Dirty Gold

Just in time for Valentine's Day, jewelry retailers are stepping up a campaign that aims to discourage the mining and sale of "dirty gold." A group of jewelry retailers has signed the "Bristol Bay Protection Pledge," which seeks to halt the huge Pebble Mine planned for Alaska's salmon spawning headwaters. Click here to read the LA Times article by staff writer Margot Roosevelt (free registration required). Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Photo by Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times

Good illustration

Matt Boutet sent me an email recently about a story that Dave Sherwood had just written on an open pit mine project that was forced to close. Matt wrote: "I just heard from Dave, his latest project down in Costa Rica was a story on a recently closed open pit gold mine down there. With all the buzz around the Pebble Mine up in AK and the Felt Soul film coming out, it seems like this is a good illustration of what could happen up there if the project gets the green light."

I sent Dave an email asking him for a short overview on this Bellavista story and he wrote back: "Open-pit gold mines are rarely without their problems. But when landslides ripped across the face of the Bellavista open-pit gold mine in Miramar, Costa Rica, mine officials were shocked. The disaster left 350 unemployed and a potential environmental disaster hanging in the balance. Costa Rica's Gulf of Nicoya, a prime fishing ground for snook, red snapper, corvina and sharks is threatened. Miners blamed God. Activists, townspeople and environmentalists believe it may have been something more. "

To read Dave's story on the Bellavista Mine click here.

Photos by Ronald Reyes and Dave Sherwood

Help Reform the 1872 Mining Law

I was alerted to this call to action by Travis Rummel of Felt Soul Media. Check out his post on The Wire. My request - Make your voice heard on the issue of mining law reform. Time is short (10/31). Click on this link for more information - I CAN HELP. My thoughts - Watersheds are directly affected by mining. Keep in mind that all the material that comes out of pits like the ones shown has to go somewhere. What does the mining industry track record for resource protection look like? What is the real economic benefit picture? Are pits in the earth due to extraction "needs" really the best thing for the planet? For us? We're talking long term impacts on a mother nature level. Ain't no gettin' the mountain back....or the river. I ask - Do something unusual, call your Representative and tell them to vote for HR2262, the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007 or you can find your Representative's contact information and send them an email HERE. My opinion - The Mining Law Act of 1872 is arguably the worst case of corporate welfare in our nation's history. If it's after hours you can still call your reps D.C. office and leave a message, TELL THEM TO VOTE YES ON HR2262.

Top - The Bingham Canyon mine as seen from 10,500 feet. Note: there used to be mountains there. Photo by Ben Knight

Bottom - The Grasberg Mine in Indonesia is the current #1 open pit mine for total mineralization value in the world. The Pebble deposit looks to be larger in total value and will soon surpass Grasberg in total mineralization value. Pretty $cary.

Red Gold

Bristol Bay Alaska is home to the last great wild salmon fishery in the world. Multinational mining company Northern Dynasty plans to build the largest open pit mine in North America at the headwaters of the resource. Check out this 3 minute trailer for Felt Soul Media's upcoming film - Red Gold. It does a good job of framing the debate. Let me know your reaction.