The Innu First Nations of Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam and Matimekush-Lac John, whose traditional territory (Nitassinan) covers a large part of North-eastern Quebec and Labrador, celebrated on September 19, 2014 an important legal victory in their 900 million dollar lawsuit targeting the Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC), whose majority shareholder is Rio Tinto.
Bougainville President John Momis has come out swinging against a report which reveals deep seated opposition to the reopening of the Panguna mine – and predictably his attack ignores the main findings, misrepresents that basic thesis, is bombastic, and castigates opponents as meddling ‘activists’…
A survey of Bougainville villagers has revealed strong opposition to the proposed reopening of the mine which was at the centre of the island’s decade-long civil war.
Media reports had suggested there was support for the Panguna copper and gold mine as a source of national revenue, with a referendum looming on the island’s independence from Papua New Guinea. The mine has been closed since 1989.
The European Union is failing to stifle a deadly trade in conflict minerals, a coalition of rights groups including London Mining Network, Global Witness and Amnesty International warned today, weeks before new legislation will be discussed in Parliament.
A recently published report from Jubilee Australia about the Panguna copper and gold mine on the island of Bougainville. It can also be downloaded as a pdf at
www.jubileeaustralia.org/page/resources
