(francais ci-dessous)

URGENT!

CERRO DE SAN PEDRO, MEXICO: MEMBERS OF ANTI-MINING GROUP ASSAULTED BY NEW GOLD INC./MINERA SAN XAVIER WORKERS AND SUPPORTERS

Community members receive death threats as conflict deepens around Canadian-owned Mexican mine

Tensions are building in the Mexican village of Cerro de San Pedro, where a Canadian-owned gold and silver mine has been forced to close due to a Supreme Court decision that cancelled its environmental permit.

On Friday, December 11, 2009, residents of the Mexican village of Cerro de San Pedro and members of the anti-mine group Frente Amplio Opositor (FAO) were attacked by a group of mine supporters.  The same day, Federal parliamentarians were stoned in their vehicles by mine employees as they attempted to visit the village.  The Mendoza Pence family, who have spearheaded the village’s anti-mine campaign for over a decade, are now receiving death threats.

The Cerro de San Pedro gold and silver mine made international headlines when it was closed following a Supreme Court decision on November 17^th, 2009.  The environmental permit for the open-pit mine, which used cyanide leaching pads, was revoked definitively by Mexican authorities in response to a legal case filed by project opponents.  Operated by Minera San Xavier, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canadian multinational New Gold Inc., the mine has been subject to local, regional and national opposition since its inception.

The Cerro de San Pedro “ejidatarios” – or traditional landholders – and FAO members were preparing to host a delegation of parliamentarians on December 11^th when they were approached by over 100 individuals, most of whom were identified as employees of the mine.

The group of mine supporters entered the “Salón Ejidal”, or the ejido’s common house, where preparations for hosting the parliamentarians were underway on Friday afternoon.  Cerro de San Pedro resident Teodora Mendoza Poncé was apprehended and injured, and ejidataria Manuela Tristán was struck with stones.  FAO members Ernest García, Ivette Lacaba and James Del Tedesco were all hit and injured, while both García and Del Tedesco were robbed of their cameras.  Several of the people attacked were elderly.

Located less than 20 kilometers from the city of San Luis Potosí, the Cerro de San Pedro mine has been criticized for jeopardizing the health and safety of the area’s 1.5 million residents.  Environmental laws protect the arid, drought-prone mountains surrounding Cerro de San Pedro due to their importance to local water systems.  The village itself was a considered historic tourist destination, and its 400-year old churches and colonial structures are cracking and crumbling due to the daily mine blasting.

Residents also allege that the mine has divided the small community, with mine workers and families receiving compensation packages pitted against residents that work to protect the village and ecosystem.

While most of the individuals who attacked the Salon Ejidal were identified as New Gold employees and pro-mine locals, witnesses allege that others were not from the area and had received payments from the corporation.  The FAO states that the mine has kept its employees despite the shut-down in order to maintain political and social control. New Gold’s lawyers are attempting to re-open the mine, although a first injunction was denied last week.  The corporation has also bought local radio ads while developing what opponents have called a campaign of fear and intimidation.

This latest incident comes just after a visit of Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean to Mexico, where she spoke about the responsibility of Canadian mining corporations operating overseas.  Canadian corporation Blackfire Explorations was forced to close its mine last week, after its present and former employees were arrested for the assassination of anti-mine organizer Mariano Abarca Roblero on November 27, 2009.

THE FAO IS MAKING AN URGENT CALL TO INDIVIDUALS, COLLECTIVES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO DENOUNCE THE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN CERRO DE SAN PEDRO

PLEASE WRITE LETTERS CONDEMNING NEW GOLD INC. TO:

Guillermo E. Rishchynski

Ambassador of Canada to Mexico

mxico@international.gc.ca

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
civilsocietyunit@ohchr.org
oacnudh@ohchr.org
cidhoea@oas.org

Hannes Portmann, Director, Corporate Development and Investor Relations, New Gold Inc., Direct: (416) 324-6014, Email: info@newgold.com,

À CERRO DE SAN PEDRO, MEXIQUE MEMBRES DU GROUPE ANTIMINES ONT ÉTÉ ATAQUÉS POUR EMPLOYÉS DE

LA MINE SAN XAVIER NEW GOLD

Membres de la comunité ont été ammenacé de mort dans un conflict qui est involucré une mine canadienne

Les tensions augmentent au village de Cerro de San Pedro où une entreprise canadienne  qui produisait d’or et d’argent on a anulé les permis par tribunal fédéral deux fois.

Le vendredi 11 décembre du 2009 habitants du Cerro de San Pedro  et membres du groupe antimine, Frente Amplio Opositor (FAO) ont été attaquées par un groupe d’employés de la mine, ce jour là députes Fédérales ont été aussi attaques quand ils entraient au village.

La famille Ponce Mendoza qui ont été des principales opossiteurs ou Project dans le village ils reçoit maintenant menaces de mort.

La compagnie New Gold Minera San Xavier (MSX) se trouve maintenant accablé quand a été clausuré le 18 novembre du 2009. Le permis d’environnement pour le trou aux ciel ouvert et processus de lixiviation avec du cyanure a été anulé définitivement pour les autorités judiciaires fédérales mexicaines au réponse à la lute juridique des opositeurs.

La compagnie MSX subsidiaire mexicaine de la transnationale canadienne New Gold a été le sujet d’opposition local, régional et national depuis le début.

Les paysans propriétaires des terres à Cerro de San Pedro, était en train de préparer la visite de parlementaires fédérales quand un groupe de plus de 100 personnes ont agressé, identifies comme employés de la mine.

Les habitantes Dolores de Mendoza et Manuela Tristan ont été blessés avec des coups de pierres. les activistes anti mines James del Tedesco, le garçon Ernesto Garcia  de 16 ans et Ivette Lacaba, aussi ont été blessé et ils l’ont volé ses  appareils photos, la plus part des eux sont âgées des plus de 65 ans.

La mine San Xavier se trouve à 12 kilométrés de la ville de San Luis Potosi qui met en risques à la population de plus d’un million et demi d’habitantes. Les lois d’environnement protègent la zone aride de montagne qui est au tour Cerro de San Pedro,  et est déclare zone de protection pour la restauration de faune et flore,

Le village et considérée patrimoine historique, ses églises de 400 ânées d’antiquité  ont eu sévères délais à cause des exploitions faites  tous les jours par l’entreprise.

Les habitants du village ont dénoncé que l’entreprise  a divisé la communité avec ses employés et avec les familles que reçoivent cadeaux, tout ce la pour qu’ils soient contre qui défendent la communité et l’écosystème.

La plus part des agresseurs ont été identifié comme employés de la mine, témoins ont dénoncé que quelques uns ne sont pas de la municipalité, ils ont été payé pour attaquer violentement aux activistes antimines.

Le FAO informe que la mine paye toujours aux employés, contre la clausure, pour avoir le control social et politique de la comunité, tout ce la avec la mairie.

Les avocats de newgold, ils essai de rouvrir la mine, donc la première pétition a été nié la semaine dernière. La compagnie a commencé une campagne médiatique, à la radio, les opossiteurs l’appellent la campagne de peur et d’intimidation.

Cet incident ce passe juste après la visite de la gouvernatrice Canadienne Michaelle Jean au Mexique, ou elle a parlé de la responsabilité des corporations minières canadiennes par le monde entier.

La compagnie minière Canadienne Blackfire a été obligé à arrêter ses activités la semaine dernière après que ses employés sont arrêtes pour l’assassinât de l’activiste Mariano Abarca Roblero le  27 novembre de cette année.

Le FAO fait un appelle urgent, aux gens, collectifs, organisations pour dénoncer ces abus aux droit humaines à Cerro de San Pedro

SI VOUS PLAÎT ÉCRIVEZ DES LETTRES CONDAMNANT NEW GOLD INC A:

Guillermo E. Rishchynski

Ambassadeur du Canada au Mexique

mxico@international.gc.ca

Bureau du Haut Commissaire aux Droits humains
civilsocietyunit@ohchr.org
oacnudh@ohchr.org
cidhoea@oas.org

Hannes Portmann

Director, Corporate Development and Investor Relations, New Gold Inc., Direct: (416) 324-6014, Email: info@newgold.com,

MINIERE CANADIENNE ESQUIVE LES TRIBUNAUX, INDUIT SES ACTIONNAIRES EN ERREUR Groupe citoyen soumet une plainte au BC Securities Commission où il maintient que New Gold échappe à son obligation de divulgence

CANADIAN COMPANY DISOBEYS COURT, MISLEADS SHAREHOLDERS Citizens’ group argues New Gold violated disclosure rules in a complaint lodged with BC Securities Commission

(English below)

MONTREAL – La controverse qui entoure la minière Canadienne New Gold Inc. (TSX:NGD) et sa filiale mexicaine Minera San Xavier a repris de plus belle. Le communiqué de presse du 2 novembre publié par l’entreprise et sa firme de relations publiques Peak Communications Ltd. où ils minimisent la gravité d’une décision récente du Tribunal fédéral de justice fiscale et administrative du Mexique se voit remis en question.

Le Dr. Juan Carlos Ruiz Guadalajara, porte-parole du Frente Amplio Opositor (FAO), une coalition qui s’oppose à la mine à ciel ouvert de New Gold à Cerro de San Pedro, se dit scandalisé par les déclarations de l’entreprise. « Nous sommes habitués à ce que l’entreprise interprète et manipule la vérité à sa façon mais nous sommes déconcertés par cette flagrante déformation de la décision finale du Tribunal fédéral. C’est soit les bureaux canadiens qui ont été induits en erreur par leurs associés au Mexique, soit l’entreprise qui désinforme le public intentionnellement. Dans les deux cas, les actionnaires de cette entreprise devraient s’inquiéter. »

En revanche, le 10 novembre 2009 le FAO a soumis une plainte à la British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) et à la Bourse de Toronto où on accuse l’entreprise de ne pas avoir divulgué les informations qui sont « de la plus haute importance pour les actionnaires. »

La controverse tourne autour de la décision du 24 septembre qui proclame sans équivoque que le permis de Changement d’utilisation du territoire, nécessaire pour opérer la mine, est « sans effet. »¹ De son côté, New Gold prétend toujours détenir « tous les permis nécessaires. »

New Gold prétend aussi avoir logé un appel le 28 octobre mais la FAO dément cette affirmation. Le Tribunal fédéral de justice fiscale et administrative est la plus haute cour du Mexique en droit administratif. De plus, la loi dicte que le plaignant, dans ce cas le groupe écologiste Pro San Luis Ecologico, doit être avisé de toute action légale qui touche le dossier. A compter du 8 novembre 2009, les avocats de Pro San Luis Ecologico n’ont toujours pas reçu un tel avis.

« New Gold a beau avoir les ressources, l’argent et l’influence politique, dit Ruiz Guadalajara, mais nous avons la justice telle que rendue par la décision finale d’une cour supérieure. »

Ruiz Guadalajara s’avoue troublé par les tentatives de l’entreprise de convaincre ses actionnaires et le public que la controverse tourne autour d’une simple étude d’impact environnemental. Il a peur que les entreprises canadiennes au Mexique peuvent bénéficier du manque d’informations précises et viables à propos de leurs projets. Ils utilisent la barrière de la langue et un système légal étranger peu connu par les Canadiens pour travailler dans l’impunité. « Notre plainte au BCSC vise à éclairer la vérité et permettre aux actionnaires de New Gold d’être au courant de ce qui se passe ici. »

La plainte envoyée au BCSC ainsi que des extraits de la décision du Tribunal contre Minera San Xavier/New Gold sont en pièce jointe.

Pour plus d’informations, contacter:

Lazar Konforti : 514-827-7486, cerrodesanpedro@gmail.com (Français)

David Schecter: 514-209-2666, cerrodesanpedro@gmail.com (English)

******************************************************************

MONTREAL – Controversy continues to embroil Canadian New Gold Inc. (TSX:NGD) and its Cerro de San Pedro mining operation as the November 2^nd press release issued by their public-relations firm Peak Communicators Ltd. regarding a recent ruling of the Mexican Federal Tribunal of Administrative and Fiscal Justice is put into question.

Dr. Juan Carlos Ruiz Guadalajara, spokesperson for the FAO, a coalition opposing New Gold’s open-pit gold mine at Cerro de San Pedro, is shocked by the company’s press release: “We are used to the company massaging the truth, managing its message, but we are taken aback by how blatantly it has misrepresented a final judgment by the Federal Tribunal. Either the Canadian office is misinformed by its Mexican associates or it is misinforming the public. Either way, shareholders in this company should be concerned.”

On Tuesday November 10^th the FAO has responded by lodging a complaint with the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) and the Toronto Stock Exchange accusing the company of withholding and misrepresenting information that “is of central importance to shareholders.”

The controversy centers on the September 24^th ruling that unequivocally declares the Change of Land Use permit necessary to operate the mine, “null and void”¹ while the company maintains that it still holds “all necessary permits.”

New Gold’s claim that it filed for an appeal of the Tribunal’s decision on October 28th was further called into question. The FTAFJ court is the highest instance of appeal in Mexican administrative law; its decision is final and binding. Furthermore, the local environmental group Pro San Luis Ecologico that has led the legal proceedings against the company must by law be notified of any further legal action taken on this case. But as of November 8th 2009, their lawyers had received no such notification.

“New Gold may have the resources, money, and political influence,” says Ruiz Guadalajara, “but we have the justice provided by a definitive ruling of a superior court.” He notes with concern the company’s attempt to convince shareholders and the public that the case is simply about an Environmental Impact Statement. He believes that Canadian mining companies in Mexico benefit from the lack of clear information about their operations. They use the language barrier and a confusing foreign legal system to operate with impunity. “Our complaint to the BCSC aims to clarify the truth and allow New Gold’s investors to be informed of what’s really happening here.”

The BCSC complaint and the court ruling have been attached.

-30-

For more information please contact:

David Schecter: 514-209-2666, cerrodesanpedro@gmail.com (English)

Lazar Konforti, 514-827-7486, cerrodesanpedro@gmail.com (Français)

- SVP Diffuser dans vos réseaux -
- Please distribute widely -

COUR MEXICAINE EXIGE FERMETURE D’UNE MINE CANADIENNE

MEXICAN COURT RULES CANADIAN MINING OPERATION ILLEGAL

(english below)

Coalition citoyenne incite les autorités canadiennes et mexicaines à exiger que la « New Gold » de Vancouver respecte l’état de droit au Mexique.

Montréal – Le 24 septembre 2009, le Tribunal fédéral de justice fiscale et administrative du Mexique a donné 20 jours au Ministère de l’environnement et des ressources naturelles (SEMARNAT) pour révoquer le permis d’exploitation du territoire qui a été accordé le 10 avril 2006 à Minera San Xavier, filiale de la Canadienne « New Gold » (TSX : NGD), ce qui signale la fermeture de la mine à ciel ouvert à Cerro San Pedro, San Luis Potosi.

« Cette décision confirme que la mine opérait illégalement depuis octobre 2005, lorsqu’elle a perdu son permis en raison de la dévastation qu’elle causerait à la région, » affirme le Dr. Juan Carlos Ruiz Guadalajara, membre du Frente Amplio Opositor (FAO). La décision représente le point culminant d’une bataille légale menée par le FAO, une coalition élargie de groupes communautaires et écologistes, amorcée en 1996 pour stopper un projet qui a en peu plus de 3 ans détruit la majeure partie d’une zone historique et réserve écologique protégée par la loi. Il n’y a maintenant aucune possibilité de présenter un appel. La SEMARNAT a jusqu’au vendredi, 13 novembre 2009 pour exécuter les directives de la cour.

Pour les habitants de Cerro San Pedro et de la métropole avoisinante de San Luis Potosí (population 1,3 millions), la mine de New Gold représente une chapitre sombre de leur histoire et ils ne peuvent que réjouir de cette dernière décision de la cour. Par contre, son application dépend des autorités mexicaines et en effet plusieurs décisions antérieures ont étés ignorés.

« La décision indique aussi que le deuxième permis émis à New Gold en 2006 était illégal, ajoute Ruiz Guadalajara. Ce qui est le plus bouleversant dans cette histoire c’est que ce deuxième permis a été obtenu grâce à un réseau corrompu composé de fonctionnaires de l’entreprises et des autorités mexicaines. » Ruiz Guadalajara maintient que si les autorités mexicaines ou canadiennes permettaient encore à New Gold de poursuivre ses activités, on créerait un précédent dangereux. « Les entreprises minières canadiennes saurait qu’elles peuvent agir dans l’impunité totale. »

Le Frente Amplio Opositor organise une campagne au Mexique et au Canada pour faire pression sur les autorités mexicaines pour qu’ils appliquent la loi. Le FAO veut aussi que les autorités canadiennes exigent que l’entreprise respecte l’état de droit dans les pays où elle est active. Les projets de loi C-300 et C-438 sont des initiatives « fait au Canada » qui visent à règlementer les activités outre-mer des entreprises comme la New Gold.

Pour plus d’informations, contacter :
Lazar Konforti, 514-827-7486, lazar.konforti@gmail.com (Français)
David Schecter, 514-209-2666, daveschecter@gmail.com (English)

_________________________________________________________________________

MEXICAN COURT RULES CANADIAN MINING OPERATION ILLEGAL

Citizens’ coalition urges Canadian and Mexican authorities to demand Vancouver-based “New Gold” respect the rule of law.

MONTREAL – On September 24th, the Federal Fiscal and Administrative Justice Tribunal of Mexico ruled that the Mexican federal Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) must revoke the land usage permit granted back in April 2006 to Minera San Xavier, a subsidiary of Canada-based New Gold (TSX: NGD). The ruling implies the full shut-down of the open-pit gold and silver mine in Cerro San Pedro, San Luis Potosi.

“The ruling confirms that this project has been operating illegally since it lost its permit in October 2005 due to the severe damage it would cause to the area,” says Dr. Juan Carlos Ruiz Guadalajara of the Frente Amplio Opositor (FAO). The ruling ends a decade-long legal campaign by the FAO, a broad coalition of environmental and community groups, to halt a project that has in just over three years destroyed the better part of what had once been a historic and environmental preserve protected by state decrees. There is no possibility of appeal. The SEMARNAT has until Friday, November 13th 2009 to comply with the ruling.

For residents of Cerro de San Pedro and the neighbouring city of San Luis Potosí (population 1.3 million) New Gold’s mine has been a terrible chapter in their history and so they are delighted to see that justice has been served. The problem, however, is that previous rulings against the company have not been applied.

“The ruling also indicates that the second permit obtained by New Gold in 2006 was illegal,” adds Ruiz Guadalajara. “The most distressing part of this story is that this second permit was secured through a network of corruption made up of company officials and Mexican authorities.” Ruiz Guadalajara believes that if New Gold is once again allowed to continue operations, it will provide a serious and negative precedent: “Canadian mining companies will now know that they can work in complete legal impunity.”

The Frente Amplio Opositor is now organising a campaign in Mexico and in Canada to ensure that Mexican authorities enforce the ruling and that the Canadian mining company respects the rule of law in Mexico.

Bills C-300 and C-438 are a made-in-Canada response attempting to regulate, at home, companies operating overseas, such as New Gold.

For more information please contact:
David Schecter: 514-209-2666, daveschecter@gmail.com (English)
Lazar Konforti, 514-827-7486, lazar.konforti@gmail.com (Français)

If you support the following declaration (after the jump), we would appreciate the expression of your support. All you need to do is sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/FAOmpt1/

Or you can send a message to Dr. Juan Carlos Ruiz Guadalajara jcruizguadalajara@gmail.com with your name or the name of your organization and the statement: “Yes I support the declaration, please add my name” Please distribute this on your networks. We thank you for your solidarity.

Halt the impunity! New Gold – Minera San Xavier must respect Mexican law!

To the publics of Mexico and across the World.

On the 24th of September, 2009 the ninth Tribunal of the first circuit courts ordered the Federal Tribunal of Fiscal and Administrative Justice to emit its sentence on the suit presented by Pro San Luis Ecologico (Exp. 170/00-05-02-9/634/01-PL-10-04-QC-DA, pages 239 and 240). It reads:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AND WIDESPREAD DISTRIBUTION:

MEXICAN SUPERIOR COURT ORDERS THE IMMEDIATE END OF NEW GOLD (TSX: NGD)-MINERA SAN XAVIER’S MINING PROJECT AT CERRO DE SAN PEDRO, SAN LUIS POTOSI

October 29th, 2009.
San Luis Potosí

On the 24th of September, 2009 the ninth Tribunal of the first circuit courts ordered the Federal Tribunal of Fiscal and Administrative Justice to emit its sentence on the suit presented by Pro San Luis Ecologico. It reads:

“…the plaintiff’s suit is well-founded. Be it resolved, on basis of art. 239-B:IV of the Federal Fiscal Code, that the authorization accorded to Minera San Xavier, S.A. de C.V. in the permit S.G.P.A./DGIRA.DG.0567/06 by the Director General of Environmental Impacts and Risks at the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) is null and void. By our order the SEMARNAT, which has already ignored a previous ruling by the court on the 5th of October, 2005, has 20 days to advise the affected party and carry out the sentence.”

CONCLUSIONS:

a)      SERMARNAT, in complicity with Minera San Xavier, violated the law by granting the company its permit on the 10th of April, 2006. This was made clear in the Federal Court’s sentence of the 5th of October of 2005 which stated that not even in a conditional form could the SEMARNAT emit the land-use change permit to the company.

b)      This violation of the law involved a diverse set of people, principally the managers of the company, authorities of the previous state, federal and municipal levels, as well as various members of the Partido de Acción Nacional. These individuals must be judged and punished.

c)      With this sentence, Minera San Xavier has lost its single-most important operating permit (which, indeed, it never had). We must also remember here the long line of injunctions against the company that were obtained by the members of the Nucleo Ejidal Cerro de San Pedro, injunctions that have been systematically ignored.

d)      The illegal work of New Gold – Minera San Xavier has created severe and irremediable consequences for the natural environment of the Valley of San Luis, such as the loss of a unique environmental and historical heritage for the Mexican nation.

THIS SENTENCE BEGINS THE FINAL LEGAL COLLAPSE OF NEW GOLD –MINERA SAN XAVIER. THE COMPANY HAS NO LATER THAN THE 15TH OF NOVEMBER TO CEASE ALL ITS OPERATIONS. THIS IS A HISTORIC TRIUMPH THAT WE WILL DEFEND WITH ALL OUR DETERMINATION.

STOP THE IMPUNITY!

HALT THE ILLEGAL OPERATIONS OF NEW GOLD-MINERA SAN XAVIER IMMEDIATELY!

PUNISHMENT OF THE GUILTY PARTIES!

Given the above, the Frente Amplio Opositor a la Minera San Xavier demands the immediate intervention of the state’s new authorities to stop this ecocidal company and to begin an investigation that will identify the culprits and bring them to justice for their crimes against Mexico’s national sovereignty.

TO ALL THE CITIZENS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO STAND IN SOLIDARITY HERE IN MEXICO AND ACROSS THE WORLD:

THE FAO IS PUTTING OUT AN URGENT CALL FOR HELP IN SPREADING NEWS OF THE IMINENT DEPARTURE OF NEW GOLD-MINERA SAN XAVIER FROM THE CERRO DE SAN PEDRO POTOSI.

WE WILL BE WATCHING THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. WE ASK THAT BY JUSTICE AND REASON THEY HELP US IN THE IMMEDIATE APPLICATION OF THE LAW.

THE DESTRUCTION OF CERRO DE SAN IS A DEEP WOUND FOR THE VALLEY OF SAN LUIS. IT IS BUT ONE OF MANY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS GENERATED BY CORRUPTION AND INFLUENCE PEDDLING.

IMMEDIATE APPLICATION OF THE LAW AND PUNISHMENT OF THE CULPRITS! IF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WE WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY.

“THE HOURS OF THE POLITICAL CLOCK ARE ALSO NUMBERED; THE POLITICAL LEADERS OF THE COUNTRY MUST NOT FORGET THIS.”
– SALVADOR NAVA.

We leave you with the contact information for various authorities, Mexican and Canadian, so that you can help us demand the immediate application of the law. This declaration is accompanied by a press release with a synthesis of the legal struggles surrounding this case since 2005 which details the violations committed by government authorities and the company with severe environmental, social and juridical consequences for the nation. Lastly, as a gift, we include the link to the video clip of Lic. Hector Barri’s press conference delivered in San Luis Potosí which explains this final chapter. New Gold must now answer for the damages it has created through this illegality.

Thank you for your solidarity. We will keep you all informed.

-FAO-

Lic. Hector Barri’s Press Conference: Minera San Xavier-New Gold must leave Cerro de San Pedro

http://proyectocerro.blogspot.com/2009/10/fao-conferencia-prensa-28-oct-09.html

Guillermo E. Rishchynski, Ambassador of Canada to Mexico
guillermo.rishchynski@international.gc.ca,

Douglas Challborn, Canadian Embassy in Mexico
douglas.challborn@international.gc.ca

Lic. Fernando Gómez Mont, Secretario de Gobernación:
secretario@segob.gob.mx

Ministro Presidente Guillermo I. Ortiz Mayagoitia
SUPREMA  CORTE D E JUSTICIA  DE  LA  NACION
administrator@mail.scjn.gob.mx <administrator@mail.scjn.gob.mx>

Dr. José Luís Soberanes Fernández, Presidente de la CNDH,
presidencia@cndh.org.mx correo@cndh.org.mx

FELIPE DE JESÚS CALDERÓN HINOJOSA
Presidente Constitucional de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Residencia Oficial de los Pinos Casa Miguel Alemán
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec, C.P. 11850, DISTRITO FEDERAL, México
Teléfono (55) 50935300
felipe.calderon@presidencia.gob.mx

LUIS FELIPE BRAVO MENA
Secretario Particular del C. Presidente de la República
luisfelipe.bravomena@presidencia.gob.mx

Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada
Secretario del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
c.secretario@semarnat.gob.mx

MICHAËLLE JEAN
Gobernadora General de Canadá
info@gg.ca

STEPHEN HARPER
Primer Ministro del Canadá
pm@pm.gc.ca

FAO-Montréal vous invite à participer à l’atelier « Undermine ! », le dimanche 12 octobre 2009 de 14h30 à 16h15 dans la salle 8.81 du Cégép Vieux-Montréal (255 rue Ontario O).  FAO-Montréal sera parmi les 350 ateliers qui seront présentés du 9 au 12 octobre au Forum Social Québecois 2009 (www.forumsocialquebecois.org) . Les ateliers de FAO-Montréal et Vers un tribunal des peuples couronnent une fin de semaine remplie d’activités relatives à la lutte populaire contre les impacts négatifs des mégaprojets industriels présentée par la Coalition québecoise sur les impacts socio-environnementaux des multinationales en Amérique Latine. Le programme du Bloc thématique « Les peuples face aux mégaprojets : résistance et stratégies » est disponible ici.

FAO-Montreal invites you to “Undermine!” (details after the jump), a workshop on Sunday, October 12th, from 2:30pm to 4:15pm in room 8.81 at the Cégep Vieux-Montréal (255 Ontario St. W).  FAO-Montreal will be among the 350 workshops being offered October 9 – 12 at at the Québec Social Forum 2009 (www.forumsocialquebecois.org). The workshops by FAO-Montreal and Vers un tribunal des peuples will cap off a weekend-long series on popular resistance to industrial megaprojects brought to you by the Coalition québecoise sur les impacts socio-environnementaux des multinationales en Amérique Latine. The programme of the Coalition’s thematic bloc “Les peoples face aux mégaprojets: résistance et strategies” is available here (French only).

_________________________

Undermine ! Analyse critique de l’industrie minière mondiale et stratégies de résistance

Date: Dimanche, octobre 11, 2009, 14:30 – 16:15

Cet atelier s’adresse aux groupes, organisations et individus qui luttent contre la destruction socio-environnementale causée par l’industrie minière. Après une courte analyse de la gouvernance du secteur minier mondial, les participants seront invités à discuter de stratégies de résistance. Le but est de former un éventuel réseau de groupes divers qui pourront, selon leur expertise et leurs moyens, agir en concert sur différents fronts.

Langue: Bilingue Anglais -Français, traduction chuchotée anglais-français-espagnol disponible.

Salle: Cégep Vieux-Montréal 8.81

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Undermine! A Critical Analysis of the Global Mining Industry and Resistance Strategies

Date: Sunday, October 11^th 2009, 2:30pm – 4:15pm

This workshop is meant for groups, organisations, and individuals involved in the struggle against the social and environmental destruction brought on by the global mining industry. After a brief analysis of the global mining industry’s governance system, participants will be able to discuss available strategies of resistance. The goal is to build a network of diverse groups who, according to their expertise and capacity, could act in a coordinated manner on different fronts.

Language: Bilingual French-English, whisper translation to French, English, and Spanish available.

Room: Cégep Vieux-Montréal 8.81

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Undermine! Análisis crítica de la minería mundial y estrategias de resistencia

Fecha: Domingo, 11 de octubre 2009, 2:30pm – 4:15pm

El taller concierne a los grupos, organizaciones y individuos involucrados en la lucha contra la destrucción social y ambiental causada por la industria minera mundial. Después de una breve análisis de la gobernáncia del sector minero global, los participantes podrán discutir de la estrategias de resistencia. El objetivo es de consolidar una red de grupos quienes podrán, según sus capacidades y su experiencia, actuar en concierto sobre varios frentes.

Idioma: Blingue Ingles-Francés, traducción ingles-francés-español disponible.

Lugar: Cégep Vieux-Montréal 8.81

Instalación de la protesta frente a la embajada de Canadá Foto Carlos Ramos Mamahua

ANTI-MINING GROUPS STAGE 36 HOUR SIT-IN AT CANADIAN EMBASSY IN MEXICO CITY

Community members and anti-mining groups from across Mexico gather to mark the first Global Day of Action Against Open-Pit Mining

On the morning of July 21st, Canadian Embassy workers in Mexico City were greeted by an assortment of angry community members, paper-maché pigs, anti-mining banners, life-sized rats and a photo-exhibit highlighting the impacts of a Canadian-owned open-pit mine.

The embassy was surrounded by a display of colourful resistance for the next 36 hours while communities affected by Canadian mining projects in four Mexican states staged a sit-in to mark the first Global Day of Action Against Open-Pit Mining.

The choice to stage a sit-in against open-pit mining in front of the Canadian Embassy was not arbitrary – the Mexican government reports that over 70% of its mining concessions are owned by Canadian corporations.  Many of these corporations have been met with widespread resistance, culminating in blockades, demonstrations and legal cases.

Among the most infamous cases of opposition to a Canadian mining project is New Gold Inc’s Cerro de San Pedro open-pit gold and silver mine.  In commercial operation since 2007, the mine has been the subject of fierce resistance since a Canadian corporation purchased its concession 13 years ago.

Various legal cases filed by project opponents delayed the project, located in a 400-year old historic village 8 kilometers from a city of 1.5 million.  The mountains surrounding the village were granted protected status because of their importance in refueling the arid area’s aquifers.  When the corporation was issued an environmental permit, opponents took the matter to court.

“Even though a federal court determined that the project is illegal, the mine is still operating” said Federal Deputy Armando Barreiro at the embassy sit-in.  “We’re here today denouncing that the federal, state and municipal governments are allowing the flagrant violation of our environmental laws.  Corruption and impunity permits corporations to operate like this, not only in Cerro de San Pedro but all over the country”.

Mexico has become a haven for transnational mining since the early 1990s, when a series of laws were reformed to accommodate NAFTA’s entry into force.  Collective property ownership regimes created at the time of the Mexican Revolution were dismantled and provisions to ensure public ownership of resources were stripped away, facilitating foreign investment.  By 2006, close to 5000 Canadian corporations were either mining in Mexico or negotiating their first contracts.

“Mexico, like other Latin American countries, is undergoing a new conquest,” affirms Sergio Serrano of environmental group Pro San Luis Ecologico.  “Today they’re coming into our territories like they did hundreds of years ago, looking for gold and silver.  And these riches will fill the pockets of Canadians”.

Mariano Abarca Roblero, from the village of Chicomoseco in Chiapas, traveled to Mexico City  “to tell the Canadian Ambassador that we’re not willing to let them keep taking resources and destroying our environment”.  For over two months, villagers have been blocking road access to Canadian corporation Blackfire’s mine.

Roblero maintains that the corporation has failed to fulfill obligations in the contract it signed with the community.  “For years, they’ve promised us a million things and have given us nothing,” he states.

While consequences for corporations facing resistance can result in profit losses, legal complications and lower shares, the consequences for communities opposing Canadian mines include repression, police brutality, and even death.

Members of the “Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca” attended the sit-in at the Canadian embassy to draw attention to the struggle of communities against a slew of Canadian mines in the resource-rich state.

Agustín Ríos Cruz participated in a community blockade of Canadian corporation Fortuna Silver’s mine in the Valley of Ocotlán in March 2009.  Two months later, 2500 heavily-armed police invaded the blockade, brutally beating several community members while looking for Cruz.

Although Cruz was badly injured, he was not recognized by state agents.  He has been in hiding ever since, with 8 warrants for his arrest.  One member of Cruz’s group was not so lucky – Sergio Martínez Vásquez was found dead on June 7^th, 2009.

“Life can’t be negotiated,” says Cruz, referring to the communities’ refusal to accept corporate bribes in exchange for accepting mines.  “They’re devastating our lands – there’s nothing to negotiate”.

Canadian officials also appeared to feel no need for negotiation.  Ambassador Guillermo Rishchynski sent a staff member from the public relations department to receive the statement issued by sit-in participants condemning the embassy’s support for open-pit mines.  No official response has yet been issued.

Article: http://www.mediacoop.ca/story/1769

Photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=108913&id=593341636&l=2136e446f6

JULY 21-22

ANTI-MINING GROUP TO STAGE 36 HOUR SIT-IN AT CANADIAN EMBASSY IN MEXICO CITY

Frente Amplio Opositor (FAO) marks Global Day of Action Against Open-Pit Mining in opposition to New Gold Inc.’s Cerro de San Pedro mine in Mexico

Anti-mining activists are marking the first ever Global Day of Action Against Open-Pit mining with a 36-hour sit-in outside the Canadian Embassy building in Mexico City.  The action is being planned by the Frente Amplio Opositor (FAO), a coalition opposed to Canadian corporation New Gold’s Cerro de San Pedro open-pit gold and silver mine in Central Mexico. New Gold Inc. is based in British Columbia.

“The sit-in is a nonviolent protest to demand that the Canadian government intervene in the case of New Gold’s Cerro de San Pedro mine”, said FAO member Juan Carlos Ruiz Guadalajara. “The mine is still operating despite having lost its environmental permit in a recent court ruling. We are reminding the embassy that we will continue to raise our voices against corruption, human rights abuses and environmental destruction”.

Mexican Secretary of the Economy figures reveal that more than 70% of all mining exploration, development and production projects in Mexico are owned by Canadian corporations. Canadian mining companies have benefited from legal reforms that the Mexican government adopted in order to accommodate NAFTA
and draw foreign investment.

Open-pit mines, such as Cerro de San Pedro, have generated controversy due to their devastating environmental and social impacts.

“The Cerro de San Pedro mine has already left a legacy of irreversible ecological destruction”, stated FAO member Martha Rivera. “Aside from destroying a mountain, polluting the air and contaminating the water, the mine has created divisions in a tight-knit community and generated opposition in the entire region”.

The sit-in at the site of the Canadian embassy will begin at 8 am on July 21st and end at 8 pm on July 22nd. Parallel events are planned in Toronto, Montreal, and other cities worldwide.

(version française à suivre)

Protest and Street Theater!
For the Global Day of Action Against Open-Pit Mining

Wednesday, July 22nd at 4:00pm
1000 Sherbrooke Street West (Corner with Mansfield)
In front of the Montreal offices of the Toronto Stock Exchange

Around the world, communities are being devastated by a rapidly spreading social disease: mining capital. Symptoms for communities that contract a bad case of mining include poisoned water, divided communities, open sores on the skin, open-pit mines in the earth, and the destruction of ecosystems and ways of life. The wost cases can result in premature death by rare cancers or hired guns.

Activists who are scrambling to control the spread of these destructive mines have discovered that the origin of the pandemic is the profit-hungry corporate and financial swine who have thrived in one of the most neglectfully unregulated speculative equity markets in the world: the Toronto Stock Exchange, also known as the TSX.

The TSX unabashedly promotes itself as a “global leader in providing access to capital for growth-oriented mining companies,” yet it has absolutely no mechanisms for ensuring that it does not provide access to capital for companies that are committing violent and illegal acts against communities and the environment. Under these conditions, it is not surprising that such an unaccountable strain of deadly mining companies has emerged.

In an attempt to rally a worldwide response to this growing threat, communities opposed to Canadian mining in Mexico have called for a Global Day of Action Against Open-Pit Mining on July 22nd. As supporters of these communities in Montreal, we have decided to confront the problem at its source by declaring an emergency quarantine of the TSX offices at 1000 Sherbrooke Street West on July 22nd at 4:00pm. Other actions to confront the problem will also be happening at the TSX headquarters in Toronto, the Canadian embassy in Mexico City, and elsewhere around the world.

In Montreal we hope that the quarantine will only be a temporary measure until more permanent steps can be taken by the TSX to ensure that it is no longer a locus for the spread of capital to destructive mining companies:
1) We demand that the TSX express its support for the government regulation of Canadian mining abroad as outlined in proposed parliamentary bill C-300.
2) We demand that the TSX use bill C-300 as an example for implementing its own process of screening mining companies listed on the exchange based on social and environmental criteria.

These would be important first steps towards preventing the future outbreaks of unaccountability that will undoubtedly plague the global mining industry if urgent regulatory precautions are not taken.

FAO-Montreal
faomontreal.wordpress.com

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QUARANTAINE URGENTE DES BUREAUX DE LA BOURSE DE TORONTO!
Aidez nous à arrêter cette nouvelle grippe porcine!

Manifestation et théâtre de rue!
Pour la journée mondiale d’action contre les mines à ciel-ouvert
Mercredi, le 22 juillet à 16h
1000 rue Sherbrooke Ouest (coin Mansfield)
Devant les bureaux de la Bourse de Toronto à Montréal

A travers le monde, de plus en plus de communautés sont atteintes par une épouvantable maladie sociale : le capital minier. Les symptômes typiques sont la contamination des sources d’eau, le conflit social, des plaies ouvertes cutanées qui ressemblent à des petits cratères, les plaies ouvertes dans le paysage qui sont des vrais cratères, et la destruction des écosystèmes et des modes de vie. Les pires cas peuvent causer la mort par suite de rares cancers ou d’escadrons de la mort.

Les militants qui œuvrent à enrayer cette épidémie qui se nourrit de la dérégulation et de la spéculation financière ont réussi à identifier son épicentre : la Bourse de Toronto (TSX).

La TSX annonce fièrement qu’elle est le « chef de file du secteur minier » et que ses règles internes permettent l’accès facile au capital. En effet, la TSX ne prend aucune précaution pour s’assurer que les entreprises qui y sont cotisées ne commettent pas de graves délits parfois violents contre les communautés et l’environnement. Étant donné de telles conditions, il n’est pas surprenant qu’une souche si virulente de l’industrie minière fasse tant de ravages à travers le monde.

Afin de confronter cette véritable pandémie à envergure mondiale, on a besoin d’un effort concerté international. Les communautés Mexicaines qui résistent les entreprises minières canadiennes ont lancé un appel à une Journée mondiale d’action contre les mines à ciel ouvert le 22 juillet. A Montréal, on espère freiner l’avancée de l’épidémie en mettant la TSX, dont le bureau de Montréal est situé au 1000 rue Sherbrooke O, en quarantaine. D’autres mesures pour contrer l’épidémie seront prises devant les bureaux principaux de la TSX à Toronto ainsi que devant les ambassades du Canada à travers le monde.

On espère que cette quarantaine ne durera pas très longtemps. Afin de désinvestir leurs bureaux, nous exigeons
1) que la TSX déclare publiquement son appui pour la régulation des entreprises minières canadiennes à l’étranger, tel que proposé par le projet de loi fédéral C-300, déposé cette année ;
2) que la TSX mette en application son propre mécanisme d’évaluation et de filtrage des entreprises qui y sont cotisées, en se basant sur des standards environnementaux, sociaux et économiques.

Ceux-ci seraient les premiers pas à prendre pour éviter de nouvelles contagions.

FAO-Montreal
faomontreal.wordpress.com