CHRONOLOGY-Key dates in Inco takeover battle
Mon Jun 26, 2006
June 26 (Reuters) - Phelps Dodge Corp on Monday bid for a newly-combined firm of Inco Ltd. and Falconbridge Ltd., in a $40 billion deal that would create the world’s largest nickel producer and its largest listed copper producer.
The deal would also scupper plans from Teck Cominco Ltd. to buy Inco and from Xstrata Plc to snap up Falconbridge. (more…)
Medusa Mining-Exciting opportunities in the Philippines - Mr Geoff Davis, MD
Sydney, June 26, 2006
ACN Newswire - http://www.acnnewswire.net/press/en/32529/MEDUSA-MINING-LIMITED.html
MEDUSA MINING LIMITED (ASX: MML) - Exciting opportunities in the Philippines - Mr Geoff Davis, MD; Boardroomradio is pleased to announce that MEDUSA MINING LIMITED (ASX: MML) has published an audio file. The following presentation “Exciting opportunities in the Philippines” is now available as an instant audio download to your computer. You may also transfer this information to your listening device as an IPod podcast.
The BRR service is based on streaming audio sent in compressed form over the internet and displayed as it arrives. You do not have to wait for the whole file to be downloaded before you can hear it, instead the media is sent in a continuous stream and is played immediately as it reaches your computer. Please note that during live broadcasts there can be a delay of approximately 1-2 minutes, depending on traffic through your Internet Service Provider.
Broadcaster: MEDUSA MINING LIMITED (ASX: MML) (more…)
Atlas Consolidated/Toledo Mining-Berong Certificate
Edited By Dominic Mercer
www.mining-journal.com
Toledo Mining Corp plc has received an environmental compliance certificate for the first stage of its proposed Berong lateritic nickel project in the Philippines (MJ, May 20, 2005, p9).
The certificate allows the extraction and shipment of about 1 Mt/y of saprolite and/or limonite ore. Toledo still awaits a mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA) and tree-clearing and foreshore lease permits before it can proceed.
The company had previously planned to begin shipments from the project during the March 2006 quarter, but a trial shipment is now expected to be completed early in the September quarter, provided the outstanding approvals are received. George Butjor, chief executive of Toledo, foresees commercial production at Berong before the end of this year.
Indigenous Peoples-Haruku people prefer nature to glittering offer of gold
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon, http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20060627.G02&irec=2
June 27, 2006
The gold potential of a village in Central Maluku has sparked a public controversy, with confusion over the office responsible for issuing an exploration permit mixing with the environmental concerns of locals.
Haruku Island district chief J. Kene requested permission from the Haruku village customary chief, Paulus Kissya, in a letter dated June 3, 2006, for a company to conduct a two-month geological, geochemistry and geophysical study in the area. Kene based his request on a permission letter dated May 29, 2006, from the head of the Maluku Mining and Energy Office.
Kene had earlier discussed the matter with Paulus and local residents on March 5, but they turned down the request for PT Galtam Indonesia to conduct research and survey in the area.
Residents had rejected mining activities on their traditional land because, they said, Haruku Island was a small island with a tiny population and such activities could damage the island’s natural ecosystem.
They also expressed concern that mining activities would be a breach of the local Sasi traditions they upheld, taboos against the removal of marine and forest products, which had earned them the Kalpataru Environmental and Satyalencana Development awards from the government.
Head of the Maluku Energy and Mining Office MG Simarmata said his office had learned about PT Galtam Indonesia’s activities in Haruku, but it was not his but the Central Maluku regency office that had issued the permit. (more…)
Indigenous Peoples-Iskut Women Stop Mining Company from Destroying Trout Spawning Stream
June 23, 2006
Press Release - Klabona Keepers
Last Friday, First Nations grandmothers from the town of Iskut prevented a mining company from driving heavy equipment through a trout spawning stream. The company and B.C. government have been rushing to establish road access and widen the scope of drilling in the Todagin Wildlife Management Area, located east of Highway 37.
We will not allow BC Metals to degrade the spawning grounds surrounding the Todagin Plateau in the Sacred Headwaters, without the free, prior and informed consent of our people said Rhoda Quock a spokesperson for the Iskut elders group Klabona Keepers. Quock and Erma (Nole) Bourquin physically blocked BC Metals contractors from driving an excavator, a D6 Cat and drilling equipment sleds through trout spawning in Coyote creek, a tributary to Eddontenijon Lake and the Iskut River.
Fish and wildlife are the lifeblood of our people, and we cannot let them be destroyed simply because BC Metals is in a rush said Quock. Friday¹s events mark the next chapter in a conflict over the shared headwaters of the Nass, Stikine and Skeena Rivers mining exploration rush in northwest B.C. has put pressure on government agencies to approve permits as quickly as companies apply for them. Quock says her organization is not opposed to mining, but that currently, there are too many projects being pushed forward all at once, without adequate community consultation. Last summer, numerous elders including several grandmothers were arrested trying to prevent Fortune Minerals from accessing the Headwaters.
We, the people who use and occupy these lands, will decide which and how many projects are appropriate for our traditional territory, said Quock. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to protect our sacred lands. The Klabona Keepers¹ decision to stop the BC Metals equipment was supported by the elected Iskut Band Council and the Tahltan Central Council.
Regulations under B.C.¹s Water Act forbid working in and around trout bearing waters until after July spawning and rearing has concluded.
Rhoda Quock, Klabona Keepers: (250) 234-3023
Mining General-Bogoso Gold Limited: FIAN Open letter on cyanide spill
Heidelberg (Germany), 26th of June 2006
Dear Excellency Mr. Kufuor,
Recently, I received the disturbing news that a second cyanide spillage within two years took
place at the mining site of Bogoso Gold Limited. Cyanide, which is a highly toxic chemical, reached the river Aprepre, polluted it and thus made the water unusable for consumption. Medical research confirms that cyanide is extremely dangerous to human beings and can lead to
long term health damage in the human neurological system.
The people of Dumase who are directly affected by the spillage depend on the river water for drinking and washing and complain about an inadequate supply of fresh water for their daily needs.
The first cyanide spillage at Bogoso Gold Limited occurred only two years ago and the affected people complained about an inadequate handling of the first accident by the company in terms of compensation and adequate water supply. The people fear another inappropriate response by the corporation to their serious problems caused by mining activities and a neglect of the dealing with cyanide spillages.
As a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights, Ghana is duty-bound under international law to protect its people’s human right to adequate food, water and health. For this matter I would like to ask you to
ensure that a sustainable water system for the people of Dumase and all affected communities will be provided immediately by Bogoso Gold Limited.
ensure that adequate compensation for lost fish and other economic losses will be given to all affected communities.
ensure that all persons, especially the children, who directly got in touch with the polluted water bodies will have free access to health services which would monitor and remedy the long term effects of cyanide.
make Bogoso Gold Limited take the necessary measures to guarantee non-repetition taking into consideration that this was already the second spillage within two years.
ensure a dialogue process between the corporation, the affected people and their support groups, perhaps moderated by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice.
make sure that your government will create the necessary monitoring capacity to control the activities of mining companies in a way that such accidents cannot happen again.
The costs for the measures (under 1-5) of compensation and remedy should be carried by Bogoso Gold Limited.
Please keep me informed of the action you plan to take in this regard.
Yours Sincerely,
Dr. Rolf Künnemann
Human Rights Director
FIAN International
Düppelstraße 9 - 11
50679 Köln
Tel.: +49 - 221 / 70 200 72
Fax.: +49 - 221 / 70 200 32
www.fian.de
Mining General-Asian Civil Society Statement to the UN SRSG at the Asia Regional Consultation
Written by Lillian Manzella, http://www.earthrights.org/content/view/345/41/
Tuesday, 27 June 2006
A representative from ERI attended a consultation with John Ruggie which focused on “Human Rights and Supply Chain Management”. At the meeting held in Bangkok, ERI presented letters from a few Burmese NGOs who had not been invited to the conference. ERI also presented a statement drafted and endorsed by 21 Asian NGOs regarding the work of the SRSG and the consultation process. The following statement urges Professor Ruggie to expand the scope of his inquiries regarding corporations and human rights and to support codification of the international standards for TNCs and human rights.
On June 26-27, 2006 in Bangkok, the U.N. Special Representative to the Secretary General on Transnational Business & Human Rights held a regional consultation with corporations, trade unions and local civil society groups.
Our organizations represent a variety of local interests from various parts of Asia including India, Pakistan, Burma, China, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, Singapore and Korea. While we differ in our languages, religious beliefs, cultures, and histories, we share a common and grave concern with the environmental and human rights abuses taking place throughout our region that can be linked to transnational business activity, particularly in the extractive industries sector. (more…)
End to mercury-induced mining in Vizcaya village sought
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200607049902.htm
By Charlie Lagasca
The Philippine Star 07/04/2006
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has sought the immediate dismantling of the facilities of small-scale mines in a remote mountain village here for fear of deadly substance contamination.
Engineer Jerrysal Mangaoang, MGB director for Cagayan Valley, said hundreds of illegally-dug up tunnels in the mineral-rich Barangay Didipio in Kasibu town here should be dismantled to prevent the villagers and their potable sources of water from further contamination with mercury.
“The illegal (small-scale) mining in Didipio should be stopped once and for all to prevent the loss of lives and contamination of rivers with deadly chemicals such as mercury,” he said.
He said dynamite and chemically-induced small-scale mining operation is not suited in Didipio with its type of mineral deposits, which he said can only be extracted by a large-scale mining operation that will not use deadly substances or chemicals and explosives. (more…)
DENR probes illegal fishing, mercury contamination
http://www.malaya.com.ph/jul04/envi1.html
By REINIR PADUA
Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes yesterday ordered an investigation of alleged mercury contamination of a river in Nueva Vizcaya and widespread illegal fishing in La Union.
Reyes issued the order after receiving reports that local folks of Barangay Didipio in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, may have to be displaced due to mercury contamination of the Didipio river. The pollution was reportedly due to the mercury used by small-scale miners in the area.
Some 300 fishermen residing in 10 coastal villages of the municipality in Sto. Tomas, La Union, have asked the town’s council and Coast Guard to stop the operations of big commercial fishing vessels and dynamite fishers within the town’s 15-kilometer fishing zone.
Reyes directed regional officials of the DENR to take action against the companies and persons responsible for the damage of natural resources in the area. (more…)
