Care2 member? Log in
|
|
 |
Help Protect Community Rights in Ghana
Target: Tom Mair, CEO of Golden Star ResourcesSponsored by: Oxfam America
The communities adjacent the Prestea Mine in Southwest Ghana have suffered for years. As a result of its operations, the mine endangers their livelihood and quality of life. This threat includes two cyanide spills.
The mine's owners, Golden Star Resources, now plan to expand the Prestea Mine. This expansion involves leveling low-income housing and schools, and it's being done without adequate consideration of the community concerns.
The people of Prestea, Himan, and Dumase have a right to decide whether a mine can expand in their community. Their lives and livelihood depend on exercising that right, and you can help them. Tell Golden Star Resources to listen to the people whose lives they're affecting.
Sign Petition! see who signed this
We signed the “Help Protect Community Rights in Ghana” petition!
# 9,750:
1:22 pm PDT, May 21,
Catherine Bunday, United Kingdom
# 9,749:
12:10 pm PDT, May 21,
Annette Klein, Canada
# 9,748:
12:05 pm PDT, May 21,
Kathleen Cummings, Indiana
# 9,747:
12:03 pm PDT, May 21,
Johanna Huhn, California
# 9,746:
11:50 am PDT, May 21,
Sarah Langner, California
# 9,745:
11:49 am PDT, May 21,
Miriam Mangini, California
# 9,744:
9:56 am PDT, May 21,
Marie Socarras, Iowa
# 9,743:
7:17 am PDT, May 21,
Kenneth Churm, Pennsylvania
# 9,742:
4:06 am PDT, May 21,
George Serbezis, Greece
# 9,741:
2:38 am PDT, May 21,
Name not displayed, California
# 9,740:
10:59 pm PDT, May 20,
Kim Shutler, Arizona
# 9,739:
10:25 pm PDT, May 20,
Steven Davis, California
# 9,738:
9:59 pm PDT, May 20,
Vanessa Sandy, West Virginia
# 9,737:
9:44 pm PDT, May 20,
Meagan Ricks, California
# 9,736:
8:50 pm PDT, May 20,
Nico Nico, Philippines
# 9,735:
6:36 pm PDT, May 20,
Charlie Crocker, Vermont
# 9,734:
5:15 pm PDT, May 20,
Marlena Alo, Guam
# 9,733:
4:42 pm PDT, May 20,
J Touroul, New York
# 9,732:
4:31 pm PDT, May 20,
Julia Redmond, Connecticut
# 9,731:
4:29 pm PDT, May 20,
Natalie Glynn, Alabama
People and communities are what make the world go round. We owe it to the people to listen to what they want in their communities. After all, they are the ones who will be living with it for the rest of their lives.
People and communities are what make the world go round. We owe it to the people to listen to what they want in their communities. After all, they are the ones who will be living with it for the rest of their lives.
# 9,730:
4:06 pm PDT, May 20,
Cristina Gayo, Uruguay
# 9,729:
3:35 pm PDT, May 20,
Anne Greene, Maryland
# 9,728:
3:32 pm PDT, May 20,
Kiti Jackson, Indiana
# 9,727:
2:08 pm PDT, May 20,
Alicia Lippman, California
# 9,726:
12:27 pm PDT, May 20,
J Thomas, California
# 9,725:
11:29 am PDT, May 20,
Karen Allan, Canada
# 9,724:
9:11 am PDT, May 20,
Olyme Moreno, Florida
# 9,723:
8:42 am PDT, May 20,
Amy Robison, Illinois
Just because you can't do this in the "developed" world doesn't mean no one is watching you. Do right by the people you work near. You know you should.
Just because you can't do this in the "developed" world doesn't mean no one is watching you. Do right by the people you work near. You know you should.
# 9,722:
8:36 am PDT, May 20,
Henriette Bruder wood, Oregon
# 9,721:
4:19 am PDT, May 20,
Terry Keener, Texas
# 9,720:
12:24 am PDT, May 20,
Roger Weston, United Kingdom
# 9,719:
8:59 pm PDT, May 19,
Katty Hoover, California
# 9,718:
8:18 pm PDT, May 19,
Georgann Cunney, California
Dear [CEO], We are writing to express our deep concern for the communities of Prestea, Himan, and Dumase that neighbor the Bogoso/Prestea Mine in the Wassa West district of Ghana. Since 2001, these communities have endured threats to their lives and livelihoods related to the Bogoso/Prestea Mine. We urge you to fulfill their request for a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of the first phase of the Bogoso/Prestea Project and for the right of free, prior, and informed consent regarding the planned Prestea South Project. As you are aware, the relationship between Golden Star Resources and the communities of Prestea, Himan, and Dumase has been strained. Despite cyanide spills that contaminated local rivers and streams in 2004 and 2006, Golden Star Resources has yet to commission the independent health investigation requested by members of these communities. On June 13, 2005, seven people were shot by security personnel guarding one of the North Plant Mine's pits during a demonstration in Prestea. Still, no independent investigation of this incident has taken place. The time to address the concerns of the communities of Prestea, Himan, and Dumase has come. We hope you will use your recent appointment as president and CEO of Golden Star Resources as an occasion to change the nature of your company's relationship with your neighbors. Fulfilling the communities' request for a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of the first phase of the Bogoso/Prestea Project and for the right of free, prior, and informed consent regarding the planned Prestea South Project would be a significant indication of your company's desire to begin a new phase in your relationship with the surrounding communities. Thank you for your time and consideration. Georgann Cunney
Dear [CEO], We are writing to express our deep concern for the communities of Prestea, Himan, and Dumase that neighbor the Bogoso/Prestea Mine in the Wassa West district of Ghana. Since 2001, these communities have endured threats to their lives and livelihoods related to the Bogoso/Prestea Mine. We urge you to fulfill their request for a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of the first phase of the Bogoso/Prestea Project and for the right of free, prior, and informed consent regarding the planned Prestea South Project. As you are aware, the relationship between Golden Star Resources and the communities of Prestea, Himan, and Dumase has been strained. Despite cyanide spills that contaminated local rivers and streams in 2004 and 2006, Golden Star Resources has yet to commission the independent health investigation requested by members of these communities. On June 13, 2005, seven people were shot by security personnel guarding one of the North Plant Mine's pits during a demonstration in Prestea. Still, no independent investigation of this incident has taken place. The time to address the concerns of the communities of Prestea, Himan, and Dumase has come. We hope you will use your recent appointment as president and CEO of Golden Star Resources as an occasion to change the nature of your company's relationship with your neighbors. Fulfilling the communities' request for a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of the first phase of the Bogoso/Prestea Project and for the right of free, prior, and informed consent regarding the planned Prestea South Project would be a significant indication of your company's desire to begin a new phase in your relationship with the surrounding communities. Thank you for your time and consideration. Georgann Cunney
# 9,717:
5:55 pm PDT, May 19,
Alison Rhodes, Massachusetts
Having spent 3 months living in Ghana in 2007, I feel very strongly about protecting not only the beautiful natural resources of Ghana, but also the peoples' best interests. The Ghanaian people are not only beautiful people inside and out, they are also intelligent and capable of making decision about their own future and well-being. I encourage you to negotiate any plans regarding the mine with the people in the surrounding communities, and involve locals with the future operations of the mine. This is THEIR LAND you are dealing with; it is only fair and just for them to not only have a say in the use of that land, but also to profit from any resources extracted from the land. Ghana may be a 3rd world country, but do not underestimate the will and intelligence of its people. They, too, deserve a chance to shape their own future and the future of their incredible country.
Having spent 3 months living in Ghana in 2007, I feel very strongly about protecting not only the beautiful natural resources of Ghana, but also the peoples' best interests. The Ghanaian people are not only beautiful people inside and out, they are also intelligent and capable of making decision about their own future and well-being. I encourage you to negotiate any plans regarding the mine with the people in the surrounding communities, and involve locals with the future operations of the mine. This is THEIR LAND you are dealing with; it is only fair and just for them to not only have a say in the use of that land, but also to profit from any resources extracted from the land. Ghana may be a 3rd world country, but do not underestimate the will and intelligence of its people. They, too, deserve a chance to shape their own future and the future of their incredible country.
# 9,716:
4:59 pm PDT, May 19,
Vanessa Mcknight, Florida
# 9,715:
3:50 pm PDT, May 19,
Lea Ann Rolla, Washington
# 9,714:
3:17 pm PDT, May 19,
Dorothy O'Brien, California
IF YOU TEAR DOWN HOMES, SCHOOLS, CLINICS, ETC. YOU NEED TO BUILD NEW ONES OR EXPAND SOMEWHERE ELSE, OR DON'T EXPAND AT ALL. OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD PROVIDE HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, GOOD WATER, ELECTRICITY, SANITATION, ETC. FOR WORKERS, YOU CAN TOO. WHAT ABOUT THE 7 WORKERS WHO WERE SHOT? MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN ALTOGETHER.
IF YOU TEAR DOWN HOMES, SCHOOLS, CLINICS, ETC. YOU NEED TO BUILD NEW ONES OR EXPAND SOMEWHERE ELSE, OR DON'T EXPAND AT ALL. OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD PROVIDE HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, GOOD WATER, ELECTRICITY, SANITATION, ETC. FOR WORKERS, YOU CAN TOO. WHAT ABOUT THE 7 WORKERS WHO WERE SHOT? MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN ALTOGETHER.
# 9,713:
3:10 pm PDT, May 19,
Lynda Grove, United Kingdom
# 9,712:
2:35 pm PDT, May 19,
Sarah Weaver, Ohio
Dont you resect this earth, I think we have taken enough from nature, and the animals that live in it. What if you lived there??
Dont you resect this earth, I think we have taken enough from nature, and the animals that live in it. What if you lived there??
# 9,711:
1:39 pm PDT, May 19,
Kimberly Felong, New Jersey
# 9,710:
12:56 pm PDT, May 19,
Margaret Massett, New Jersey
# 9,709:
12:43 pm PDT, May 19,
Vasiliu Viorica, Romania
# 9,708:
12:25 pm PDT, May 19,
Vasiliu Beatrice, Romania
# 9,707:
11:43 am PDT, May 19,
Name not displayed, Spain
# 9,706:
11:30 am PDT, May 19,
Rachel Deierling, Arizona
# 9,705:
10:39 am PDT, May 19,
Koraabdi Perez, Mexico
# 9,704:
10:12 am PDT, May 19,
Topete Flores, Mexico
# 9,703:
1:28 am PDT, May 19,
Larissa Marchant, Australia
# 9,702:
8:18 pm PDT, May 16,
Melora Horvath, Arizona
# 9,701:
6:50 pm PDT, May 16,
Maria Studer, New York
The residents of the communities are entitled to safety.
The residents of the communities are entitled to safety.