ANA ROSE WALKEY, VANCOUVER 

A Federal Court judge has ruled against a contentious mine proposal in central British Columbia, upholding Ottawa's decision to reject the project over concerns it would adversely affect the environment.

A pair of decisions, released this week, mark the latest blow for Taseko Mines Ltd.'s New Prosperity mine, which is opposed by local First Nations, has been rejected twice by the federal government and has been the subject of years of litigation. The company says it's reviewing the court decision.

The Stk’emlupsemc te Secwépemc Nation (SSN) in British Columbia is ramping up its #Me7ePipsellTa7aAjax (Yes Pípsell, No Ajax) campaign and is calling on the public, friends and allies to press the federal and provincial governments to respect SSN’s decision not to give its free, prior, informed consent for the proposed KHGM Ajax open-pit copper/gold mine in its territory.

Between staff changes and other pressures the newsletter's been on hiatus for a while, but we're pleased to be back with half a dozen important updates.

As a member of OECD Watch, MiningWatch and other member organisations have launched a campaign calling for the improved effectiveness of OECD National Contact Points (NCPs) so that NCPs can provide access to remedy for victims of business related human rights abuses.

NCPs were established as a means to ensure business compliance with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and offer a state-based non-judicial grievance mechanism for victims of corporate abuse to seek remedial justice.

Eight years ago today, Mariano Abarca was assassinated in front of his family restaurant in Chicomuselo, Chiapas. A father of four and founding member of the Mexican Network of Mining Affected People (REMA), Mariano Abarca was killed in connection with his leadership in the fight against the social and environmental impacts of Blackfire Exploration’s barite mine that operated for two years in Chiapas.

Protesters demonstrate outside the Hudbay Minerals annual general meeting in 2013.

(Ottawa/Toronto) Three Canadian organizations, MiningWatch Canada, the Council of Canadians, and Common Frontiers, have written to Canada’s Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould and Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, calling on the Canadian government to respond to any forthcoming requests from Costa Rica’s new Attorney General, Emilia Navas, in a complete and timely manner.

This is a statement by REMA, the Mexican Network of those Affected by Mining.

Victor and Marcelino Sahuanitla Peña were assassinated for fighting for the few, tattered labour rights that still exist in Mexico, rights that powerful and corrupt Canadian transnational corporations - among many others - fail to respect or guarantee for workers at their mines. The assassination of the two men joins a long list of women and men who have fallen in connection with Canadian mining companies.

TORONTO – The murders of two strikers at a Canadian-owned mine underscores the widespread repression of basic labour rights in Mexico – even when the employer is Canadian, the United Steelworkers (USW) says.

“On Saturday, November 18 – four days after the Canadian government was warned of the potential for such violence – an armed group murdered two striking workers from the Canadian-owned Media Luna gold mine in the state of Guerrero,” said Ken Neumann, the USW’s National Director for Canada.

(Lima/Ottawa) Tomorrow, November 21, the Superior Court of Lima will hold a hearing concerning the harassment and illegal and arbitrary detention of MiningWatch Canada’s Latin America Program Coordinator Jen Moore and U.S. journalist John Dougherty on April 21 in Cusco, Peru.