IRMA is to be applauded for making such a deep inroad into an industry that is more recalcitrant than most. And it's very important to work on the consumer end of "responsibility" for mining companies. But as an activist who does nothing but battle irresponsible mining, I can tell you that only the force of law applied strictly and fairly across the entire sector will result in more responsible mining practices. First, we need protective laws. Then, we need to enforce them across the board. There's no voluntary effort that can achieve that because there will always be companies that decline to join and will do business the old-fashioned way, which is far cheaper than being "responsible."
Jennifer Thurston, Information Network for Responsible Mining
Our Colorado property near Querida has test pits all over it and at 9,000 feet those scars are still as fresh looking as they were over a century ago.. Mining (damage) is forever.
She makes "consent from the Indigenous community" sound like an open-and-shut question. Please correct me, I'm sure I'm partly wrong, but based on old stories like ANILCA in Alaska and Hopi vs. Dine at Black Mesa, my impression is that Indigenous communities, like other communities, usually include some people (often in positions of power) who are gung ho for jobs and cash for our probably impoverished people, and others who want things to be like they used to be. How does IRMA judge community consent? That question applies to all communities, not just Indigenous. Related question: will there ever be a respected Indigenous spokesperson or spokesparty who say "Here's a map of places where mining would be okay because these places are NOT traditionally sacred to the people"? My impression is that Indigenous people traditionally held their land to be sacred, period. I totally sympathize with that, but...
IRMA is to be applauded for making such a deep inroad into an industry that is more recalcitrant than most. And it's very important to work on the consumer end of "responsibility" for mining companies. But as an activist who does nothing but battle irresponsible mining, I can tell you that only the force of law applied strictly and fairly across the entire sector will result in more responsible mining practices. First, we need protective laws. Then, we need to enforce them across the board. There's no voluntary effort that can achieve that because there will always be companies that decline to join and will do business the old-fashioned way, which is far cheaper than being "responsible."
Jennifer Thurston, Information Network for Responsible Mining
Our Colorado property near Querida has test pits all over it and at 9,000 feet those scars are still as fresh looking as they were over a century ago.. Mining (damage) is forever.
She makes "consent from the Indigenous community" sound like an open-and-shut question. Please correct me, I'm sure I'm partly wrong, but based on old stories like ANILCA in Alaska and Hopi vs. Dine at Black Mesa, my impression is that Indigenous communities, like other communities, usually include some people (often in positions of power) who are gung ho for jobs and cash for our probably impoverished people, and others who want things to be like they used to be. How does IRMA judge community consent? That question applies to all communities, not just Indigenous. Related question: will there ever be a respected Indigenous spokesperson or spokesparty who say "Here's a map of places where mining would be okay because these places are NOT traditionally sacred to the people"? My impression is that Indigenous people traditionally held their land to be sacred, period. I totally sympathize with that, but...
Please Jonathan toot your own horns, The Land Desk deserves toots. Michael, in his comment, is right "mining damage is forever".