of abuse.

Debate kicked up in 2002 after a United Nations report called on the Canadian government to investigate the actions of seven Canadian companies accused of illegally exploiting resources from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been in a state of civil war since 1996.

The Canadian government didn't investigate.

Then in 2004 came reports of bloodshed.

From Africa: Where the UN says 73 people were killed in Kilwa, a fishing town in the Congo. Killed, according to a UN report, by the Congolese military, which used vehicles, supplies, pilots and drivers from a Canadian-Australian mining company to transport them to the site of the massacre.
To Southeast Asia: Where 15 Canadian-employed mine workers were gunned down in a remote Philippine jungle strip, victims of a feud between Canada's TVI Pacific Inc. and the indigenous peoples of Mindanao.

The committee called for an investigation. The Liberal government at the time responded, saying it recognized "the difficulties Canadian companies can face when operating in foreign jurisdictions" and said the TVI case "highlights the complexities of evaluating company activities against standards that may be either unclear or inconsistent between governments."

Again, the government didn't investigate.

MININGWATCH CANADA and the Halifax Initiative, both roundtable signatories, have criticized Day's response to the recommendations.

But Day says: "They need to get a real look at what is going on. They need to see the high quality of work that Canadian companies do and how they respect host governments and local communities."

Richard Janda, a law professor at McGill University and co-author of Corporate Social Responsibility: A Legal Analysis, says Day's initiatives are weak and disregard the severity of the allegations.

He also questions Day's appointment of Marketa Evans as Canada's first corporate social responsibility counsellor, a recently appointed bureaucrat who answers to Day and who is the closest thing to an ombudsman the Harper government has produced.

He says Evans' position is "toothless" because, under the mandate given to her by Day, she requires consent from a mining company before she can review any allegations against that company.

The Conservatives have vowed to kill it and McKay says some Liberals are weary of attaching themselves to a bill opposed by some of the richest companies in the country. "The mining industry in Canada is too powerful a lobby," McKay says.


But he won't say much else.


"I have to be extremely careful because the mining companies have made it very plain to me that, `We will sue your ass off if, in fact, you make any allegation of our companies and cause reputational damage.'


"But I will say, if they think they can treat a Canadian MP this way, you can imagine what they say about Third World countries where they can walk in and say, `How much to buy you?'"
Click Title or Link to whole:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/729147--one-man-s-defence-of-a-national-reputation