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Civil Society Rises to Oppose Open Pit Mining Industry
A walk for the Global Day of Action against Open Pit Mining
MONTREAL, July 20, 2010. – For the 2nd Annual Global Day of Action against Open Pit Mining, a walk touring certain Latin American consulates is being organized downtown this Thursday, July 22nd starting at 11:30am and finishing in front of the Montreal Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) offices around 1pm.
For the past few years, many cases of human rights violations and serious damages to the environment related to the activities of Canadian open pit mining companies have transpired in the media.
As more than 60% of the world’s mining companies are Canadian, the aim of this action is to recall Canada’s role and its close ties through grants, diplomatic and consular support, investments in the Canadian Pension Plan, tax benefits, etc., with this industry heavily tainted by scandals.
In front of each consulate will be drawn by chalk on the sidewalk, a human figure whose head is partly covered by a maple leaf smeared in fake blood to represent the destroyed communities and those threatened, assaulted and murdered for the mere fact of having opposed a mining project. The names of victims and communities affected by open pit mining will be written inside the figures to denounce and condemn human rights violations in connection with this industry.
To exemplify the link between violations of human rights and Canadian mining company, the case of Enrique Rivera Sierra is symbolic. Mexican citizen and lawyer representing a group fighting against an open pit mining project by a Canadian company, New Gold Inc., in Cerro de San Pedro, San Luis Potosi in Mexico, Rivera sought asylum in Canada on May 24, 2007 following an aggression that made him fear for his life. The aggression against Rivera was directly related to his position as spokesman for the group campaigning against the mining project (FAO – Frente Amplio Opositor). Almost three years after his application, a commissioner of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) declared that Mr. Rivera was accepted in Canada as a refugee. Rivera will participate actively in the event of the 22nd and will address the Mexican consulate.
2nd Annual Global Day of Action against Open Pit Mining
Gathering at 11:30am, July 22nd 2010
In front of the Peruvian Consulate (550 Sherbrooke O, corner of Union)
March and actions in front of the consulates of Peru, Chile and
Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador, Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina and
Guatemala, between 11:30am and 1pm.
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End of walk in front of the TSX offices around 1pm (800, Square Victoria)
The day will end with a “7 à 9” at the Bar Populaire (6584, Saint-Laurent; Beaubien Metro) with the participation of Clifton Arihwakehte of the Mohawk community of Kanesatake and the screening of the documentary « Transmitir la resistencia” (Argentina, 2010, original in Spanish, subtitles in English) and a discussion with its director.
Source : Leslie Ning mines@cdhal.org 514.387.5550
