Alaskans Weigh the Cost of Gold
By Karl Vick
NONDALTON, Alaska — The gold mine proposed for this stunning open country might be the largest in North America. It would involve building the biggest dam in the world at the headwaters of the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery, which it would risk obliterating.
China studies Rio bid weak spot
Jamie Freed
December 27, 2007
The Chinese Government has reportedly sanctioned large state-owned corporations to look at three strategies to thwart BHP Billiton’s proposed offer for Rio Tinto.
One of the options could defeat the deal at a cost of $9 billion without requiring Australian Foreign Investment Review Board approval.
Click here to read the full article from the Sydney Morning Herald
Citizens across the nation are taking action…
“On Dec. 4, the Fort Collins City Council made Colorado history.
With a standing-room-only crowd that had just spent one hour testifying, the council took the bold leadership step of helping to secure the future of northern Colorado’s economy and environment. Amidst hoots, hollers and eruptive applause, Fort Collins became the first Colorado city to pass a resolution against uranium mining in the northern part of our state. ” Click here for the rest of this Dec. 19, Rocky Mountain News story
Maybe our state and local leaders will take bold steps to help secure Michigan’s future?
A sizable group gathered on December 17 in downtown Marquette to show their disappointment with the recent DEQ approval of the Kennecott Mining Permit.
Thanks to all of you who braved the biting wind to express yourself and your opposition to this ill-concieved mine plan!
One week after a controversial decision by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to permit a sulfide mine in the central Upper Peninsula, the National Wildlife Federation, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Huron Mountain Club and Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve today filed a contested case petition and a lawsuit against the MDEQ as the first step in a legal challenge to halt the mine.
“The opponents of the mine have presented MDEQ with over 1000 pages of unequivocal evidence that Kennecott’s proposed sulfide mine does not meet the state’s legal requirements and would result in profound pollution, impairment, and destruction of air, water and other natural resources,” Michelle Halley, attorney for NWF and the other co-petitioners explained. “The MDEQ has issued permits that are based upon defective,
inadequate and incomplete applications and are therefore illegal,” she added.
Click here for the full Press Release
Students Against Sulfide Mining (SASM) have created a wonderful calendar that features these student activists in their natural state! Tastefully executed and fun, this calendar will delight you throughout the year. The calendar is spiral bound, and features black and white photography. Each month is different photo with a caption explaining issues facing this beautiful area.
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”— Mahatma Gandhi
This calendar was made by Students against Sulfide Mining at
“To waste, to destroy, our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them.”— T. Roosevelt
The cost is $22/ea. and includes shipping.
Please order by sending a message to sasm@nmu.edu and mail $/checks to SASM, Box 44, Bottum University Center, Marquette, MI 49855.
For more information call (313) 806-4861 or (612) 718-3593.
Unfortunately the calandars cannot be shipped until mid-Janurary, when the Winter Semester starts.
Disclaimer: So no one is surprised, this calendar does include partial nudity!
Congressman Bart Stupak has voiced his concern and disappointment with the DEQ’s recent approval of the Kennecott mining application.
17 December 2007
Rio Tinto is to invest US$300 million in the development of Eagle, a high-grade nickel and
copper mine in Michigan, USA. Eagle will be the only primary nickel mine in the US and
first production is expected to begin in late 2009. Eagle is projected to deliver 16,000
tonnes of nickel per year over seven years until 2016. It will also produce valuable coproducts of copper, platinum, palladium and cobalt.
“Eagle is just one of many projects that will add to Rio Tinto’s growth and value. It is a 4.1
million tonne high-grade nickel resource (3.6% nickel, 2.9% copper) in a highly
prospective region for additional nickel discoveries. Our exploration team discovered
Eagle in 2002 and we are now reviewing over 450,000 acres of mineral title we have in
the area. Our focus is on six further adjacent prospects that may have the potential to
extend significantly the mine life at current planned production rates.”