Members of Neskantaga First Nation speak of their love for their land and the Attawapiskat River - an area threatened by extensive mining developments in the so-called "Ring of Fire" in northern Ontario. With visually stunning images taken and compiled by Allan Lissner.
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Living Near a Mine Can Be the Pits
Living next to a mine can really be the pits. Even in established and historic mining areas, local communities are being challenged with new bigger-than-ever projects and mine expansions that threaten their health, quality of life and properties. Three such communities that have been making news...
Keno Resident Speaks Out About Health Study
Statement by Insa Schultenkotter, resident of Keno City, Yukon: "Now the government has released another report dealing with mining and adverse impacts on a community... Is it another white-wash? I would say so. Gov. admits they don't have much knowledge about the effect of mining in or so close to...
URGENT ACTION: Protest camp at Excellon Resources' La Platosa mine violently destroyed
Join the call for support to denounce violence and Excellon's support for destruction of peaceful protest camp in Durango, Mexico.
Green Mining or Green Washing? Corporate Social Responsibility and the Mining Sector in Canada
Consistent public criticism of the industry for environmental and social issues at home and abroad have pushed the industry into taking a pro-active response to these concerns. Much of this effort is wrapped up in the language of “corporate social responsibility”. Our experience shows that while...
Maria Cuc Choc: communities face violence related to mining in El Estor, Guatemala
Maria Cuc Choc, a Mayan Q’eqchi’ community leader from El Estor in eastern Guatemala, visited Canada to speak about injustices Indigenous communities have experienced related to Canadian mining operations. She eloquently expresses outrage at the burning of Indigenous villages and the rape of a group...
Will the Quebec Election Mean the End of Asbestos Mining and Exports?
The outgoing Charest government in Quebec received a lot of flack over the summer for offering a $58-million loan to an industry that was on its last breath — the mining and export of asbestos. (Recriminations came from international labour and health groups, editorials in most major Canadian papers...
Is This What Responsible Resource Development Looks Like? Some thoughts on PM Harper's northern tour
Prime Minister Harper's annual trip north has again put the northern territories in a spotlight on the national agenda (at least for this week). Consistent with other rhetoric and legislative changes from the Conservatives, the tour put a heavy emphasis on resource extraction and mining as a...
Proposed Amendments to the Regulations Designating Physical Activities Under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has asked for suggested amendments to the key regulation under the new Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA 2012): the list of projects that will be considered for assessment. MiningWatch's position is that all commercial-scale metal and diamond...
Solidarity with Continental Day of Action Against Canadian Resource Extraction
Canadian unions, civil society groups, and solidarity networks in Canada and the US write in support of continental day of action against the imposition of large scale resource extraction projects on communities without their consent.
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Death of Evidence Rally: How Budget Cuts Will Affect Mining Issues
By MiningWatch interns Brigette DePape and Priyanka Vittal
“What do we want? Evidence based decision-making. When do we want it? After peer review!” chanted a line of doctors at the Death of Evidence rally, marching beside upwards of one thousands scientists, doctors, lawyers, and concerned...
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#MiningBalanceFail: Ontario Mining Leases vs. Largest Remaining Old Growth Red Pine Forest
The red pine forests surrounding Wolf Lake are by best accounts the largest remaining tract of old-growth red pine ANYWHERE. Despite the obvious and long appreciated ecological significance of the forest MNDM has continued to renew a mining lease in the heart of the Wolf Lake old growth.
URGENT ACTION (Mexico): Excellon Resources, Inc. Threatens Landowners of La Sierrita with Arrest and Judicial Action
On July 11, 2012, Excellon Resources, Inc., a Canadian mining company, threatened landowners of the Ejido "La Sierrita" (Ejido) and their adviser, Project on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ProDESC), with criminal proceedings and judicial action in response to the landowners' peaceful...
Mining Threatens One of BC’s Largest Sockeye Salmon Runs
The Thompson River watershed already hosts Canada’s largest copper mine – Teck’s open pit Highland Valley mine. The New Afton mine is in construction, the Harper Creek and Ajax mine projects are in the environmental assessment process, and the Ruddock Creek Project is in advanced exploration. If all...
KI Achieves Protection for 23,000 Square Kilometres; Ontario Makes Another Multi-million Dollar Buy-out
One of the most important messages Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) has been trying to send to Ontario is the need to respect the treaty relationship of shared decision making and mutual respect.
Backgrounders Published on Environmental & Health Risks of Chromium
Without a history of chromite mining in North America, and having read the Blacksmith Institute’s disturbing descriptions of the chromite industry in India, MiningWatch wanted to know more about this mineral and wanted to be able to share information with First Nations, potential workers, and the...