Global Day of Action Against Open Pit Mining

Solidarity protests were held in Toronto and Montreal in Canada, in Melbourne, Canberra and Newcastle in Australia, as well as in Bankok, Thailand, and Mexico City, Mexico, as part of the Global Day of Action Against Open-Pit Mining.  These protests targeted Canadian Embassies, specific mining companies’ offices, as well as the Toronto Stock Exchange, to show their solidarity with communities around the world that have been impacted by Canadian mining projects.

The following images are from the protest outside the Toronto Stock Exchange, and the text is from the information handouts that participants were handing out to passers by:

Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil, and See No Evil at the Toronto Stock Exchange.

“The Canadian economy funds projects to the shame of each Canadian.  There are no human rights requirements to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.  The Canadian government supports these companies even  as human rights workers are killed and communities poisioned.  Canada is getting a bad name from these widespread human and environmental catastrophes.”

The colorful group of protesters engaged the rush-hour traffic passing by in discussions to let them know about the increasingly negative reputation Canada is getting around the world because of the actions of Canadian mining companies.

Some of the cases the protesters highlighted from around the world included:

The Philippines

“Political killings of left-leaning activists, clergy and journalists in the Philippines have been escalating steadily under the Presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and have been linked to open criticism of large-scale mining in the Philippines. The human-rights group Karapatan estimates that over one thousand activists have been killed since Macapagal-Arroyo came to power in 2001. Nearly all of the cases remain unresolved.”

We Resist Canadian Mining -- A message of support for the Global Day of Resistance Against Open-pit Mining from Timuay Boy Anoy, the traditional chieftain of the Subanon land in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte where TVI Pacific is operating a large scale open pit mine in the Philippines.

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

“Eight Canadian mining companies have been called to account for commercial activities that have contributed to conflict in the war-torn country. It is estimated that 3-5 million people have died in the Congo in recent years due to the war. Moreover, Canadian companies have been implicated in providing logistical support to the Congolese Armed Forces.”

Congo bribes

Trust me with your money, says the corporate clown.

Burma

“The largest single mining investment in Burma, Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., is a company registered in the Yukon to take advantage of Canada’s generous tax breaks for foreign exploration and development. Neither the mining industry itself, the Canadian stock exchanges, nor the laws governing corporations in Canada, currently provide any safeguards against the impacts of irresponsible mining on communities and the environment in conflict-torn countries like Burma. Reports from people in the area indicate severe environmental damage and the use of forced labour in building roads to the mine.”

Handing over some information to workers inside the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Ecuador

The Canadian junior mining company Copper Mesa is currently facing litigation for perpetuating human rights abuses by hiring paramilitary to intimidate local farmers and indigenous peoples who opposed mineral exploration of their lands. The TSX is also named in the suit and is currently being sued for $3 billion for allowing Copper Mesa to raise funds on the exchange despite prior knowledge of Copper Mesa’s human rights violations in Ecuador.

See no evil at the Toronto Stock Exchange

Honduras

“Canada is the only nation to support the recent coup by Honduras military.  President Zelaya had proposed nationalizing mineral resources in his country, a position extremely unpopular with Canadian mining interests in the country. The Canadian company Goldcorp, has been linked to human rights abuses and ecological destruction in the country. Goldcorp has received nearly one billion dollars from Canadian Pension Plan subsidies. ”

Stop Goldcorp's repression in Central America.

Papua New Guinea

“Allegations of rapes, beatings and killings of community members by Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) security forces have been prevalent for at least a decade. In April, 2009 security forces burned the 300 houses of local indigenous peoples to the ground – these villagers have claimed these lands as traditional territory and were not consulted properly about mining development. Moreover, The PJV mine empties millions of tons of tailings directly into the nearby 800 km-long river system. Norway’s Government Pension Fund has dropped its shares in Canada’s Barrick Gold as a result of Barrick’s waste disposal practices at Porgera.”

This is happening right now in Papua New Guinea

Canada

“Mining in Canada has faced increased resistance from communities in Canada, particularity from First Peoples who have witnessed the destruction of their lands and culture with mining development. In particular, tar sands developments have created the largest ecological disaster on earth.”

Uranium too hot to handle ... in cottage country

Ramara & Kawartha Lakes (Ontario) Against Mining

Mining our planet is for once only, toxic tailing ponds leak for ever.

Meanwhile in Mexico City, activists are marking the first Global Day of Action Against Open-Pit mining with a 36-hour sit-in outside the Canadian Embassy building in Mexico City.

“The sit-in is a nonviolent protest to demand that the Canadian government intervene in the  case of New Gold’s Cerro de San Pedro mine”, said FAO member Juan Carlos Ruiz Guadalajara. “The mine is still operating despite having lost its environmental permit in a recent court ruling.  We are reminding the embassy that we will continue to raise our voices against corruption, human rights abuses and environmental destruction”.

Capital Rule$ - TSX, CPP, and EDC fund Destruction

"Hey wanna make some money?" Asks the corporate clown, "invest in my mining company and we'll all be rich! Rich! They don't even have rules for us, so we can get away with anything!" It's Awesome!!"

"I believe in the Harper dollar!" says the corporate clown

Trust me with your money

The colorful group of protesters engaged the rush-hour traffic passing by in discussions to let them know about the increasingly negative reputation Canada is getting around the world because of the actions of Canadian mining companies.

"Mining gold is completely unecessary!" says the toxic bride sitting on a pile of toxic waste. "80% of newly mined gold is used for jewelry!"

"But I have never seen any evidence"

no comment

"But no one ever told me"

Learn More from Organizations in Support:

Amnesty International

Mining Watch Canada

photojournalist Alex Felipe

Rights Action

Friends of Congo

Legal Rights and Natural Resources Centre, Philippines

Bayan Canada

Frente Amplio Opositor, Mexico

Timuay Anoy and the Subanon indigenous communities, Philippines