In an open letter addressed to the EU president, the EU presidency and the European commission, 50 MEPs from 4 different political parties (S&D, Greens, Gue/Nordic Left and ALDE) call for “a moratorium on EU …
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MEPs call for moratorium on public financing of mining projects
Glencore: the monster has landed!
The world’s biggest commodities’ trader has “gone public” on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges, following the conditional issue of shares to its so-called “cornerstone investors” over the previous week.
Glencore has leapt straight …
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Vedanta – once more unto the breach!
Second red mud spill reported in Orissa
The Norwegian government seemed to have got it right when it dumped its holding in London-listed Vedanta in 2007, effectively damning the company as a “serial offender”. In …
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Goldcorp hammered for abuses in Guatemala
Last week, Latin American human rights advocates and Indigenous Peoples’ representatives were in Vancouver, testifying to the devastating impacts that Canadian-owned mines are having on their lives, homes and territories. They levelled accusations specifically against …
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Indonesia Finally Signs Forest Clearing Moratorium
BHP Billiton project may be at risk
In a broadly welcome move, the Indonesian government has introduced a moratorium on the issuing of new permits for forest felling in the country. However, critics say it …
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Rio Tinto: the elephant in Bougainville’s room
John Momis, President of Bougainville, is an intelligent man. He has lengthly experience of Papua New Guinea politics; at one point in his distinguished career backing secession of his province from the central government. He …
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HIV/AIDS rates in West Papua rocket, partly thanks to Freeport-Rio Tinto
Official figures released this month show that the number of people with HIV/AIDS in West Papua has grown by more than 30% in just four months. The figure now stands at more than 17,000. However, …
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Rio’s $657m payment to Guinea government faces scrutiny
THE end use of a $US700 million ($657m) payment Rio Tinto has made to the Guinea government will be independently audited but is expected to face increased scrutiny as British and US regulators toughen their …
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Colombian court kills recently passed mining laws
Colombia’s Constitutional Court has struck down strict mining regulations passed last year, but said the regulations will remain in effect for two years to give Congress time to draft and approve a replacement bill. This …
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