Outrage as Botswana Bushmen denied water rights – while Gem Diamonds is allowed access
A Botswana judge has ruled that Bushmen who returned to their lands in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve are not allowed to drill wells for water. The decision condemns them to having to walk up to 380 km to fetch water in one of the driest places on earth. See http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/6257?utm_source=E-news+%28English%29&utm_campaign=2157542869-E_news_special_Bushmen_ruling7_22_2010&utm_medium=email
Debswana to proceed with Jwaneng Tailings Project
Firestone Diamonds plc, the AIM-quoted diamond mining and exploration company, is responsible for financing, construction and operation of the plant. Firestone Diamonds plc is an international diamond mining and exploration company with operations in Botswana and South Africa. Botswana is the world’s largest and lowest cost producer of diamonds, with annual production worth over $2.5 [...]
Botswana army and police enter Bushman reserve
Trucks of soldiers and police entered the Central Kalahari Game Reserve last week, according to Survival International. Survival believes this is to intimidate the Bushmen, and perhaps even force them out, because: 1) Gem Diamonds wants to open a diamond mine on their land (Gem Diamonds is based in London); 2) the Botswana High Court [...]
How Sustainable Is ‘Socially Responsible’ Mining?
In the ten years since the mining industry has gone “responsible,” have things really improved for local communities–or has the industry’s PR just got better? (Mentions Vedanta, Monterrico Metals). See http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100301/kennard?rel=emailNation.
“Avatar is real” say tribal people
As the acclaimed 3D film ‘Avatar’ is nominated for an Oscar in the Best Film category, tribal peoples around the world have claimed the film tells the real story of their lives today. See http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=15576. See also comment on similarities between Avatar and the Bougainville struggle against Rio Tinto’s Panguna mine: http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2010/02/avatars-secret-history-lesson-on-our.html.
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