Last session's failed mining reform efforts focused only on iron mines as opposed to operations that would remove metals such as gold, copper, zinc and silver. Unlike in iron mining, the processing of such base metals requires the use of chemicals and exposes surrounding sulfide minerals to air and water, which can create potent, polluting acidThe GOP, with majorities in both the Assembly and Senate after January, is looking to achieve two things:
Reward industry, at any cost to land and water resources which belong to all citizens, and to which Native Americans hold separate and inviolable treaty rights.
Get over the defeat earlier this year in the Senate - - with a swing GOP vote - - of the Assembly's politically-toxic iron mining bill and put that feather back in Gov. Walker's cap.
Revenge legislation approved by a gerrymandered Legislature will land in court and fail there.
Yes, it looks like we are finally going to get the adults back in charge to end the moratorium on mining and take some real steps to improve the economy and the lives of real people. The environment will be adequately protected and more iron will be available to the world’s markets. Since the end of the Bronze Age, Iron has been the single element which has improved the life of all humanity more than any other mineral.
ReplyDeleteThe proposed mine in northern Wisconsin is on land which was sold by the previous inhabitants and purchased for the sole purpose of mining minerals (by the Copper Treaty of 1842), and has been mined, and held in ownership by mining companies for over 160 years. This important mining heritage will once again be restored to the area.
To mine the Penokee Hills is to commit genocide against Native people who depend upon Manomin for their survival. If you support mining, you are a racist. The democrats who are trying to write a new mining bill are also racists. The only acceptable action is to end all mining, now and forever. It only results in the killing of native people. Mining and manufacturing tools and weapons are a white activity, it is not native, it is racist.
ReplyDeleteThe elders reserved the right to manage the plants and animals of the ceded territory forver. They have the right to stop the mine which will kill the Manomin and the other plants and animals they need to live. They have already said that they will not approve any mining under any circumstances, and to do otherwise would be to support racism and genocide against their people.
The mine will not and cannot happen. To think otherwise is to be racist.
I wonder if the Republicons will spew environmental rape comments from their rancid smelling mouths.
ReplyDeleteGo ahead sign it- see ya in court or should I say adult daycare for the Republicons.
Mines have always left scars on the Earth. Mechanized mining leaves wounds that take tens of thousands years to heal.
ReplyDeleteThe overburden of an iron mine in the Penokees would release sulfuric acid into the groundwater. In 50 years the Bad River Peoples' rice beds would be no more and the acid would be entering Lake Superior, the world's largest source of fresh water. When the overburden rock was finally done releasing acid Lake Superior could begin its 300 to 400 year regeneration process.
The ''economy'' tradeoff: approximately 150 jobs for perhaps 30 years depending on the world market for iron ore. Most of the money this mine would produce would end up in the hands of a billionaire Florida mine owner. How bad is the deal? The word colossal comes to mind.
Human beings do not have the right to inflict harm on the Earth no matter who benefits. And for those attempting to live in harmony with Mother Earth an iron mine in the Penokee Hills would bring death of a People.
There will be No Mine in the Penokees!
This is appalling.
ReplyDeleteFirst, treaty rights need to be respected. What can be done to support the native people in this area?
Second, iron mines do not have to use acid. Iron mines do not have to use acid of any kind. It looks like the mining company is trying to hire as few people as possible while simultaneously saying they will hire lots of people.
The Penokee Hills mine sounds like a bad project all around.