Topic: mining
Earthquake hits Johannesburg, unknown magnitude
Johannesburg, South Africa - Residents in Johannesburg got surprised by a massive earthquake or rather a tremor just after 9pm last night. The earthquake scared a lot of people and was felt at a lot of locations in Johannesburg.
Some reports of Bedfordview, Kensington and as close as 1km from Johannesburg went out. No one was injured neither any serious damage to property but people were "shaken" because of the tremor.
The Council for Geosciences in South Africa did not measure any earthquakes on Thursday night, the last one they recorded was on Tuesday, that was the smaller 2.9 Magnitude earthquake.
Some people also reported of buildings shaking in central Johannesburg. The earthquake was felt in numerous places around Johannesburg.
The biggest earthquake that ever hit Johannesburg was
Because the Council of Geosciences did not pick up the earthquake we could attribute it to mining activities similar to the earthquakes that were felt earlier this year near Gold Reef city. They also occurred because of mining activities.
No one until now could really confirm that the earthquakes happened because of mining activities.
The biggest earthquake in history we could find, since earthquakes have been tracked in South Africa was probably the magnitude 5.7 on the Richter scale that happened 36 years ago in Randfontein a 4.5 Magnitude earthquake also happened in central Johannesburg in 1966 as well as a 5 magnitude in Alexandra near Johannesburg.
DA: Mineral Resources Minister chooses secrecy over openness
The DA takes on Minister of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu
Minister of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu, believes that being open about mines that are harming the environment is not a requirement of her job. Instead she chooses to protect the offending mines saying the information is sensitive, and may, for example, affect their share prices.
The Minister has, in reply to a DA parliamentary question, refused to divulge the names and locations of mines against which action has been taken for deviations from their respective environmental management plans.
Yesterday the Minister said at a press conference that “transparency and consistency will be the hallmark in the management of South Africa's mineral resources.” Her parliamentary reply is certainly not in this spirit of transparency. I will be submitting a request in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) for this information.
The negative effects of mining on the environment are well known. Mining contributes extensively to economic growth and job creation in South Africa, and thus has a very important part to play in our economy, however, the regulation of the environmental compliance of mines is weak, if not almost non-existent.
The worsening acid mine drainage problems in Gauteng and Mpumalanga is evidence of what happens when mines are not held to the highest environmental standards. There are hundreds of ownerless and abandoned mines across the length and breadth of this country that have never been rehabilitated, and now pose a serious risk to environmental and human health.
The public has a right to know what efforts, if any, the Department of Mineral Resources is taking against mines that jeopardise our health. There is no rationale for the Minister’s secrecy. In contrast, the Department of Environmental Affairs, which has overall oversight over the protection of the environment (with the exception of the effect on the environment of prospecting for and extracting minerals) is quite happy to divulge details of actions it has taken against environmental transgressors, many of which are also publicly listed companies.
Only yesterday, the Director-General of the Environment Department briefed the portfolio committee in Parliament on the very strong actions it was taking against the Vele Colliery near Mapungubwe. This Department also published an annual compliance and enforcement report outlining the extent of enforcement activities by the national department and all provincial departments. Further, the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs is quite happy to divulge the names of mines operating without water licences. So why can’t the Minister of Mineral Resources be committed to openness and transparency?
The Minister of Mineral Resources comment that she cannot publicly divulge the requested information because it may affect the share price of listed companies is nonsense. Quite frankly, there are many other actions by her Department related to its implementation of the Mineral and Petroleum Resource Development Act that do far more damage to the share price of listed companies. The uncertainty her Department creates for investment in the mining sector is the problem, and even the most environmentally compliant and responsible mines feel this on their share prices.
The Minister does not need to protect listed companies that are harming the environment. It was the choice of those companies to list themselves on the stock exchange. These companies are accountable to shareholders and full reporting of the so-called triple bottom line is becoming the norm. If a mine is not environmentally compliant let it be judged in the court of public opinion.
Aggeneys
Aggeneys is a very small and young town that was established in 1976, the town mainly started as a mining town and remains so until today. The town of Aggeneys is situated between Pofadder and Springbok and is one of the many small towns of the Northern Cape province of South Africa.
Trade and Industry Minister calls on Chinese companies to invest in South African mining
Pretoria, South Africa - Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies called on Chinese companies to invest in South African mining while speaking at the China-South Africa Business Seminar in Shangai, China on Wednesday.
"The success of World Cup 2010 in South Africa and the Shanghai World Expo 2010 in China speaks volume about what is happening in the world economy today. The world economy has undergone very profound changes in the last few years. The new poles of economic power and the new forces of dynamism in the world economy have shifted very decisively to the South," said Davies.
"The fact that South Africa is part of the dynamic advanced developing countries, a power in our own right, and are also part of the African continent, makes us a very important focus for investors and those interested in expanding trading relations," said Davies, adding that China has grown from being SA's fourth largest trading partner to being South Africa's largest trading partner in 2010.
"Our policy is to encourage investment in higher levels of beneficiation of the SA mineral products. We believe some level of processing and beneficiation of the products in our country will add value to our economy and make returns for those investments more equitable and more growth enhancing," he said.
Missionary defending Amazon tribes in Peru must not be deported
Amnesty International has called on the Peruvian government to revoke its decision to expel a British catholic activist who has spent the past ten years defending the rights of the country's Indigenous people.
Amnesty International has called on the Peruvian government to revoke its decision to expel a British catholic activist who has spent the past ten years defending the rights of the country's Indigenous people.
Paul McAuley, who helps local communities protest against the effect of oil, gas and mining exploitation on their environment, is facing deportation today after the authorities said they would cancel his residency permit.
He recently publicly denounced an oil spill into the waters of Amazonian river Marañon, in June.
“The government’s attitude towards Indigenous people and those who work to protect their rights is deeply disturbing,” said Guadalupe Marengo, Deputy Americas Director at Amnesty International.
“This attempt to expel a human rights advocate who has worked tirelessly to protect Amazon communities and their environment is the latest example of the attack on Indigenous People’s rights that is taking place in Peru.”
In a letter to the Interior Minister on 5 July, Amnesty International pointed out that the missionary had been given no opportunity to appeal the rejection of his residency permit that was announced on 1 July, when he was given seven days to leave the country and never return.
Paul McAuley has worked to raise awareness amongst the local population about their rights, which are enshrined in international human rights law, while speaking out on the effects of extractive companies.
The Peruvian government has described Paul McAuley’s human rights work as ‘political’, with Prime Minister Javier Velazquez declaring that “foreigners living in Peru are restricted from participating in political activities.”
“Brother Paul”, as he is known amongst the communities he works with, has been awarded an MBE by the Queen of England for his work, along with The Spanish Order Medal and Prize.
“The government must immediately revoke this expulsion and end its continuing crackdown on Indigenous people as they battle for their human rights,” Guadalupe Marengo.
In June, President Alan Garcia failed to confirm a law requiring consultation with Indigenous people on matters that affect them that already had been passed by the Peruvian congress.
Indigenous leaders continue to face unsubstantiated charges and no-one has yet been brought to trial for the violence that occurred when police broke up a protest staged by Indigenous people over land and resources at Bagua in June 2009, which left 33 people dead, including 23 police officers.
The protest stemmed from the government’s failure to consult with Indigenous people over a series of decree laws that would have affected their land and resources.
PRE01/227/2010
Wednesday 7 July 2010
Two earthquakes in the Northern Cape, Two in Johannesburg
Augrabies, South Africa - The small town of Augrabies had an earthquake on Tuesday. There were few people that felt the earthquake but it was felt in Riemvasmaak and Kakemas. The Seismology Unit of the Council for Geoscience confirmed that four earthquakes or tremors did in fact strike South Africa. One was actually a few days ago on June the 25th but the other ones was on Tuesday the 29th of June.
The first earthquake hit at Tuesday, 29 June 2010 at 04:07:07:53 SAST and that was the one in Augrabies, a magnitude 3.3 on the richter scale. Then the second one and the third one was actually in Johannesburg at Far West Rand gold mines, Gauteng Province and they were also 3.0 magnitude earthquakes.
Johannesburg is used to getting earthquakes, Augrabies not that much. Two eartquakes hitting Augrabies in the last 5 days is significant.There were also two earthquakes or tremors in other areas but they are most likely mining related.
The earthquake that hit Augrabies on the 25th of June was a 2.7 Magnitude earthquake.
Technical details:
| Date and Time: | Friday, 25 June 2010 at 22:40:23:18 SAST |
| Magnitude: | 2.7 (Local Richter) |
| Depth: | 2.0 km (Fixed) |
| Location: | 28.604° South, 20.418° East |
| Region: | Augrabies area, Northern Cape Province |
| Location quality: |
Error estimate: Longitude ± 14.1 km, Latitude ± 12.1 km, Depth fixed by location programme
|
| Quality parameters: | RMS = 0.98 sec, Gap = 222°, Six (6) stations used in epicentral solution. |
| Source: | Seismology Unit of the Council for Geoscience |
| Date and Time: | Tuesday, 29 June 2010 at 04:07:07:53 SAST |
| Magnitude: | 3.3 (Local Richter) |
| Depth: | 5.0 km (Fixed) |
| Location: | 28.677° South, 20.477° East |
| Region: | Augrabies area, Northern Cape Province |
| Location quality: |
Error estimate: Longitude ± 9.6 km, Latitude ± 7.5 km, Depth fixed by location programme
|
| Quality parameters: | RMS = 0.87 sec, Gap = 221°, Nine (9) stations used in epicentral solution. |
| Source: | Seismology Unit of the Council for Geoscience |
Cape Town strip club raided
Cape Town, South Africa - Thirty five strippers or as some like to refer to them as "exotic dancers" got arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning when the SAPS and Home Affairs busted through the doors of Arabesque "review bar" in Burg Street, Cape Town.
They all face deportation. The raid was authorised by the Cape Town magistrate court because of information that the dancers were illegals. The not so Cape Town strippers got in the country with "mine worker" and Farmer permits. They however did mining of another kind and resulted in 17 people getting arrested. People watching the "show".
The department of Home Affairs had the following to say about the event.
Once again the raid communicates a positive message that South Africa will not tolerate the abuse of its permitting system for nefarious activities and accordingly the full might of the law will be brought to bear on those responsible for such illegal activities.
4.3 Magnitude earthquake hits Johannesburg, South Africa
A earthquake measuring 4.3 magnitude on the Ricther scale rocked Johannesburg and nearby towns at about 2pm today according to Geoscience. Currently its not known what caused this ie, mining or if it was the techtonic plates that moved.
There were no reports of injury or damage to buildings, some people claim to have felt the medium sized earthquake in parts of Johannesburg, especialy West Rand..
India: Government must stop bauxite mine and refinery expansion until human rights are addressed
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE
February 9 2010
India: Government must stop bauxite mine and refinery expansion until human rights are addressed
(Delhi) Indian authorities have given local communities scant or misleading information about the potential impact of a proposed alumina refinery expansion and mining project to be operated by subsidiaries of UK-based company Vedanta Resources in Orissa, Amnesty International said in a new report published today.
The Amnesty International report, Don’t Mine Us out of Existence: Bauxite Mine and Refinery Devastate Lives in India documents how an alumina refinery operated by a subsidiary of UK-based FTSE 100 company Vedanta Resources in Orissa, is causing air and water pollution that threatens the health of local people and their access to water.
“People are living in the shadow of a massive refinery, breathing polluted air and afraid to drink from and bathe in a river that is one of the main sources of water in the region,” said Ramesh Gopalakrishnan, Amnesty International’s researcher on South Asia. “It is shocking how those who are most affected by the project have been provided with the least information”
Adivasi (Indigenous), Dalit, women and other marginalised communities in the remote part of Orissa where the refinery is located have described to Amnesty International how authorities told them that the refinery would transform the area into a Mumbai or Dubai.
The Orissa State Pollution Control Board has documented air and water pollution from Vedanta Aluminium’s refinery in Lanjigarh, Orissa. Amnesty International found that the pollution threatens the health of local people and their access to clean water yet there has been no health monitoring.
“We used to bathe in the river but now I am scared of taking my children there. Both my sons have had rashes and blisters.” a local woman told Amnesty International. The organization recorded many similar accounts from people living around the refinery.
Despite these concerns and the environmentally sensitive location of the refinery near a river and villages, the government is considering a proposal for a six-fold expansion of the refinery. Neither the Indian authorities nor Vedanta have shared information on the extent of pollution and its possible effects with local communities.
The Orissa Mining Corporation and another Vedanta Resources subsidiary also plan to mine bauxite in the nearby Niyamgiri Hills. The proposed mine threatens the very existence of the Dongria Kondh, an 8,000 strong protected indigenous community that has lived on the Niyamgiri hills for centuries. The hills are considered sacred by the Dongria Kondh and are essential for their economic, physical and cultural survival, yet no process to seek the community’s informed consent has been established.
A Dongria Kondh man told Amnesty International, “We have seen what happens to other Adivasis when they are forced to leave their traditional lands, they lose everything.”
“The people of Orissa are among the poorest in India and their health is being threatened by pollution from the refinery. Their voices are being ignored by Vedanta Resources and its partner companies as well as by Orissa’s government. There has been inadequate consultation with local people about the changes on the ground and yet it’s their lives and futures which hang in the balance,” said Ramesh Gopalakrishnan.
Amnesty International is calling on the Government of India and Vedanta Resources to ensure that there is no expansion of the refinery and mining does not go ahead until existing problems are resolved. Amnesty International is also calling for full consultation with local people and for the Indian authorities to set up a process to seek the free, prior and informed consent of the Dongria Kondh.
Notes to Editors:
• The alumina refinery in Lanjigarh is operated by Vedanta Aluminium Ltd. Vedanta Resources owns 70.5 per cent of Vedanta Aluminium and Sterlite India Ltd. owns the remaining 29.5 per cent. Vedanta Resources owns 59.9 per cent of Sterlite India and has management control of the company. The mining project would be operated by a joint venture, the South-west Orissa Bauxite Mining Corporation, involving Sterlite India (74 per cent) and the state-owned Orissa Mining Corporation (26 per cent).
• The Dongria Kondh are an adivasi (Indigenous community) and were described as ‘endangered’ by India’s Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC).
• Under international law, the government of India has an obligation to respect, protect and fulfil human rights including the rights to water and health and to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples over the lands and territories they traditionally occupy. The obligation to protect requires measures by states to ensure that other actors (such as companies) do not undermine or violate human rights. Government failure to protect human rights does not absolve companies from responsibility for their operations and the impact of those operations on human rights. Companies should – at minimum – respect all human rights.
• This report is part of Amnesty International’s Demand Dignity campaign which aims to end the human rights violations that drive and deepen global poverty. The campaign aims to mobilise people all over the world to demand that governments, big corporations and others who have power, listen to the voices of those living in poverty and recognise and protect their rights. For more information visit www.demanddignity.org
Papua New Guinea: Investigation into police conduct in Porgera must be impartial
Papua New Guinea: Investigation into police conduct in Porgera must be impartial
Amnesty International today questioned the impartiality of a proposed police investigation into alleged forced evictions near the Porgera gold mine following media reports that the Police Commissioner dismissed allegations of police misconduct.
"It is essential that such an investigation be transparent, effective, impartial and independent, and the results clearly based on the evidence," said Shanta Martin, Amnesty International's mining and human rights specialist. "It should not be launched by the police with a predetermined objective of clearing the police of misconduct."
On 4 February 2010, Papua New Guinea’s Police Commissioner, Gari Baki, was reported in the media to have said that he might order a police investigation so as to refute claims that people in Porgera were the victims of police violence. He reportedly dismissed evidence of illegal evictions of people living near the Porgera gold mine and police violence as "fabricated".
Background
On 2 February 2010, Amnesty International launched its report, Undermining Rights: Forced evictions and police brutality around the Porgera gold mine, Papua New Guinea, which documents police violence and the forced eviction by police of families living alongside the Porgera gold mine.
Amnesty International also has concerns regarding ongoing support to the police by companies involved in the mine after the companies became aware of police misconduct in the area. The mine is 95% owned and operated by subsidiaries of the largest gold mining company in the world, Canadian-based Barrick Gold Corporation, as part of the Porgera Joint Venture.