Protest at Goldcorp's AGM -- tomorrow

From a Mining Watch Canada e-mail altert:

MEDIA ADVISORY

May 18, 2009

MEDIA CONTACTS:
François Guindon, Rights Action: 819-329-0223
Maria Ramos, NISGUA: 202-257-8061

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 (GG) annual shareholders' meeting, with indigenous and community leaders from Honduras and Guatemala and Canadian First Nation.

WHO:

Aniseto Lopez, indigenous Maya Mam leader from the western highlands of Guatemala

Arturo Mendez, indigenous Maya Mam elder from the western highlands of Guatemala

Carlos Amador, environmental and community leader from Honduras

Anne Sam, councillor of the Nak'azdli First Nation in British Columbia

Representatives of a broad coalition of human rights and environmental groups from across Canada and the U.S.

WHEN:   1:30pm, Friday, May 22nd, 2009

WHERE:  Outside the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, 900 Canada Place Way, Vancouver, BC

BACKGROUND:

In what a coalition of indigenous, human rights and environmental organizations from across the Americas has referred to as "business as usual," Canadian gold mining company Goldcorp Inc. will be confronted 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 contest 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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Jamie Kneen
Communications & Outreach Coordinator           ofc.  (613) 569-3439
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250 City Centre Ave., Suite 508                 fax:  (613) 569-5138
Ottawa, Ontario  K1R 6K7                        e-mail: jamie@miningwatch.ca
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