Monday, February 28, 2011

Greenpeace action against Barrick Gold






















The director of Greenpeace Argentina, Eugenia Testa, was arrested in northwest of Argentina where the environmental group blocked access to two mines in Canada’s Barrick Gold to demand implementation of a Glacier Protection Act, the organization reported.

By order of the Court of the province of San Juan, police arrested and intimidated Testa fifty evict Greenpeace activists involved in the protest.

Testa is accused of violating the penal code, which punishes those who hinder public transport, police sources stated.

Greenpeace on Tuesday held two camps at the entrances to the mines of Veladero and Pascua Lama, in the province of San Juan, some 1,120 miles northwest of Buenos Aires.

Greenpeace claim the enforcement of protection of glaciers, which prohibits mining in areas with ice fields.

The rule was adopted last year by Parliament, but its execution is suspended for precautionary measures, as presented by the government of San Juan, pending a Supreme Court decision.

The campaigns director of Greenpeace in Argentina, Juan Carlos Villalonga, reported that “Barrick is the main promoter of the protections that are now blocking the effect of the Law of Glaciers” and considered that the Government “is an excuse for not regulating them or apply “the standard.

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