How much does that gold ring cost?<\/p>\n
Ibu Masna, mother of four children, traveled to Jakarta from
\nher village on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on July 21 to
\nreport the abuses of the world's most profitable gold miner on
\nher community to the National Police and Ministry of Health.<\/p>\n
Masna and other members of her community told officials that
\nthe company is guilty of spreading Minamata Disease.<\/p>\n
Newmont, from Denver, Colorado, U.S., have been dumping their
\nheavy metal-laden waste into Buyat Bay since 1996. Buyat Bay,
\nonce full of fish, had provided income and food for the Buyat Bay
\npeople who live along its shores. Today, the fish are all but
\ngone from the inner parts of the bay and there are tumors in the
\npeople and fish never seen before the dumping. Newmont stands
\naccused of polluting the bay with arsenic, mercury, among other
\nheavy metals.<\/p>\n
Local doctor Jane Pangemanan confirmed that about 80 percent
\nof the Buyat Bay villagers suffer symptoms similar to the victims
\nof Minamata. Laboratory tests have confirmed high levels of heavy
\nmetals in the blood of Buyat Bay villagers, particularly arsenic
\nand mercury.<\/p>\n
Newmont has continuously denied these accusations stating that
\nthe company has operated in compliance with Indonesian and U.S.
\nenvironmental standards. However, mercury emissions, mainly from
\ncoal-fired plants and the chemical industry in the U.S., have led
\nto advisory guidelines on tuna consumption because of mercury
\ncontamination. Meanwhile, the Bush administration has fought
\nagainst more stringent regulations on mercury. Countries like
\nIndonesia have even lower environmental standards and are perhaps
\nmore vulnerable to pressure from business interests.<\/p>\n
Gold has and continues to be extracted, processed and used in
\nways that are killing marginalized peoples and the planet.<\/p>\n
Most of the gold produced today goes towards making jewelry.
\nOne single 0.33 ounce, 18 karat gold ring produces at least 18
\ntons of mine waste. The gold mining industry is a voracious
\nindustry satisfying a non-essential market based on vanity.
\nMeanwhile, Buyat and Cajarmarca people want clean water and good
\nhealth for themselves and their children. But gold mining that
\nuses toxic mercury, cyanide and other heavy metals is robbing
\nthem of these fundamental human rights.<\/p>\n
TRACY GLYNN, Mining Advocacy Network, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/how-much-does-that-gold-ring-cost-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }