There was no doubt that the Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement would be rushed through the Senate and receive Royal Assent before parliament recessed in June. Five years ago, however, – before then-Honduran President Mel Zelaya’s back door was shot open and he was flown to Costa Rica in his...
Urgent Action: Guatemalan government moves to expel witnesses to police violence at US-Canadian mine site
Urgent Action: Call on Canadian representatives to respond as Guatemalan government moves to expel witnesses to police violence at US-Canadian mine site.
Guatemalan Government Moves to Expel Witnesses to Police Violence at US-Canadian Mine Site
(Updated) Last week, Guatemalan authorities informed two Peace Brigades International (PBI) volunteers that their temporary residence permits were cancelled and that they had ten days to leave the country. Both volunteers witnessed a violent eviction on May 23rd at 'La Puya' - just north of...
Background: Tahoe Resources, Goldcorp and Mining Conflict in Guatemala
Tahoe Resources’ Escobal silver project in the municipality of San Rafael Las Flores, southeastern Guatemala, is the subject of local opposition and ongoing legal processes against the validity of the exploitation licence. Community leaders have faced repression, criminalization and violence for...
MiningWatch Canada Newsletter #36 – Spring/Summer 2014
Contents: ‘On the Road for Justice’ Speaking Tour to Bring Attention to Guatemala Mining Conflict, Need for Remedy in Canada Over One-Quarter Million People Side with Costa Rica in Imminent Battle with Canadian Company Infinito Gold African Barrick’s Confidential Compensation Agreements...
We’re Celebrating Fifteen Years of Action in Support of Communities Affected by Mining
In honour of MiningWatch Canada's fifteenth anniversary, we are selling "Solidarity Shares" at $15 each. Unlike corporate mining shares, these Solidarity Shares go to support social justice and solidarity with and between mining-affected communities. Buy as many as you want, for yourself or for your...
Canada’s Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy Up in the Air Yet Again
The federal government is engaged in a review of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy for the international operations of the Canadian extractive sector. As part of this review, MiningWatch was invited to participate in a civil society roundtable consultation hosted by the Department...
Groups Rally on Parliament Hill to Demand Ombudsman for Extractive Industries
On May 14th, Development and Peace and other members of the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA) came together with supporters on Parliament Hill to call for the creation of an impartial and independent Ombudsman to hear complaints from people who have been harmed by the activities of...
What's Missing in Election Commitments to Stoke Ontario's Ring of Fire?
Like moths to a flame, Ontario’s political leaders have been circling the potential mining developments known as the Ring of Fire during the 2014 election campaign. Advancing development in the area received ink in the Liberal, NDP, and PC platforms and was a focal point of yesterday's northern...
Canadian Mining Investment Benefits Eritrea’s Repressive Regime
Last week saw a sensational headline in Canadian Business Magazine: The slaves of Eritrea: Canadian mining company Nevsun has been accused of using forced labour to build a mine in Eritrea. How could something like that happen in the modern business world? The news wasn’t so much the allegations...
Response to African Barrick Gold re: non-judicial grievance mechanisms at North Mara, Tanzania
Letter from MiningWatch Canada and Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID) in response to a letter and attachments received from African Barrick Gold dated 11 March 2014, concerning the project-level non-judicial grievance mechanisms at the company's North Mara gold mine in Tanzania.
Ejido Carrizalillo Denounces Insults and Rejects Goldcorp’s Austerity Offer for New Lease at Los Filos
Blog Entry: On Thursday, April 9th, the negotiating team for the Ejido Carrizalillo in Guerrero, Mexico, published a response to Goldcorp’s Vice President for Mexican Operations, Horacio Bruna. The team chastises the company directors in Mexico for treating them with disrespect and their proposal...
URGENT ACTION: Call on Goldcorp to Negotiate in Good Faith with the Ejido Carrizalillo or to Initiate Mine Closure Plan
Join the Ejido's call for good faith negotiations without repression
Since the morning of Tuesday April 1, the Ejido Carrizalillo in Guerrero, Mexico has blocked operations at Goldcorp's Los Filos mine in revindication of their territorial rights following expiration of the company's land use...
Sixteen Canadian and US organizations send letter of solidarity to Ejido Carrizalillo, Guerrero, Mexico
Open Letter: Sixteen Canadian and US organizations have sent a letter of solidarity to Ejido Carrizalillo in Guerrero, Mexico who are taking back their lands after their land use contract with a subsidiary of Vancouver-based Goldcorp ended late March 31, 2014. They are demanding more just terms from...
Local Community Shuts Down Goldcorp's Los Filos Mine in Mexico; Company Claims It Was Suspended on Purpose
Goldcorp’s announcement Wednesday that it suspended operations at its Los Filos mine is a belated and misleading admission. The mine did not stop operating on the company's volition.
Canadian Development Aid No Longer Tied – Just Shackled to Corporate Mining Interests
Canada has a rising debt to mining-affected communities around the world. Meanwhile, aggressive government promotion of NGO-mining company partnerships is likely to be of greatest benefit to corporate public relations, and to restrain participating NGOs from joining the fight against corporate...