On November 29, 2018, Canadian mining company INV Metals (TSX: INV) released the results of the feasibility study for its Loma Larga gold-copper-silver project in Kimsacocha, Ecuador. The company’s press release and corporate presentation on the study communicate an unwavering sense of local support for the project and a commitment to water and environmental protection.

Candace MacGibbon, the company’s CEO and 5% shareholder, stated in the company’s press release that:

(Ottawa, Tatamagouche) On Friday, January 4th, just four days before shareholders are to vote on the proposed Pan American Silver-Tahoe Resources merger, MiningWatch Canada and the Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network (BTS), submitted an investor alert to the Canadian Pension Plan’s Investment Board (CPPIB).  

Accountability group seeks report on consultation with Guatemala’s Xinka Indigenous people

Originally published by Mongabay at https://news.mongabay.com/2018/12/copper-mine-destroying-forests-in-panamas-mesoamerican-biological-corridor/; republished with permission and thanks to Mongabay.

BY JOSÉ ARCIA ON 24 DECEMBER 2018 | TRANSLATED BY ROMINA CASTAGNINO

From Dateline Pacific, 4:04 pm on 19 December 2018 

A spokesperson for MiningWatch Canada says after the Porgera region in Papua New Guinea has hosted a huge open cut gold mine for nearly 30 years, the people are desperate.

Catherine Coumans was speaking as a landowners' group called the Justice Foundation for Porgera announced it was suing the PNG government for billions of dollars over the destruction caused by the Barrick Niugini mine.

(Ottawa/Manila) In October, 27 individuals and a number of organizations in the Philippines found themselves targeted in a way that is a common precursor to extra-judicial killings. The one thing these individuals and organizations have in common is their open criticism of Canadian mining company OceanaGold’s copper-gold mine in the Province of Nueva Vizcaya.

Catherine Coumans talks to Coop Radio's "Redeye" about the need for an ombudsperson to monitor the practices of Canadian mining companies abroad, and the Canadian government's announced (but not yet appointed) CORE - Canada's Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise.

On October 31, 2018, the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) and MiningWatch Canada released a study on the impact of OceanaGold's Didipio gold and copper mine in the Philippines on the surrounding communities. The study, OceanaGold in the Philippines: Ten Violations that Should Prompt Its Removal, concludes that the company has repeatedly violated President Duterte’s calls for responsible mining. The study found:

(Papua New Guinea) Nautilus Minerals’ aspirations to be the world's first deep sea mining company sink to the bottom of the ocean on news that the project support vessel critical to the development of the company's deep sea mining project in Papua New Guinea has been purchased for repurposing by Indian company MDL Energy.

As 2018 comes to an end, we want to give you just a few highlights of our work.