Mine
opponents speak at London meeting
Four community leaders took their opposition to the proposed Upper
Peninsula sulfide mine to the United Kingdom where each spoke at the
annual meeting of London-based Rio Tinto, the mining giant and parent
company of Kennecott Eagle Minerals Co.
Before a gathering of thousands, Susan LaFernier, vice president of
the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, was joined by Cynthia Pryor of
the Yell
ow
Dog Watershed Preserve; Fran Whitman from Friends of the Land of Keweenaw
(FOLK); and Gabriel Caplett for Northwoods Wilderness Recovery. Each
possesses either a share of stock or a proxy, but Whitman was not
granted the opportunity to speak in front of the assembly.
Coalition members traveled to London to participate in several events
hosted by various groups from London, including London Mining Network,
Friends of the Earth, West Papua Freedom, Action Aid and Partizans.
Groups came in to represent issues with two multinational mining companies—Rio
Tinto and Anglo American—from South Africa, West Papua, Argentina,
Columbia, Peru and the United States.
On April 17, the group went to the Rio Tinto shareholder’s meeting.
The board of directors was all white males, except one female director.
Board chairman Paul Skinner ran the meeting with presentation by chief
executive Tom Albanese.
During the shareholders comment period over the first resolution to
accept the financial report, members of the local coalition were given
the opportunity to comment and ask a question.
To the crowd of roughly 300 shareholders and journalists, LaFernier
addressed the threat to Native American ceded treaty rights with the
U.S. government, from the 1842 and 1954 treaties. Rio Tinto chairman,
Paul Skinner, interrupted LaFernier’s introduction, instructing
the tribal leader to ask only one question, although a shareholder
had been able to ask three questions previously.
“I think these questions are very pertinent for you to hear and
to answer,” LaFrenier said. “How will you protect and guarantee
our treaty rights with the United States to hunt, fish and gather
on this land? How will you protect our great Lake Superior, where
the rivers flow, and how will you protect…Eagle Rock, which is
a place where traditional ceremonies take place? And which will be
blasted through...we will be denied access for thirty-four years.
It is our ancestors’ vision that our determination will continue
to be honored and I pray that you, too, will protect our Great Lakes
and our Mother Earth.”
After a bit of outcry from the audience, she was allowed to continue
with a visibly more polite Skinner attending her comments. Caplett
was allowed to speak and he presented materials around the Eagle Project,
the Kennecott tailings impoundment cover-up and the Flambeau Mine,
where he was able to introduce Roscoe Churchill and Laura Furtman’s
book, The Buzzards Have Landed.
Gabriel Caplett addressed inaccuracies in Rio Tinto’s March 2008
“Review,” in which Kennecott Eagle project manager Jon Cherry
claimed that, in Wisconsin, the company “received a Certificate
of Completion [COC], which means that we’ve fulfilled all our
obligations” at the Flambeau Mine.
“The company has not received a Certificate of Completion for
the actual mine site, which is thirty-two acres,” Caplett said.
He questioned “why the project manager continues lying to our
community and why the project manager, in this ‘Review,’
has lied to the company’s own shareholders.”
Caplett also disagreed with Albanese’s assertion that Michigan
has the “strongest nonferrous mining laws in the world.”
“I would counter your statement that we have the most stringent
laws in the world,” Caplett said. “Our neighbor, Wisconsin,
has laws that are much more stringent; that have, up to now, kept
your company out of operation in that state for a decade.”
Caplett also addressed Kennecott and Rio Tinto’s twenty-year
cover-up of the potential for a major tailings disaster, outside of
Magna (Utah).
“In 1992, Rio Tinto conducted an assessment….tallying the
legal value of people’s lives that would be affected by the potential
spill and Rio Tinto decided against fully containing this impoundment
and, rather, to proceed with business as usual,” he said.
Caplett opposed Albanese’s reelection as CEO, based upon his
association with the tailings cover-up.
Albanese—formerly of Greens Creek Mine in Juneau (Alaska)—directed
his rebuttal to the current company line, indicating that he had been
to the Yellow Dog site and it was a huge clear cut area. Kennecott
had been meeting with the community and accepted by the community.
He said Flambeau was an example of a good environmental mine that
had received no citations, and that Michigan mining law was the best
in the world and Kennecott fully complied. Albanese said Kennecott
even went so far to help the community with the building of culverts
across sensitive streams. Finally, the line was drawn that the local
coalition was a small group of radicals and not consensus of the community
near the Eagle Project.
Pryor addressed Kennecott’s actions that led to a damaged road
crossing releasing ninety-eight tons of sediment into the Salmon Trout
River. She expressed dissatisfaction over “private” Kennecott
meetings and a lack of landowner representation at community meetings.
“Our State is being held hostage by Kennecott lawyers,”
she said, referring to Kennecott threats to sue the State for a “takings”
if its project were not approved.
Based upon the incompetence and secretiveness of Cherry, Pryor recommended
that Albanese hold a public meeting, in the Upper Peninsula to “clear
issues.”
Benny Wenda, independence leader from West Papua, and founder of the
Free West Papua Campaign, also spoke, raising concerns over the continued
Indonesian occupation of West Papua and military control over freedom
of speech. Wenda was arrested, tortured and threatened with death
for peacefully protesting the Rio Tinto/Freeport McMoRan Grasberg
gold and copper mine.
Wenda escaped from prison and resides, as an exile, in the U.K. Wenda
played West Papuan music, prior to the AGM, at a London Mining Network-sponsored
picket, outside of the QEII. Others displayed a banner saying “Rio
Tinto: Stop Breaking Promises to Communities” and distributed
flyers outlining six projects where the company currently is breaking
stated and published promises.
Comments were taken by members of the London Network coalition, which
included comments about Kennecott Eagle Project, the Yellow Dog Plains,
the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, West Papua Human Rights and Environmental
Issues and the Grasberg Mine, Rio Tinto mines in Madagascar, Pebble
Mine in Alaska and Argentina’s Potash Mine.
During the reelection of Albanese to the board, Pryor was able to
insert a brief comment that Albanese was woefully misinformed about
the Eagle Project, and indicated he needed to visit the area again
and meet with community without local Kennecott employee Jon Cherry.
Caplett also recommended that Albanese not be reelected.
The tone of the meeting was somewhat tense, with this large group
of comments surrounding problems with Rio Tinto in all parts of the
world. Shareholders also were nervous about takeover proceedings with
BHP Billiton and the buying of twenty-one percent of Rio stock by
a China company.
After the meeting, members of the Eagle coalition were able to meet
privately with Albanese, to whom Pryor presented group resolutions
and the 10,000 signatures from online petitions. Caplett presented
the Churchill/Furtman book on Flambeau.
The local group also met with Brett Clayton, chief executive of copper
and diamonds who is Cherry’s boss. They indicated clearly to
him the lack of transparency, the lack of community involvement, the
lack of technical expertise and submission in the applications, the
lack of best management practices on the plains involving road crossings,
mineral well drilling and waste management, and the resolve of the
community opposed to the mine.
Albanese said he would commit to coming to the region to meet with
the opposition and Pryor said, more importantly, he should meet with
the affected communities. Whitman was able to pass on to Albanese
the strength and resolve of the community who opposed this mine and
to alert him that the community would not just sit down for it.
Also on April 17, an Amnesty International U.K. public meeting was
held. This was an open meeting attended by representatives from Rio
Tinto and Anglo America. Each coalition group was given fifteen minutes
to explain its issues with these British U.K. International mining
conglomerates.
On April 18, the group met with United Kingdom Department of International
Development officials regarding concern with these two multinationals.
The groups will be filing a report to both companies indicating local
and global concerns. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development passed out “The OECD Guidelines for Multinational
Enterprises” and indicated that each country could issue a formal
complaint to the United Kingdom, which would trigger and encourage
mediation—but if that failed—an independent investigation.
Caplett said the scope of Kennecott’s plans for the Upper Peninsula
demands action.
“Rio Tinto has multiple projects planned for our water-rich area,”
Caplett said. “These projects would affect the Great Lakes, which
contains roughly one-fourth of the world’s fresh water. Other
companies are planning metallic mineral projects, as well as uranium
operations, and are encouraged by weak new mining laws that were heavily
influenced by Rio Tinto’s agenda.”
Anyone wishing to write Rio Tinto at its London office can do so,
Attn: Ben Matthews, Company Secretary
Rio Tinto plc
5 Aldermanbury Square
London EC2V 7HR
United Kingdom
—Cynthia Pryor and press releases
Comment period open for Coasters
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) sixty-day comment period
for the listing of the Coaster Brook Trout on the federal Endangered
Species List is halfway through. The comment period ends on May
19, 2008.
On March 1, 2006, the USFWS received a petition from the Sierra Club
Mackinac Chapter and the Huron Mountain Club asking it to list the
Coaster Brook Trout as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
In response to that petition, on March 20, 2008, USFWS will announce
in the Federal Register that it found the petition contained substantial
information indicating there may be a need to list the Coaster Brook
Trout under the Endangered Species Act and that it will begin a formal
review of the status of the species. Additional materials, including
the original petition, can be found at:
michigan.sierraclub.org/mining/coasterTrout.shtml
The petition contains everything that is known, and serves as a source
of information to write a letter. Groups are working on getting a
public hearing—requests from the public for that would be helpful.
To enter your request, contact:
Jessica Hogrefe
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
East Lansing Field Office
2651 Coolidge Road, Suite 101
East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: (517)351-5467
Fax: (517)351-1443
Bike events encourage health,
commuting
The bicycle is the vehicle of the future. It has a competitive edge
in urban transit: it is efficient, economical, healthy, ecological,
fashionable and fun. Too often overlooked and underrated, the bicycle
is a simple and pleasing way to get healthier while saving our environment
and reconnecting with the community.
The value of bicycle commuting is further increased as it is a way
to combat air pollution and road congestion. Autos are the single
largest source of air pollution in the United States. Short trips
are up to three times more polluting per mile than long trips.
When bicycling is substituted for short auto trips, 3.6 pounds of
pollutants per mile are prevented from entering the atmosphere. More
bicycle use means less benzene, cyanide, lead, carbon monoxide, carbon
dioxide, CFCs, sulfates and ozone in the air. In addition, the bicycle
season matches the harmful ground-level ozone season. By biking, you
contribute to pollution prevention when it is most needed.
Northern Options Energy Center is promoting Green Commuting in Marquette
County by educating local communities on the benefits of bicycle commuting
as an energy-saving mode of transportation, making basic information
on bicycle commuting available to potential commuters, encouraging
people to try bicycle commuting, and increasing public awareness and
respect for bicyclists. We hope to inspire local community leaders
to offer the same planning objectives for bicyclists as they do for
motorists.
Northern Options is partnering with the Marquette County Health Department
and local biking and community groups to host a GreenCommuter Challenge.
The GreenCommuter Challenge will occur in conjunction with National
Bike Month and Bike-to-Work Week in May. Any business, organization
or school is encouraged to participate. Participating organizations
will be grouped by the number of employees and will compete for the
highest percentage of green commuters during national Bike-to-Work
Week from May 12 through 16.
Prior to Bike-to-Work Week, participating organizations and their
employees will receive helpful tips and safety information on bicycle
commuting. Northern Options, along with local sponsors, will offer
great prizes for employers and employees who take part in the challenge.
One business or organization in each community that reaches 100 percent
participation will win a bike-shaped bike rack for on-site bike storage.
An awards event will be held on May 21 at the Upfront & Company
from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend and learn more
about bike commuting. A bike valet service will be provided free of
charge.
Challenge your friends, family, students and co-workers to find a
healthier, more environmentally friendly and economical way to get
to work and run errands by walking, cycling, taking mass transit,
carpooling or even telecommuting. Choose to make a difference by taking
the GreenCommuter Challenge, a friendly competition between local
businesses and communities to encourage people to use sustainable
and active forms of transportation.
Call Jennifer at 226-1136 or Mary at 225-1766 to register. Registration
forms also are available at local bike shops.
Family Friendly Bike Ride
The Family Friendly Bike Ride will conclude National Bike-to-Work
Week on May 17 at the Marquette Commons. This is a time to be with
family and friends for a pleasant ride on Marquette’s beautiful
bike paths.
A commemorative water bottle will be offered to all riders. There
will be snacks provided by the Marquette Food Co-op offered at Presque
Isle, as well as at the end of the race in the commons. Registration
forms can be picked up at the U.P. Children’s Museum at 123 West
Baraga or downloaded at www.upcmkids.org
Door prizes include an energy assessment by Northern Options, bike
gear, Cinderella tickets, T-shirts and more. The cost for families
is $10 and individuals are $5. For details, call Nheena at 226-3911.
This bike ride is sponsored in part by the Marquette Cool Cities group,
the Kitchi-Mi-Kana Cycling Club and the Upper Peninsula Children’s
Museum, among a host of other sponsors.
Bike to Work
Down Wind Sports announced its second annual Bike To Work Program
for the community of Marquette. This program will run May 1
through October 31, and is available to full- and part-time employees.
Forms need to be turned in to Down Wind Sports by 8:00 p.m. October
31. The program is based on the honor system; riders will keep
track of the days they ride their bike to work, with the rider’s
employer signing off on the Bike to Work form, stating that employees
rode to work.
Riders with twenty-five days of riding to work will receive twenty-five
percent off any clothing item at Down Wind Sports. Those riding forty-five
days to work get a free bike tune-up worth $35.
The person with the most days riding to work gets a free Giant mountain
bike, courtesy of Wells Fargo Bank. In case of a tie, names will be
drawn out of a hat to determine the winner.
Hope Starts Here Cycling Challenge
In recognition of Brain Tumor Awareness Week, the Upper Michigan Tumor
Center will host its third annual “Hope Starts Here Cycling Challenge”
on May 10.
Proceeds from the event will support and promote awareness of the
Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center (UMBTC), a collaborative effort
between Marquette General Hospital and Northern Michigan University.
Its mission is to empower patients and families dealing with brain
tumor through advocacy, research, education and treatment.
There will be two rides and a walk this year, suitable for all ages
and levels of ability. The long ride is thirty-five miles and the
short ride is about five miles. The walk will take place through NMU’s
campus, and leashed dogs are welcome. Registration is from 8:00 to
8:45 a.m. for the long ride and from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. for the short
ride and walk.
The entry fee for preregistering is $25 and includes the ride, walk,
lunch and a T-shirt. On-site registration in the main lobby at Marquette
General Hospital the day of the event is $30. Lunch will be served
from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., following the bike ride.
Participants may opt to increase their contribution by collecting
pledges as an individual or a team. The individual or team raising
the most money will be honored with a plaque. All riders must wear
a bicycle helmet. Cyclists younger than eighteen must have a parent
sign a release.
Brochures and registration forms can be picked up at Down Wind Sports,
Lakeshore Bike, SportsRack and Marquette General Hospital’s Skywalk
information desk.
Online registration can be completed at www.active.com
The form also can be downloaded from www.hope startshere.org
Online registration ends May 1. For details, call Laurie at 225-4597
or (888)886-4644.
—Jennifer Binkley Power and press releases
Notes from the North Country
If you take paths less traveled in the Upper Peninsula, wondrous discoveries
wait around every curve. Like dark mysterious rivers, old pathways
flow quietly through the forests, taking the explorer back through
time to a simpler era.
Following ancient woods roads, old fire lanes and abandoned railway
spurs whither they wander is addictive. They offer an escape, an opportunity
to explore and be at a more intimate level with nature and with our
rich pioneer history.
Their original purpose long forgotten, most of the old pathways simply
meander through the forest. But some terminate in a maze of small
logging skidways, a home site, a mine test pit, dark pond or small
stream. All are appealing, but we are always enthralled to find the
remains of a cabin, the site of an old logging camp or even a weathered
fence post sporting a necklace of rusty barbed wire.
Then the questions tumble forth: Who lived here? Why did they dwell
in this spot? How did they earn a living? What sorrows and joys did
they experience? Why did they leave this place and where are their
descendants?
The forest has reclaimed many of the old roads and paths—most
can be discerned only when the underbrush and trees are bare of leaves.
Early May is a good time for wandering in search of remnants of the
peninsula’s early residents. When you explore, make sure to respect
private property. For variety and endless options, we prefer to conduct
our surveys on land that belongs to all of us—the Hiawatha National
Forest.
Hunting for our heritage does not require much preparation, and very
little equipment. A map of the forest is helpful—you can get
one at any of the forest visitor centers. A compass, camera and a
full canteen make good traveling companions.
Go slowly when exploring these old pathways. Saunter, don’t sprint.
Take the time to look about you for wildflowers; sit for a while and
enjoy the free concert offered by song birds; savor the aroma of the
earth warming after the long winter. Let the harness of our fast-moving
culture slip from your shoulders . . .
—Lon and Lynn Emerick
Editor’s Note: Comments are welcome by writing MM or e-mailing
marquettemonthly @chartermi.net
Lon and Lynn Emerick’s Upper Peninsula books: The Superior Peninsula,
Going Back to Central, Lumberjack—Inside an Era, Sharing the
Journey, You Wouldn’t Like it Here and You STILL Wouldn’t
Like it Here are available at area book and gift stores or by visiting
their Web site at www.northcountrypublishing.com
