Newmont Mining Protest Press Release
August 30th, 2007
Human Rights and Environmental Groups to Protest Award to Newmont CEO
Marriott Hotel Revokes Contract for Alternative Award Ceremony
Miner trapped by Cave-in at Newmont Mine in Nevada
When Denver’s elite arrive at the Downtown Marriott Hotel for Denver University’s annual fund-raising Korbel Dinner on Aug 30, they will be met by protesters from around the state.
While DU’s Graduate School of International Studies presents its “International Bridge-Building Award” to Newmont CEO Wayne Murdy, protesters will serve Murdy with a Citation for building Newmont’s bridge on a foundation of human rights and environmental abuses. GSIS Dean Tom Farer has refused to revoke the award to Murdy, over objections from a majority of GSIS tenured faculty and protests from communities that are directly affected by Newmont gold mines around the world.
The protesters, representing a host of Colorado-based non-profit organizations, will present what they call the “REAL International Bridge Builder’s Award” to Western Shoshone elder Carrie Dann. But the honoring ceremony will have to be held on public sidewalks now because the Marriott revoked the groups’ contract to hold the honoring ceremony in the Hotel’s Molly Brown room.
In an email to the groups, Marriott’s Director of Event Planning Joe Humerickhouse wrote that the “Hotel see (sic) the Thursday event “Presentation by Carrie Dann” as a conflict of interest to a current piece of business” — clearly a reference to DU’s Korbel Dinner.
It is unknown who pressured the Marriott to revoke its contract for the meeting room, but Glenn Morris of Colorado’s American Indian Movement, said, “This is reminiscent of Newmont changing the location for its annual shareholder’s meeting three times a couple of years ago, for fear of negative scrutiny. Newmont doesn’t want its record exposed, DU is embarrassed, and their response is to muscle the Marriott into trying to silence our voice by denying us a venue. Of course, they will not succeed, and we will be there, and we will have our say.”
In Western Shoshone Territories (Nevada), a Newmont miner was reported missing yesterday after a cave-in at a mine owned jointly by Newmont and Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corp. It is feared the miner is trapped in the underground Getchell Mine. In June, another miner was killed when ground gave way at Newmont’s Midas mine. Both mines are near Winnemucca.
On five continents, Newmont-affected communities are constantly engaged in protests, marches and litigation to defend their natural resources and their rights. Oxfam America, Amnesty International and the World Resources Institute have documented community charges against Newmont for contaminating drinking water; polluting rivers and oceans with toxic waste including cyanide, mercury and arsenic; colluding with police and military in order to intimidate, brutalize and detain community activists; bribery; and depriving local fishermen and farmers of their lands and livelihoods.
In April, Newmont shareholders passed a resolution requiring an investigation into the company’s relations with the communities affected by its mines. A report will be presented to shareholders at the 2008 meeting. “Why is DU giving an award to a corporation whose own shareholders have moved to investigate the negative human rights and environmental impacts of their operations?” asks Kara Martinez, a GSIS alumna who coordinates the Denver Justice and Peace Committee.
“This award is an unforgivable affront to many thousands of people whose lives, livelihoods and natural resources are forever marred by Newmont’s mines,” says Paula Palmer, executive director of Boulder-based Global Response.
Carrie Dann, representing the Western Shoshone Defense Fund, said, “Newmont has done nothing to address the impact of their operations on the ongoing human rights violations against the Western Shoshone.”
The Colorado American Indian Movement, the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, Global Response, Denver Justice and Peace Committee, the Stop Newmont Coalition and the University of Colorado’s Indigenous Support Network are calling on their members and all concerned citizens to to gather for a civil demonstration outside of the Marriott Hotel (California and 17th Street) at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 30th. Protest organizers have pledged their commitment to non-violence.
August 30th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
But the honoring ceremony will have to be held on public sidewalks now because the Marriott revoked the groups’ contract to hold the honoring ceremony in the Hotel’s Molly Brown room.
In an email to the groups, Marriott’s Director of Event Planning Joe Humerickhouse wrote that the “Hotel see (sic) the Thursday event “Presentation by Carrie Dann” as a conflict of interest to a current piece of business” — clearly a reference to DU’s Korbel Dinner.
Damn. This almost makes me want to become a “boss” somewhere, so that I could exercise my will.
I agree with their premise that it clearly conflicts with the DU dinner, so if I got that kind of pressure from DU, I’d tell them that they could hold their dinner outside, shoulder to shoulder with the protestors they’d never let inside the room.
Seriously, where else could they hold it at such short-notice? Marriott had all the power in this little case, and even they caved, cravenly, in the face of the power structure that’s represented by DU. If they actually did something right, they might lose these opportunities to play host to the Little Eichmanns’ dinner, and I can guarantee that this was all they were thinking about.
August 30th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
I’m thinking the Marriott may have just seriously shot itself in the foot. Or at least hoping. Allowing the ceremony inside would’ve contained events, to some degree. Now that all the action’s gonna be in the street, things might just get a little hairier. I just got an email from somebody who works in a building next to the Marriott. The police are warning Marriott’s neighbors about disruptions due to protest, and many of the buildings are closing up shop early and/or increasing security.