Youve never seen photos like these
- Details
- Published on Saturday, 26 August 2017 08:15
- Written by editor
It's a Disaster Waiting to Happen ...
It's been three years since the Mount Polley mine spill, one of the worst environmental disasters in Canadian history.
We wish we could say things have changed as a result, but the reality is the B.C. government has actually approved more mines using the same type of tailings pond as the one that burst, spilling millions of litres of toxic waste into salmon-spawning waters.
That’s why we want to send award-winning aerial photographer Garth Lenz to northern B.C. to capture unprecedented images of the province’s mining boom — but we need to raise $10,000 by August 31st to get him up there before the weather turns.
Will you give $50, $100 or $250 today to shine a spotlight on B.C.’s out-of-date mining practices?
After Mount Polley, officials promised this kind of disaster wouldn’t happen again. There would be a thorough investigation. Changes would be made.
Now, two investigations and three years later, no charges have been laid and no fines have been levied, even though an inquiry recommended against continuing to use liquid tailings.
If you believe communities deserve more than empty promises, please give what you can today to prevent B.C. from sweeping this problem under the rug.
We've written dozens of articles about B.C.’s shoddy mining practices, but there’s one big challenge in telling these stories — there are virtually no photos of the remote landscapes and communities threatened by these mines.
Right now these mines are largely out of sight, out of mind.
With your help, we are going to change that, but we need to raise $10,000 by August 31st.
If we all pool all money together, we can bring these images to the world. If just 100 readers give $100 we'll reach our target in one day. Can you give $100 right now?
There are 10 mines proposed or under construction in northwestern B.C. near the Alaska border. One of those is run by Imperial Metals, the same company that owns Mount Polley. Another, the KSM mine, will be North America’s largest open-pit mine and will actually mine underneath an active glacier. To make matters worse, the tailings facility will expel mining waste directly into a fish-bearing stream.
It seems like madness, right? But so long as it is out of sight, out of mind, mining companies seem to be able to get away with whatever they like.
We believe that just because a place is out of sight, that doesn’t mean it should be out of mind.
If you agree, can you give $50, $100 or $250 right now?
With a new government in charge, shining a spotlight on B.C.’s mining boom is more important now than ever. The time is ripe to update B.C.’s antiquated mining laws and protect communities from another Mount Polley-style disaster.
Without changes, experts have warned B.C. can expect two Mount Polley-style disasters each decade. That’s just not right.
Please give what you can right now to shine a spotlight on this disaster waiting to happen.
Thanks for all you do,
Emma Gilchrist
Executive Director
P.S. We need to get our photographer into the field before the weather turns so we need to raise $10,000 by August 31st. Please give generously today.
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