PCIJ WebAlert #35.2008
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Dec 29, 2008, 2:42:52 AM12/29/08
to PCIJ WebAlert
W H A T ' S N E W @ www.pcij.org
29.December.2008
---------------[ i Report Special Report )------
AFTER MARCOPPER
The Canadian Quandary
by Isa Lorenzo and Philip Ney
OUR latest story by PCIJ Fellows Isa Lorenzo (from the Philippines)
and Philip Ney (from Canada) looks at the mixed record of good and bad
business practices by mining firms from Canada, the world’s largest
exporter of metals and minerals.
In 2004 alone, the Canadian extractive sector invested 26.6 billion
Canadian dollars (about $22 billion) overseas. In the Philippines, six
Canadian mining companies run and operate 13 projects to extract
silver, gold, copper, and nickel, at a total declared cost of $1.26
billion.
In their home country, these firms are subject to strict environmental
and social regulations, but away from the prying eyes of the Canadian
citizens and media, they do not behave as well overseas.
As they dig for pay dirt, some of these firms have logged destructive
trails — of violence and deceit against workers and host communities,
and toxic mine tailings wreaking havoc on the environment.
In Zamboanga del Norte, indigenous Subanon elders say that TVI
Resource Development Philippines, Inc (TVI), a subsidiary of the
Canada-based TVI (Toronto Ventures Incorporated) Pacific, has turned
Mount Canatuan, which the Subanon consider sacred, into “a dumpsite.”
Read on at pcij.org
Post your comments at http://pcij.org/blog/?p=3406
SIDEBAR
Of Tribal Leaders and Dealers
IT MAY be just an unhappy coincidence that TVI’s activities in
Canatuan began in 1997, the same year a mine-tailings accident
occurred at the Marcopper Mining Corporation site in Boac, Marinduque.
The mishap, which involved Vancouver-based Placer Dome, Inc, is still
considered the worst in Philippine mining history. TVI’s projects do
not seem to be challengers for that dishonor, but the company has
nevertheless encountered one controversy after another in Canatuan,
some 800 kms south of Manila.
Read on at http://pcij.org/i-report/2008/canadian-quandary3.html#sidebar1
Post your comments at http://pcij.org/blog/?p=3406
PREVIOUS REPORTS
IN THE NEWS
House Opposition Seeks Caps on Arroyo's Spending Habits
by Tita C. Valderama
IN light of the fertilizer funds scam, a bill at the Lower House seeks
to control the president’s wide discretion in disbursing public money
and other unspent amounts in the annual budget program.
Read on at http://www.pcij.org/i-report/2008/impoundment.html
Post your comments at http://pcij.org/blog/?p=3335
CROSSBORDER
Thailand's Continuing Crisis
by Johanna Son
RELATIVE calm has returned to Bangkok, and reports reaching here say
the protesters’ politician-allies are fast gaining numbers in
parliament. But deep schisms in Thai society have now been exposed,
indicating that this crisis is far from being over.
Read on at http://www.pcij.org/i-report/2008/thailand-crisis.html
Post your comments at http://pcij.org/blog/?p=3332
29.December.2008
---------------[ i Report Special Report )------
AFTER MARCOPPER
The Canadian Quandary
by Isa Lorenzo and Philip Ney
OUR latest story by PCIJ Fellows Isa Lorenzo (from the Philippines)
and Philip Ney (from Canada) looks at the mixed record of good and bad
business practices by mining firms from Canada, the world’s largest
exporter of metals and minerals.
In 2004 alone, the Canadian extractive sector invested 26.6 billion
Canadian dollars (about $22 billion) overseas. In the Philippines, six
Canadian mining companies run and operate 13 projects to extract
silver, gold, copper, and nickel, at a total declared cost of $1.26
billion.
In their home country, these firms are subject to strict environmental
and social regulations, but away from the prying eyes of the Canadian
citizens and media, they do not behave as well overseas.
As they dig for pay dirt, some of these firms have logged destructive
trails — of violence and deceit against workers and host communities,
and toxic mine tailings wreaking havoc on the environment.
In Zamboanga del Norte, indigenous Subanon elders say that TVI
Resource Development Philippines, Inc (TVI), a subsidiary of the
Canada-based TVI (Toronto Ventures Incorporated) Pacific, has turned
Mount Canatuan, which the Subanon consider sacred, into “a dumpsite.”
Read on at pcij.org
Post your comments at http://pcij.org/blog/?p=3406
SIDEBAR
Of Tribal Leaders and Dealers
IT MAY be just an unhappy coincidence that TVI’s activities in
Canatuan began in 1997, the same year a mine-tailings accident
occurred at the Marcopper Mining Corporation site in Boac, Marinduque.
The mishap, which involved Vancouver-based Placer Dome, Inc, is still
considered the worst in Philippine mining history. TVI’s projects do
not seem to be challengers for that dishonor, but the company has
nevertheless encountered one controversy after another in Canatuan,
some 800 kms south of Manila.
Read on at http://pcij.org/i-report/2008/canadian-quandary3.html#sidebar1
Post your comments at http://pcij.org/blog/?p=3406
PREVIOUS REPORTS
IN THE NEWS
House Opposition Seeks Caps on Arroyo's Spending Habits
by Tita C. Valderama
IN light of the fertilizer funds scam, a bill at the Lower House seeks
to control the president’s wide discretion in disbursing public money
and other unspent amounts in the annual budget program.
Read on at http://www.pcij.org/i-report/2008/impoundment.html
Post your comments at http://pcij.org/blog/?p=3335
CROSSBORDER
Thailand's Continuing Crisis
by Johanna Son
RELATIVE calm has returned to Bangkok, and reports reaching here say
the protesters’ politician-allies are fast gaining numbers in
parliament. But deep schisms in Thai society have now been exposed,
indicating that this crisis is far from being over.
Read on at http://www.pcij.org/i-report/2008/thailand-crisis.html
Post your comments at http://pcij.org/blog/?p=3332
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