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The Bell Tolls for Free Entry in Canada: Legal Victory for Yukon First Nation Will Have Implications Across the Country

Late last week, the Ross River Dena First Nation learned that the Supreme Court of Canada would not hear the Yukon Government’s appeal of an earlier decision that sharply rebuked the territory’s free entry mineral staking regime. This means the earlier decision of the Yukon Court of Appeal stands.

Taseko Claims “Misinformation Campaign” in Desperate Last Ditch Effort

In the final days of the federal environmental assessment hearings for the hotly contested “New Prosperity” gold-copper mine project, proponent Taseko Mines attempted to discredit the overwhelming opposition to the project by Tŝilhqot’in and Secwepemc people and by many non-First Nation people from...
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Of Vampires and a Zombie Mine in Transylvania

By Payal Sampat, International Campaigns Director for EARTHWORKS and originally posted on their EARTHblog. Transylvania, Romania, is known for its fictional vampires – this is the region where Bram Stoker set his classic vampire novel, Dracula, in 1897. Over a century later, the region is threatened...

Submissions to the Federal Review Panel for Taseko's New Prosperity Gold Copper Project

On this page you'll find submissions from MiningWatch Canada to the New Prospeirty review panel, including our expert technical report on the net economic benefits of the project by Dr. Marvin Shaffer. This page also includes a few key submissions from other reviewers that relate to the comments...

New Prosperity Project Federal Review Panel – Closing Comments of MiningWatch Canada

This statement was given by Ramsey Hart at the last day of hearings for Taseko Mines'  New Prosperity Gold-Copper Project. It addresses three issues that MiningWatch commented on during the review process: the flaws in proposed mitigation measures, the importance of obtaining consent of affected...

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Responds to Allegations Regarding Porgera "Remedy" Framework

In response to appeals from MiningWatch and many other groups, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has issued an opinion regarding the framework of remediation initiatives developed by Barrick Gold Corporation for women who have been victims of sexual violence by...

The Africa Mining Vision: A Limited Field of View?

Notes for a presentation at the 14th meeting of the African Initiative on Mining, Environment, and Society (AIMES), held in Accra, Ghana, August 13-15, 2013, by Jamie Kneen.
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Cliffs Should Stop Pointing Fingers, Check Its Corporate Ego Before Resuming Work on Ring of Fire

On Wednesday, US mining company Cliffs Natural Resources announced that it was ceasing work on the environmental assessment process for its high profile chromite project in the area of northern Ontario dubbed the “Ring of Fire”.

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Global Condemnation of Barrick’s Effort to Secure Legal Immunity from Rape Victims

For many years Papua New Guineans, with the support of MiningWatch Canada and other international organizations, have demanded that Barrick Gold acknowledge a long-standing pattern of vicious beatings, rapes and gang rapes of local indigenous women by security guards at the Porgera Joint Venture...

Canadian Ambassadors, or Ambassadors for Canadian Mining Companies?

From Mexico to Greece, we have been observing and documenting how Canadian Embassies go to bat to defend the interests of Canadian mining companies against the demands of communities and despite egregious human rights abuses.

In May, we released a report with Common Frontiers and the United...

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Alternative Mining Indaba Brings Community Perspective to South African Mining Debates

South Africa’s economy was largely built on mining, and mining – for platinum, coal, gold and diamonds, among other things – continues to play a central role in South African politics and economics. South African mining companies are also a major force across the continent, but there is increasing...

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ICMM’s Tentative Commitment to Indigenous Rights and FPIC

In May the International Council on Mining and Metallurgy (ICMM) issued a new position paper, “Indigenous Peoples and Mining”. The position statement “sets out ICMM members’ approach to engaging with Indigenous peoples and to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC).” Twenty-two mining companies make...

Background on Eldorado Gold’s Proposed Mines in Northern Greece

A delegation from northern Greece will be visiting Canada from May 26th to 31st, 2013, to alert Canadians to the current situation with Vancouver-based Eldorado Gold’s proposed Skouries and Perama Hill mining projects. The Greek delegation includes the Mayor of Alexandroupoli, Vaggelis Lampakis...

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URGENT ACTION: Tell Environment Minister Kent to Listen Up and Respect Algonquin First Nations

Update - August 6, 2013: The request for a joint review panel has been refused. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is proceeding with a standard environmental assessment with no public hearings and much less accountability.

Local citizens, regional and provincial NGOs are now calling on...

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Preliminary Report: Gold Mining and the Defence of Water in El Salvador

Report: International delegation to El Salvador releases preliminary report of findings following visit to three emblematic sites in and on the border of Latin America's most densely populated country where civil society is carrying out a struggle to ban metallic mining.

Rare Earth Elements - Background Information

This page provides a number of key background references and links to advanced stage Canadian rare earth projects. The materials present information on the environmental challenges associated with rare earths mining as well as the economic opportunities they present.