The Dominion - Mining

Communities Unite Against Canadian Mining Injustices

Tim McSorley — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:00:05 +0000

Representatives from communities across Canada and around the world met in Toronto May 7-9, 2010, to discuss the impacts Canadian mining companies are having on their communities.

The delegates plan to meet again in Toronto on June 22 to discuss the establishment of a pan-American network that will unite community and solidarity groups throughout the Americas.

Van Ferrier is a journalist and communications specialist living in Montreal.

El Salvador's gold fight goes international

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:44:33 +0000

Five representatives of five organizations in El Salvador that form part of the National Coalition Against Mining, known as La Mesa, were in Washington, DC last month to accept the Letelier-Moffitt International Human Rights Award. The recognition comes at an interesting time as the group's successes in blocking mining exploitation in their small country, have brought about a unique legal situation. Namely, a Canadian mining company is suing the government of El Salvador for $100 million, through a US subsidiary under the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). The Real News followed the group of activists around Washington, DC, and interviewed the CEO and president of the company behind the suit, Pacific Rim. Produced by Jesse Freeston.

Goldcorp shows little respect for local population

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:36:57 +0000

In the surroundings of San Marcos, Guatemala, the gold and silver mine of the Canadian Goldcorp Inc. which operates in Guatemala under the name Montana Explorada, has been ready for extraction since 2004. This is yet another blow for the environment and health of the communities of San Miguel and surroundings.

On the map with Avi Lewis

Van Ferrier — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:18:37 +0000

Oil. Canada has it and the US craves it. But what are the implications of treating Alberta's tar sands as America's security blanket?

Violent Evictions at El Estor, Guatemala

Van Ferrier — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:27:18 +0000

In January 2007, hundreds of police and soldiers forcibly evicted the inhabitants of several communities situated on lands the Guatemalan military government granted Canadian mining interests in 1965. Backed by the army and the police, Canada’s Skye Resources paid workers to destroy people’s homes with chainsaws and torches.

All That Glitters Isn't Gold

Van Ferrier — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:18:41 +0000

This report tells the stories of community members residing near Goldcorp's San Martin open-pit gold mine in Honduras' Siria Valley. San Martin was the first mine to be developed under Honduras' controversial new mining law that was passed in the wake of Hurricane Mitch in 1998. It was opened in 2000 and is the largest open-pit heap-leach mine in Honduras.

The Real Costs of Gold Mining

Van Ferrier — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:06:37 +0000

In 2007, a film maker travelled to the Siria Valley in Honduras to interview locals about the impact of gold mining on their lives and communities. He produced this short documentary. In it, people of the Siria Valley speak for themselves.

Mine Your Own Business

Van Ferrier — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:56:37 +0000

Mine Your Own Business is a documentary meant to "expose the dark side of environmentalism." The film was financed in part by the mining company responsible for evicting the residents of Rosia Montana. Watch the trailer, read about Rosia Montana and decide for yourself who is hiding their true intentions.

Sipakapa no se vende

Van Ferrier — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:37:07 +0000

On 13 June 2007, forty-two communities in a Guatemalan municipality called Ixchiguan said 'No' to destructive mining in their territories. In the referendum, local people rejected the mining exploration licenses given to mining companies without their consent.

The New Eldorado - trailer

Van Ferrier — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:33:58 +0000

Rosia Montana Gold Corporation, a Canadian-Romanian company plans to open a goldmine in Romania, which will be the largest in Europe. To make way for the mega-project, people are being forcibly relocated. There will also be an 800-hectare cyanide waste reservoir with a 180-meter-high dam.

Mirage of El Dorado - trailer

Van Ferrier — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:27:09 +0000

Mirage of El Dorado, the new film by Martin Frigon, takes us high into the Andes of northern Chile where Canadian-owned Barrick Gold, the biggest gold producer in the world, is set to move glaciers if necessary to get at the mineral riches beneath.

La mineria nos deja sin agua!

Van Ferrier — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:23:28 +0000

SHARE project documents the story of the people of Cabañas province who are losing their well water due to mining exploration by Vancouver-based Pacific Rim. (Spanish)

Our Land, Our Life

Van Ferrier — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:13:59 +0000

Two Western Shoshone elders assert their right to land title in order to protect sacred and environmentally sensitive lands threatened by gold mining interests backed by the US government.

AMAZAY: A film about water

Van Ferrier — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:07:13 +0000

The Tse keh Nay people convince BC government to reject Northgate Minerals' proposal to dump acid tailngs into a pristine lake on their territory.

Penny Trick in Prenter Holler

Van Ferrier — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:49:56 +0000

A family in West Virginia uses a common penny to show how their well water has been contaminated by coal slurry from a local coal mine.