MEDIA ADVISORY -- May 21, 2009
MEDIA CONTACTS:
François Guindon, Rights Action:  819-329-0223 , francois.guindon@gmail.com
Maria Ramos, NISGUA:  202-257-8061 , maria@nisgua.org
INDIGENOUS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM GUATEMALA, HONDURAS AND BRITISH COLUMBIA TO CONFRONT GOLDCORP CEO AT SHAREHOLDER MEETING
PRESSURE MOUNTS ON MINING GIANT GOLDCORP OVER HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS AND QUESTIONABLE CONTRACTS ACROSS THE AMERICAS
Interviews in English, French and Spanish, B-Roll, photos of health impacts available upon request.
WHAT:
Press briefing and rally preceding Goldcorp’s (GC) annual shareholders’ meeting, with indigenous and community leaders from Honduras, Guatemala and Canadian First Nations.
WHO:

WHEN: 1:30pm, Friday, May 22nd, 2009
WHERE: Outside the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, 900 Canada Place Way, Vancouver, BC
BACKGROUND:
A coalition of indigenous, human rights and environmental organizations from across the Americas has will confront Canadian gold mining company Goldcorp Inc. at their annual shareholders’ meeting about the company’s failure to address profound human rights and environmental issues at their existing and proposed mines in Honduras, Guatemala and British Columbia.
In Honduras, communities warn of Goldcorp’s toxic legacy, as the San Martin Mine is scheduled to close later this year and the company has yet to establish a responsible closure plan that includes clean up of cyanide, arsenic and other toxins in the region and reparations for community members suffering pollution-related health impacts.
Indigenous Mayan communities in Guatemala call on Goldcorp to suspend its open-pit, cyanide-leeching Marlin Mine project, asserting they were never properly consulted, and are already bearing a heavy environmental and health toll.
In the western highlands of Guatemala, indigenous Mayan communities are also contesting Goldcorp’s new mining contracts across 14 municipalities, claiming they have not granted their consent. In response, communities have organized popular referenda voting in opposition to mining activities.
Members of the Nak'azdli First Nation claim they have not been consulted about the Goldcorp-supported Teranne Metals Corporation’s proposed Shus Nadloh (Mr. Milligan) mine at the head of the Arctic and Rainbow watersheds on Nak’azdli traditional territory and warn of potential environmental damages.
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VIEW PHOTO-MUSIC DOCUMENTARY:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teWB234o0Ik
MEDIA CONTACTS:
François Guindon, Rights Action:  819-329-0223 , francois.guindon@gmail.com
Maria Ramos, NISGUA:  202-257-8061 , maria@nisgua.org
MORE INFORMATION / TO GET INVOLVED:
info@rightsaction.org / www.rightsaction.org

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