By Marc Choyt “From the CEO to shovel operator,” the brochure reads, “the company believes the areas unspoiled air, clean water and natural beauty are more valuable than any mineral wealth.” A proposed gold mine threatens a pristine region of New Mexico, while using Orwellian PR to tout its commitment to “sustainability.” In June, Santa

Will ‘Silly’ Regulation Prevail Over Common Sense? By Ian Doyle The issue of conflict diamonds, and more recently conflict minerals, remains a problem at many levels. On the ground, what can be done to change the deplorable conditions of artisanal miners exposed to extreme poverty, slave labour and rape as a weapon, in those regions

In June, Santa Fe Gold announced plans to open a two billion dollar gold mine just south of my home city of Santa Fe, New Mexico in the Ortiz Mountains. They sent out thousands of glossy brochures to citizens with the headline: “Continuing a Legacy, Setting A New Standard For Mining.” The document opens to