MPI Mining Monitor – August 2013

The August Mining Monitor aims to keep you informed with interesting mining stories from around the world without inundating you with bad news. Our politicians, mining companies and mainstream media do a great job of promoting the industry – we try to balance this. But we need your help. To help increase our impact we need to grow the number of people who understand the other side of the mining industry.

First up, we have an article written by MPI member, Vladimir Pacheco, on ‘La Mesa’ and their work to stop mining in El Salvador – mining monitor will provide more information about a speaking tour later this year. Then its off to PNG where, unfortunately, Bougainville is never out of the mining news – but this article has some great quotes that correct the pro-mining bias from proponents and investment media.Mining Monitor then reprints an article from MPI’s chairman, Dr Gavin Mudd on Australia’s mining legacies which really illustrates why MPI has established a program to address the impact of mining legacies across Australia. Gavin’s article was part of a Arena Mining Issue – see below for more.Our last story is about the damage of a sacred site in the Northern Territory.  While the damage cannot be undone, at least in this case the damage has been recognised and the company OM Manganese, has been convicted and fined for desecration.Finally there is a request for volunteers, particularly with some GIS mapping skills and others to co-contribute to a financial research project, if you can help, please contact us at charles.roche@mpi.org.au