GOLDCORP INC. OPEN-PIT CYANIDE MINING IN HONDURAS AND GUATEMALA:
BELOW – information about:
WHAT TO DO? – See below
If you want on-off this elist: info@rightsaction.org. The information below was translated for Rights Action by Rosalind M. Gill, RGill@glendon.yorku.ca.
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Come to a presentation by Dawn Paley on her March-April “Investing in Conflict” speaking tour, March-April, in Ontario, Yukon, British Colombia, Oregon and Washington (that will look closely at Goldcorp Inc.): dawnpaley@gmail.com, 1-250-231-5158
Come to Honduras in July to visit the Goldcorp Inc. affected communities in Honduras: info@rightsaction.org, 1-860-352-2448
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COMPLAINT TO THE INTERAMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS REGARDING HARM TO THE ENVIRONMENT CAUSED BY MINING COMPANIES IN HONDURAS
According to Bishop Luis Alfonso Santos, Honduras has signed more than 30 international conventions and these have duly acknowledged by the Foreign Affairs Office. However, the state of Honduras has not complied with these conventions and no attention has been paid to stipulations in the conventions concerning the right to life.
“We have protested to the authorities about gunshot wounds inflicted on humble citizens of our country by police. Furthermore, no one has come forth to contest our complaint regarding violation of environmental rights and the right to life.”
The Bishop stated that experience confirms that open-pit mining and the use of toxic chemicals, including cyanide, are a real threat to human life and a serious risk factor.
He provided examples such as gold and silver mining in San Andrés, Santa Rosa de Copán and in the Siria Valley [by Goldcorp Inc.] in the department of Francisco Morazán.
“On January 6, 2003, the San Andrés mine, presently known as Yamana Gold, discharged between 300 and 500 gallons of pure cyanide directly into the Lara River. The official explanation they provided was that the spill had been caused by an employee error. This error led to the death of the whole aquatic life of the river and of other species, through poisoning.
Santos went on to say that in May, 2006, new water samples were taken from five points on the river and results demonstrated the presence of manganese, which can cause madness in human beings, lead, which affects the kidneys, and higher than permitted levels of arsenic, which can bring about abortion in women who drink the contaminated water.
“In December, 2006, more water samples were taken, and the results demonstrate the presence of aluminum, copper, iron and manganese above international standards, As well, the ph level of the water was between 8.60 and 8.80.”
“These results clearly demonstrate the lack of seriousness and responsibility taken by these companies. They should anticipate such problems and provide alternative solutions to diminish the level of pollution.”
As well, communities have complained that the company carries out at least six discharges a year, in the winter season, and they always do it at night.
Santos also indicated that there are other cases of pollution in the Siria Valley in the Department of Francisco Morazán, where the [Goldcorp Inc.] Entremares company has mining operations, specifically in the community of Nueva Palo Ralo.
Studies indicate that most inhabitants in that area have high levels of lead and arsenic in their blood. As a result, children are suffering from rare illnesses such as squinting and the Belin Hoffman Syndrome, a very serious form of spinal muscular atrophy. This illness can be directly traced to water polluted by mining activity.
“The [Goldcorp Inc.] Entremares company hired the best forensic doctor in the country, Denis Castro Bobadilla, who is also a lawyer. He advised his Columbian colleagues not to accept results from the water samples from the Siria Valley, claiming that the samples had not been taken in a technical-scientific manner.
“Everyone knows that this is what mining companies do. They have an answer to everything. In the meantime they are making a mockery of our poor country. They are destroying the forest through open-pit mining and they are causing environmental damage to our land and our water through their use of heavy metals.”
The Bishop concluded by saying that on November 30, 1998, the National Congress rescinded the 1968 mining code – a much better code – and that since then, they have approved Decree 292-298, the present General Mining Law, a law that was drawn up to please the interests of foreign mining companies.
[Source: hondudiario]
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MADRESELVA ECOLOGICAL COLLECTIVE
Press Release #3, Guatemala, March 14, 2008
Yesterday morning, a Commission made up of various high-level civil servants from the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) tried to enter the Marlin Mine owned by the [Goldcorp Inc.] Montana Company, in San Miguel Ixtahuacán, San Marcos.
The purpose of the visit was to take samples of the water in various parts of the Tzalá River that runs through the mine property. This was prompted by the fact that there have been complaints from communities regarding water pollution. The MARN technical mission, through its legal representative, Milton Savaria, had given the [Goldcorp Inc.] Montana Company prior notice of the purpose of the visit.
Despite the prior notice, the Government Commission was arrogantly and abusively blocked from entering the property by an American employee responsible for Montana’s environment file. In the end, they were unable to carry out their objective to take the water samples.
Given the abusive attitude of the [Goldcorp Inc.] Montana Company, the Madreselva Collective
REQUESTS
1. that the Secretary of the Technical Commission, Dr. Luis Ferraté, insist that his Technical Commission try once again to enter the mining installations, and that this time, they be accompanied by a Justice of the Peace and the Police.
2. that, given the negative attitude of Montana, the Ministry of Energy and Mines allow a government commission to enter the mining installations to monitor the quality of water, that they impose the appropriate sanctions and order suspension of operations of the Marlin Project.
3. that the national and international community
a) express their solidarity with MARN authorities who wish to carry out the mission they have been given
b) express their indignation and reject the arrogant and abusive attitude of the Montana Company, owner of the Marlin Gold Mining Project
c) express solidarity with communities near the mines that are suffering because of this project and the damages of all kinds it causes daily.
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EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT THIS MINE TO CANADIAN & COMPANY OFFICIALS:
Please write your own short note of protest and concern to Canadian and Goldcorp company officials.
Kevin McArthur- President and Chief Executive Officer
Goldcorp Inc.
Park Place, Suite 3400-666 Burrard St.
Vancouver, B.C. V6C 2X8
T: (604) 696-3000
Investor Relations: info@goldcorp.com
Toll Free: (800) 567-6223 (Canada and USA only)
Toronto Office:
3201-130 Adelaide Street West
Toronto, Ontario Canada M5H 3P5
T: (416) 865-0326
• Maxime Bernier: Minister of Foreign Affairs, 509-S Centre Block, House of Commons, Ottawa , Ontario K1A 0A6, (T) 613-992-6022, min.dfaitmaeci@international.gc.ca; bernier.m@parl.gc.ca
• David Emerson, Minister of International Trade, House of Commons, Ottawa , Ontario, K1A 0A6, T: (613) 943-0267, Emerson.D@parl.gc.ca
• Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, House of Commons, Ottawa , Ontario, K1A 0A6, T: (613) 996-1119, Lunn.G@parl.gc.ca
• Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation, House of Commons, Ottawa , Ontario, K1A 0A6, T: (613) 996-4151, Verner.J@parl.gc.ca
THE CANADIAN PENSION PLAN: (most employed Canadians are, by law, contributors to and beneficiaries of the CPP, a major investor in Goldcorp): Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, csr@cppib.ca, 416-868-4075, Toll Free: 1-866-557-9510.