http://www.theage.com.au/breaking/19990415/A40363-1999Apr14.shtml Activists to protest at Western Mining's AGM Source: AAP | Published: Thursday April 15 12:32:56 AM Environmental activists will use the annual general meeting of the Western Mining Corporation today to protest over the company's treatment of Aborigines and Filipinos. The Christian Centre for Social Action will hold a silent vigil outside the WMC's Belmont headquarters, on Victoria's south-west peninsula, before commencing "mining" in WMC's special desert garden. A statement released by Western Australia Greens Senator Dee Margetts said the action was to point symbolically to the devastation being wrought on the sacred lands of the B'laan people from the Filipino island, Southern Mindanao. Mining was set to commence at the same time the WMC's annual general meeting begins at the Melbourne Concert Hall at 8.30am. Meanwhile, the Friends of the Earth have called on the WMC board to inform shareholders of the grim impact its actions are having on indigenous communities in Australia and internationally. The Friends, along with representatives from indigenous, church, environmental and trade union groups will attend the AGM to highlight their concerns. Spokesman Bruce Thompson said the Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine in South Australia was devastating the local environment. "At every stage the operation has failed to meet the economic expectations of both the company and the South Australian government. This is despite the exclusion of real costs to the community and the environment," he said. "If these were added to the balance sheet WMC would be seriously in the red." Representatives of the Arrabunna Aboriginal community will convey to shareholders the status of legal proceedings against WMC managing director Hugh Morgan in relation to the South Australian mine. ************************************************************************* This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
