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IACHR's lenience towards Goldcorp is criticised by NGOs
Goldcorp is a Canadian company. Among its major investors are British-based AXA Investment Managers UK Ltd., Blackrock Commodities Income Trust plc and City Natural High Yield Trust plc. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), the western hemisphere's...
Protests over Newmont mine resume in Peru
About 1,000 people marched in the Andean city of Cajamarca against the gold mine proposed by the U.S. miner and its Peruvian partner, Buenaventura. See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11408&l=1. Among investors in Newmont are UK-based Blackrock...
DRC dispute disentangled: ENRC and FQM agree settlement
London listed miner, Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation Plc (ENRC) and Canada's First Quantum Minerals Ltd (FQM) have resolved a rumble in the jungle with a US$1.25bn settlement for disputed mining assets in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). See...
India: Vicious attack against POSCO opponents triggers urgent demands
On 14 December a private force of 500 men descended on a non-violent demonstration against the POSCO project in India's state of Orissa. Several protestors were injured and one man (apparently from the "goon squad") died. The attack was widely condemned by left wing...
Indian officials accused of conniving with Vedanta to avoid water penalties
It's nothing new for UK-listed Vedanta Resources to be accused (or found guilty) of committing illegal acts - something that's happened on many occasions since the Indian-focused company listed on the London Stock Exchange seven years ago this month. Now, a civil...
BHP's toxic legacy continues at Ok Tedi
When BHP Billiton pulled out of the Ok Tedi mine in Papua New Guinea, it was because it recognised that the mine should never have been constructed in the way it was - with riverine talings disposal - in the first place. But the mine produced such a large proportion...
Is Europe's carbon trading scheme merely hot air?
Using "the market" as a means to absolutely reduce global greenhouse gas emissions has long been criticised as "pie in the sky" (and not a particularly clean pie at that). Now, in order to "prop up" carbon prices under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), the...
Anglo American sues Codelco over breach of contract
Anglo American said on 22 December that it had filed a writ with Santiago's Court of Appeals, suing the Chilean firm for breach of contract in a dispute over its south Chilean assets. Codelco, the National Copper Corporation of Chile, took umbrage last month when...
Utah groups sue Rio Tinto subsidiary for air pollution
Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment and Utah Moms for Clean Air announced Monday they are suing Rio Tinto for polluting the Salt Lake Valley air. Dr. Brian Moench, from Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment says Utah Department of Air Quality data shows...
Opponents appeal decision to permit Michigan nickel-copper mine
Environmental and community groups opposed to a nickel and copper mine being constructed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula aren’t giving up the fight. AP reports that four groups against the Eagle Mine, under construction by Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company, a subsidiary...