Mexico state shuts controversial Canadian-run mine

[Judi Lynn]

Mexico state shuts controversial Canadian-run mine
December 8, 2009 10:41 PM ET

TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, Mexico (AP) - A Canadian-owned mine at the center of a dispute over the slaying of a Mexican mining activist has been shut down for environmental reasons, authorities said Tuesday.

The mine operated by Blackfire Exploration Ltd. in southern Mexico near the Guatemalan border "was closed because it was affecting the environment," Chiapas state's environmental department said in a statement.

Authorities accused the company of building roads and changing land use without authorization as well as polluting.

~snip~
Anti-mine activist Enrique Murias said Tuesday that Abarca feared for his life and had told police that Blackfire mine executives threatened him.

More:
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=AP&date=20091208&id=10803017

http://axisoflogic.com.nyud.net:8090/artman/uploads/1/Mariano_Abarca_copy.jpg
"Authorities didn't do anything about it," Murias said.

[Downwinder]

1. News Updates December 8, 2009

MEDIA ALERT
Two employees of Canadian mining firm Blackfire arrested in Mexico for murder of prominent anti-mining activist Mariano Abarca Robledo

On November 27, 2009, Mariano Abarca Robledo, a prominent Mexican anti-mining activist, was shot to death in the community of Chicomuselo, Chiapas. Mr. Mariano Abarca was a leader of the Mexican Network of People Affected by Mining (REMA) and one of the most important figures to publicly denounce the negative impact on the environment in Chiapas coming from the extractive operations of the Canadian mining firm Blackfire.

Common Frontiers has sent a letter to Canada's Governer General, who is in the Mexican state, urging her to calling on her to meet with REMA members grieving the loss of Mr. Abarca to hear first-hand about the circumstances behind this tragedy.

-Download a copy of the media advisory and CF's letter to the Gov.-Gen.

http://www.commonfrontiers.ca/

[Judi Lynn]

2. Looking forward to see how this case against the two aleged killers is going to procede!

Thanks for posting the message to Gov. Michaëlle Jean. Here are a couple of photos of her: http://nimg.sulekha.com.nyud.net:8090/others/thumbnailfull/barack-obama-michaelle-jean-2009-2-19-13-33-57.jpg

Obama's visit to Ottawa

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com.nyud.net:8090/gi/Prince+Wales+Duchess+Cornwall+Visit+Canada+HJKKHzE_llal.jpg

Prince Charles and Gov. Michaëlle Jean
Hope she will be able to do something big about this.

[Peace Patriot]

3. Rest in peace, Mariano! May your cause live on and flourish & join with other such causes worldwide

to save our troubled and polluted and ravaged Mother Earth!

:grouphug: