Romania's Transylvania region, besides having a gothic Dracula-esque mystique in the minds of foreigners, is rich in mineral resources. Now, President Traian Basescu is supporting an aggressive plan to extract more of these resources by allowing Canadian mining company Gabriel Resources to move forward in creating one of the biggest new gold mines in the world. His rational? "Any country that has resources must use them."
The mining project, shelved for the past fifteen years, would damage ancient monuments and ravage a mountain face. The nearby village of Rosia Montana would be surrounded by a pile of rubble, and some 2,000 residents would be forced to relocate. Also of concern is the fact that removing the estimated 314 tons of gold and 1,480 tons of silver would require heavy use of cyanide, leaving a lake of toxic goo behind.
Romania's natural and historical resources are priceless. Sign this petition to show your opposition to this ambitious project!
Dear President Traian Basescu:
I am writing with deep concern regarding the $1-billion mining project currently being planned by Gabriel Resources. Although extracting these mineral resources would bring jobs and wealth to Romania's struggling economy, the environment, social, and historical costs are staggering.
The mining project has been shelved for the past fifteen years not because of cowardly politicians but because understandably cautious politicians. Gabriel's development plans include destroying four or five historic churches as well as ancient Roman mining galleries from the second and third centuries. These heritage sites are part of what brings value to the region, and their eradication is irreversible.
The environmental risks are also extremely high. At least one local mountain face would be demolished, and Gabriel's cyanide-based technology would damage local ecosystems. The cyanide poured into the Danube River in 2000 as a result of an accident at the nearby Baia mine killed 1,200 tons of fish, and its effects are still being felt today.
Thank you for everything you have done so far to balance environmental and social responsibility and with job growth and economic development. This project, however, could potentially destroy some of Romania's most precious natural and historical resources. Stay on the right side of history and vote to stop Gabriel Resources from moving forward with this project!
Sincerely,
[your name here]
