Click Here to Read Local Coverage of Protect the Earth, 2009

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By Michele Bourdieu of Keweenaw Now

MARQUETTE — Last weekend, Aug. 1-2, “Protect the Earth 2009,” the second annual Great Lakes Community Gathering of people opposed to metallic sulfide and uranium mining in the Upper Peninsula and nearby Great Lakes states, offered workshops with expert speakers; musical entertainment; Native American dance, drumming and spiritual ceremonies; and a two-mile walk to Eagle Rock. This Native American sacred site is a proposed target of the “Eagle” Project, Kennecott-Rio Tinto’s potential metallic sulfide mine on the Yellow Dog Plains near Marquette.

Click here to read Part 1

Click here to read Part 2

Rio Tinto’s red envelopes of cash for Chinese journalists

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How we got China so wrong

John Garnaut

July 12, 2009

WHEN Rio Tinto holds press events in China, its public relations firm sometimes hands out red envelopes of cash to Chinese journalists who are kind enough to turn up.

Well, doesn’t every company in China do it?

No, the best multinational companies do not. And the best Chinese journalists don’t accept those “expense” payments, either.

Rio Tinto has strong rules and a strong corporate ethos that should mean that China’s “conclusive evidence” about the company paying bribes turns out to be unsubstantiated.

“Rio Tinto expects principal contractors, suppliers and others with whom we have a substantial involvement, to maintain high standards themselves,” said a Rio Tinto spokesman yesterday.

“Rio Tinto is prepared to withdraw from business relationships if any partners do not live up to our values.”

Click here to read the entire article

Protect the Earth August 1st and 2nd

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Protect the Earth Agenda
Saturday August 1st

Workshops, Dance and Music: Northern MI University, Whitman Building, Whitman Commons (Rooms 122 and 124), and West Science Building, Mead Auditorium, Marquette, MI, 12-4 pm and 6-8 pm (See Details Below)

Workshop Speakers Include, Saturday 12-4 pm, Whitman Building, Whitman  Commons,  Rooms 122 and 124:

Lorraine Rekmans: Serpent River First Nation (Uranium Mining)

Al Gedicks: University of LaCrosse WI, Wisconsin Resources Protection Council, Author and Filmmaker (WI Grassroots Multicultural Movements)

Laura Furtman: Author (Pollution at Kennecott’s Flambeau Mine, WI)

Stuart Kirsch: Anthropologist, University of MI (Indigenous Movements, Papua New Guinea)

Eric Hansen: Writer and Traveler (The Upper Peninsula, A Spiritual Homeland)

Lee Sprague: Sierra Club Clean Energy Campaign Manager and Former Ogemaw of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

Mike Collins: Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition

Tim DeChristopher: University of Utah student, Oil and Gas Drilling

Music 12-4pm Throughout Workshops and 15 Minute Breaks, Whitman Building, Whitman Commons Room:

Victor McManemy: Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination, Musician

Skip Jones: Wisconsin Folksinger, Educator and Social Activist

Music and Dance:Whitman Commons,  6-7:30pm

Megan Tucker: Anishinaabe Fancy Shawl and Hoop Dancer

Bobby “Bullet” St. Germaine: Ojibwe Folksinger

Movie demo: Mead Auditorium, New Science Facility NMU: 7:40-8:00pm

“Yoopers vs. Giant Mining Corporation”, NMU Mead Auditorium, Right Across from the Whitman Building, 7:30-8 pm

Sunday August 2nd

Walk to Eagle Rock (2 miles): Meet and Park at the Clowry Trail, Follow the Signs from County Rd. 510, 10:30 am
Bring your blueberry pails! (Rides will be provided back to your vehicles, and if you cannot walk the two miles please meet at Eagle Rock for lunch and speakers at 12pm) (Also, see directions below)

Lunch,Speakers,Ceremony: Eagle Rock, 12-2pm

Fred Ackley, Fran Van Zile, Jerry Burnett: Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa

Jessica Koski: Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (Sacred Sites)

Lee Sprague: Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

Al Gedicks: WI Resources Protection Council

Eric Hansen: Traveler, Author

Lorraine Rekmans: Serpent River

Bobby “Bullet” St. Germaine: Lac du Flambeau

Kenn Pitawanakwat: Manitoulin Island

Tom Williams: Lac Vieux Desert

Visit yellowdogsummer.wordpress.com for more information or call 906.942.7325

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China Detains Rio Tinto Mining Executive on Spy Charge

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China Detains Mining Executive on Spy Charge, Australia says

By DAVID BARBOZA
Published: July 8, 2009

BEIJING — An Australian executive from Rio Tinto, one of the world’s biggest mining companies, is being held by Chinese officials on suspicion of stealing state secrets and could be charged with espionage, an Australian government official said Wednesday.

Click here to read the entire article

Flambeau Mine Causing Illegal Water Pollution

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Conservationists announce intent to file lawsuit over water pollution from Flambeau Mine

Earlier this week, a Wisconsin conservation group and two individuals formally notified the Flambeau Mining Company (FMC) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that they intend to file a lawsuit over water pollution caused by the partially reclaimed Flambeau Mine, near Ladysmith, Wisconsin, unless the pollution and related issues are fully addressed within 30 days by FMC and the DNR.

The formal notification letter was sent to FMC and the DNR by Attorney Glenn M. Stoddard of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on behalf of the Wisconsin Resources Protection Council (WRPC), Al Gedicks and Laura Furtman.

According to Stoddard: “The notice letter and potential lawsuit is based on the monitoring data that has been collected by FMC and provided to the DNR and WRPC. The data shows that runoff from the Flambeau Mine is in violation of applicable surface water quality standards and is illegally polluting a nearby stream and the Flambeau River. The data also shows that groundwater at the mine site is polluted and, at a minimum, requires expanded monitoring. However, the DNR has failed to properly regulate FMC and has, instead, allowed the company to violate the law and portray the Flambeau Mine as an environmental success story when it is not.”

Continue reading →

Protect Our Clean Water from Mine Waste Dumping

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protect-our-clean-water1

Contact:

Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator.  Email:  Jackson.Lisa@epa.gov

Nancy Sutley, Council on Environmental Quality.  Contact: http://www.whitehouse.gov /contact/

Sample Letter:

Dear Administrator Jackson and Chairwoman Sutley,

A generation ago, Americans made a commitment to clean up and protect our lakes, rivers and wetlands when we passed the Clean Water Act. Thanks to this commitment, lakes and streams that were once polluted are now once again safe for fishing and swimming. At the time, many argued that the economy would be injured if industry could no longer dump its untreated wastes into our nation’s waterways, but after years of strong pollution control and strong industry, it is clear that clean water is not only essential for public health, but it is good for business.

The Bush Administration’s policies on disposal of mine waste into waters of the U.S. has undermined the intent of the Clean Water Act and America’s commitment to responsibly managing our clean water.  The redefinition of “Fill Material” to include waste material to be used to “fill” streams, lakes, wetlands, and other waters, has allowed for the damaging practice of mountaintop removal and the permitting of the Kensington Mine to destroy an Alaskan lake by dumping toxic, chemically processed mine tailings into it.

I am asking you to immediately revoke the Kensington mine lake dumping permits, revise the Bush Administration’s policies on disposal of mine waste into U.S. waters, and return the definition of fill to what it was before the Bush Administration.

Sincerely,

Congress:

Tell Your Congressman and Senators to support HR 1310, the Clean Water Protection Act.  The Act is a bipartisan bill that would put the definition of “Fill Material” back to what it was before the Bush Administration.

More about the Clean Water Protection Act.

Who are my elected officials and how do I contact them?

Sample Letter:

Dear Congressman or Senator,

A generation ago, Americans made a commitment to clean up and protect our lakes, rivers and wetlands when we passed the Clean Water Act. Thanks to this commitment, lakes and streams that were once polluted are now once again safe for fishing and swimming. At the time, many argued that the economy would be injured if industry could no longer dump its untreated wastes into our nation’s waterways, but after years of strong pollution control and strong industry, it is clear that clean water is not only essential for public health, but it is good for business.

The Bush Administration’s policies on disposal of mine waste into waters of the U.S. has undermined the intent of the Clean Water Act and America’s commitment to responsibly managing our clean water.  The redefinition of “Fill Material” to include waste material to be used to “fill” streams, lakes, wetlands, and other waters, has allowed for the damaging practice of mountaintop removal and the permitting of the Kensington Mine to destroy an Alaskan lake by dumping toxic, chemically processed mine tailings into it.

I am asking you to support HR 1310, the Clean Water Protection Act, an act that would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify that fill material cannot be comprised of waste.

Sincerely,


For more information on the Kensington mine

For more information onmountaintop removal


Water Workshop, NMU Thursday June 25 2009

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You are invited to participate in one of several workshops intended for anyone interested in learning about Michigan’s new water withdrawal laws and how those involved with stewardship of our water resources can play a part in the water withdrawal decision making process. These workshops are designed for three audiences: 1) local water-resource advocates (watershed groups, lake associations, environmental groups, etc.); 2) local governmental planning and zoning practitioners; and 3) community/economic development officers in local governments.

A brief review of water law in Michigan will be followed by a tutorial on some key hydrologic terms and concepts. The Water Withdrawal Assessment Process, the use of state-of-the-art online tools, and how to avoid adverse resource impacts will all be covered. An overview of the regional groundwater and surface water resources will be presented specifically for each workshop location. Lastly, we will review several example uses of the Assessment Tool for sustainable community planning and development. Dr. David Lusch (MSU Geography and Institute of Water Research) will be the primary presenter.

Schedule of Events

• MARQUETTE – Thursday, June 25

Northern Michigan University, University Center, Kaye Ave & Lee Drive, Marquette, MI 49855

• ESCANABA – Friday, June 26

Bay de Noc Community College, 2001 N Lincoln Rd, Escanaba, MI 49829-2510

• GRAYLING – Tuesday, June 30

Ramada AuSable Valley Inn & Conference Center, 2650 S I 75 Business Loop, Grayling, MI 49738

• PITTSFIELD – Thursday, July 2

Pittsfield Charter Township Offices, 6201 W. Michigan Ave., Ann Arbor MI 48108

• KALAMAZOO – Wednesday, July 8*

Christine Price Kalamazoo Public Library – 315 S. Rose St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007

• MUSKEGON – Thursday, July 9

Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University, 740 W. Shoreline Dr., Muskegon, MI 49441

• ROCHESTER – Tuesday, July 14

Rochester Community House – Rochester Municipal Park – 816 Ludlow, Rochester, MI 48307

• PETOSKEY – Friday, July 17

Odawa Hotel, 1967 US 131 South, Petoskey, Michigan 49770

These seminars are free and open to anyone to attend. To register please visit: http://www.michigantu.org/index.php/component/content/article/28-council/75-wwat-workshops.

Seminar Agenda

8:30 – 9:00 – Registration and coffee

9:00 – 10:00 – The Great Lakes Compact: why Michigan is regulating large-quantity water withdrawals

– Brief review of Michigan Water Law

– Tutorial on some key hydrologic terms and concepts

10:00 – 10:15 break

10:15 – 12:00 – Does your community plan for sustainable water uses?

– Brief overview of the Water Withdrawal Assessment Process

· Stream-flow estimation

· Impact assessment of flow reductions on fish habitat

· Modeling groundwater – surface water interactions

– Review of the environmental criteria now used to assess “adverse resource impacts”

– Overview of the groundwater & surface water resources of the region

12:00 – 12:45 lunch (provided)

12:45 – 1:15 – Overview of the Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool (WWAT)

1:15 – 2:30 – Example uses of the WWAT for sustainable community development

2:30 – 3:00 – Wrap-up questions and answers

These free educational seminars are brought to you by the following organizations;

Rio Tinto’s Response to Jack Parker & Associates Comments on the Eagle Application

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The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Rio Tinto to respond to concerns
raised in the following items:

− Report by Jack Parker & Associates, “KEMC Eagle Project, Marquette, Michigan,” April 2009

− Save the Wild UP news release, NEW MINE REPORT: Kennecott Mine Application Incompetent or Fraudulent?, May   11, 2009

Rio Tinto responded to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre regarding concerns about the company’s Upper Peninsula, Michigan, U.S. Eagle nickel and copper project on 6 May 2009. Rio Tinto would like to thank the Centre for the opportunity to respond to the related items above.

Click here to read the entire letter

Great Lakes United wins mining lawsuit

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The Canadian Federal Court decision requires Environment Canada to make the mining industry annually report the toxic waste accumulating in tailings ponds and waste rock piles.

John Jackson

Great Lakes United

Great Lakes United and Mining Watch Canada, with the legal assistance of Ecojustice, have won a court case, forcing Environment Canada to require the mining industry to annually report the toxic substances put into tailings ponds and waste rock piles to a public inventory. This means that approximately 20 metal mining facilities located on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes basin will have to report their waste. This court decision will allow us to more completely understand threats to the Great Lakes basin as a result of mining activities.

Ecojustice launched the suit in November, 2007 on behalf of Great Lakes United and Mining Watch Canada. On April 23 2009 the Canadian Federal Court issued an order requiring the federal government to immediately begin publicly reporting mining pollution data from 2006 onward to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI).

The strongly worded decision described the government’s decision-making pace as “glacial” and chastised the government for turning a “blind eye” to the issue and dragging its feet for “more than 16 years”.

In response to the Canadian Minister of the Environment’s failure to require reporting, the Honourable Mr. Justice Russell concluded, “the result is that the people of Canada do not have a national inventory of releases of pollutants that will allow them to assess the state of the Canadian environment and take whatever measures they feel are appropriate to protect the environment and facilitate the protection of human health.”

In contrast, since 1998, the U.S. government has required mining companies to report all pollutants under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), the U.S. equivalent of the NPRI. In 2005, the 72 mines in the U.S. reporting to the TRI released more than 500 million kilograms of toxic substances to mine tailings and waste rock. This accounted for 27% of all U.S. pollutants reported. The addition of the Canadian data will give us a more complete picture of the mining threat in the Great Lakes.

Toxics leak through tailings ponds walls and evaporate into the air on an ongoing basis. As climate change threatens to bring more frequent and increasingly intense storms, the potential for tailings ponds’ walls to collapse increases. This means toxic tailings rushing out into the environment and into the lakes. Such devastating collapses of tailings ponds have already occurred in Europe and in the coal mining area of the U.S.

The decision also means that the public will have to be told about the devastating toxic discharges to the massive tailings ponds created by mining the tar sands in Alberta.   The product of tar sands development—one of the largest industrial undertakings in the world—is being touted as the source of oil for proposed expansions of oil refineries throughout the Great Lakes in locations such as Superior, Wisconsin, Gary, Indiana, Detroit, and Sarnia.

Now that we will have knowledge on the toxic contents of these tailings ponds and rock piles on both sides of the Great Lakes basin, we will be more capable of pressuring for action to protect the Great Lakes from these threats.

Environment Canada has stated that they will move quickly to implement the judge’s decision.

jjackson@glu.org

To read the entire legal judgement, click on http://www.glu.org/en/node/293.

Fun-raise with SWUP at our Walk/Paddle/Roll Events

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Fun-raise with SWUP at our Walk/Paddle/Roll Events
What:  Great Lakes Walk, Paddle, and Roll Fundraising Event
When:     Saturday, August 22, 2009,  10:00 am
Where: Big Bay, MI
For More Information, Contact:
Save the Wild UP             Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve
Quentin Sprengelmeyer, 228-4444     Emily Whitacker, 345-9233
Website: savethewildup.org        Website: yellowdogwatershed.org

Join Save the Wild UP, Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and Freshwater Future in a Great Lakes Walk, Paddle, and Roll Fundraising event, which culminates with a 20-mile off road mountain biking adventure on Saturday, August 22. All funds raised will be used to support environmental outreach and educational activities and similar efforts around the Great Lakes region.
Participants can either solicit pledges by
~picking up pledge envelopes at the SWUP or Yellow Dog offices or by
~setting up an individualized website on   http://www.firstgiving.com/freshwaterfuture.
Another option would be to donate directly to the organization. All gifts are tax deductible.
Local volunteers and avid trail riders will help organize and lead groups of bikers through logging trails and existing county roads of varied terrain with water views and scenic overlooks along the way. “The Big Bay area has miles of off road biking options. Our job is to encourage folks to challenge themselves by setting not only a substantial fundraising goal but a personal biking achievement. Our experienced tour leaders guarantee an awesome day of biking and camaraderie—all for a great cause!” says Kristi Mills of Save the Wild UP.

Here in Marquette County and across the western UP, the threat of sulfide and uranium mining continues with increased levels of exploration. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we work together to ensure the health of our community’s environment and the Great Lakes for our children, grandchildren and future generations.

We would like to thank all of our sponsors John G. Shedd Aquarium, Grand Traverse Casino and Resort, and Big Bay Outfitters.

For More Information Contact:

Save the Wild UP
Kristi Mills 228-4444
Website: www.savethewildup.org
Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve
Emily Whittaker, 345-9223
Website: www.yellowdogwatershed.org
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