Rights Action in Response to Mr. Peter Kent: Canada's Increasingly Complicit Role in Honduras

Sandra — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:24:21 +0000

fotos carlos 2008 001.jpg

[The communities in the Siria Valley, gravely affected by Goldcorp's San Martin mine in Honduras, would argue with Canadian Minister of State of Foreign Affairs for the Americas, Peter Kent, who stated to CBC that "Canadians should be proud of Goldcorp..." Photo: Siria Valley Environmental Committee.]

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[re-posted from www.RIGHTSACTION.org email list]:

IN RESPONSE TO MR. PETER KENT:
CANADA’S INCREASINGLY COMPLICIT ROLE IN HONDURAS

Day 36 of Honduran Coup Resistance, August 2, 2009
(Alert#41)

On July 29, The Current radio program, of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), aired a 2-part discussion about “Canada’s role in Honduras”: part one with Grahame Russell of Rights Action; part two with Peter Kent, Canada’s Minister of State of Foreign Affairs for the Americas.

To listen: http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2009/200907/20090729.html

As Peter Kent spoke second, and responded to points Grahame made, we publish this in response to comments made by Mr. Kent.

GENERAL COMMENT: BODY COUNT RISING

Honduran teacher Roger Abraham Vallejo died in hospital on Saturday, August 1, two days after he was shot point-blank in the head by a police officer during a peaceful protest.

As one listens to the 2-part CBC interview and reads the comments below, keep in mind that Mr. Kent represents the government of Canada. He is not speaking in his personal capacity. Keep in mind, also, that the OAS (Organization of American States), one month ago, unequivocally called for the “the immediate and unconditional return” of President Zelaya and his government – “immediate” and “unconditional”.

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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.

The Dominion - Siria Valley

Rights Action in Response to Mr. Peter Kent: Canada's Increasingly Complicit Role in Honduras

All That Glitters Isn't Gold

The Real Costs of Gold Mining