A fair city, harbouring foul enterprises
How many visitors to London, as they bask in the sunshine, know that the City hosts many of the world's most roguish mineral enterprises? Maybe more this year than during previous summers. This week Indian and British activists will measurably increase the heat against Vedanta at its July 28 AGM. Just two days later, they'll try stopping Jindal from getting an environmental award.
Up in arms
Cambodian villagers are furious at plans for a coastal titanium mine. Armenian citizens vow to halt uranium exploitation in the south. Artisanal miners in Paraguay have "invaded" the offices of a gold mining company encroaching on their land.
Other (good) news this week
- India's Supreme Court trounces the government's "development" paradigm
- Obama reforms threaten further "conflict minerals" trade in DR Congo
- After 120 years, South Africa takes steps to clean up mining's acid waters
- Massey Energy may at last face criminal charges for US coal disaster
- Plans to dump nickel wastes into seas off Papua New Guinea receive another setback
Finally, as conservation groups move to a closer embrace with extractive industry, London Calling attacks the notion that Nature can be "priced".
The London Declaration - 2008
The London Declaration is the founding document of Mines and Communities and encapsulates key demands being made by many communities affected by mining around the world. Sign on here.
Who's funding what in mining?
Need to know which banks and institutions are funding which mining companies - and where? From Money to Metals is an indispensable database and analysis, recently updated and available on-line.