Notorious Mining Giant Has 20% Share in Pebble Mine
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 6:49PM 
Back in January of this year global mining giant Rio Tinto assumed a 20% stake in Northern Dynasty Minerals.
Rio Tinto, one of the world's largest mining companies, has increased
its stake in the company exploring Southwest Alaska's Pebble copper and
gold prospect.
The London-based company agreed Friday to buy
$79 million worth of shares issued by Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.,
the company that owns the Pebble mining claims.
This increases Rio Tinto's ownership of the
Canadian junior mining firm to 19.8 percent, making it the largest
individual stakeholder. ia: The Anchorage Daily News LINK
What the news back in January failed to point out is that Rio Tinto's environmental and human rights record is atrocious.
A lawsuit filed against Rio Tinto on behalf of the victims of their mining operation on the island of Bougainville is currently making its way through U.S.courts.
An excerpt from the lawsuit brief-
To build the mine, Rio chemically defoliated, bulldozed and sliced
off an entire mountainside of rain forest. During the years of the
mine’s operations, billions of tons of toxic mine waste was generated
and dumped onto the land and into pristine waters, filling major rivers
with tailings, polluting a major bay dozens of miles away, and the
Pacific Ocean as well. As a result of its flagrant disregard for the
environment and the people of Bougainville, Rio dispossessed the people
of Bougainville from their land, destroyed their culture and polluted
their environment and lifestyle. Rio destroyed previously pristine
rivers and land that provided substance and a way of life for the
native people and went to the heart of their local culture. The
pollution is so extensive that plaintiffs and members of the class have
been improperly exposed to toxic chemicals. In certain villages, the
chemicals still remaining have caused the death and/or illness of
residents.
You can read the rest of the brief here. VIA: Hagens Berman Sobol Sherman LLP LINK
Rio Tinto could be a poster child for corporate malfeasance. Via: CorpWatch LINK
Some more details about these future stewards of the Bristol Bay region. LINK
Rio Tinto avoids consulting indigenous authority in New Zealand. LINK
