mining justice alliance

Tahoe Resources Mining executive in Guatemala gives direct orders to kill protestors

miningjusticealliance — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:57:36 +0000

“The investigation of the mining conflicts in San Rafael Las Flores, Santa Rosa, took a 180 degrees turn, after the Public Ministry submitted audio from wiretapping as evidence. In the audio it can be clearly heard how Alberto Rotondo, head of the San Rafael Mining Security outfit ordered to assassinate opponents of the mine.”

Update from @Sandra_Cuffe. See full article in The Guatemala Times.

State of Siege: Mining Conflict Escalates in Guatemala (Upside Down World)

miningjusticealliance — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:36:48 +0000

Article published today about the escalating violence in Guatemala, near Tahoe Resources’ Escobal mine project. The article highlights how there is great reason to fear that the suspension of constitutional rights under the State of Siege leaves community leaders and mining opponents vulnerable to (even more) unchecked violence and repression.

[From the article by Sandra Cuffe:]

Security at the Escobal project site, mid April 2013. Credit: Resistencia Pacifica El Escobal / Upside Down World

…. Fifty miles southeast of the capital, private security guards working for Vancouver-based mining firm Tahoe Resources shot and wounded several local residents on Saturday in San Rafael Las Flores, on the road in front of Tahoe’s El Escobal silver mine. The mining company’s head of security was arrested while attempting to flee the country. A police officer and a campesino were killed during conflicts earlier this week. Through it all, demonstrations against the mining project have continued amid conflicting reports and government misinformation.

Following a Cabinet meeting late last night, Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina declared a 30-day State of Siege in four municipalities around the El Escobal mining project: San Rafael Las Flores and Casillas in the department of Santa Rosa, and Jalapa and Mataquescuintla in the department of Jalapa. The measure is in effect as of today. Initial reports indicated that the constitutional rights suspended include freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and protest, and certain rights of detainees and prisoners.

Even before the measure was declared, communities were denouncing army mobilization in the region last night. When he announced the State of Siege, Pérez Molina stated that security forces reported for duty at three military bases last night and that operatives would begin early this morning.

“We fear for the lives of our leaders,” stated a message circulated online by the Xinka People’s Parliament, denouncing the mobilization of armed forces in Jutiapa with the alleged intention of arresting Xinka leaders in Santa María Xalapán, Jalapa. “We’re returning to the 1980s, with the persecution of leaders, extrajudicial execution and forced disappearance.”….. View the full article, with photos, here.

Gold and Democracy Don’t Mix – Eldorado Gold Faces Determined Opposition in Greece (MiningWatch)

miningjusticealliance — Thu, 02 May 2013 19:05:15 +0000

MiningWatch Canada article on Vancouver-based Eldorado Gold’s controversial mining projects in Northern Greece. Article contains numerous links to more info, videos, and articles at the bottom.

[From the article:]

Thursday, May 02, 2013

As Eldorado Gold holds its annual shareholders’ meeting in Vancouver today, Canadians may ask themselves why the company’s plans to mine gold in northern Greece are meeting such strong resistance from residents and local authorities. There are really only two problems: what the company is planning to do, and how it is going about doing it.

Eldorado is planning to build a combination of open-pit and underground gold mines, linked to its existing Stratoni lead-zinc mine. While the company plans to use closed-circuit processing, not open-air heap leaching (as it does in Turkey, where it has caused serious problems), the potential impact on ground water and surface water flows is huge; the mines will also require the destruction of significant areas of forest.

Tourism and farming are the life-blood of northern Greece, and destroying big chunks of the environment isn’t good for either one. As well, mining is a finite endeavour by definition, while properly managed fisheries, agriculture, and tourism will last forever. Despite the company’s claims of public support, most people in Halkidiki and Thrace have already decided on a sustainable future, not an extractive one.

Perhaps the public support Eldorado refers to is that which the company has paid for. Eldorado has ramped up its hiring of local people, even if they don’t really have work to do, so that they’ll have an interest in the projects’ approval. Eldorado has also taken advantage of the economic crisis to put increasing pressure on Greek authorities, as evidenced by the “fast track” designation granted under “austerity” policies to allow the company to get its permits without meaningful public participation. The company has also relied on increasingly violent police action to repress protests, which in turn have grown angrier. Amnesty International has expressed concern over the deteriorating situation, which has included the burning of company equipment by protestors, but also police chasing down and savagely beating peaceful protestors, firing teargas into people’s vehicles, illegally extracting DNA samples from ‘suspects’, and breaking down doors in the middle of the night to make arrests.

Eldorado management may be making a mistake in assuming it can ride out the protest. While the Greek concessions may have been worth little when TVX Gold collapsed in 2003, Eldorado paid handsomely for them when it bought European Gold at the top of the market. Shareholders have not shown much confidence in the company’s approach as share prices are roughly half what they were year ago. Eldorado may have all the permits it needs, but it can still be held up in court – and on the street – if it does not try to take residents’ concerns on board. As John Psaropoulos reported in E-net, “Frontier Pacific, the Canadian firm from which Eldorado bought its Perama concession, understood that beyond its legal license from Athens, it had to win what its CEO, Peter Tegart, called “social licensing” from the local population.”

The industry (and Eldorado) likes to portray its opponents as ignorant or manipulated, but Greeks don’t have to look further than a major spill in 2002 at the Stratoni mine, the company’s only operating mine in Greece, to get an idea of the scale of any potential impacts.

Gold Mines in Greece to Benefit Canadians – Not Greeks

Why is this a Canadian concern? Aside from being a Canadian company, it is taking advantage of the economic crisis in Greece to push through projects that are environmentally risky in the face of massive public opposition. And that while the Harper government dismantles Canadian domestic environmental laws, there are still no laws governing Canadian companies’ environmental or human rights impacts abroad.

Or how about the fact that any Canadian who has a social insurance number is a shareholder? The Canadian Pension Plan, meant to support Canadians in their old age, has chosen to gamble on Eldorado. As of March 31, 2012, the CPP Investment Board held 5,741,000 shares in Eldorado Gold Corp., worth some $79 million at the time, now a little over half that. The CPPIB has no ethical criteria or “screens” on where it invests our pension money.

Not only that, but the Canadian government supports Eldorado all the way. In an astonishing YouTube clip, the mayor of Alexandroupolis, Vangelis Lampakis, humbly tries to explain to an uncomprehending Canadian Ambassador that his community does not want a gold mine, and why. Ambassador Robert Peck seems unable to even absorb what Lampakis is saying, and persists in trying to find out what his price is. Read the full article, with links to articles and more info.

Escalating Conflict and call for support from San Rafael, near Tahoe’s Escobal project (Xinca Parliament)

miningjusticealliance — Thu, 02 May 2013 06:44:55 +0000

Update received yesterday from the Xinka Parliament near Tahoe Resources (Vancouver-based, partly owned by Canadian Pension Plan and Public Sector workers’ pension plans, and 40% owned by Vancouver’s Goldcorp) El Escobal Mine in Guatemala:

[Update and request for support:]

A contingent of soldiers is gathering in Jutiapa to head to Jalapa to carry out an arrest warrant against the leaders of the Xinka Parliament….who have led the opposition to mining exploitation in the region. WE CALL ON THE SUPPORT OF THE INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS OF GUATEMALA, ON CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. WE FEAR FOR THE LIVES OF OUR LEADERS IN THE FACE OF THIS NATIONAL PERSECUTION. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN AN ATTACK ON THEM IN FEBRUARY THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF EXALTACION MARCOS.

united for our people,

The Xinca nationality of Guatemala

Media Advisory: New violence related to Vancouver-based Tahoe Resources’ El Escobal mine leaves one dead, several wounded (MJA)

miningjusticealliance — Thu, 02 May 2013 05:47:59 +0000

Media Advisory

Vancouver Mining Justice Alliance

- For Immediate Release –

New violence related to Vancouver-based Tahoe Resources’ El Escobal mine leaves one dead, several wounded

New violence this week has brought Tahoe Resources El Escobal Silver project in Guatemala back into the international spotlight. The renewal of violence around the Vancouver company’s controversial mine coincides with an Amnesty International-sponsored visit to Vancouver by the director of CEIBA, a Guatemalan organization that provides support to indigenous communities affected by mining.

The violence related Tahoe’s mine in Santa Rosa province began April 27 when security guards allegedly opened fire on protestors outside the mine, wounding six, including one youth who was shot in the face. According to local media reports, Guatemalan authorities detained yesterday Tahoe’s Chief of Security for the Escobal Mine at the Guatemala City Airport as he attempted to flee the country.

The attack comes only a month after the kidnapping of four indigenous community leaders while they were observing referenda on the mine held in neighbouring communities.

Tensions escalated April 29, following the detention of the mayor of the village of Casillas who refused to sign onto a pact between the mining company and mayors of nearby communities that had been brokered by Guatemalan Mines and Energy Minister Erick Archila, and Canadian Ambassador Huges Rosseau.

Crowds swelled outside the mine site and, the Guatemalan daily La Hora reports, the morning of April 30 one police officer was killed in clashes when national police attempted to drive protestors away from the mine entrance. Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina declared today that he is considering declaring a state of emergency in the area.

Tahoe is one of several Canadian mining companies whose security forces have been involved in clashes with local residents in Guatemala. In January this year, Vancouver-based GOLDCORP’s security guards opened fire on protesting workers, while HudBay Resources is currently facing civil charges in a Toronto court for the alleged rapes by its security forces of indigenous women in communities on land claimed by the company, and the murder of a community leader.

CEIBA director Juan Carlos Contreras works closely with communities neighbouring the El Escobal mine. He will be in Vancouver until May 4 and is available for interviews about the crisis in the area.

To arrange an interview with Mr. Contreras, please contact Fiona Koza at 604 294 5160, or by e-mail at fkoza@amnesty.ca

For more information in English on the conflict with Canadian mining companies in Guatemala, please visit the Mining Justice Alliance Facebook page at: Mining Justice Alliance, or contact Steve Stewart at 604 220 4009 (Cell) or 604 708 1495, ext 116.

Urgent Action! Shootings by Tahoe Resources (Goldcorp Inc) Armed Guards in Guatemala (Rights Action)

miningjusticealliance — Thu, 02 May 2013 05:25:49 +0000

Ebulletin received from Rights action, outlining how violence continues to escalate in San Rafael Las Flores, Guatemala, where locals have been peacefully resisting Vancouver-based Tahoe Resources’ Escobal project for two years. Tahoe’s version of events is here. A protest is being organized tomorrow (May 2) in Toronto outside Goldcorp’s AGM (see below for details.) Rights Action is calling for public pressure on the company and goverment officials.

[e-news bulletin by Rights Action:]

April 29, 2013

SHOOTINGS BY TAHOE RESOURCES (GOLDCORP Inc) ARMED GUARDS IN GUATEMALA:

Before Goldcorp Annual Shareholder Meeting, May 2nd, Toronto

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(Victim of the April 27, 2013 shooting by Tahoe Resources (Goldcorp) security guards. Photo/poster by Comite en Defensa de la Vida y la Paz, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Comit%C3%A9-en-Defensa-de-la-Vida-y-la-Paz/123958411115713?fref=ts)

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PROTEST GOLDCORP (Annual Shareholder Meeting)

WHEN: May 2, 2013, 2pm
WHERE: Meet at south-east corner of Bay and Adelaide (2pm, May 2)

Canadian mining company Goldcorp has left over 20 toxic sites at current and former mines in Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Canada, among other places. Join us to help protest their legacy of toxic waste at their annual shareholder meeting at the Trump Hotel in Toronto. We will cordon off a hazardous zone around the meeting to highlight the serious threats that Goldcorp has posed to the communities where it has operated, ranging from health harms due to blood poisoning, to respiratory problems, food insecurity, water quality issues, violent and deadly attacks against community members, cracked houses and mental health problems. We will have masks and other safety gear on hand to protect Torontonians from the extreme levels of toxicity that Goldcorp brings wherever it goes.

MORE INFO: mininginjustice@gmail.com, http://mininginjusticesn.wordpress.com/, https://www.facebook.com/events/431720483585523/

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ON-GOING, SYSTEMIC REPRESSION AND VIOLENCE:

APRIL 27, 2013

SHOOTINGS

Six civilians were shot and wounded (2 seriously) on April 27, 2013 by Tahoe / Goldcorp security forces at Tahoe’s “San Rafael” mine site (municipality of San Rafael Las Flores, department of Santa Rosa, Guatemala). The wounded are: Adolfo García, 57; his son Luis García, 18; Wilmer Pérez, 17; Antonio Humberto Castillo, 48; Noé Aguilar Castillo, 27; Érick Fernando Castillo, 27. Local residents, who are maintaining a permanent peaceful occupation by the mine entrance in protest against it, saw company armed guards open fire on the group of men who were walking by. (Prensa Libre, April 29, 2013, http://www.prensalibre.com/santa_rosa/personas-resultan-incidente-San-Rafael_0_909509181.html)

APRIL 12, 2013

DETENTIONS

On April 10, the Guatemala police detained 29 people from the mining-harmed communities who were peacefully protesting Tahoe/Goldcorp’s gold and silver mining operation. This follows upon recent shootings and breakins, kidnappings and a murder.

APRIL 4, 2013

BULLETS AND BREAKINS

On April 5, Rights Action reported on how, despite the unresolved kidnapping and murder (see below), the Guatemalan government gave the go-ahead mining license to Tahoe/Goldcorp, who quickly celebrated the good news to shareholders and investors. The government gave this license despite every singly community consultation in the region saying ‘no’ to this type of large-scale development project, despite not having the “social license” and despite the worsening levels of repression and threat at the local level. (http://rightsaction.org/action-content/tahoe-celebrates-mining-license-soon-after-kidnapping-four-men-and-murder-one-them)

Almost at the same time that Tahoe/Goldcorp was celebrating their license, armed men fired bullets into the offices of CALAS (Center for Legal, Environmental and Social Action) while its director, Yuri Melini, was inside; and unknown criminals broke into the home of Rafael Maldonado, a lawyer with CALAS, tossing the place, robbing nothing, and leaving a file about the Tahoe mining interest in plain view.

Plaza Publica Reports:

CALAS SUFFERS ATTACK HOURS AFTER MINING PERMIT WAS APPROVED [FOR TAHOE RESOURCES/GOLDCORP INC] (http://www.plazapublica.com.gt/content/atentan-contra-calas-horas-despues-de-aprobacion-de-licencia-minera)

Yesterday afternoon (April 3), shortly after the license was given [to Tahoe Resources/Goldcorp Inc.] for the exploitation of gold and silver in the San Rafael mine in San Rafael Las Flores, Santa Rosa, three shots were fired against the Center for Legal, Environmental and Social Action (CALAS) while its director Yuri Melini was inside the office.

Shortly after this attack, at 10.30 PM, a lawyer from this same environmental organization, Rafael Maldonado, discovered the forcible entry of his home. In a press conference today Maldonado indicated that the doors were forced opened, and that all of his file-drawers and closets had been visibly rummaged through. He added that they left the file of the San Rafael Mine case on the very top of the mess.

“It was a direct message from the mining company, because we have participated in the entire legal process against the mine and are accompanying the consultations that are taking place in the communities” stated Maldonado.

Melini accused the mining company and the government for these incidents. The director of CALAS stated that the Office of the Prosecution should investigate these occurrences and the criminal organization that operates in San Rafael.

“We have given photographs to the Vice Minister of the Interior in which the mine’s private security forces, from inside the mine, are carrying out illegal actions against the civilian population, jointly with members of the National Civilian Police. We also request the investigation of this criminal group. This type of action is precisely of the competence of the CICIG (International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala)”, explained Melini.

Claudia Samayoa, in representation of the Convergence for Human Rights, connected these incidents to the kidnapping from three weeks ago, in which four XINCA leaders were kidnapped and one of them was murdered, as well as the existence of an armed organization that operates in San Rafael Las Flores.

“The Government is allowing an armed group to exist in the area. The incidents that occurred last night and yesterday seem to comprise a strategy to put an end to the work of defenders; and are a telltale sign that this is not an act of common crime. These are acts of political persecution”, she stated.

APPEALS FOR LEGAL PROTECTION AGAINST THE EXPLOITATION LICENSE WILL BE PRESENTED

This information was made public today in a press conference, in which Rafael Maldonado indicated that they will present an Appeal for Legal protection (an Amparo) before the Constitutional Court against the exploitation license for gold and silver in the Oasis mine of the San Rafael Mining Company, a subsidiary of the Canadian company, Tahoe Resources.

Yesterday the Minister of Energy and Mining, Erick Archila, also announced the approval of another exploitation license of Niquegua Montúfar, in Los Amates, Izabal. This license is granted to the Guatemalan Nickel Company (CGN) that is currently authorized by a different exploitation license to extract nickel in El Estor, Izabal.

Representatives of the Communities of San Rafael indicated that the mining company has already been denounced because of environmental contamination. In response to these accusations, the San Rafael Mining company communications coordinator, Andrés Dávlia, indicated that they will make no statements at this time: “We will not make any comments until the authorities investigate what happened.”

MARCH 27, 2013

KIDNAPPINGS AND THE MURDER OF EXALTACION MARCOS UCELO

On March 27, 2013, we reported on the kidnapping of four indigenous Xinca men, and the murder of one of them – Exaltacion Marcos Ucelo, men who had been peacefully observing a democratic and public community consultation that voted ‘no’ to Tahoe/Goldcorp’s gold and silver mining interests in the municipality of San Rafael Las Flores, department of Santa Rosa, Guatemala. (http://rightsaction.org/action-content/goldcorp-tahoe-resources-linked-assassination-exaltacion-marcos-ucelo)

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RIGHTS ACTION Commentary

NO “SOCIAL LICENCE”: COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS SAY ‘NO’

Even as Tahoe / Goldcorp push ahead, even as repression increases, community after community are holding public, transparent consultations and every single one is saying ‘no’ to the imposition of this type of “development” project. This can only result in more repression and violence.

THIS IS HOW MINING WORKS IN GUATEMALA: In 2005, Goldcorp Inc. began operating the “Marlin” gold mine in the indigenous Mam region of western Guatemala. This now infamous mine has been characterized by a wide range of health harms (to human and animal life), environmental destruction and contaminations, and other human rights violations, including killings and shootings. (See information, below, about a new film “Gold Fever”)

The CEO of Goldcorp at the time was Kevin MacArthur, who stepped down in 2008, at which time he founded a new company – Tahoe Resources, an American/Canadian company – and Goldcorp retained a 40% ownership of Tahoe. Since 2008, MacArthur, with Goldcorp’s backing, has been pushing ahead with yet another harmful and controversial mining operation that is widely opposed by the local population, and also fully supported by the Guatemala government that is headed by former army general Otto Perez Molina, an alleged intellectual and material author of the genocide and State repression in the 1980s and 90s.

The violence and repression occurring in and around Tahoe/Goldcorp’s “Escobal” mine is normal, predictable. There has been similar repression at: Goldcorp’s “Marlin” gold mine; Hudbay Mineral’s “Fenix” nickel mine; and at Radius Gold/KCA’s gold and silver mine. No justice has been done in Guatemala for any of the health harms, environmental destruction and contaminations, and other human rights violations, including killings and shootings, occurring regularly at the various mining operations.

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ACTION NEEDED IN CANADA / USA

PROTEST GOLDCORP (Annual Shareholder Meeting)

WHEN: May 2, 2013, 2pm
WHERE: Meet at south-east corner of Bay and Adelaide, at 2pm, May 2nd.
More Info: mininginjustice@gmail.com, http://mininginjusticesn.wordpress.com/, https://www.facebook.com/events/431720483585523/

WRITE TO YOUR OWN ELECTED OFFICIAL

This relentless push for mining expansion is coming from Canada and the U.S., not from Guatemala. All the fundamental decisions are being taken by North American companies, investors and governments. The vaste majority of profits flow to the companies, shareholders and investors, while all the environmental and health harms, repression and other human rights violations occur against the local populations in Guatemala.

This relentless and harmful push to expand will only be slowed down, or curtailed when Canadians and Americans successfully hold their governments, companies and investors to account.

Write your own letters, and send copies of this information, to your own elected politicians (MPs, Congresspersons, Senators) – and to other government officials, your local media, etc. – to remind them that this state of repression, threat and impunity are substantially our problems, and that it simply will not end until Canadian and American politicians and officials take concrete diplomatic, political and legal steps to put an end to the repression linked to the unwanted and often-times violent expansion of Canadian and American mining company operations in Guatemala.

… And then keep on writing your elected politicians, again and again. They work for us. They have to respond to us.

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FACT-FINDING DELEGATIONS

Guatemala, July 6-14, 2013: “Mining injustice – versus - Community well-being, human rights & the environment”
Honduras, July 13-21, 2013: “Struggle for democracy, human rights & the environment – versus – Military-backed regime, & global companies & investors”

INTERESTED: Grahame Russell, info@rightsaction.org

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(Film – just released)

GOLD FEVER

Gold Fever is about gold mining, harms, violations and impunity in Guatemala and the unjust global economic order. In the film, Noam Chomsky asks: Is it proper “to benefit from over half a century of repression, violence, destruction, and elimination of democracy”?

The Canadian mining giant Goldcorp Inc. continues to mine relentlessly in San Miguel Ixtahuacan, despite 8 years of documented health and environmental harms and other human rights violations. Investors across North America – from public pension funds to private equity capital – profit from their investments, with no apparent concern for how the profits are made.

View trailer: http://www.goldfevermovie.com/
More info: https://www.facebook.com/goldfevermovie, https://twitter.com/goldfeverfilm)

(Film)

ALL THAT GLITTERS ISN’T GOLD: A story of exploitation and resistance

2008 (10 minutes version of longer film)

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tmqXc5rX8s

All That Glitters Isn’t Gold tells the stories of community members residing near Goldcorp’s “San Martin” open-pit/ mountain-top removal, cyanide-leaching gold mine in Honduras’ Siria Valley. Villagers discuss the serious harms and violations they have experienced since the mine began operating – including health problems related to water contamination and depletion – contesting Goldcorp’s claims that the mine has been a model of beneficial development for the community and has caused no adverse effects.

THE REAL COSTS OF GOLD MINING: Goldcorp in Honduras

2008 (9:51 minutes, English with Spanish)

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhV9IgZT4qg

In the Siria Valley, Honduras, local citizens speak for themselves about the devastating impact of Goldcorp Inc’s “San Martin” open-pit/ mountain-top removal, cyanide-leaching gold mine on their lives and communities.

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FUNDS NEEDED

Rights Action funds work in each of regions affected and harmed by North American mining companies, supporting community development, environmental protection and human rights promotion work … as well as emergency support funds when needed. Example: We recently sent emergency relief funds to the surviving family of the murdered Exaltacion Marcos Ucelo.

TO MAKE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS (in Canada and the U.S.) in support of community organizations in Guatemala and Honduras, make check payable to “Rights Action” and mail to:

* UNITED STATES: Box 50887 , Washington DC , 20091-0887

* CANADA: ( Box 552 ) 351 Queen St. E , Toronto ON , M5A-1T8

CREDIT-CARD DONATIONS can be made (in Canada and U.S.): http://www.rightsaction.org/tax-deductible-donations

* be a monthly credit card donor ( Canada and U.S. )

* to donate stock, contact: info@rightsaction.org

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Write to your elected politicians, and send copies to:

CANADA PENSION PLAN

As of March 31, 2012, the CPP has $297,000,000 invested in Goldcorp, $9,000,000 in Tahoe.

(http://www.cppib.ca/files/F2012_-_YE/Publicly-Traded_Equity_Holdings_-_CDN_-_March_31_2012_-_Eng.pdf)

Email: pac@cppib.ca; tel: 416-868-4075; Toll Free: 1-866-557-9510

Toronto Office: One Queen Street East, Suite 2500 , Toronto , Ontario M5C 2W5 , Canada

Do you know what companies your public pension fund and private funds are invested in? Ask!

TAHOE RESOURCES

Main Phone: (775) 825-8574 (Reno, Nevada, USA)

http://www.tahoeresourcesinc.com/contact-us/

investors@tahoeresourcesinc.com

Canada: Royal Centre, 1055 West Georgia St, Suite 1500, Vancouver, BC, V6E 4N7

US: 5190 Neil Rd, Suite 460, Reno, Nevada 89502

“Kevin McArthur, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director. McArthur is the founder of Tahoe Resources as well as its President and CEO. He is an experienced mining executive with more than 30 years in the industry in operational and senior management roles. Prior to forming Tahoe, Mr. McArthur was President and CEO of Goldcorp Inc. until his retirement at the end of 2008. This followed his 18 years at Glamis Gold Ltd., where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer from 1998 until its acquisition by Goldcorp in November, 2006.”

GOLDCORP

666 Burrard Street, Suite 3400, Vancouver, BC, V6C 2X8

(604) 696-3000; 604-696-3076

3201 – 130 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, ON Canada M5H 3P5

(416) 865-0326

“Charles A. Jeannes, President & Chief Executive Officer. Jeannes was appointed President and CEO of Goldcorp in December 2008. Mr. Jeannes previously held the role of Executive Vice President, Corporate Development from November 2006 until December 31, 2008. Mr. Jeannes was former Executive Vice President, Administration, General Counsel and Secretary of Glamis Gold from 1999 until its merger with Goldcorp in November 2006.”

Chuck Jeannes, President & CEO, Chuck.Jeannes@goldcorp.com

Kim Keras, executive assistant, Kim.Keras@goldcorp.com

Tim Miller, VP Operations in Central America, Tim.Miller@montana.com.gt

Brent Bergeron, Corp Social Responsibility, brent.bergeron@goldcorp.com

Dina Aloi, VP Corporate Social Responsibility, Dina.Aloi@goldcorp.com

Ben Lee, benjamin.lee@goldcorp.com, Legal Counsel

Jeff Wilhoit, Investor Relations, Jeff.Wilhoit@goldcorp.com

Christine Marks, media@goldcorp.com

Board of Directors, Directors@Goldcorp.com

Code of Conduct, ethics.help@goldcorp.com

Human resources, hr@goldcorp.com

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COMMENTS / QUESTIONS: info@rightsaction.org

* Get on/off Rights Action’s listserv: www.rightsaction.org

* Follow Rights Action on facebook: www.facebook.com/RightsAction.org

* Please re-post and re-publish this information

Video: Welcome to Greek Eldorado (soshalkidiki)

miningjusticealliance — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:40:14 +0000

Message from Greece to Vancouver about Eldorado Gold in their homelands, prepared specifically for the Vancouver and the Toxic Tour by the Coordinating Committee of Associations of Stageira-Akanthos Against Gold Mining, resisting Vancouver-based Eldorado Gold in Northeast Greece:

Visit their blog at: https://soshalkidiki.wordpress.com/

Indonesian forest open for mining, logging

miningjusticealliance — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 06:20:32 +0000

by Michael Bachelard

A mining company has boasted of an Indonesian government decision to free up 1.2 million hectares of virgin forest in Aceh for commercial exploitation.

The announcement to the Canadian stock exchange late on Tuesday was met with disbelief by environmental groups worried about endangered orang-utans, Sumatran tigers, rhinos and elephants across the heavily forested region.

But Ed Rochette, chief executive of Canadian mining company East Asia Minerals, celebrated the ”good progress and positive news for mineral extraction in the area”.

Read full Guardian Environment Network article…

Barrick seeks immunity from rape victims at its Porgera mine in Papua New Guinea

miningjusticealliance — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:30:09 +0000

(Ottawa, April 24, 2013) Barrick Gold has finally acknowledged that the security guards at its Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) mine in Papua New Guinea have been raping local indigenous women for years. Barrick’s shareholder meeting today is the first since the company has started to implement a long-overdue remedy program for hundreds of alleged rape victims. However, in return for individual benefit packages the women must provide Barrick legal immunity by signing an agreement never to sue the company for their rape.

Barrick’s Remedy Framework stipulates that, “the claimant agrees that she will not pursue or participate in any legal action against PJV, PRFA [Porgera Remediation Framework Association Inc.] or Barrick in or outside of PNG. PRFA and Barrick will be able to rely on the agreement as a bar to any legal proceedings which may be brought by the claimant in breach of the agreement.” Barrick has defended this requirement publicly on numerous occasions in recent months. However, in a recent release of April 16, Barrick says that a newer version of the remedy framework “contains much narrower terms” for the legal waiver. It is unclear what those terms are and Barrick has not provided the new version of the remedy framework.

Corporate remedy processes do not have any legal status, do not afford victims the safeguards and protections of a court of law – such as independent legal counsel – and are not required to provide remedy that would be commensurate with what victims may get through a legal process. Private agreements also fail to address any question of criminal culpability of the corporation.

MiningWatch Canada’s Catherine Coumans travelled to the remote Papua New Guinea mine in March to interview rape victims. “We have detailed our findings and concerns regarding Barrick’s remedy program in letters to the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights,” says Dr. Coumans. “We are pleased that Barrick has started to adjust aspects of the remedy program in response,” she adds. “However, while the changes clearly indicate the program is a ‘work in progress,’ Barrick has still not discarded the legal waivers.”

Barrick’s Annual General Meeting is an opportunity for shareholders and the Board of Directors to find out what is really going on at the company’s mine sites around the world – if they cared to listen to the community leaders who travel to Canada to share their concerns. As early as 2008, Jethro Tulin, a local community leader from Porgera, addressed the directors: “As you know, your security guards have been shooting and killing our people and raping, even gang-raping, our women with impunity for years now.” While Barrick denied the allegations, the rapes continued unabated.

From an Apr. 24, 2013 Mining Watch Canada news release.

Escobal mine security guards open fire on community resistance folks in San Rafael (journalist)

miningjusticealliance — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:15:09 +0000

Update received from a Vancouver-based journalist and editor Sandra Cuffe:

According to reports, security guards from the El Escobal mine opened fire on eight members of the community resistance in San Rafael Las Flores, Guatemala, yesterday evening. Six people were wounded, at least two of them very seriously.

Community members say the order to open fire came from a mining company rep who has threatened participants in community resistance actions in the past.

Vancouver-based Tahoe Resources owns the El Escobal silver mine. Goldcorp sold the project in 2010, but retained a 40% ownership interest in Tahoe.

There are a few articles and updates floating around. Prensa Comunitaria interviewed someone from San Rafael and posted last night. Prensa Libre has also now reported the story, but reading the company response may induce intense rage.

Update from @Sandra_Cuffe.