Detroit News supports doing business in the Upper Peninsula with a mining company accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and bribery
Groups pray Rio Tinto/Kennecott Minerals will stop raping the Yellow Dog Plains and desecrating sacred Eagle Rock
Detroit News duped by – or in bed with – an evil mining company that spins false information into pseudo facts
I was shocked to see that the Detroit News would favor a mining project that will have few benefits and allow one of the world’s worst polluters to leave a mess behind in seven years (life of mine) while destroying sacred Eagle Rock.
Rio Tinto has also been charged with war crimes, human rights violations, bribery and other crimes across the globe.
The Detroit News editorial wrongly claimed the company is respecting a very old Anishinaabe/Ojibwa sacred site for Native American tribe rituals, religious ceremonies.
Below on the left is the infamous editorial that proves the Detroit News does not know their facts about the sulfide “acid” nickel mine being built in northern Michigan – and sounds like it was written by a mining company PR person.
In fact, Rio Tinto/Kennecott Minerals will be dynamiting through sacred Eagle Rock to make the entrance of the mine (They already bulldozed the area directly around Eagle Rock).
To the Ojibwa, it is the same as dynamiting through a large church/cathedral in any city across Michigan.
Many people are expressing outrage about the editorial – on the left below are a few examples.
It’s an undisputed fact that the Rio Tinto/Kennecott has one of the most dismal environmental records in the world.
Rio Tinto/Kennecott have a track record of deciding it is less costly to leave a mess and possibly face litigation – than simply clean up their toxic waste.
Ex-Governor Granholm and Governor Snyder have refused to answer questions about their (or close family) financial ties to the project including campaign donations, favorable land deals, luxury trips, wining and dining, stocks and bonds, any and all gratuities from the companies or their representatives like lobbyists, others, etc.
As a correspondent for Indian Country Today, I submitted those questions to all the candidates for governor – and ex-Gov. Granholm – all refused to comment (It would be easy to say they had no financial connections but instead refused to comment – talk about red flags).
The mining company also uses dirty tricks – like redesigning a water system to be above ground (in the severe U.P. winters) to avoid the federal clean water act regulations.
Plus two Ojibwa campers charged with trespassing were not allowed to present a defense – literally told they could not present the defense they planned. Ironically, the judge’s name is extremely close to “Kangaroo” as in Kangaroo Court.
The Detroit News editorial sounds like it was written by a Kennecott PR person.
I understand why the small U.P. newspapers (who get mine advertising) have not done investigative stories – but am disillusioned about Michigan truly having a “free press” now that the Detroit News would write this puff editorial.
It means Michigan’s largest newspaper have sold-out their environmental morals to an international mining company.
Shame on the Detroit News for selling out – which begs the question how much advertising has it received or been promised from Rio Tinto or any of its companies/lobbyists (minions).
Even with tough times at the major newspapers, I never thought the Detroit News would not investigate before printing Rio Tinto/Kennecott claims.
The above is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to scandalous info about this project – a few headlines:
- State allows DEQ/DNR financially going into bed with the mining company by allowing its employees to set up a non-profit using state addresses, state labor and state materials.
- DEQ/DNR hides a state-paid expert safety report critical of the project – stating major concerns over whether a vital trout stream would collapse into the mine. That type of disaster would send a huge amount of sulfuric acid downstream into Lake Superior.
- During a reshuffle of the DNR/DEQ agencies – an interim boss approves mine permit despite serious objections from a state administrative law judge and others.
- Only half of the 150 employees will be locally hired.
- Company admits they will make billions in profits because of the size of the world record nickel deposit – but the state itself and local government tills will only get a small fraction of that cash.
- That’s why many have accused the company of making side deals with U.P. elected officials and others with decision powers – exactly like when Rio Tinto got caught and convicted of bribing China officials and other similar allegations in other countries. In fact, the country of Norway has banned any business with Rio Tinto due to environmental concerns.
Native Americans continued their fight against the acid mine (click on photos to read):
Stop sulfide “acid” mining in northern Michigan:
God help protect the Upper Peninsula and rescue us from the many evil mining companies that will be shorted lived but leave behind centuries worth of toxic waste
