Mining giant Rio Tinto Face Environmental, Human Rights Complaint in Papua New Guinea
Contamination of rivers and streams by mine waste in the vicinity of the Panguna copper mine in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. Credit: Catherine Wilson
CANBERRA, Australia, Jan 4 2021 (IPS) – Local communities in the vicinity of the abandoned Panguna copper mine, have taken decisive action to hold the global mining multinational, Rio Tinto, accountable for alleged environmental and human rights violations during the mine’s operations between 1972 and 1989.
The mine operated in the mountains of central Bougainville in Papua New Guinea until 1989.
The complaint by 156 residents was lodged with the Australian Government in September by and subsequently accepted in November, paving the way for a non-judicial mediation process.
“We and the communities we are working with have now entered …
Tackling the Pandemic of Inequality in Asia and the Pacific
BANGKOK, Thailand, Apr 12 2022 (IPS) – After two years of human devastation, the world is learning to live with COVID-19 while trying to balance the protection of public health and livelihoods.
For countries in Asia and the Pacific, this is challenging not only because national coffers are heavily strained by record public spending to mitigate pandemic suffering, but also due to deeper structural economic issues.
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana
COVID-19 has exposed a pandemic of inequality in a region which has the world’s most dynamic economies but also half of the global poor. A region where nearly half of the total income goes to just 10 per cent of people while the poorest 10 per cent get just 0.2 per cent.
This failure to grow together meant that the pandemic worsened the circumstances of those left behind. Estimates suggest that mo…