tagged w/ Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company
-
Read PR puff piece written by Michigan's largest newspaper supporting an acid mine with few benefits - and run by a company (Rio Tinto) charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity, bribery and other crimes:
http://detnews.com/article/20110907/OPINION01/109070324/Editorial--Return-mining-to-the-U.P.#ixzz1XKFJvBbT
I was shocked to see that the Detroit News would favor a mining project that will have few benefits and allow one of the world's worst polluters to leave a mess behind in seven years (life of mine) while destroying sacred Eagle Rock.
Rio Tinto has also been charged with war crimes, human rights violations, bribery and other crimes across the globe.
Your editorial wrongly claimed the company is respecting a very old Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) sacred site for Native American tribal rituals, religious ceremonies.
In fact, Rio Tinto/Kennecott Minerals will be dynamiting through sacred Eagle Rock to make the entrance of the mine (They already bulldozed the area directly around Eagle Rock).
To the Ojibwa, it is the same as dynamiting through a large church/cathedral in any Michigan city.
It's an undisputed fact that the Rio Tinto/Kennecott has one of the most dismal environmental records in the world - and find it less costly to leave a mess and possibly face litigation - than simply clean up their toxic waste.
Ex-Governor Granholm and Governor Snyder have refused to answer questions about their (or close family) financial ties to the project including campaign donations, favorable land deals, luxury trips, wining and dining, stocks and bonds, any and all gratuities from the companies or their representatives like lobbyists, others, etc.
As a reporter for Indian Country Today, I submitted those questions to all the candidates for governor - and ex-Gov. Granholm - all refused to comment (It would be easy to say they had no financial connections but instead refused to comment - talk about red flags).
The mining company also uses dirty tricks - like redesigning a water system to be above ground (in the severe U.P. winters) to avoid the federal clean water act regulations.
Plus two Ojibwa campers charged with trespassing were not allowed to present a defense - literally told they could not present the defense they planned. Ironically, the judge's name is extremely close to "Kangaroo" as in Kangaroo Court.
Your editorial sounds like it was written by a Kennecott PR person.
I understand why the small U.P. newspapers (who get mine advertising) have not done investigative stories - but am disillusioned now that the Detroit News would write this puff editorial.
Shame on the Detroit News for selling out.
Even with tough times at the major newspapers, I never though the Detroit News would not investigate before printing Rio Tinto/Kennecott claims.
The above is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to scandalous info about this project - a few headlines:
• State allows DEQ/DNR financially going into bed with the mining company by allowing its employees to set up a non-profit using state addresses, state labor and state materials.
• DEQ/DNR hides a state-paid expert safety report critical of the project - stating major concerns over whether a vital trout stream would collapse into the mine. That would send a huge amount of sulfuric acid downstream into Lake Superior.
• During a reshuffle of the DNR/DEQ agencies - an interim boss approves mine permit despite serious objections from a state administrative law judge and others.
• Only half of the 150 employees will be locally hired.
• Company admits they will make billions in profits because of the size of the world record nickel deposit - but the state itself and local government tills will only get a small fraction of that cash.
That's why many have accused the company of making side deals with U.P. elected officials and others with decision powers - exactly like when Rio Tinto got caught and charged with bribing China officials and other countries.Read PR puff piece written by Michigan's largest newspaper supporting an acid... more
-
-
Story/photo about Drew Nelson song about sacred Eagle Rock came out in this week's Indian Country Today newspaper
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/greatlakes/96146394.html
Video with Drew Nelson song entitled "Eagle Rock (Song for the People)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ces63iissE
Contact singer/songwriter Drew Nelson who wrote Eagle Rock (Song for the People)
http://www.drewnelson.net
http://www.drewnelson.net/boozhoo/shows/
http://www.drewnelson.net/boozhoo/2010/05/20/please-read-2/
Book Drew Nelson:
1-616-706-2539
drew@drewnelson.net
Two Hearted Music L.L.C.
1251 Penn Ave N.E.
Grand Rapids MI 49505
http://www.myspace.com/drewnelsonmusic
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Drew-Nelson-singersongwriter/45080254917
http://www.reverbnation.com/drewnelson
http://www.concertsinyourhome.com/artist/drewnelson.html
Eagle Rock (Song for the People)
By Drew Nelson
Sun breaks over the Yellow Dog
call the thunder down
feel the wind rush against my face
sound of the children
breaks the stillness of the morning
red tail rises not a mile from this place
all through the night
they kept the fire burning
all through the night they sang
call the directions, put tobacco down
prayers and smoke on the wind
Chorus:
Here at Eagle Rock we will take our stand
Here at Eagle Rock we will pray
for the healing of our people
and the healing of our land
there’s a fire burning in our hearts
Ishkoday (Anishinaabe for sacred fire)
Ishkoday
Ishkoday
For a thousand years
this place has been sacred
it will be for a thousand more
all those who lover her
cry all my relations
see the old ones sing
see the young ones grow
Chorus repeats:
There is a law higher than any government
places more important than a mine
a love that is greater than any corporation
ask the Eagle, ask the Bear, Ask the Pines.
Three brave American Indian women from Baraga, MI started the encampment at sacred Eagle Rock at sunset on April 23, 2010.
They are KBIC members Charlotte Loonsfoot, 37, and Chalsea Smith, 20, and Georgenia Earring of the Cheyenne River Lakota Sioux tribe in South Dakota.
The camp was triggered by mine officials ordering the trespassing arrest three days earlier (April 20) of non-native environmentalist Cynthia Pryor of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve
Over the next month campers would build lean-tos, start several campfires including the sacred Grandfather Fire, pitch dozens of tents, pray, plant the Eagle Rock Memorial Garden, host the KBIC Tribal Council meeting (May 10), hear from many healers and elders including popular Native American singer “Bobby Bullet” St. Germaine (Lac Du Flambeau Tribe) and Lee Sprague (Little River Band of Ottawa Indians), and create a kitchen to store tons of food and other supplies donated by supporters.
A massive police raid began about 9 a.m. on May 27 as dozens of heavily armed state and local law enforcement officers swopped down on the camp at the order of officials with Kennecott Eagle Minerals.
Two members of Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve arrived moments before the raid to warn four campers that police were on their way.
Arrested Keweenaw Bay Indian Community members Chris Chosa, 28, and Charlotte Loonsfoot, 37, both of Baraga, Mich.
The other two campers present for the raid were Kalvin Hartwig (Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa), and Catherine Parker of Marquette – were ordered by police and mice security to leave with their vehicles.
Stand for the Land blog
http://www.standfortheland.com
Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve
http://www.yellowdogwatershed.org
Save the Wild UP
http://www.savethewildup.org
Cedar Tree Institute
http://www.CedarTreeInstitute.org
Drew Nelson photo:
http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac141/NavajoLutheranMission/Kennecott%20Minerals%20orders%20Ojibwa%20camp%20crushed/SingerDrewNelsonEagleRocksongwri-1.jpgStory/photo about Drew Nelson song about sacred Eagle Rock came out in this... more
-
-
A documentary will be shown on Dec. 5, 2008 in Marquette Michigan about a mining giant with deep pockets and its plan to build a sulfide mine in Marquette County.
That mine will open the flood gates for dozens and maybe hundreds of sulfide and uranium mines.
Some brave citizens and groups are in an all-out war to protect the prstine land and the Salmon Trout River - while questions are raised about state officials and their relationship with Kennecott Minerals.
The state guardians of the environment eagerly jumped into the sack while wooed by Kennecott.
The film was financed by the Charles S. Mott Foundation and produced by the National Wildlife federation.A documentary will be shown on Dec. 5, 2008 in Marquette Michigan about a mining giant... more
-
-
Some of Michigan's elected officials - like Governor Jennifer Granholm - are selling out the beautiful streams and lush forests of the Upper Peninsula in exchange for some quick cash.
Many people who once loved our governor - now think Granholm doesn't deserve to be a democrat - because she's acting like a Republican.
Granholm and others - like famous actor/director Jeff Daniels - proclaim their love for the Upper Peninsula but are remaining strangely silent in the fight to stop Kennecott Minerals and other mining companies from building sulfide mines nicknamed "acid" mines.
Granholm, Daniels and others with power should be leading the fight to stop the Eagle Project.
In fact - the governor's top Upper Peninsula aide - her point man on the mine issue - recently quit his job to take a lucrative position with Kennecott''s parent company. That speaks volumes as the gov remains tight-lipped.
The National Wildlife Federation has produced a documentary about the gallant fight to protect the Upper Peninsula.
The public is invited to a free showing of the film om Dec. 5, 2008 in Marquette at Northern Michigan University.Some of Michigan's elected officials - like Governor Jennifer Granholm - are... more
-
-
Above Photo of Lake Superior shoreline © Jim Kruger
Please read the Christian Century Article by Rev. Jon Magnuson on the "Acid Mine" that threatens Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
An ELCA Lutheran pastor, Rev. Magnuson is known across northern Michigan for creating numerous interfaith environment initiatives and other projects projects involving over 150 churches/temples, American Indian tribes, college students, at-risk teens, health care professionals and many others.
If this mine opens along Lake Superior, it could leak sulfuric acid into the Great Lakes.
It's the first of countless sulfide and uranium mines planned for Northern Michigan.
Besides unproven "new" technology, the mine will be open for only seven years - and create only about 150 short-term jobs. It's a drop in the bucket compared to the economic impact of the U.P.'s longstanding iron ore mines.
A lot of greed for a smattering of nickel and other minerals that will be sucked out of our precious soil.
The international mining company that wants to set up shop in Marquette County is Kennecott Minerals - an outfit with a dismal environmental record that has closed other acid mines without proper cleanup apparently finding it cheaper to fight in court than pay for the proper cleanup of the now vacent mine sites.
Photo of Lake Superior shoreline © Jim Kruger
Inland drilling: A debate over mining in Upper Michigan
http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=5020
Many fear that the aicd mines - that will be joined by uranium mines - are a death-knell for northern Michigan and its bread-and-butter tourism economy.
Who will want to visit an area dotted by hundreds of acid pits and possibly polluted rivers, lakes and streams.
There are recent swirling rumors that Kennecott took state officials on junkets and other allegations of wrongdoing as their deep pockets wooed local and state leaders.
If true, it would not be the first scandal involving the local operation named the Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company - as an important study critical of the mine were not made public by state officials until the information was leaked. Just an innocent oversight - the state claimed.
Do you hear the whirring sound? - it's Marquette's founding fathers are spinning in their graves.
For more information on the effort to stop the mines - visit Save the Wild UP website:
http://www.savethewildup.org
Above Photo of Lake Superior shoreline © Jim Kruger
Please read the Christian... more
-
