Showing posts with label mining. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mining. Show all posts

Monday, December 24, 2018

Unprecedented New Map Unveils Illegal Mining Destroying Amazon


The illegal La Pampa gold mine, seen here in 2017, has devastated the Peruvian Amazon and spread poisonous mercury.


A first-of-its-kind map has unveiled widespread environmental damage and contamination of the Amazon rainforest caused by the rise illegal mining. 

The survey, released Monday by the Amazon Socio-Environmental Geo-Referenced Information Project (RAISG), identifies at least 2,312 sites and 245 areas of prospecting or extraction of minerals such as gold, diamonds and coltan in six Amazonian countries—Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. It also identified 30 rivers affected by mining and related activities.

more: Unprecedented New Map Unveils Illegal Mining Destroying Amazon



Monday, August 22, 2016

SAY NO TO THESE THREE URANIUM MINES AT GRAND CANYON



The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is preparing to issue permits to allow the operation of three uranium mines in greater Grand Canyon watershed. Of course, this would benefit Energy Fuels Resources, Inc., the mining company that's requesting the permits. But what do the rest of us get? Radioactive pollution that threatens human health, wildlife, and ground and surface water.  

Allowing private companies to profit at the expense of public health and the environment is just wrong -- and we can't let it happen.  

Uranium mining creates fine dust containing radioactive particles, lead and arsenic. Because the dust is so fine, it travels far from mines into our waterways, recreation sites and communities. It can increase the risk of lung cancer, birth defects and kidney disease. Uranium mining exacts other costs as well: The federal government has spent billions trying to clean up old uranium mines, and the costs continue to mount. 

The Center for Biological Diversity has been working to end all uranium mining in the greater Grand Canyon region. Stopping these three mines is a very important part of that greater goal, and we need your help to make it happen. 

Please take action below -- tell the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality that you oppose the operation of the Canyon, AZ1 and EZ uranium mines.  

And if you can, join us on Tuesday, Aug. 30 in Flagstaff at Sinagua Middle School to voice your opposition to the issuance of new permits that will allow toxic uranium mining to continue on the rim of Grand Canyon. If you plan to attend, RSVP to Katie Davis.


SIGN NOW: Say No to These Three Uranium Mines at Grand Canyon

Sunday, December 14, 2014

25 reasons Why You Should Care And Sign The Petition To End Apache Land Grab! By Noel Altaha | Last Real Indians






Recently, like ‘bout a week ago, week ago’ Congress was up to no good. They started making trouble in my neighborhood. No, all song references aside, these Wile E coyotes aka so-call Law Makers tried to sneak in a mining bill into a larger defense bill. The mining bill would allow foreign international mining companies to drill into a copper mining deposit on sacred ancestral Apache land in Arizona...








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read more:
25 reasons Why You Should Care And Sign The Petition To End Apache Land Grab! By Noel Altaha | Last Real Indians

Last Real Indians | The New Indigenous Millennium



more / SIGN THESE PETITIONS –


Congress Raids Ancestral Native American Lands With Defense Bill | Huffington Post

– WASHINGTON -- When Terry Rambler, the chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, woke up Wednesday in Washington, D.C., it was to learn that Congress was deciding to give away a large part of his ancestral homeland to a foreign mining company...



Re: Raiding Native Sacred Places in a Defense Authorization: Everything Wrong with Congress


– The San Carlos Apache Tribe (Tribe) has worked for the past decade to shine light on the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange that would transfer Oak Flat and nearby lands in the Tonto National Forest – lands held sacred by my Tribe and many other Native Americans – to a foreign-owned mining corporation for certain destruction. Sadly, this Land Exchange has been airdropped into the FY15 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) at the eleventh hour, as Congress prepares to bring the 113thSession to close...

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/12/10/re-raiding-native-sacred-places-defense-authorization-everything-wrong-congress


SIGN THE ‪‎PETITION‬ AT:



Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Federal Judge Blocks Review Of Alaska Mine's Impact On Salmon | ThinkProgress


‘King Salmon’, United States, Alaska, Naknek, Bristol Bay, 2013. 
CREDIT: FLICKR/ CHRIS FORD

A federal judge has dealt a procedural blow to the EPA’s efforts to protect a remote part of Alaska from the impacts of what could be the largest copper and cold mine in North America. On Monday, Judge H. Russel Holland of the U.S. District Court of Alaska issued a preliminary injunction in favor the Pebble Mine’s efforts to block the EPA, thus preventing the EPA from taking further steps in its Clean Water Act (CWA) review process. Under section 404(c) of the CWA, the EPA has the authority to veto projects in the interest of protecting important rivers and wetlands. Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed, where the mine would be located is the most productive wild sockeye salmon fishery in the world, and native tribes and environmentalists want the mine halted.
The EPA initiated the 404(c) process to stop the mine earlier this year, alleging the Pebble Mine would have significant and irreversible negative impacts on the Bristol Bay watershed. According to the EPA, it has used this authority sparingly, and typically with major projects that could have “significant impacts on some of America’s most ecologically valuable waters...”




Monday, September 15, 2014

Stop Pebble Mine - Deadline looming!





NOW ONLY 4 DAYS TO GO! PLEASE SIGN ALL THREE OF THESE PETITIONS NOW -

1. www.savebristolbay.org/takeaction
2. http://action.sumofus.org/a/pebble-mine-save-salmon-epa/
3. https://secure.nrdconline.org/



savebristolbay.org/takeaction ---


Tell EPA to Take Action to Protect Bristol Bay
Help TU Protect Bristol Bay, Alaska -- home to one of the largest wild salmon fisheries on the planet


Bristol Bay, Alaska is home to one of the last great salmon fisheries on the planet. The salmon, wildlife, people and fishing jobs of this beautiful and productive region are threatened by the proposed Pebble gold and copper mine. If built, Pebble could become the largest mine in North America.

We have an unprecedented opportunity to stop this mine and protect Bristol Bay's fish and jobs through the Clean Water Act.

Take action now by sending a comment to the EPA on their Proposed Determination for 404(c) action that would stop Pebble mine. Ask EPA to complete the Clean Water Act 404(c) process and protect Bristol Bay.






The EPA can stop Pebble Mine and save the sockeye salmon | SumOfUs

The world’s largest wild sockeye salmon run is in grave danger. Rather than protect this precious Alaskan ecosystem, a mining corporation wants to turn it into a massive gold and copper mine. Now, we have just 96 hours to strike the final nail in the coffin of this dangerous proposal. 
Following a huge SumOfUs campaign and mounting community pressure, mining giant Rio Tinto has already pulled out. Now, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is asking the public to comment on proposed restrictions that would save the salmon run and protect 14,000 Alaskan jobs. 
The EPA is taking a stand despite political pressure to approve the mine, using a rarely used provision because the damage from the would be unprecedented.We need to speak out now so the EPA knows the public wants the Pebble Mine rejected, too.
Public comments close Friday, and the Alaskan elders most affected by this mine will personally deliver our comments before then. Can you add your voice to stop the Pebble Mine now?
The public overwhelmingly wants the EPA to reject Pebble Mine. In a previous comments period, 85% of Alaskans, and 73% of other Americans, supported EPA action to protect Bristol Bay. And it’s a no brainer -- the proposed Pebble Mine threatens to pollute miles of pristine streams and wetlands in and around Bristol Bay, the home of 40 million sockeye salmon. The Bay supplies nearly 50 percent of the world’s commercial sockeye, generates $480 million in annual revenue, and supports 14,000 jobs a year.
The last time we spoke out against Pebble Mine, 180,000 SumOfUs members called on mining giant Rio Tinto to pull out of the mine. Then, we helped fundraise to get Alaskan native leaders to Rio Tinto’s annual shareholder meeting in London. And Rio Tinto saw the writing on the wall, and acted! Just as the leaders arrived to make a huge media show, Rio Tinto announced that it would divest from Pebble. It was a huge win for SumOfUs, our friends at Earthworks, and especially the Alaskan communities most affected by the mine. The mining giant’s divestment sent the prospects of the mine crashing -- and weakened the ability of the Pebble Mine owners to put pressure on the EPA to give them the go-ahead.
The EPA wants to do the right thing, despite Republican backlash against its proposal. We can’t let the EPA waver in its commitment to protect the mine. That means we need to speak out now to give the EPA the political support it needs to reject the mine.
Take action to ask the EPA to reject Pebble mine and save the home of 40 million sockeye salmon and the 14,000 jobs in Bristol Bay.





Tell EPA to Reject the Pebble Mine! - Take Action!: NRDC's Save BioGems


The devastating spill of billions of gallons of toxic water and mining waste at the Mount Polley mine in British Columbia could be repeated in Bristol Bay, Alaska if we don't tell the EPA to stop the Pebble Mine.

Urge EPA to slam the door on the Pebble Mine and protect the Bristol Bay wilderness from destruction.





Friday, December 20, 2013

New Baucus tax proposal takes an Orwellian approach: would redefine dirty energy as clean

PRESS RELEASE ---

NEWS FROM NIRS
NUCLEAR INFORMATION AND RESOURCE SERVICE


6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 340, Takoma Park, MD 20912 
301-270-NIRS (301-270-6477); Fax: 301-270-4291 


For Immediate Release
Contact:
  Michael Mariotte, 301-325-8014 (mobile)
Tim Judson, 301-270-6477

December 20, 2013


New Baucus tax proposal takes an Orwellian approach: would redefine dirty energy as clean

The nation’s leading tax code writer, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D- MT), Wednesday unveiled a radical proposal to revise the nation’s energy policy through the tax code.

The draft bill introduced by Sen. Baucus would end forty-two different tax incentives for the energy industry, projected to cost $150 billion. In their place, it would create “technology-neutral” incentives for energy projects that meet a narrow standard for carbon emission reductions. However, the bill would also end incentives that promote energy efficiency improvements and zero-emissions vehicles, by definition two of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gases. At the same time, by focusing solely on carbon, Sen. Baucus’s proposal would continue to subsidize other toxic and polluting energy sources, such as nuclear power and natural gas.

“I think they coined the phrase ‘throwing the baby out with the bath water’ just for ideas like this,” said Tim Judson, NIRS’ Associate Director. “Tax breaks for the oil and coal industries are irresponsible, unnecessary and counterproductive, but so are subsidies for nuclear power and natural gas. Cutting tax breaks to help people make their homes more energy efficient and giving those dollars to companies to make radioactive waste is simply wrong-minded and counter-productive.”

“We’re getting a little tired of politicians, not to mention self-serving industries, who argue that the only pollutant of concern in the world is carbon,” said Michael Mariotte, executive director of NIRS. “Nuclear power inherently brings with it plutonium, strontium, cesium and the whole alphabet soup of poisonous radionuclides that are released routinely intoour air and water; that form one of our world’s largest unsolved environmental problems— safely managing radioactive waste; and that can at any moment be unleased in a catastrophic accident.”

“Our climate condition is a crisis,” Mariotte added. “But the solution is not to subsidize dirty energy technologies, nor try to portray them as somehow clean. It’s really not hard: we need to renew the tax credits for genuinely clean renewable energy sources like wind and solar, provide greater encouragement for energy efficiency measures, incentivize distributed generation—especially rooftop solar; and support already rapidly-improving energy storage. The clean energy technologies of the 21st century that can quickly and affordably reduce carbon emissions are here: it’s time to take advantage of them.


***

Please act now and tell your Senators: No tax breaks for dirty nuclear power.



see also
LETTER FROM MICHAEL MARIOTTE 
Executive Director, Nuclear Information and Resource Service; December 20, 2013
> whats up: Tell your Senators: No tax breaks for dirty nuclear power | NIRS



Friday, November 1, 2013

Indigenous Elders and Medicine Peoples Council Statement on Fukushima | Indigenous Action Media

mirrored at whats up nuclear blog

Council Statement
This statement reflects the wisdom of the Spiritual People of the Earth, of North and South America, working in unity to restore peace, harmony and balance for our collective future and for all living beings.This statement is written in black and white with a foreign language that is not our own and does not convey the full depth of our concerns.

View the original statement with signatures here (PDF): COUNCIL_FUKUSHIMA_STATEMENT_OCT_2013.

The Creator created the People of the Earth into the Land at the beginning of Creation and gave us a way of life. This way of life has been passed down generation-to-generation since the beginning. We have not honored this way of life through our own actions and we must live these original instructions in order to restore universal balance and harmony. We are a part of Creation; thus, if we break the Laws of Creation, we destroy ourselves.

We, the Original Caretakers of Mother Earth, have no choice but to follow and uphold the Original Instructions, which sustains the continuity of Life. We recognize our umbilical connection to Mother Earth and understand that she is the source of life, not a resource to be exploited. We speak on behalf of all Creation today, to communicate an urgent message that man has gone too far, placing us in the state of survival. We warned that one day you would not be able to control what you have created. That day is here. Not heeding warnings from both Nature and the People of the Earth keeps us on the path of self destruction. This self destructive path has led to the Fukushima nuclear crisis, Gulf oil spill, tar sands devastation, pipeline failures, impacts of carbon dioxide emissions and the destruction of ground water through hydraulic fracking, just to name a few. In addition, these activities and development continue to cause the deterioration and destruction of sacred places and sacred waters that are vital for Life.

Powerful technologies are out of control and are threatening the future of all life The Fukushima nuclear crisis alone is a threat to the future of humanity. Yet, our concern goes far beyond this single threat. Our concern is with the cumulative and compounding devastation that is being wrought by the actions of human beings around the world. It is the combination of resource extraction, genetically modified organisms, moral failures, pollution, introduction of invasive species and much much more that are threatening the future of life on Earth. The compounding of bad decisions and their corresponding actions are extremely short-sighted. They do not consider the future generations and they do not respect or honor the Creator’s Natural Law. We strongly urge for the governmental authorities to respond with an open invitation to work and consult with us to solve the world’s problems, without war. We must stop waging war against Mother Earth, and ourselves.

We acknowledge that all of these devastating actions originated in human beings who are living without regard for the Earth as the source of life. They have strayed from the Original Instructions by casting aside the Creator’s Natural Law. It is now critical for humanity to acknowledge that we have created a path to self destruction. We must restore the Original Instructions in our lives to halt this devastation.

The sanctity of the Original Instructions has been violated. As a result, the Spiritual People of the Earth were called ceremonially to come together at the home of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle. These Spiritual Leaders and those that carry great responsibility for their people from both North and South America came together with the sacred fire for four days at the end of September 2013 to fulfill their sacred responsibilities. During this time it was revealed that the spirit of destruction gained its’ strength by our spiritually disconnected actions. We are all responsible in varying degrees for calling forth this spirit of destruction, thus we are all bound to begin restoring what we have damaged by helping one another recover our sacred responsibility to the Earth. We, the Original Caretakers of Mother Earth, offer our spiritual insight, wisdom and vision to the global community to help guide the actions needed to overcome the current threats to all life.

We only have to look at our own bodies to recognize the sacred purpose of water on Mother Earth. We respect and honor our spiritual relationship with the lifeblood of Mother Earth. One does not sell or contaminate their mother’s blood. These capitalistic actions must stop and we must recover our sacred relationship with the Spirit of Water.

The People of the Earth understand that the Fukushima nuclear crisis continues to threaten the future of all life. We understand the full implications of this crisis even with the suppression of information and the filtering of truth by the corporate owned media and Nation States. We strongly urge the media, corporations and Nation States to acknowledge and convey the true facts that threaten us, so that the international community may work together to resolve this crisis, based on the foundation of Truth. We urge the international community, government of Japan and TEPCO to unify efforts to stabilize and re-mediate the nuclear threat posed at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. To ensure that the Japanese government and TEPCO are supported with qualified personnel and information, we urge the inclusion of today’s nuclear experts from around the world to collaborate, advise and provide technical assistance to prevent further radioactive contamination or worse, a nuclear explosion that may have apocalyptic consequences.

The foundation for peace will be strengthened by restoring the Original Instructions in ourselves Prophecies have been shared and sacred instructions were given. We, the People of the Earth, were instructed that the original wisdom must be shared again when imbalance and disharmony are upon Mother Earth. In 1994 the sacred white buffalo, the giver of the sacred pipe, returned to the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people bringing forth the sacred message that the winds of change are here. Since that time many more messengers in the form of white animals have come, telling us to wake up my children. It is time. So listen for the sacred instruction.

All Life is sacred. We come into Life as sacred beings. When we abuse the sacredness of Life we affect all Creation

We urge all Nations and human beings around the world to work with us, the Original Caretakers of Mother Earth, to restore the Original Instructions and uphold the Creator’s Natural Law as a foundation for all decision making, from this point forward. Our collective future as human beings is in our hands, we must address the Fukushima nuclear crisis and all actions that may violate the Creator’s Natural Law. We have reached the crossroads of life and the end of our existence. We will avert this potentially catastrophic nuclear disaster by coming together with good minds and prayer as a global community of all faiths.

We are the People of the Earth united under the Creator’s Law with a sacred covenant to protect and a responsibility to extend Life for all future generations. We are expressing deep concern for our shared future and urge everyone to awaken spiritually. We must work in unity to help Mother Earth heal so that she can bring back balance and harmony for all her children.


Monday, June 17, 2013

Are pro-mining forces trying to sway the EPA on a massive proposed mine in Alaska? #NoPebbleMine





Global mining giants—including the Anglo American and Rio Tinto corporations—want to gouge one of the world’s largest open-pit gold and copper mines out of Alaska’s incomparable Bristol Bay wilderness.



The Competitive Enterprise Institute is beind 99.25% of the pro-mining comments.

Are pro-mining forces trying to sway the Environmental Protection Agency on Pebble Mine?

Last month, I reported on the potential environmental threats posed by the massive proposed gold and copper mine in Alaska. The EPA conducted a watershed analysis, released in April, that showed that the mine would endanger rivers and the Bristol Bay, as well as the region's salmon fishery. The EPA extended the comment period through the end of June, allowing more time for the public to weigh in.

A number of organizations, both pro- and anti-Pebble, had circulated mass mailings asking supporters to comment. You've seen the type; they're form letters that people can sign onto via email. As of Friday, pro-mining groups had generated 118,294 comments from those mass mailings. But 117,401 of those comments—or 99.25 percent—came from a single group called Resourceful Earth...


MORE > Are pro-mining forces trying to sway the EPA on a massive proposed mine in Alaska? http://t.co/18KvzRMUbZ by @kate_sheppard (via @MotherJones)

TAKE ACTION


1> PETITION > Pebble Mine Project Endangers Bristol Bay, Alaska | Save BioGems
3 > SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS to EPA before JUNE 30! SEE


• see also

Proposed Pebble Mine stirs opposition >
West Coast senators want Alaska’s Bristol Bay protected > http://blogs.seattletimes.com/





Bristol Bay - Running Line - American Angler Magazine



what next: tag = Pebble Mine: Global mining giants—including the Anglo American and Rio Tinto corporations—want to gouge one of the world’s largest open-pit gold and copper mines out of Alaska’s incomparable Bristol Bay wilderness.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

PEBBLE MINE | Mining Crimes: Alaska

Mining Crimes




Global mining giants—including the Anglo American and Rio Tinto corporations—want to gouge one of the world’s largest open-pit gold and copper mines out of Alaska’s incomparable Bristol Bay wilderness.





STOP THE PEBBLE MINE!
FOREIGN COMPANIES THREATEN AN AMERICAN PARADISE WITH 10 BILLION TONS OF MINING WASTE.





TAKE ACTION 1 > Pebble Mine Project Endangers Bristol Bay, Alaska | Save BioGems


see also:
TELL RIO TINTO THAT NO MEANS NO - Take Action!: NRDC's Save BioGems Despite overwhelming local opposition, foreign mining giant Rio Tinto is pressing forward with plans to build a gargantuan, open-pit gold and copper mine above Alaska's Bristol Bay -- threatening the world's greatest sockeye salmon runs and the very last 284 beluga whales of Cook Inlet.