Corporate Social Responsibility

Monday, April 30, 2012

News release: A delegation of Central American and North American representatives called on Goldcorp to take responsibility for the cleanup at current mine sites, and alerted shareholders to outstanding public health issues, environmental degradation and conflict.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Shareholder Resolution: Three Goldcorp shareholders have filed a resolution with the company to be voted on at its 2012 Annual General Meeting. The resolution asks Goldcorp to fully fund the closure and post closure of the Marlin mine in Guatemala, consult with local communities regarding closure and post-closure plans, and to publicly disclose a comprehensive account of its closure and post-closure plans now and in the future.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

In the latest edition of Embassy Magazine, NDP leadership candidates were asked to articulate their top foreign policy priorities. The positions were pretty similar; most included elements of climate change, fairer trade, and a less militarized approach to diplomacy. None included corporate accountability of the Canadian extractives sector in their top priorities.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

News release: Two years after filing a complaint with the RCMP for corruption allegations against Calgary-based Blackfire Resources, a group of Canadian civil society organizations would like to know where Canadian authorities stand on the company's controversial operations in Chiapas, Mexico. But, after an eighteen-month wait, a request for information to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade under the Access to Information Act is still unanswered.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

News release: A consortium of Canadian and Mongolian organisations has filed a complaint with the Canadian government over apparent violations of Mongolian law and international corporate responsibility guidelines by Centerra Gold Inc. in its Mongolian operations.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Communiqué: The Mexican Network of Mine Affected Communities – Chiapas echoes calls for an end to impunity in the case of Blackfire Exploration and for greater responsiveness from both Canadian and Chiapas authorities to requests for further information.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Opinion: Rick Arnold, former coordinator of Common Frontiers Canada, argues that the CIDA-funded CSR project with World Vision and Barrick Gold is aimed at the pacification of local dissent over a new Barrick project in La Libertad, Perú, rather than local economic development.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

News release: This week, Canadian taxpayers will cover the costs of eleven journalists from eight Latin American countries – and Mongolia – to attend the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC) 2012 conference. This appears to be another attempt on the part of Canadian authorities to manage the message instead of seriously addressing the roots of mine conflicts in countries such as Argentina, Honduras, Guatemala, Peru, and Ecuador.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Presentation: Dr. Anthony Bebbington, Higgins Professor of Environment and Society, Director of the Graduate School of Geography at Clark University and a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, testified to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Develompent as part of ther study on the "Role of the Private Sector in Achieving Canada's International Development Interests." He highlighted how conflict, weak or weakened institutions, and the legitimacy of corporate actors can often compromise local development, instead of improving conditions.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

In February 2012 during the CERD's 80th session the Committee reviewed Canada's 19th and 20th reports. Prior to the review interested parties submitted comments to CERD on Canada's progress, or lack there of, in implementing the Convention and responding to the Committee's earlier recommendations. A total of 28 submissions were made including one from MiningWatch Canada on mining and Indigenous rights in Canada, and a joint statement by 22 organizations, including MiningWatch, on the issue of corporate accountability of Canadian mining companies operating outside of Canada.