Journey to the heart of the Andes Mountains where ‘Pascua Lama’ is poised to become the world’s largest open pit mine. However, for the indigenous people and farmers living in the valley below, Pascua Lama threatens their only source of water in one of the driest places on earth. In a war between corporate and social values two men are leading a fight to defend their valley and way of life. Now, one election will ultimately determine the true price of gold.
Learn about the personal journey and political fight of the Diaguita peoples in defense of their territory as they travel to Toronto, the corporate headquarters of Barrick Gold a company infamous for human rights violations and threats to intellectual freedom.
2 locations to choose from:
Wednesday January 11th at 6:30pm in the Nat Taylor Cinema (Ross Building) at
York University
Thursday January 12th at 7:30pm in the Palmerston Library Theatre
560 Palmerston Avenue (more…)
Approximately 70 people gathered today at a commemoration held for the seven individuals killed in Tanzania at African Barrick Gold’s North Mara Mine. Public outcry over this violence has been amplified by recent reports that local security/police forces employed by the mine have attempted to ban a memorial ceremony for the deceased. To the horror of many local families, these security forces also stole 5 of the peoples’ bodies from the mortuary.
Approximately 70 people gathered today at a commemoration held for the seven individuals killed in Tanzania at African Barrick Gold’s North Mara Mine. Public outcry over this violence has been amplified by recent reports that local security/police forces employed by the mine have attempted to ban a memorial ceremony for the deceased. To the horror of many local families, these security forces also stole 5 of the 7 peoples’ bodies from the mortuary.(more…)
Santiago Escobar is originally from Ecuador and now lives in Canada, but it’s only partly by choice.
“I denounced corporate corruption by Chevron, so now my life is in danger,” he explains simply.
He’s one of the organizers of the third international Mining Injustice Conference, held in Toronto this past weekend. It’s organized by the Mining Injustice Solidarity Network, a Toronto-based group aiming to raise awareness about the impact of Canadian mining companies abroad. What began a few years ago as a set of informal discussions has exploded in size and scope, and according to organizers it’s a reflection of the dramatic growth of international activism directed against Canadian mining companies. This year, the conference hosted over 600 delegates and speakers from 15 different countries. (more…)
Confront Barrick Gold at their AGM in Toronto! Poster 2011
Once a year, the board of Directors of the world’s most powerful gold miner converge in downtown Toronto. Join us and representatives from mining-impacted communities to… CONFRONT BARRICK GOLD!
WHEN: Wednesday 27 April 2011 @ 10.30AM
WHERE: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front Street West, Toronto
JOIN THE RESISTANCE TO END CORPORATE IMPUNITY!
WHO IS BARRICK GOLD? Barrick Gold is the world’s largest gold mining company, founded and chaired by Peter Munk. With a former Prime Minister on their board and former executives sitting on the board of the Canadian Pension Plan, Barrick enjoys government funding and diplomatic support.
WHY PROTEST BARRICK? Barrick Gold takes advantage of inadequate and poorly enforced regulatory controls to rob Indigenous Peoples and communities of their land and livelihoods, destroying sensitive ecosystems, supporting brutal military and security operations, and suing anyone who dares to report on it. Impacted communities are coming to Toronto to confront Barrick, sharing their own undeniable perspectives and shedding light on the ongoing corporate impunity.
MAKE THE TRANSFORMATION AWAY FROM GOLD EXTRACTION!
WHY? With the majority of gold used for jewelry or to store wealth and the majority of gold extraction destruction on Indigenous lands around the world. It is time to question humans ongoing obsession with gold. HOW? Through reduction, recycling and reuse of gold there can be a halt on new and expanding gold mining explorations and operations around the world.
Mining injustice activists were escorted off the Metro Convention Centre premises by security today after distributing flyers describing negative impacts reported by mining affected community members throughout the nation and worldwide. Today marks the last day of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC) annual mining investment show in Toronto. According to PDAC more than 22, 000 delegates attend this annual trade show.
Activists engaged in discussion with PDAC representatives and corporate social responsibility mining employees who stated that they were interested in dialogue and working together yet remained on the defensive by blocking the distribution of resources and threatening to call security. When questioned as to why the PDAC funded report that found that Canadian mining corporations were the most likely to trigger social conflict and environmental devastation was never released, program assistant Lesley Williams reiterated the official PDAC position, that the report in question has methodological flaws. Williams was questioned as to why the same approach was not taken in response to the Fraser Institute’s ‘mining report card,’ which according to critics reads more as a list of complaints by mining industry CEOs. No response was given.
Following these discussions, mining injustice activists distributed flyers throughout the exhibition area until venue security guards demand that they leave. Reflecting on the incident, Caxaj, MISN member states: “I am glad we went because I think it is important for these individuals to know that we are concerned and that we are keeping an eye on them.” She adds, “ We are being told to engage in dialogue yet there is no genuine interest by these mining personnel to listen to the concerns and respond to the wishes of mining affected community members on the ground. We are told to use more appeasing ‘positive language,’ yet communities throughout the world and throughout Canada are facing life-threatening, emergency situations. “‘Injustice’ is not a dirty word; it is a reality that we should all be ready to respond to.”
Don’t miss our Environmental Justice Tour as Solidarity Response will join forces with People for Climate Justice and other climate and social justice activists to expose the impacts of the extractive industry through a march through the city. What better time than now!
WHERE: Alexandra Park (Dundas & Bathurst) WHEN: June 23, 2010, 11 AM
Did you attend the Mining (In)Justice conference but didn’t get to see all of the panels you wanted to? Did you see a great panel and want to share that experience with a friend?
Well.. now, a lot of the amazing panels that happened at this year’s mining injustice panel are available on our own Blip.tv channel. Check out the channel here.
Gold Corp is a Canadian mining company infamous for their human rights violation, harms to the environment and to human health. Support the struggles of indigenous peoples throughout the Americas to defend their land, livelihood and right to self-determination.
Human rights are not for sale!
The theme around this year’s protest is ‘ Gold Corp, Clean Up Your Mess and Get Out!’ We want to remind the company and their shareholders of all the grave human rights abuses, environmental and health harms they have caused and continue to perpetuate. We invite people to dress creatively to reflect this theme. Ideas include:
- hazmat suits & lab coats speaking to the hazardous work environments and toxic contamination caused by GC
- Scrubs speaking to the health concerns
- Prosecutors/Judges speaking to the impunity and corruption in which GC operates
- Plumbers speaking to harms to peoples’ drinking water
-Superheroes, super-villains, whatever you can come up with!
It is shareholder’s season once again, and for mining-impacted communities all over the world that means it is time to confront their corporate nemeses at these companies’ annual general meetings. To take advantage of this special time, we are throwing a conference and series of events to highlight the struggles of these communities and create space for them to network with people in Toronto and impacted communities in Canada.
May 5, 8pm: “The Devil Operation” + short films: Screenings in Bickford Park with filmmaker and Representatives from Cerro San Pedro, Mexico (Grace and Harbord) May 6, 3pm: Protest and Performance w/impacted communities. New Gold’s Annual General meeting, 77 Adelaide St West.
May 6, 6:30pm-8:30pm:Opening Reception for “Someone Else’s Treasure” Photo opening.Toronto-based Photographer Allan Lissner has documented mining-impacted communities in Tanzania, Guatemala and the Philippines. Leonardo Galleries 133 Avenue Road
May 7, 8pm: G8/20 Special Issue Dominion release party + conference opening party. The Ram in the Rye (55 Gould Street) May 8-9, 10am-6:30pm: mining (in)justice conference, Earth Sciences Building (UofT) (Bancroft and Huron. map). Click here for a list of speakers! May 19, 10:30am: Confront Goldcorp at their AGM, 1 King Street West
Journey to the heart of the Andes Mountains where ‘Pascua Lama’ is poised to become the world’s largest open pit mine. However, for the indigenous people and farmers living in the valley below, Pascua Lama threatens their only source of water in one of the driest places on earth. In a war between corporate and social values two men are leading a fight to defend their valley and way of life. Now, one election will ultimately determine the true price of gold.
