by Gabriel Caplett
London, UK - Four citizens from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula attended Rio Tinto’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Center (QEII), in London, England. Speakers included Susan LaFernier, vice-president of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC), Gabriel Caplett from Yellow Dog Summer and Northwoods Wilderness Recovery, and Cynthia Pryor, from the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve. Fran Whitman, from Friends of the Land of Keweenaw (FOLK), attended but was unable to speak in front of the assembly.
To the crowd of roughly 300 shareholders and journalists, LaFernier addressed the threat to Native American ceded treaty rights with the US government, from 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 just previously been able to ask three questions.
LaFernier stated, “I think these questions are very pertinent for you to hear and to answer. 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 34 years.”
LaFernier requested that Rio Tinto “consider that Kennecott withdraw any plans to mine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan because of the many reasons that could be stated here today,” asking “will our rights be violated, our territorial sovereignty be jeopardized, but also, our survival as a people.”
LaFernier maintained, “It is our ancestor’s vision that our determination will continue to be honoured and I pray that you, too, will protect our Great Lakes and our Mother Earth.”
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.
Caplett corrected the “Review”, maintaining “the company has not received a Certificate of Completion for the actual mine site, which is 32 acres” and 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 Rio Tinto CEO, Tom 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. Our neighbour, 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 20-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.” Caplett opposed Albanese’s re-election, as CEO, based upon his association with the tailings cover-up.
Cynthia Pryor addressed Kennecott’s actions that led to a damaged road crossing releasing 98 tons of sediment into the Salmon Trout River. Pryor also expressed dissatisfaction over “private” Kennecott meetings and a lack of landowner representation at community meetings.
Pryor suggested that “our State is being held hostage by Kennecott lawyers,” referring to Kennecott threats to sue the State for a “takings” if its project were not approved.
Based upon the incompetence and secretiveness of Eagle Project manager, Jon Cherry, Pryor recommended that CEO Albanese hold a public meeting, in the Upper Peninsula, to “clear issues.”
Shareholder Fran Whitman was unable to access an official card enabling her to speak at the AGM.
Benny Wenda, independence leader from West Papua, and founder of the Free West Papua Campaign, also spoke, raising concerns over the continued Indonesia 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 UK. 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 is currently breaking stated and published promises.
The majority of comments regarded opposition to various projects where Rio Tinto has disregarded public and indigenous land and committed human rights violations. In addition to Wenda, three shareholders raised questions regarding Rio Tinto’s actions in West Papua. Shareholders also expressed opposition to Rio Tinto projects in Mendoza Province, Argentina, Alaska, and Madagascar.
Following the AGM, Caplett presented CEO Albanese a book on the Flambeau Mine, “The Buzzards Have Landed,” and recommended the CEO question project manager Cherry on his false assertions in the company’s March “Review.” Caplett also discussed Kennecott Copper’s tailings impoundment with the CEO.
LaFernier, Whitman, and Pryor met with Bret Clayton, Rio Tinto Copper CEO, who agreed to hold a public meeting with the mine opposition. Pryor maintained that there was not an “opposition,” rather local citizens.
A meeting was held, the same evening, at Amnesty International headquarters, featuring presentations on Rio Tinto and Anglo-American projects in the US, South Africa, West Papua and Argentina. Anglo-American held its AGM April 15, also in London. Company representative, Edward Bickham, was present and spoke at the meeting.
The morning of April 17, South African police, at Anglo-American’s behest, attacked and tear-gassed citizens peacefully protesting the company’s platinum operation in Limpopo Province. In 2006, a police and Anglo-American attack resulted in one woman being shot in the face. After several months, medical surgery was paid for by the company.
LSMN
Eve Divine
doncorvette
