See http://blogs.metro.co.uk/olympics/will-london-2012-glitter-as-the-fair-play-olympics/.

See http://www.mining.com/2012/05/10/olympic-games-protesters-attack-rio-tinto-in-canada-and-australia/.

AS CONFLICT BREWS IN BUMBUNA, CIVIL SOCIETY DEMANDS IMMEDIATE GOVERNMENT ACTION PRESS RELEASE Freetown, Wednesday, 9th May, 2012. We, the civil society organisations working on natural resources in Sierra Leone under the umbrella of the  Natural Resource Governance and Economic Justice (NaRGEJ), having undertaken an in-depth investigation into the recent Bumbuna incidence, are worried over the level of and frequency of violence that is occurring in that once peaceful community. Our worries stemmed from the latest incidence, which was allegedly characterized by sporadic shooting by the armed wing of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), resulting in the death of 24 years old Musu Conteh and leaving eleven others with serious gunshot wounds.

It may be recalled that workers of the African Minerals Limited staged a protest in the Bumbuna mine site on Monday 16 April 2012 over low wages and unfair treatment meted out by their employers. The highhanded response of the police deployed to maintain security around the site led to the dead of one person and the wounding of many others. As a consequence, the government issued a press statement indicating that His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma wasted no time in dispatching a team of senior government officials to the area to engage all stakeholders, including the aggrieved workers, in an effort to resolve the impasse. The outcome of the meetings was a communiqué signed by all parties, in which the company (AML) agreed to adhere to most of the concerns that the workers had earlier raised.

It is worthy to note that the use of excessive force against defenseless and peaceful citizens protesting against the inhumane treatment meted out to them by mining companies operating in the country has become a disturbing phenomenon. The police are in most cases accused of doing this at the behest of the mining companies. This cannot be unconnected to the lack of transparency and inclusion in corporate governance resulting in poor regulations, procedures and mechanisms that favour largely the company leaving the citizens very vulnerable.

In 2010, at another AML mining site on the outskirts of Bumbuna, landowners were subjected to unprovoked violence and harassment as they resisted corporate abuse of their rights. Similar disturbances between affected property owners in the Koidu Holdings Limited concession in Kono District in December 2007 led to the death of two unarmed protesters and the wounding of several others.  Despite official pronouncements from the government and subsequent investigations carried out, not much was done to redress the situation.

And we believe that the government has a fundamental constitutional and moral responsibility to protect lives and properties of its citizens. This does not in any way allude that we are not mindful of the government’s swift interventions in addressing conflicts emanating from workers protests and in helping to pacify the ensuing tensions. But we also equally believe that bringing the perpetrators of these inhuman and barbaric acts to justice will further enhance citizens’ confidence and peace in the mining communities.

It is in view of this that the Natural Resource Governance and Economic Justice platform is demanding that:

1.    The Government of Sierra Leone sets up a Commission to inquire into the violence and conflicts that have been associated with AML resulting in the death of one Sierra Leonean and injuries to many others in order to establish the root causes of these conflicts and the best way forward;

2.    The Government of Sierra Leone ensures that all parties fully comply with the Communiqué on the recent incident in Bumbuma;

3.    The Government of Sierra Leone and AML adopt international best practice procedures in corporate governance by implementing the UN Business and Human Rights Principles and the ILO Convention on Labour Laws;

4.    The Government of Sierra Leone immediately restore the Bargaining Certificate of the Mining and Allied Services Union (MASEU) whose withdrawal is depriving the workers of exercising and enjoying their labour rights;

5.    The Government of Sierra Leone causes the AML to hold orientation sessions for their expatriate workers on the culture of Sierra Leone, particularly those aspects that are peculiar to the Tonkolili district where the operations of the company are based;

For detailed report and more information please check website www.nmjd.org or contact any of the institutions listed: Campaign for Good Governance, Conscience International,  Talking Drum Studio , Sierra Leone Network on the Rights to Food (SilNORF), ACTION-AID International SL, Association of Journalists on Mining and Extractives (AJME), Green Scenery, Mining and Allied Services and Employee Union (MASEU), Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) and National Advocacy Coalition on Extractives (NACE) and individuals whose contact numbers are mentioned below:

NMJD – PLATFORM CHAIRMAN +232 76 645 314, +232 76 673712 OR NACE – CO – CHAIR +232 76 602470;   CJM 076-600954

See related article at http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11661

However, a different YouTube user has uploaded the video to YouTube again.

See http://www.smh.com.au/business/xstrata-parody-leaves-mining-giant-fuming-yet-again-20120423-1xhac.html#ixzz1uZXb2UY2.

Watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FA7EucYwcwI.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11661.

ETHICAL TRADING STANDARDS AND THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS

“That this House is concerned about press reports that UK Olympians will be asked to wear sporting equipment produced by exploited child labour; is further concerned that successful Olympians will be presented with medals produced by multi-national company Rio Tinto who have locked out their entire workforce in Alma, Quebec without any serious consultation; and, therefore calls on the Government and the Olympics governing body to ensure that ethical trading standards will be maintained during a hopefully successful Olympics in the UK.”

Primary sponsor: Jim Sheridan

See http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2969.

Please also ask your MP to sign EDM 2951 – see http://londonminingnetwork.org/2012/04/uk-parliamentary-motion-supports-greenwash-gold-campaign/.

See http://www.justiceforriotintoworkers.ca/ and support the workers’ efforts to get Rio Tinto out of the Olympics.

Don’t forget also to visit http://greenwashgold.org and vote for Rio Tinto as worst Olympic sponsor.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11640.

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

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

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11631.

Two of the world’s biggest mining companies endured a barrage of protests last Thursday, as a broad coalition of unions, individuals, social and environmental groups from as far afield as South Africa and Mongolia travelled to London for Rio Tinto and Anglo American’s annual meetings.

See http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/protesters-grab-chance-for-a-dig-at-mining-giants-7661701.html?origin=internalSearch.

See http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/04/rio-tinto-ethics-corporate-sponsorship/.

Knowing that it would face heavy criticism for its treatment of former mine workers dying of silicosis, for its proposals to open a massive copper-gold mine near Bristol Bay, Alaska, and for continuing problems for communities affected by its 33% owned Cerrejon Coal mine in Colombia, Chairman Sir John Parker and CEO Cynthia Carroll got in first by welcoming all the company’s critics and telling them how much they sympathised with them.

Dying in South Africa

The company is so sympathetic to the plight of former mine workers in South Africa that it is funding the medical costs of the first sixteen such workers to sue it, on the grounds that their claims have taken so long to resolve.

Meanwhile, it is denying any legal liability and fighting both those sixteen cases and those of the other 1200 plus former workers suing them in the English courts (see http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/18/anglo-american-sued-miner-tuberculosis).

Professor Tony Davies, former Director of the National Institute for Occupational Health, Johannesburg, spoke about the impacts of dust on workers in deep gold mines. Sir John Parker attempted to curtail his contribution on the grounds that it was a statement rather than a question – despite having allowed nearly half an hour to deal with lengthy statements and multiple questions from the first two shareholders who spoke. Professor Davies finished his contribution and the Chairman asked whether there were any more issues to be raised on the same subject. Former mineworker Daniel Seabata Thakamakau then pointed out that, long after the paltry sum paid out in state compensation for losing his job on health grounds in 1991 has been exhausted, he cannot support his family. He asked for help from the company for himself and for all the former mineworkers suffering as he is. Peter Bailey from the South African National Union of Mineworkers appealed to the company to compensate the dying miners over and above the level of statutory compensation, which is clearly inadequate. He pointed out that this is a matter of simple justice for the people whose labour made the company so profitable.

Sir John Parker expressed his sympathy for all the workers dying of silicosis and then explained that the company does not believe it is liable and that the English courts are not the appopriate forum for the cases to be resolved. Company medical officer Dr Brink spoke at some length about everything Anglo American is doing to help workers suffering from tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS – carefully avoiding mentioning silicosis or the dust levels in company-owned gold mines which are believed to have caused it.

What part of “No” does the company not understand?

Sir John Parker welcomed representatives of Indigenous and fishing communities around Bristol Bay, Alaska, and their allies in US organisations Earthworks and the Natural Resources Defense Council, telling them how much he enjoyed their company.

They pointed out that CEO Cynthia Carroll had promised them that the company would leave if it was not wanted in a community; that opposition to the company’s proposed open pit copper and gold mine, the Pebble Mine, was overwhelming, documented and growing; and that Anglo American continues to deny the legitimacy of local opinion polls and is challenging some of its local opponents in court. (See http://ourbristolbay.com/ for background.)

CEO Cynthia Carroll responded by accusing the project’s opponents of providing people with inaccurate information and being emotional rather than scientific – a claim supported by Alaskans who had come to the AGM to oppose the company’s critics. Sir John Parker offered to visit the area if the company’s critics thought it would help. He insisted on the trustworthiness of local management and the integrity of the State and Federal permitting processes. He said that people could not judge the project until all the scientific studies were completed and all the information assembled.

So it is perfectly clear that, however massive the regional opposition to the project and whatever promises the company has made, Anglo American is determined to ram the project through, come what may.

Hot air

Questions were also asked about the company’s contribution to damaging climate change through its massive coal production.

Sir John Parker spoke of the need for long-term pricing of carbon in a manner which would not jeopardise jobs, economic development and shareholder value. Hasty action is to be avoided, because the company must not become uncompetitive.

In other words, the company will do as little as possible for as long as possible, while the world hastens towards ecological apocalypse.

Colombia again

So many were the critical questions fielded by the Board that the company’s involvement in the troubled Cerrejon mine in Colombia nearly escaped comment. But at the last moment, Colombia Solidarity Campaign representative Richard Solly was able to speak on behalf of communities displaced by the mine. His question concerned the level of competence of community relations officials at Cerrejon and went on to make the following points.

“The community of Roche, currently being removed for mine expansion, has been split by the company’s approach. The majority of families have moved, despite the inadequacy of the process, because they could not wait any longer. The families remaining are unwilling to move to the new site when they know full well that there is inadequate land in the new community for them to continue their traditional cattle-herding way of life. Now the community is being legally expropriated. They ask us to ask you: when will their houses be demolished? Where will the residents go if they have not been given houses in the new town site, houses constructed without these residents’ agreement? Why will the company not negotiate with them in good faith?

“The families still at Roche tell us they are willing to negotiate once the company recognises their right to continue, or to be compensated adequately for the loss of, a way of life which they have followed for seven generations. Can you not prevail on Cerrejon Coal to abandon this expropriation process? Everyone would lose out if it comes to another eviction like that at Tabaco in 2001.

“And speaking of Tabaco, it is now more than three years since Cerrejon coal signed an agreement with the community’s relocation committee to buy land and help reconstruct the village. This still has not happened. Why not?

“In addition to this, we are told that the company refuses to listen to or meet with former residents of the displaced community of Manantial and other such communities.

“Will Anglo American insist on a root and branch reform of community relations at Cerrejon to ensure that community members and workers negatively affected by the company’s activities are treated with justice and respect?”

Sir John Parker replied that there is no question that since the independent review of Cerrejon Coal’s operations in 2007 significant progress has been made – both at Roche and at Tabaco. He said that only eight families remained at Roche and that negotiations were continuing.  Norman Mbazima, Head of Thermal Coal, added that the people of Roche had to be resettled as the mining footprint meant there was going to be coal dust on the community. All but nine families had moved after voluntarily signing an agreement (though he did not mention the massive pressure which those families had been placed under to encourage them to sign). The remaining families had held out for a long time. There had been frequent meetings. Cerrejon Coal officials had discussed a number of issues at these meetings and continued to do so. Anglo American thinks there has been some progress, that more families out of the nine have now agreed to move, and the company does not want to have to implement a forced relocation. International Government Relations Manager Hugh Elliot said that negotiations were continuing on the Tabaco resettlement. These were complicated as the community had been dispersed but the company working very hard to move things forward, believing that serious advances had been made since the 2007 review.

Communities facing relocation are unlikely to take much comfort from these responses, given the level of distrust they feel towards Cerrejon Coal.

For background, see http://londonminingnetwork.org/2011/08/creation-of-civic-committee-of-la-guajira-against-large-transnational-mining/. For a complete list of LMN’s articles on the Cerrejon mine, see http://londonminingnetwork.org/?s=cerrejon.

Question by John McDonnell MP

John McDonnell MP, who also wanted to question the Board about the Cerrejon Mine, had to return to the House of Commons before his question was called. London Mining Network undertook to post the question on its website and Norman Mbazima undertook to answer it in the near future. LMN will post the answer once its is received.

My question concerns the rerouting of the River Rancheria for the expansion of the Cerrejon Coal Mine in Colombia.

Last October I met in Westminster with a representative of a community federation in the area, who outlined the massive and growing opposition to the re-routing of this river, the only major river in the arid region of La Guajira.

Unionised mine workers are supporting communities in opposing this project.

Despite the existence of a consultation process, we are told that company officials are arrogant and show a grave lack of respect for communities.

One Wayuu Indigenous community at Provincial has apparently opted out of the company’s consultation process because they feel it was imposed on them. They plan their own internal consultation procedure. Communities along the river fear destruction of traditional livelihoods through serious disruption to river flow levels.

Colleagues at Colombia Solidarity Campaign have even received news that a general strike is being planned in the department if the company insists on pressing on with its plan.

Will Anglo American ensure that Cerrejon Coal abandons this ill-conceived project?

Vote for Rio Tinto for Greenwash Gold 2012! Rio Tinto is providing the metal for the 2012 Olympic Medals. Visit http://www.greenwashgold.org/index.php/rio-tinto, watch the animation and cast your vote!

You can also tell the International Olympic Committee that unfair companies have no place in the Olympic Games.

Unionised workers at Rio Tinto Alcan’s aluminium smelter in Alma, Quebec, Canada, have been illegally locked out by the company for over three months. They are calling on the International Olympic Committee to exclude Rio Tinto from association with the 2012 Olympics.   See http://www.offthepodium.org/ and http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=1365&src=derektweet.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/18/anglo-american-sued-miner-tuberculosis

See also:

Anglo must act to protect miners’ health

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/18/anglo-must-protect-miners-health