Wow. We asked ourselves how the Fraser Institute could bring back its annual global mining survey after Press Progress’ devastating exposé "Now ordinary Canadians can skew Fraser Institute's data from home”. Apparently the answer is simple -- pretend that nothing is wrong with the methodology (or that there actually is a methodology), just as they always have.

Inclusive, Sustainable and Resilient Development: The Role of the African Mining Vision and Its Implementation

Presentation by Jamie Kneen to the Alternative Mining Indaba, Cape Town, February 10, 2015

I’d like to start by congratulating the organisers on a successful event and thanking them for the opportunity to speak.

News release: On January 15, 2015, the Quebec Minister for Mines, Luc Blanchette and the Quebec Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Geoffrey Kelley, met with the Chiefs of the Wolf Lake and Eagle Village First Nations to discuss several matters including the proposed Matamec Rare Earths open pit mine. The Chiefs followed up their January 15th meeting with a letter they sent to the two Quebec Ministers’ today,

Oxford (UK) and Ottawa (Canada) – Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID) and MiningWatch Canada (MiningWatch) recognise the significance of the settlement, announced on Friday 6 February 2015, of claims brought by Tanzanian villagers alleging that African Barrick Gold (now Acacia Mining) and its subsidiary were liable, through complicity, for killing and injuring of locals at the North Mara mine  by police guarding the mine. The claims, brought by leading law firm Leigh Day, were denied by the companies.

(Ottawa) MiningWatch Canada calls on the Province of British Columbia, but also other provinces and the federal government, to heed the warnings of the recent independent expert review panel report and not to delay fully implementing its recommendations.

Wed, Feb 4 – The operator of the Mount Polley mine, site of a tailing ponds spill last summer, had search warrants executed at its offices yesterday. Jill Krop spoke with Keith Baldrey about why and also with Miningwatch Canada Program Coordinator Ugo LaPointe about how the mining industry should be policed.

(Ottawa/Guatemala) North American shareholders in Tahoe Resources should follow Norway's Council on Ethics’ lead and divest say Canadian and U.S. organizations. They urge Canadian and U.S.

(Ottawa) MiningWatch Canada today announced the appointment of Ugo Lapointe as Coordinator of its Canadian program. “We are extremely pleased –in fact we feel very privileged – to have Ugo working for MiningWatch. He has nearly twenty years of diverse experience in the Quebec, Canadian, and international mining sector. His knowledge, experience, and great sensitivity to social and environmental issues will undoubtedly contribute hugely to MiningWatch’s mission and work,” said Jamie Kneen, Communications Coordinator for MiningWatch.