VISTA GOLD NO: New York Times Uncovers Real Cost of Gold

New York Times Uncovers Real Cost of Gold

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New York Times Uncovers Real Cost of Gold

December 2005. The price of gold is higher than it's been in 17 years. But much of the gold left to be mined is microscopic and is being wrung from the earth at enormous environmental cost, often in some of the poorest corners of the world. In The Cost of Gold series, New York Times reporters describe gold mining's toll with stories from the western United States, Guatemala, Ghana, Indonesia, and Peru.

"Behind Gold's Glitter: Torn Lands and Pointed Questions" (Part 1)
"Treasure of Yanacocha: Tangled Strands in Fight Over Peru Gold Mine" (Part 2) (PDF 61KB)
"Below a Mountain of Wealth, a River of Waste" (Part 3) (PDF 377KB)
"A Drier and Tainted Nevada May Be Legacy of a Gold Rush" (Part 4) (PDF 348KB)
Flash slide show: The Cost of Gold: 30 Tons an Ounce
Flash slide show: The Cost of Gold: Treasure of Yanacocha
"The Curse of Inca Gold" (PBS/New York Times documentary)

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HOW CAN YOU HELP

Write to Congress and other government officials to express your opposition to the Concordia and Pediment/Pitalla Gold projects.
Go to http://www.vistagoldno.com/2009/11/we-need-your-help-now.html
You will find instruction for sending a letter to relevant public officials.

If you have information, articles, photos or video that you think should be included in this site email:
info@VistaGoldNO.com

We need your help to fund this protest. Find out how you can make a donation. Send your email to: info@VistaGoldNO.com

For Spanish go to http://www.ParedonesAmarillosNO.com
info@ParedonesAmarillosNO.com

IMPORTANT SITES AND ARTICLES

Canadian-held miners face backlash in Mexico: Toronto Sun - Money

Rechaza la alcaldesa de La Paz proyecto de Paredones Amarillos: Municipal President of La Paz Rejects Paredones Amarillos mining project.

The Front for the Defense of the Popular Economy Opposes Paredones Amarillos: The FDEP announced their opposition to the open pit mine known as Paredones Amarillos.

Adrian Chavez the director of PRD in the State announces rejection of Paredones Amarillos mine.
Calls the project a grave danger to the environment.

Mexican Government Closes San Pedro Mine : read about the closing of the Mine in San Pedro

No Dirty Gold is a powerful collection of articles and publications that give information about Open Pit gold Mining.

Mexicans Up In Arms Against Mine : John Holman writes this compelling article about the opposition to the Vista Gold open pit mine in San Pedro, Mexico

Mexico: The Next Gold Powerhouse Player: A fascinating article about the aggressive invasion of Mexico by the Gold mining industry.

New York Times series on the environmental and human cost of open pit mining.

"Behind Gold's Glitter: Torn Lands and Pointed Questions" (Part 1)
"Treasure of Yanacocha: Tangled Strands in Fight Over Peru Gold Mine" (Part 2) (PDF 61KB)
"Below a Mountain of Wealth, a River of Waste" (Part 3) (PDF 377KB)
"A Drier and Tainted Nevada May Be Legacy of a Gold Rush" (Part 4) (PDF 348KB)
Flash slide show: The Cost of Gold: 30 Tons an Ounce
Flash slide show: The Cost of Gold: Treasure of Yanacocha
"The Curse of Inca Gold" (PBS/New York Times documentary)

THE HIDDEN HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS OF GOLD MINING
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/peru404/environmental.html

THE TOXIC COST OF GOLD MINING
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1594/is_5_14/ai_108149588/

THE DANGER OF MERCURY IN GOLD MINING

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28596948/

10 Things You Should Know

1. WATER IS BORN IN THE SIERRA. While regions like La Paz, Todos Santos and Los Cabos get only a little less than 4 inches of rain every year, in the high parts of the Sierra the average yearly rainfall is around 40 inches. The Sierra de la Laguna is the main source of water for the southern part of our state.
2. THE SIERRA DE LA LAGUNA HAS THE ONLY PINE FOREST IN THE STATE. The biodiversity of the Sierra de la Laguna is unique in the world. This forest contains the highest number of species of any terrestrial ecosystem in the state, including species

that exist nowhere else in the world, like 86 endemic species of vascular plants.

3. THE SIERRA IS UNDER THREAT. In June 1994, the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere

Reserve was created, in order to protect this important piece of our natural heritage. Nonetheless, plans are currently underway to build an open- pit gold mine inside this protected area, in the Paredones Amarillos region. Because of its location and the technology it would use, the construction of this mine would represent a significant threat to the Sierra de la Laguna, its biodiversity, and its role as the water source of thousands of people.
4. A GOLD MINE IS FAR OUTLIVED BY THE WASTE AND POLLUTION IT GENERATES. The Paredones Amarillos gold mine plans to operate for only 9.5 years. The impacts generated by the mine’s waste and the chemicals used in its operation remain toxic for a long time and can last hundreds of years.
5. GOLD MINES ARE VERY POLLUTING. Extracting gold from stones is a process that uses and generates extremely toxic chemicals that can pollute water sources, this process also relies heavily on daily detonations that have very harmful effects on wildlife. The deadliest of these chemicals include cyanide, arsenic, sulfuric acid, lead, mercury and other heavy metals that can have dramatic effects on human health and on ecosystems.
6. MOST NEW GOLD IS USED FOR JEWLERY. A very small percentage of newly minted gold is destined for technology or medicine-related uses. Worldwide, a large portion of gold production; more than 80% according to some of the reviewed sources, is used in the jewelry industry. The production of a single gold ring, for example, generates up to 20 tons of waste.
7. OPEN-PIT GOLD MINING CREATES MOUNTAINS OF WASTE. LITERALLY. The Paredones Amarillos mine plans to extract around 40 tons of gold during the 9.5 year operation of the mine. Producing this amount of gold, according to the mine’s own calculations, will generate a ton of waste, per each gram of gold. This represents the production, during 9.5 years, of 40 million tons of waste; roughly 11,000 tons every day.
8. GOLD MINES LEAVE BEHIND GIANT CRATERS WHERE ECOSYSTEMS USED TO BE. The Paredones Amarillos mine plans to dig a 58.7 hectare crater in the Sierra. This is roughly equivalent to the 36 city blocks, or 54 football fields.
9. OPEN PIT GOLD MINING HAS A DARK HISTORY IN MEXICO AND THE WORLD. Across the globe, from Africa to Central America, different communities have experienced first-hand the environmental and social impacts of open- pit god, mining. More and more, empowered communities have refused to allow mining inside or close to sensitive ecosystems.
10. THERE IS STILL TIME. In the coming months, decisions will be made in La Paz and Mexico City to allow or prohibit the construction of the Paredones Amarillos gold mine. You can help protect the Sierra de la Laguna. Distribute this document and stay tuned. In the next few weeks we will be proposing specific activities to protect the Sierra de la Laguna.

VISTA GOLD NO

New York Times Uncovers Real Cost of Gold

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OPEN PIT GOLD MINING

SIERRA DE LA LAGUNA BIOSPHERE

HOW CAN YOU HELP

IMPORTANT SITES AND ARTICLES

Canadian-held miners face backlash in Mexico: Toronto Sun - Money

10 Things You Should Know

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