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No to Pascua Lama Open-cast mine in the Andean Cordillera

category international | environment | news report author Thursday May 11, 2006 14:46author by From one Friend to Others Report this post to the editors

Halt the destruction of glaciers providing pure water

No to Pascua Lama Open-cast mine in the Andean Cordillera on the Chilean-Argentine frontier. We ask the Chilean Government not to authorize the Pascua Lama project to protect the whole of 3 glaciers, the purity of the water of the San Felix Valley and El Transito, the quality of the agricultural land of the region of Atacama, the quality of life of the Diaguita people and of the whole population of the region.

Judge for yourself if you want to take action. In the Valle de San Felix, the purest water in Chile runs from 2 rivers, fed by 2 glaciers. Water is a most precious resource, and wars will be fought for it. Indigenous farmers use the water, there is no unemployment, and they provide the second largest source of income for the area. Under the glaciers has been found a huge deposit of gold, silver and other minerals. To get at these, it would be necessary to break, to destroy the glaciers - something never conceived of in the history of the orld - and to make 2 huge holes, each as big as a whole mountain, one for extraction and one for the mine's rubbish tip.

The project is called PASCUA LAMA. The company is called Barrick Gold. The operation is planned by a multi-national company, one of whose members is George Bush Senior. The Chilean Government has approved the project to start this year, 2006. The only reason it hasn't started yet is because the farmers have got a temporary stay of execution. If they destroy the glaciers, they will not just destroy the source of specially pure water, but they will permanently contaminate the 2 rivers so they will never again be fit for human or animal consumption because of the use of cyanide and sulphuric acid in the extraction process. Every last gramme of gold will go abroad to the multinational company and not one will be left with the people whose land it is. They will only be left with the poisoned water and the resulting illnesses.

The farmers have been fighting a long time for their land, but have been forbidden to make a TV appeal by a ban from the Ministry of the Interior. Their only hope now of putting brakes on this project is to get help from international justice. The world must know what is happening in Chile. The only place to start changing the world is from here. We ask you to circulate this message amongst your
friends. Email noapascualama@yahoo.ca for further information.

author by Chrispublication date Fri May 26, 2006 18:40author address author phone Report this post to the editors

There must be enough gold in this world to keep people happy. Why should people be allowed to destry something so natural to get some more.

Its just pure greed.

The more you have the more you want.

Its not fair to the little guys.

author by Greg Bpublication date Sat May 27, 2006 01:11author address author phone Report this post to the editors

With the on goings of the current U.S. administration, it's not surprising to see his father involved in the destruction of another Nation. There needs to be massive dissemination of information to the U.S. public and media concerning these atrocities.

It’s clear to see that the only color this administration and the former President in interested in is Gold. And by all accounts, they are willing to get as much of it by any means necessary. This includes the destruction of and entire eco-system.

At what point does the greed consume itself? Where does it all end? Maybe at the end of the food line, when there’s nothing left to eat. Remind me again; How does GOLD taste? And from where will the politicians get fresh water? Oh, what am I thinking there’s always bottle water, I’m sure they’ll be able to afford it!

author by redjadepublication date Sat May 27, 2006 01:19author address author phone Report this post to the editors

yes, should be obvious now - the Bush family is one of the most corrupt political families, anywhere, anytime.

But with Pascua-Lama

Snopes.com rates it as: True

go read for yourself....
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/pascualama.asp

author by lonestarnot - democraticundergroundpublication date Sat May 27, 2006 17:46author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Will someone please provide a link to the petition in opposition to this travesty?

Related Link: http://www.democraticunderground.com
author by Rene' Dardenpublication date Sun May 28, 2006 01:28author address author phone Report this post to the editors

This earth was created for us to care for and enjoy. Gold and Silver.......these create meer bobbles. These minerals are not eatable. We've stripped so many 1000's of acers of the earth, for farming, housing, drug platations.....etc...we have scared this sacred place God created for us, for what? GREED !!
I pray you'll come to your senses.....money is nothing.......but walking outside to see green grass, tree's, birds and all the glorious possibilities that are free to us......"nature" is slowly slipping away.......our grandchildren will have nothing left but asphalt jungles and anilmals in zoo's. Not such a good legacy. Please let this go.

author by Ethan Closepublication date Wed May 31, 2006 20:25author email ethan_close at yahoo dot comauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

Here's a link to a site that links to an online petition. I built the site very quickly, so please excuse its simplicity. Please sign the petition and it will be forwarded onward to the appropriate people. Also, contact major news sources in your area or the US. Links are also provided there.

Feel free to email me any comments or suggestions.

Thanks!

Ethan

Related Link: http://www.enotoriouz.com/chile.html
author by Celestepublication date Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:33author address author phone Report this post to the editors

At what point was gold classified as more valuable then water? Who was the idiot who started this beleif? Peoples lives are at risk. Nature is being ripped apart because a certain Bush is being inconsiderate. Everything requires water to survive. But what does he care, he'll be dead in a few years, the old bastard, with any luck it'll be sooner.

author by nincopublication date Fri Jun 02, 2006 23:34author address author phone Report this post to the editors

this is probably one of the most disgusting things i've heard of in a while. But i can't help but think about the other guys involved in this, both the bush's are very public figures renowned for their blundering stupidity. Could it be that the bush's have been manipluated into power by others to give us someone to throw the rocks at while more powerful people get on with quietly raping the world. It's widley know that politicians will bend policies and legistations to the will of big companies and there CEOs. I'm not excusing the bush's. They think they know what they are doing.
Sorrry for going off point

author by Sripublication date Tue Jun 13, 2006 15:20author email kingsmead at hotmail dot comauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

It looks as if our children will not be able to experience any good time in their life. Once a wise man told me that a fool will be born to destroy the world and the wise men will be helpless to stop this fool. It looks as if the "Choosen one" as "Bush" puts it. He is the one.
I think we cannot stop, The American's had a golden opportunity they missed - the world will have to suffer. British missed their opportunity too, the clown has a messenger too, "The Blair’s" to spread the gospel.

author by Sripublication date Tue Jun 13, 2006 15:22author email kingsmead at hotmail dot comauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

It looks as if our children will not be able to experience any good time in their life. Once a wise man told me that a fool will be born to destroy the world and the wise men will be helpless to stop this fool. It looks as if the "Choosen one" is "Mr Bush". The American's had a golden opportunity to stop him, but they missed - the world will suffer. British missed their opportunity too, the clown has a messenger too, "The Blair’s" to spread the gospel.

author by A-Lopublication date Wed Jun 21, 2006 04:39author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Guys honestly, do you believe everything you read on the internet?! Do some research. First of all, George Bush is in NO way affiliated with Barrick Gold. In the mid-1990s he participated as a member of the company's international advisory committee. But he was never an employee, board member, officer or director of the company.

Secondly, if you investigate the facts, Chile has approved this project on the condition that Barrick cannot remove, destroy or affect any glaciers in any way, shape or form. The truth is 95 per cent of the gold is NOT under any glaciers whatsoever. The portion that is under ice cannot be mined, period.

Thirdly, take a look at the situation on the ground and you'll find the local community is HUGELY supportive of this project. The Huasco Valley Water Users Cooperative held a special meeting where its members voted 94 per cent in favor of the mine. This group includes all 700 farmers in the valley, plus 2,000 other water users. Likewise, mayors from all four local municipalities have vocally supported the project. Not only that, Barrick has received over 50,000 job applications from local residents.

Lastly, the environmental protection mechanisms on this project are so comprehensive, they would put most similar projects Canada and the United States to shame. In order to even operate the mine, Barrick has committed to maintaining the quality and quantity of water in the Huasco Valley. In violation of this regulation will halt mining operations immediately.

To think Chile is a naive country that didn't plan for any of this is just insulting. To imply they just overlooked all the accusations in this e-mail petition is even more so. Come on people, use your heads.

author by Nanapull - NApublication date Mon Jun 26, 2006 17:25author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I'm intrigued by your comments, A-Lo. Can you cite some sources for this information? It would be very helpful to all who read these posts. I'm sure all readers would like to make an informed decision.

Many thanks!

author by giorgiopublication date Wed Feb 02, 2011 12:32author address author phone Report this post to the editors

is there a petiotion on the web that i can sign?
I got a email petitions but I don-t think it will ever help
thanks

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