Supporters show their Solidarity with Affected Communities outside Barrick AGM
Over twenty supporters gathered outside Barrick Gold’s annual general meeting to show their solidarity with the indigenous leaders who were confronting shareholders inside the AGM. With large banners, information hand-outs, and loud drumming and chanting, the protesters explained that they were there to draw attention to the complaints being raised by Jethro Tulin and Sergio Campusano (see: Indigenous Leaders Confront Barrick Gold), who travelled great distances to represent indigenous communities in Papua New Guinea and Chile.
Young David (aka DJ), of the the Sagomok First Nation, gets the show started outside the Barrick Gold AGM with his drumming and singing. "After I realized that people were dying because of Barrick mining ... I knew I had to fight to help them out" says DJ.
Bodia, a Phd student and social justice activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo, points out why about twenty to thirty people were gathering outside Barrick Gold's AGM
For more on the complaints raised by the indigenous leaders see: Indigenous Leaders Confront Barrick Gold
Sakura, a volunteer editor with ProtestBarrick.net, and other supporters speak out to show their solidarity with the indigenous leaders, Sergio and Jethro, who were inside Barrick's AGM to raise complaints about the companies operations in Chile and Papua New Guinea
for more information see: www.ProtestBarrick.net
Sandra, an independent journalist, points out the direct connection between Canadian taxpayers', through the Canada Pension Plan, and the accusations leveled against Barrick of human rights abuses and environmental destruction
see Sandra’s blog at the Dominion Newspaper for more
Alan holds up a sign referring to the recent decision by the government of Norway to divest from Barrick Gold on ethical grounds
For more information about Norway’s divestment from Barrick Gold see: VICTORY! Norwegian Pension Fund Divests from Barrick Gold
Bodia holds up copies of the book "Noir Canada: Pillage, Corruption et Criminalite en Afrique." The authors and publishers of this book are currently being sued for libel by Barrick Gold and another gold mining company, Banro Corporation, for a total of $11million. "Noir Canada" brings together and analyses national and international documents already available to the public concerning various abuses from several Canadian companies working in Africa, in particular in the mining and oil areas.
For more about Noir Canada: slapp.ecosociete.org
Sakura (center) and Bodia (third from left) hand out information flyers to people coming in and out of the Barrick AGM detailing the complaints being raised by Jethro Tulin and Sergio Campusano
Sakura confronts shareholders coming out of Barrick's AGM handing them flyers detailing the complaints brought forward by Sergio Campusano and Jethro Tulin
Bodia confronts shareholders as they come out of Barrick's AGM detailing the complaints raised by Jethro and Sergio. Bodia, who is from the Democratic Republic of Congo, also spoke to shareholders about the connection between mining and the violence currently going on in her home country
For more on Barrick Gold: www.barrick.com
Indra (left), Paul (center), and Juan (right), show their support for Jethro Tulin and Sergio Campusano who were speaking inside Barrick Gold's AGM.
For more on the complaints raised by the indigenous leaders see: Indigenous Leaders Confront Barrick Gold
