Extractive industries

UN Committee sets deadlines for Philippine Government to address accusations of violations of IP rights

whit — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:53:51 +0000

Following its 71st session this August the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has invoked its Early Warning and Urgent Action Procedure imposing deadlines on the Government of the Philippines to respond to accusations regarding its failure to uphold, protect and respect the rights of the Subanon and other Indigenous Peoples in the context of mining operations on their lands.

Norwegian envoy probes mining firm in Mindoro Oriental as Norwegian media highlight resistance to mining operations

johnacuna — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:32:10 +0000

CALAPAN CITY — The government of Norway, expressing concern on reports
in that country about alleged “resistance” of residents to proposed
operations of a Norwegian-run mining company, has sought the help of its
diplomatic mission in the Philippines to check the activities of the
mining company and determine if the “negative” reports were accurate.

The fact-finding mission was led by Ambassador of State Thorstein Rissa
of the Royal Embassy of Norway.

Subanon of Mount Canatuan return to the United Nations

whit — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:15:30 +0000

The UN Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has issued a follow up letter to the Philippine Government
(letter dated March 7th 2008 attached available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/docs/early_warning/Philippines...)

The following is a summary of the content of the letter:

Referring to its Early Warning Urgent Action letter of August 2007 the committee states that it ‘remains preoccupied by the situation of the community of the Subanon of Mount Canatuan. It notes with concern that the situation has not improved and …

Concerns about Mining Projects in the Global South

whit — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:21:48 +0000

The issue of mining projects in the Global South is among those urgent questions that remind us how all economic activity is to be conducted with respect for human rights and the environment. It is for this reason that the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has already intervened on this vital concern on a number of previous occasions.

The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace has also been closely monitoring the activities of Canadian mining companies around the world.

Nevada federal judge refuses to grant injunction to halt Cortez Hills gold project

Kailash — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:13:14 +0000

RENO, NV – Citing the “huge implications to the public at a time of severe economic difficulties,” a Reno federal court judge refused to issue a preliminary injunction to stop construction on Barrick’s one-million-ounce per year Cortez Hills gold project.

In his ruling from the bench Monday afternoon, Judge Larry Hicks said recent decisions by the U.S.

Traditional Owner wins injunction restraining Barrick Gold mine expansion

Kailash — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:39:17 +0000

Yesterday the NSW Land and Environment Court handed down a decision in favour of Wiradjuri Traditional Owner, Neville Chappy Williams, with
an injunction restraining the NSW Minister of Planning from determining the E42 Modification Request for the proposed expansion of Barrick Gold’s mine in Lake Cowal.

“We are very pleased with the result”, stated Mr. Williams, “We have been fighting against the world’s largest gold mining company, Barrick Gold, for nearly 10 years, we will continue to fight until we get justice.

Cambodia on brink of oil and mining corruption disaster; donor governments fail to act

Kailash — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:00:16 +0000

Global Witness report calls for immediate moratorium on both sectors until basic governance structures are in place

A corrupt elite has captured the country’s emerging oil and mineral sectors while Cambodia’s international donors turn a blind eye, a new report from anti-graft NGO Global Witness claims today.

Cambodia – one of the world’s poorest countries – could eventually earn enough from its oil, gas and minerals to become independent of foreign development aid.

Why They Kill the Awá

johnacuna — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:40:54 +0000

It is overcome by pain and sadness that we write these lines. We write from the shared rage we feel towards this criminal act, apparently committed by the FARC, whom we condemn for these irreversible horrors and the shedding of innocent blood.

As we write, the Colombian Minister of Defense, Juan Manuel Santos, is arriving in the Department of Nariño to conduct the military operations that constitute the government’s response to the massacres and terror these indigenous communities are now facing.

Indigenous people in legal challenge against oil firms over tar sand project

whit — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:01:20 +0000

Canada ‘s Beaver Lake Cree Nation group say their traditional way of life is being devastated by the rush to extract oil from vast tar sand fields

British oil firms are facing a legal battle over exploitation of the huge Canadian tar sand fields with indigenous people who claim the industry is ruining their traditional lands.

The Co-operative Bank will announce today that it is to fund a legal challenge by the Beaver Lake Cree Nation, which claims the boom in tar sands extraction is destroying their hunting and fishing lands.

The court challenge calls for an injunction to stop more th

Indigenous peoples demand green careers and communities

Kailash — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:14:19 +0000

WASHINGTON – American Indian leaders in the emerging green economy traveled to the nation’s capitol to lobby representatives, network and work together to demand good green jobs, careers and communities for Indian country. Representatives from the Navajo, Acoma, Oglala Sioux, Ojibwe, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara nations participated in the Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference in Washington D.C. recently.