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Mineral-Rich Mongolia Rapidly Becoming ‘Mine-golia’

Richard — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:56:02 +0000

Mongolia, the land of Genghis Khan and nomadic herders, is in the midst of a remarkable transition. Rich in coal, gold and copper, this country of fewer than 3 million people in Central Asia is riding a mineral boom that is expected to more than double its GDP within a decade. The rapid changes simultaneously excite and unnerve many Mongolians, who hope mining can help pull many out of poverty, but worry it will ravage the environment and further erode the nation’s distinctive, nomadic identity. Much of the focus these days is on Oyu Tolgoi, a mega-mine in Mongolia’s South Gobi province, about 50 miles north of the Chinese border. The mine — owned by international mining giant Rio Tinto, Canada’s Ivanhoe Mines and the Mongolian government — is scheduled to produce its first copper ore in June and grow dramatically over the next five years.

See http://www.npr.org/2012/05/21/152683549/mineral-rich-mongolia-rapidly-becoming-minegolia.

Mongolia backtracks on state ownership of mining companies

Call it “resources nationalism” if you wish – or simply an attempt by government to secure the best possible returns from leasing out its mineral properties. In any event, political debate in Mongolia over terms of entry by foreign companies to its huge mining deposits, has wildly swung between extremes over the past few years. Now it seems that, if the present ruling party wins elections in June, all pretense at “capturing extractive wealth” for the people will have been virtually abandoned. This may be good news to Rio Tinto, involved at the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11701.

VIDEO: Embera indigenous people say ‘no’ to Rio Tinto associate in Colombia

Richard — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:54:32 +0000

Careperro Mountain (“Haykatumá in the indigenous Embera language,) is one of the most sacred and important sites for the Embera culture. Beneath this mountain, lies gold, copper and other minerals. London-listed Rio Tinto is associated with the companies conducting exploration there.

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=750jClHAJmM&feature=BFa&list=UUu_aw9s-qZtPhkr8UnRB1_g.

For background, see http://londonminingnetwork.org/?s=mande+norte.

AngloGold to invest $400m in Colombia 2013-15

Richard — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:53:13 +0000

AngloGold Ashanti, the world’s No. 3 gold producer, plans to invest $400-million in Colombia in the 2013-2015 period at its La Colosa deposit and other gold exploration projects, a company executive said on Friday. Some $300-million is earmarked for exploration work at La Colosa, Colombia’s largest gold deposit, located in the southern Tolima province. The remaining $100-million would be invested in exploration projects in the regions of Antioquia, Cauca, Bolivar and Caldas, AngloGold’s CEO in Colombia, Rafael Herz, said during a mining conference in the port city of Cartagena.

See http://www.miningweekly.com/article/anglogold-to-invest-400m-in-colombia-2013-15-2012-05-21.

Colombia’s resistance to corporate mining excess has lessons for the world

Richard — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:52:07 +0000

Voluntary guidelines are not enough. We must ensure our critical gaze on exploitative mining firms does not waver.

This article mentions smallscale mining in Colombia. One of the companies threatening small scale miners’ livelihoods is AngloGold Ashanti.

See http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/may/14/colombia-resistance-corporate-mining-excess.

NO A LA MINA! SI A LA VIDA!

Richard — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:20:50 +0000

Protest against London-listed AngloGold Ashanti’s plans to construct a hige opencast gold mine in Colombia

3pm-6pm, Friday 1 June, outside Colombian Embassy, London

Nearest Tube: Knightsbridge 3 Hans Crescent, London SW1X 0LN

Join us in solidarity with the people of Cajamarca, central Colombia, to say NO TO THE COLOSA MINE AND YES TO LIFE!

See http://www.colombiasolidarity.org.uk/events/26-upcoming-events/567-no-a-la-mina-si-a-la-vida.

Rio returns to PNG

Richard — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:08:26 +0000

RIO Tinto has joined the growing ranks of major miners lured to Papua New Guinea. It did not make any grand announcements on the matter but has picked up at least three tenements.

See http://www.pngindustrynews.net/storyview.asp?storyid=8682927&sectionsource=s0…
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Chilean Supreme Court Red Lights Goldcorp Mine

Richard — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:54:28 +0000

Indigenous community leader celebrates ruling, promises continued opposition

The Chilean Supreme Court has ratified a lower court ruling that rendered Goldcorp’s environmental assessment for the El Morro mine null, due to irregularities including the company’s failure to properly consult with the Diaguita Huascoaltinos Indigenous and Agricultural Community, whose lands would be destroyed if the mine is built.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/11676.

Goldcorp is a Canadian company with British investment. Among Goldcorp’s major investors are British-based AXA Investment Managers UK Ltd., Blackrock Commodities Income Trust plc and City Natural High Yield Trust plc.

Statement of the M4 Movement in Mesoamerica

Richard — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:00:09 +0000

The M4 movement unites groups and organisations in Panama, México, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, United States and Canada.

A recent statement by the movement condemns Goldcorp’s Marlin mine in Guatemala. Goldcorp is a Canadian company with British investment. Among Goldcorp’s major investors are British-based AXA Investment Managers UK Ltd., Blackrock Commodities Income Trust plc and City Natural High Yield Trust plc. In September 2011, Goldcorp was eliminated from the Dow Jones Sustainability Index because of environmental contamination at the Marlin Mine.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11666.

Newmont Mining accused of multiple failures by shareholders

Richard — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:31:46 +0000

Critical shareholders took the world’s second biggest dedicated gold producer to task at its annual general meeting last week. They claimed the company had not implemented various promises to be “socially responsible”. Moreover, its failure to obtain the free, prior and informed consent of affected communities in Peru and elsewhere, had “turned into a reputational and financial liability for the company”.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/11657.

Newmont is a US company with British investment: among investors in Newmont are UK-based Blackrock World Mining Trust and AXA Investment Managers UK.

See http://moneytometal.org/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&button=&search=newmont.

See also: Scientist calls Conga mining project an ‘environmental disaster’, http://upsidedownworld.org/main/peru-archives-76/3608-scientist-calls-peru-conga-mining-project-an-environmental-disaster-interview-with-reinhard-seifert.

London2012: an Olympian exercise in corporate greenwashing

Richard — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:30:50 +0000

Amidst its lofty rhetoric about excellence and sustainability the London Olympics have chosen some of the world’s most unethical companies as corporate sponsors. Phil England presents powerful first-hand testimonies from victims and campaigners dismayed and angry at this betrayal.

See http://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/london2012-olympian-exercise-corporate-greenwashing/.

Colombia: going for gold

Richard — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:51:44 +0000

Small-Scale Miners in Nariño Face Crackdown as Foreign Companies Set Sights on Colombia.

This article involves South African-based, London-listed AngloGold Ashanti.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11642.

In Ghana, a mining activist fights the gold goliaths

Richard — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:50:25 +0000

Whether on billboards along the roads or embroidered on shirt collars, mining companies – including London-listed AngloGold Ashanti – are ubiquitous in this jungle hub of Ghana’s Western Region. Their presence is sometimes lost behind the lazy-leafed plantain trees, drooping palm fronds, and steep, green hills encasing the town, but a mountain of waste rock obscures much of the horizon.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11625.

Shareholders Say Guatemalans Should Not Have to Pay for Goldcorp’s Mess

Richard — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:48:36 +0000

Several shareholders have filed a resolution with Goldcorp Inc asking the company to commit to the full costs of closure of the Marlin mine in Guatemala, and to fully disclose its closure plans. They indicate that to do otherwise puts the health of local communities at long-term risk and could expose the company to liability through potential litigation for damages.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11647.

Peru’s Highest Court Sides With Central Government In Conga Case

Richard — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:47:02 +0000

Peru’s highest court has declared that the left-wing regional government of Cajamarca overstepped its bounds when it recently rejected the country’s biggest proposed mining project. However, a team of environmental auditors has criticised the existing mine plan, while Peru’s president has also acknowledged the need for Newmont to revise its proposals.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11643.

Newmont is a US company with British investment: among investors in Newmont are UK-based Blackrock World Mining Trust and AXA Investment Managers UK. See http://moneytometal.org/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&button=&search=newmont.

Toxic Bob Resigns as Rio Commits to Mongolia Mine Funds

Richard — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:36:45 +0000

Billionaire Robert Friedland resigned as chief executive officer of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (IVN) as the company struck a deal with its majority shareholder Rio Tinto Group (RIO) on funding for its $6 billion Mongolian copper mine.

See http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-18/rio-ivanhoe-sign-accord-on-mongolia-copper-mine-funding.html.