This is just great.....the Canadians invest $3.8 billion USD/CAD and take away valuable minerals....how many Dominican good paying jobs are involved, what are the real costs to the country, what are the reclamation costs to return the land to its previous state?????? Two centuries ago, the Imperialists would just steal it, now they steal it by trickery. Cynical you say I sound? Well, to be honest, yes....who wouldn't be?

The Sargeant

Barrick Gold has spent Millions of Dollars to clean up the environmental mess created by the D.R. government.

Barrick Gold is and will inject Millions of Dollars into the D.R economy.

Barrick Gold will directly employ and generate more jobs in the D.R. than if they weren't there.

Not one single Dominican stepped up and try to run a mining operation themselves.

The Idea that Barrick Gold is taking away Valuable minerals and the implication of that it is somehow bad for the D.R. is simplistic and ignorant. Is Saudi Arabia a poorer nation for exporting Oil? Is the USA poorer for exporting Wheat.

Barrick Gold is the most hated company int he whole world.
They polluted waters , rivers, and not necessarily bring prosperity to communities.

There have being protest worldwide from Papua New Guinea, Chile, Australia, Tanzania, and the U.S. – all adversely affected by Barrick's operations.

They bring misery and disease by using cyanide and poring into the water.. ( as we can see in the photos) to those poor communities world wide..


Among the terrible damages reported, the pollution of superficial and underground waters must be mentioned, due to the use of extremely poisonous chemicals, to watercourse deviations , they call it red river of cyanide..and continue there for generations..

Their nickname is : Canada's shame

Source: protestbarrickgold.blogspot.com/

another interesting report at:
ecoportal.net/Temas_Especiales/Derechos_Humanos/Asi_Funciona_la_Minera_Barrick_Gold

Mr. Victor,
I did not think I was talking through my hat. This will be another case of "take the money and run".....and better yet, "take the money and ruin"

I checked out the website....this company is not a little player when it comes to destruction...they are big time!!!

protestbarrickgold.blogspot.com/2008/05/protesters-demand-accountability.html

Thanks for this information.

Sgt.

Can you two Eco-warriors give us one verifiable case in which Barrick Gold willfully caused environmental damage in the D.R.?

Just one from a reputable source.

Anthony,

The proof is out there. Is there a reason you stick up for them so vehemently? Are you perhaps employed by Barrick? I remember passionately defending my government when someone proposed to me that 9-11 was an inside job. I was so angry because I couldn't fathom my own country causing that kind of pain to it's own people, but at that time I couldn't accept the truth. I have since, and you may possibly accept the ugly truth about Barrick someday too.

On this occasion, AnthonyC is absolutely correct -
Barrack Gold is the best thing to happen for the Dominican economy, workforce and environment.

"take the money and ruin" sgtfletcher? They are not only required to restore the environment and provide much-needed permanent infrastructure, they have to clean up the environmental mess left by the government's previous gold-mining operations!

serenitydelsol, if you believe 9-11 was an "inside job" then believing Barrak Gold is an evil monster is quite plausible. You are obviously completely out of touch with reality. How about HAARP, chem-trails, crop-circles and images of Jesus burnt into toast?

Many companies are "required" to clean up their mess(s) but many play the old "let's go bankrupt" trick, and reorganize avoiding the requirements. There are parts of Montana that are not able to be used to even grow apples trees ( see Jerrod Diamond's "Collapse" ) because of the copper mines and the chemicals used in the process. The fines levied against the copper mining companies are a mere token of the damage they have done. Look, I cannot predict the future and I am sure that the best laid plans are to reclaim the land, but the fact is that gold mining is a very messy and chemical ridden process. The gold does not just lay there ready to be plucked out of the ground.....tons and tons of ore have to be removed per ounce of gold. This is not the movies. I suggest that the gov't hire University students to monitor the mining operation because they are ones who will truly inherit the Earth, or lack thereof. Sgt Fletcher

AnthonyC and RoyStone:

I am not in Dom.Rep. but I got several friends of mine that publish on Facebook over and over a LOT of photos of RED Cyanide river, and I just dont think they know each other.
I am not a tree huger but I know VERY well how destructive Barrik Gold could be..They have complaints, and lawsuits from the 5 continents..

They just dont care about the destruction that they made, and people dont understand that it take 150 years to mother nature to recover when you take the caliche out in those quantities.. No rivers, no trees, no grass , forest, agriculture for generations!

I am certainly no friendly with people that try to poison my country..

If somebody have any doubts of what Barrick Gold do in D.R., why dont you have first a drink of water of this river in Cotui.. and that will answer ALL your questions!

source: eldomi.com/?cat=1645


They look like blood..isnt it?

There is no denying there have been environmental disasters in the past from mining, however these are insignificant compared to the damage done by farming, urbanization, fishing, timber-cutting and charcoal-burning, and the economic benefits are greater.

Nop.. Very wrong answer Roystone...
VERY cheap and false excuse!

They havent start production yet and there have been hundred of employees contaminated already.. twice!.. And after that giving cheap excuses! I hate when foreigners think that it's 1492 again..

youtube.com/watch?v=KzYA-pQlFoQ&feature=player_embedded#!

No country have reach a development because barrik Gold is there..Instead, they gave disease , misery and death to the people....
They dont want to build factories or a big agriculture project..
They want to destroy the vegetable layer of soil forever, throw all the toxic to the water, the one that everybody drinks.. ..As they always has done all over the world

Thanks for the link. Here's a quote from it:

"In this regard, Sanchez emphasized that as soon as you start the first sale of gold, the State will receive about $ 500 million in 3.2% of royalties for the molten gold, in addition to payments of income tax of the company. This would be so if the price of an ounce of gold remains at $ 1,000.

This added investment in the municipalities that border the mine, which will receive $ 25 million for development works and the fact that 4,000 jobs have been generated and acquired $ 340 million in goods and services to Dominican suppliers."

As far as the photo is concerned, there is no way of knowing if it has been modified (red river) or that it is even the river in question. I would happily swim in a river downstream of a modern gold-mining tailings-dam, but not in a river downstream of a Dominican city, town or village.

I wouldn't drink the water from any Dominican river, or reticulated water-supply (or eat any Dominican Cacalami sausage either)

ROy Stone:

B.S... and you know it..

B.Gold is poisoning my country and you are insulting everybody intelligence..!

again : pure B.S.

"Written by: soundessential, 28 Jul 2012 6:51 PM

From: Dominican Republic

Joseano doesn't make an appearance when it's something negatively affecting our country, cause it's helping his agenda of provoking turmoil."

But didn't you order me to stay away?

Alpha66 in his Alter-EGO Ayn Rand mode asks:


Is Saudi Arabia a poorer nation for exporting Oil?

No.......................... because they Nationalized their Oil Industry:

"In 1973, following US support for Israel during the Yom Kippur War, the Saudi Arabian government acquired a 25% stake in Aramco. It increased its shareholding to 60% by 1974, and finally took full control of Aramco by 1980, by acquiring a 100% percent stake in the company."

Is the USA poorer for exporting Wheat.

No!...................... because it’s American Farmers running the farms (not foreign) companies with the help of US government via Subsidies and Price Supports!


PS

Are you happy now sound-UNESSENTIAL?

Please feel free to call me when you need me to defend you again!

So nobody has any proof of any of Barrick's alleged Eco-crimes?

Nobody?

A doctored photo on a blog isn't proof.

I want a reputable source. I want to see water analysis. I want to see actual evidence.


I have asked for it before and the Barrick haters never produced and I seriously doubt that they will produce this time.

Expect some lame excuse.

So Alpha, you already quit your job as an Aramco spokes-idiot!

This reminds of you short lived defense of IKEA!

Anthonyc:

I dont want to take Josean part in this case, but I certanly think that you are completly wrong..

Google have THOUSANDS of complaints of B.Gold..From all over the world..from legal side, to supreme court,to medical, to indigenous people, from people from the five continents...

Barick gold wont give prosperity to Cotuy, you or me..And I dont want anything to do with it either , if that foment the poisoning of my people..Because I have a remorseful concience..

This is not about eco-fanatic..I am not one of them......
It's about people that want to have regular water in their house, instead of drinking red-blood cyanide and become one part of my country in no-men lands for GENERATIONS...

One of he web side I like the most is this because it mention D.R. in a small paragraph....But worldwide the claim is the same..:

source: protestbarrick.net

Please dont be so naive,.... and wake up..

ohhhvictor,

It is you who has made the allegations. It is up to you to back them up.

All I ask for is one factual report from a reputable source that Barrick has willfully and wantonly created environmental damage in the D,R,

Just one.

As for your argument that Barrick doesn't help the D.R. economically....

That is just plain ignorant.

Not that they are under any moral obligation to help the D.R. but the fact is they will pay Millions of Dollars in commissions and Taxes to the D.R. Government as well as employ hundreds directly and 1000's indirectly

A picture says a thousand words:
and you already saw it..Wasnt that EXTREMELLY chocking? Don't you think that the officials from B.G. should be in jail for doing that? But again.. there isn't anybody as blind as those that dont want to see..

Check this article so you can see the prosperity that brings Barrick Gold to communities, instead of making nonsense remarks.. and THIS Time please read it..

protestbarrick.net/article.php?id=500

Mr. Victor,
Thank you for this photo......this only proves what I have been saying and others have been saying here all along.....
By the way, the premise of the Gold Venture in the DR is that gold holds at $1000 oz or higher.. Investments such as this sometimes promise the investor, for example, gold at $500 per oz and then the investor makes the profit on the difference between the so-called "spot" market and the delivery price. The problem with this model is that the price to extract the gold can rise dramatically when a) gold prices plummet and/or b) when currencies become safe havens or interest rates rise. Right now, interest rates in the US have only two ways to go...they can stay the same or can rise....there is no possible direction downward now. If the European Banks start dumping gold again...and they could do this, the entire model for the DR gold turns to dust. Do you follow this reasoning? I can go into more detail but this is the macro-picture. Sgt.Fletcher

Water analysis from a recognized testing authority please, not doctored leftist propaganda pix.

Mr. RS,
Do you think that all of this about Barrick is based upon some fiction? some grand fairy tale? or it is some subversive econ plot? Most, but not all, public perceptions are based upon some recognizable truth. If your claim is that all of these comments are created from fiction, then it should be up to you prove otherwise. So far, you have not done so.
Sgt Fletcher

"Written by: ohhhvictor, 28 Jul 2012 10:46 PM

From: United States

Anthonyc:

I dont want to take Josean part in this case, but I certanly think that you are completly wrong.."




Its ok Victor, in life there is wrong and right and on this issue, shocking but true, you are RIGHT!


What is not Shocking is that Alpha 66 is shilling for them!

Alpha66, says:

"Not that they are under any moral obligation to help the D.R"


Spoken like true confused disciple of Ayn Rand!

ohhhvictor,

One possibly doctored photo is all you have?

For the sake of argument lets say the photo isn't fake?

How do we know what caused the color change? It could be rain runoff from some iron rich soil. It could be some local dumping dumping paint or some chemical.
The photo doesn't show us where water is. It doesn't show what is in the water. It doesn't implicate Barrick in any way shape or form.

All I ask for is one factual report from a reputable source that Barrick has willfully and wantonly created environmental damage in the D.R.

Written by: josean,
"Alpha66, says:
"Not that they are under any moral obligation to help the D.R"
Spoken like true confused disciple of Ayn Rand!"

Don't you hate the fact that I have the moral high ground......again?


BTW Calling me Alpha66 is in no way, shape or form insulting to me so keep it up.

Note:

"Following accusations connected with the Porgera Gold Mine, on January 30, 2009 the company "was excluded from The Government Pension Fund of Norway, one of the world's largest Sovereign Wealth Funds. The fund's Council on Ethics in an investigation found "an unacceptable risk of contribution to ongoing and future environmental damage" at the Porgera mine:"

"The Council HAS INVESTIGATED whether riverine tailings disposal from the Porgera mine in Papua New Guinea generates severe environmental damage, AND FINDS IT ESTABLISHED THAT THE MINING OPERATION AT PORGERA ENTAILS CONSIDERABLE POLLUTION. In the Council’s view HEAVY METALS CONTAMINATION CONSTITUTES THE BIGGEST THREAT OF SEVERE AND LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE. The Council also considers it probable that the discharge has a negative impact on the population’s life and health, including both the residents of the actual mining area and the tribal peoples who live along the river downstream of the mine."

Continue

"The fund sold all its stock in the company, worth ca. 245m US$, as a result of these conclusions."

wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrick_Gold


I think the mangers of one of the" world's largest Sovereign Wealth Funds" are not a bunch of Tree Hugging Greenies to use Aplah 66’s Fox News Rhetoric but are pretty prudent, smart and CONSERVATIVE businessmen/woman; and certainly with more knowledge of the facts than Alpha!

So I Will stick with them!

"BTW Calling me Alpha66 is in no way, shape or form insulting to me so keep it up."


I know you are proud to be associated with Terrorists!

Let the pollution begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Still waiting for one factual report from a reputable source that Barrick has willfully and wantonly created environmental damage in the D.R.

Anthony-

Do you or do you not work for Barrick?

jasfalon, announces
Let the pollution begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Never seen a Dominican river before? Dominicans have been polluting their rivers for ages - glaciers of styrofoam and PET

Yes the Dominicans have been polluting the rivers for ages, because the country lacks organized and reliable garbage removal. The poor use it as a trash can. That I can agree with you on "RoyStone," however they don't dump cyanide in it. Big difference.

serenitydelsol,

I do not nor never have worked for or have any financial interest in Barrick Gold and any of its subsidiaries.


OK?

serenitydelsol

In our village, despite not paying any municipal rates or taxes, there is regular weekly garbage collection. Yet people still throw rubbish in the street, the forest, the creeks and river, and even their own back yards.

As for cyanide, give us the readings. I know Dominican fishermen throw poison in the sea to collect fish when they float to the surface.

Filthy, lazy, feral peasants.

“Filthy, lazy, feral peasants.”

So, Roy are you suggesting a Final Solution, because your rhetoric is very similar to the Third Reich's when referring to Jews and others they did not like!

Why are people still arguing over Barrick Gold?


I am Still waiting for one factual report from a reputable source that Barrick has willfully and wantonly created environmental damage in the D.R.

Until then any accusations you may spew just make you look childish and stubborn.

Anthony C, If you didn't work for them, you're just stupid. I've owned a house in RD for 25 years, and I do know about the daily pollution, probably even more than you, but I also know about Barrick, gold mining, and corrupt governments. RD is 10 years behind Haiti in all areas, and it's too bad.

josean,
I don't have a "final solution" because it's not my problem. Hopefully I will not be there when the Dominican Republic fails completely. I feel sorry for the good people in the country, however they should not have allowed the rot to set in. When someone like the Hippo can get almost half the votes at an election, what hope has the country got?

AnthonyC:

Do we really need to make a study to grade the % of cyanide throw in the red blood Cotuy river?

Or do you want to test what % of those chemicals can kill a human being?

Are you nuts?

jasfalon, ohhhvictor,

Neither one of you have produced a single shred of real evidence that Barrick has willfully and wantonly created environmental damage in the D.R.


None, Zip, Zilch, Nada.

Just because you say there is cyanide in the river doesn't mean their is. Where is the report from an unbiased source. If there is cyanide when did it occur?

You want to know how I know you are all wrong?


BARRICK GOLD HASN'T EVEN STARTED PRODUCTION IN THE D.R.!

They aren't scheduled to start till next month. All they have been doing up until now is cleaning up the mess made by the Dominican Government


SO YOU ARE ALL LIARS!

There...We are done

ohhhvictor,

You still have not provided any evidence what-so-ever that Barrack Gold has put any cyanide in Rio Yuna (there is no Cotuy or Cotui River). Even if it is red, since sodium cyanide (the form used in gold extraction) is white!

As far as what is a fatal dose of cyanide is concerned, yes it is important, since it occurs naturally in some fruits and nuts that we eat.

I suggest you direct your energy towards the real environmental vandals in the Dominican Republic, and stop trying to kill the goose that is laying you a golden egg.

" When someone like the Hippo can get almost half the votes at an election, what hope has the country got?"

Roy,


I guess your right and the NARCO PLD getting the other half makes the outlook into the future even gloomier.

But remember the 4 million confused voters are just a little less than 40% of the population so there is still hope with the other 60%.

PS

I do wish you would refrain from calling my disadvantaged countrymen/women “Filthy, lazy, feral peasants” I Really think you are better person than that and hope that is just a statement of frustration rather than a deeply held conviction!

Anthony and Roy,

Why are you both so angry? Can we all try and have healthy debates without name calling and disrespect? Differences of opinion are what makes the world go round. I may not agree with you but I don't attack you because of it.

Here is a little light reading for you. It's an in depth study of natural bodies of water all over the world and the contamination they have found due to large scale mining. It does not single out Barrick, but they do make the list. I can only hope that you try and open your minds just a tad. You just may learn that we aren't just dreaming all of this up, but even if you don't, please try and refrain from bashing me or anyone else.

Google "Troubled Waters Mining pdf" since it's not allowing me to post a link

serenitydelsol,

I am not angry.


I just want the lies to stop and for somebody to provide one factual report from a reputable source that Barrick has willfully and wantonly created environmental damage in the D.R.


All I have seen here is lies and jealous, hacks who believe them.

And I just posted it. Hard core facts. Try reading it.

serenitydelsol

It does not address the Dominican Republic and it is not from an unbiased source.


Try Again.

BS Tranlastion Service

"it is not from an unbiased source."

Meaning:

Like Fox News or the Rush “Oxytocin” Limbaugh!

Gente, REVOLT - destroy Barrick's equipment.

Sure, why don't YOU come down and destroy the equipment? Reminds me of Jerry Rubin's (from the Chicago 7) book from the 1960s "Do It" where he recommends everyone burn down their high schools, kill their parents, etc etc.....so when questioned by a reporter as to whether he had already done any of these things himself, he embarassedly answers "No"....so the reporter said , "...so you really mean they do it, but not you "

Don't encourage anyone to commit a crime unless you are willing to lead in the singing.

Sgt.