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 blockade of the company's La Platosa mine.

News release: The Peruvian government should immediately cease the violent repression of mining protesters, over 80 leading environmental and human rights organizations wrote today in a statement that will be delivered to Peruvian embassies and consulates in the United States and Canada.

News release: On July 5, 2012, workers at Excellon Resources' La Platosa mine voted to determine which union would control their Collective Bargaining Agreement. International observers and workers report on the complete absence of conditions for a fair vote.

News release: (Temiscaming, Quebec) This week, the Chiefs of Eagle Village and Wolf Lake issued an ultimatum to ensure that mineral developments proposed by Matamec Resources will not occur without their consent and without consultation and accommodation of their Aboriginal rights.

News release: Following complaints raised in Canada by Mexican landowners, Excellon Resources comes to the table. Refusal to address key issues on the part of the company, however, leads the community to doubt that a successful resolution is within sight.

News release: Six Northern Ontario First Nations who will be affected by the proposed mines and infrastructure development in the Ring of Fire are in the final stages of issuing a 30-day eviction notice to all mining companies with exploration and development camps in the region.

News release: Community leaders in Ecuador welcome the announcement that Canadian mining company IAMGOLD is selling its Quimsacocha project, located near the city of Cuenca in south-central Ecuador.

News release: Today Canadians are standing in solidarity with civil society in the Pacific against deep sea mining. Nautilus Inc. is leading the rush to mine the sea floor in the Pacific. If it goes ahead, its Solwara 1 project in the Bismark Sea off Papua New Guinea will be the world’s first commercial deep sea mine.

News release: (Winnipeg) The Wilderness Committee is calling out San Gold Corporation, Manitoba Conservation, and the Manitoba Mines Branch for sneaking ahead with  the development of a new tailings pond near Bissett, Manitoba before the public consultations were concluded and an environmental licence issued.

I spent the early part of this week in Mistissini, the largest Cree community in Eeyou Istchee, the Cree Territory of northern Quebec, particpating in a two-day licencing hearing held by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). The hearing was part of the CNSC’s decision process for the licencing of the Matoush Project, a proposed advanced uranium exploration project (i.e. test mine) that is being developed by Strateco Resources.