Miners on the attack
Published by MAC on 2006-10-07
Miners on the attack
7th October 2006
A pro-mining industry film is now going the rounds targeting "environmentalists" as the worst enemy of communities affected by the industry. Not surprisingly it's been partly-sponsored by Gabriel Resources, which has faced a well-organised campaign against its Rosia Montana gold project in Romania. Entitled " Mine your own business" and directed by former FT correspondent, Phelim McAleer, it fits in neatly with the counter-attack mounted by some companies in Argentina last week, as they confronted the "damage" done by critics.
Readers will judge for themselves whether the accusations made against some NGOs are lies, or the counter-attack has anything new to offer. But one thing certainly hasn't changed: communities who oppose specific mines on their territory, citing evidence of violations based on their own direct experiences, are rarely - if ever - included in the picture.