This article does mention #Mining! Not surprising!

Promises and Pitfalls: #China’s Financing of the #AtewaBauxite #Mining Project in #Ghana

Author: Angela Benefo & Michael Addaney
Date Published: July 11, 2021

"The #AtewaForestReserve in Ghana is a possible site for the development of an integrated #BauxiteAluminum mine through a Chinese resource-backed loan. Despite the opportunities for infrastructure development presented by the loan, this project carries significant risks. This article draws attention to #environmental sustainability challenges and the #DebtTrap conundrum associated with the proposed arrangement.

"President Xi Jinping has touted China’s recently unveiled Five-Year Plan as his country’s pursuit of ‘ecological civilization,’ a vision of promoting environmental sustainability and enhanced human-ecological interactions within and beyond China. However, China’s ability to promote ecological civilization in developing countries in line with this Plan will be challenging due to China’s generally poor environmental protection record in such contexts. For instance, while China claims it is prioritizing environmental sustainability in Africa, the #extractive projects initiated by its private sector do not align with this stated goal. These projects serve China’s broader interests and often create environmental consequences and problematic debt, therefore requiring a more careful analysis. A Chinese-backed bauxite-aluminum mine planned for a forest reserve in Ghana highlights the debt-trap concerns and environmental sustainability challenges created by some Chinese investments.

The Challenges of #ChineseLoans across #Africa

"China continues to play an enormous role in financing massive infrastructure projects in Africa. As the world’s largest official #creditor, China and its subsidiaries have invested billions of dollars across Africa’s energy, transportation, and mining sectors. Despite China’s indispensable contributions to infrastructure development in sub-Saharan Africa, there are valid concerns over how African countries will repay these massive debts to China.

"Compared to other official lenders such as the International Monetary Fund (#IMF) and the #WorldBank, Chinese loans are less challenging to acquire. For instance, the IMF monitors the amount of debt held by a country and will not provide more loans until a country seeks debt relief. Chinese lenders have more lenient terms and allow low-income African countries to borrow large amounts without much accountability—issuing loans which may be considered too risky by the IMF and other international lenders.

"Historically, China has entered into strategic agreements with developing countries to finance development projects while collateralizing the country’s natural resources. The growing demand for external finance for important infrastructure projects—some of which are overly ambitious and unsustainable—poses great risks to African economies, which risk losing their collateral and the possibility of debt distress.

"Chinese loans are often characterized by lack of transparency. Chinese financiers set tough conditions for financing large infrastructure projects, taking advantage of vulnerable African leaders desperate to complete ambitious developmental projects. For instance, the construction of a $10 billion port project in #Tanzania was suspended after careful consideration of the terms and conditions of the Chinese loan. The project, which the former president John Magufuli called 'exploitative and awkward,' would have rented the port to the Chinese government for ninety-nine years as repayment.

"In Ghana, Chinese financing over the past two decades has spanned various sectors including power, information communication technology (#ICT), #transportation, and #agriculture. Chinese foreign direct investment is estimated to be three times the size of EU countries’ investment in Ghana. Some of these loans are backed by resources such as #cocoa and #oil. For instance, #Sinohydro has allegedly agreed to deliver $2 billion worth of infrastructure projects across the country, which Ghana would pay back with proceeds from the sale of refined bauxite. An estimated $646 million of the initial $2 billion loan have been approved for disbursement. The Ghanaian government also signed a loan commitment of $550 million in 2019. Entering these types of agreements with China demands careful consideration by the Ghanaian government."

Read more:
https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2021/07/11/promises-and-pitfalls-chinas-financing-of-the-atewa-bauxite-mining-project-in-ghana/

#BreakingNews!

#EnergyTransfer's $300 Million Lawsuit Against #Greenpeace for #StandingRock #Resistance Delayed

By #BrendaNorrell, #CensoredNews
July 29, 2024

STANDING ROCK, #NorthDakota -- "Energy Transfer's $300 million #SLAPP lawsuit against Greenpeace and Standing Rock #WaterProtectors for the resistance to #DakotaAccessPipeline has been delayed until February, due to a 'massive document dump' by Energy Transfer, Greenpeace told Censored News today.

"Originally, our trial was set for July 29th, 2024 – but due to a massive document dump by Energy Transfer in June, Greenpeace filed a request to have the trial date pushed back. The judge agreed, and moved our trial to February 24, 2025 through March 28, 2025," Lindsay Bigda, communication director, Democracy Resilience Program at Greenpeace USA told Censored News today.
Responding to questions, Greenpeace said #RedWarriorSociety and other water protectors are named in the lawsuit.

"'Red Warrior Society is still named in the lawsuit and last week our lawyers presented arguments for why it shouldn’t be (because it is not the sort of entity that can be sued). The two individuals, #CodyHall and #KrystalTwoBulls, are also still named, but were never served. (Greenpeace entities are the only ones that were served and are actively litigating),' Bigda told Censored News.

"'Very few jurisdictions have made steps to prevent the corporate legal warfare waged in SLAPPs to #SilenceDissent and freedom of expression. The United States has long failed to uphold #HumanRights and #Indigenous leaders have had no choice but to leave their precious homelands; and use international diplomacy to implore all those who will listen for an end to the #extractive industry violence.'

"'Europe played a key role in the #colonization of the planet. Now let's see if she, her people, and jurisdictions, can help in undoing and healing that historic wound. #IndigenousPeoples must continue to engage with Europe to seek justice and #corporate accountability.'

"Standing Rock water protectors have been served subpoenas in the case from Energy Transfer, as it seeks out information. #UnicornRiot fought the subpoena in #Minnesota and won its case to protect its internal media files. However, Energy Transfer has now asked the Minnesota Supreme Court to reconsider its case.

"Greenpeace clarified the reason for the subpoenas that water protectors and Unicorn Riot media were served with.
'Unicorn riot was never named in the lawsuit. They received a third party subpoena, along with many other activist groups and individuals (these folks are not parties to the case; rather, they are third parties that Energy Transfer wants info from in its case against Greenpeace,)' Bigda told Censored News.

"Mercenaries #TigerSwan Spied without a License, Provided Info to Law Enforcement

"Red Warrior Camp was a focus of the mercenaries hired by Energy Transfer at Standing Rock in September of 2016, as revealed in the court-ordered spy documents released.
TigerSwan was found working in North Dakota without a license from 2016 through 2017. As a result, the North Dakota regulatory board ordered that TigerSwan's spy files be released. The Intercept now has over 50,000 of TigerSwan's spy documents at Standing Rock, as a result of a lengthy court battle. Energy Transfer, employer of TigerSwan, fought the release of documents in North Dakota court, but the North Dakota Supreme Court upheld the decision to release TigerSwan's documents in 2022.

"The TigerSwan aerial photos included #OcetiSakowin Camp, Red Warrior Camp, and the other camps. The spy documents reveal that a U.S. Border Patrol drone was included in the aerial #surveillance and #infiltrators were placed in the water protector camps at Standing Rock and elsewhere.

"Meanwhile, after Standing Rock, TigerSwan's CEO formed a new company. Syria says they are stealing #Syria's oil. CNN reported about the secretive contract and the new company.

#Palestinians Targeted for Surveillance by TigerSwan at Standing Rock

"As soon as a single #Palestinian activist showed up at an anti-Dakota Access Pipeline camp on the edge of the Standing Rock reservation in 2016, intelligence analysts for the mercenary security firm TigerSwan were on alert," by Alleen Brown, Drilled and co-published with the Center for Media and Democracy."

Read more:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/07/energy-transfers-300-million-lawsuit.html

New Study: #FossilFuels Disproportionately Impact #Black, #Brown, #Indigenous, and #Poor Communities Throughout The Supply Chain

#CarbonOffsets, #CapAndTrade, #CCS and Other “#CarbonCentric” Policies Fail to Mitigate Air and Water #Pollution

by Tyler Kruse
June 5, 2023

"The study concludes that policies solely focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions without reducing fossil fuel usage could fail to reduce local air and water pollution, fail to alleviate public health harms, and end up perpetuating the racially inequitable impacts of the fossil fuel economy.

WASHINGTON DC (June 5, 2023)–"A new peer-reviewed study details the risks of President Biden’s support for expanded fossil fuel production and exports. Despite campaign promises to take on fossil fuels, Biden has approved massive extraction projects and allowed a surge of crude and LNG exports. Against the backdrop of attacks on environmental justice in Congress – including the recent rollbacks to NEPA in the Fiscal Responsibility Act – and the Supreme Court’s undercutting of the Clean Water Act, the study titled 'Fossil fuel racism in the United States: How phasing out coal, oil, and gas can protect communities' finds that fossil fuels impose unfair and unjust health harms on Black, Brown, Indigenous and poor communities.

"The study identifies the public health harms as well as the disproportionate impacts on communities at each stage of the #coal, #oil, and #gas lifecycles – #extraction, processing, transport, and combustion. It was authored by experts from Greenpeace USA, Salem State University, and Taproot Earth and published in Energy Research & Social Science.

"The publication draws from 200+ academic studies which reveal a consistent pattern: fossil fuel pollution is associated with #asthma, birth complications, #cancer, #respiratory disease, heart conditions, and premature mortality. Black, Brown, Indigenous, and poor communities bear a disproportionate burden of these harms. These same communities are hit hardest by the impacts of the climate crisis.

"Additionally, the study concludes that policies solely focused on reducing #GreenhouseGas emissions without reducing fossil fuel usage could fail to reduce local air and water pollution, fail to alleviate public health harms, and end up perpetuating the racially inequitable impacts of the fossil fuel economy. Black, Asian, Hispanic or Latino, and low-income populations already have an elevated burden of exposure to air pollutants that can harm the respiratory system known as PM2.5, a pattern that is consistent across nearly all emission source types. Poorly designed climate policies could concentrate this pollution in community 'hotspots' even as overall carbon emissions decline.

"Dr. Tim Donaghy, research manager at Greenpeace USA and a co-author of the report, said: 'Fossil fuels harm both the climate and our health and must be phased out as fast as possible. But if our climate policies only focus on reducing carbon, we are missing an opportunity to greatly improve health in impacted communities. Carbon-centric policies being pushed by the oil and gas industry won’t alleviate fossil fuel racism and could worsen it for communities who already bear the brunt of the industry’s pollution. A better approach is to shift the focus to the root cause of both carbon and pollution, which are fossil fuels themselves. Policymakers should explicitly mitigate air and water pollution, advance #EnvironmentalJustice, and meaningfully include historically targeted communities in climate policy-making and implementation.”

"Noel Healy, professor of Geography and Sustainability at Salem State University and co-author of the report, said: 'Alarmingly, Biden is approving new #drilling at a faster rate than the Trump administration. This includes approving '#CarbonBombs' at the #AlaskaWillow and the #LNGAlaskaProject, and recently breaking a major G7 climate promise by financing an #Indonesian #OilRefinery. Continued approval of harmful and #Extractive fossil fuel licenses is a catastrophic climate and public health failure.'

"The study argues that #SystemicRacism enables the fossil fuel industry to avoid paying the true cost of its pollution by passing it on to communities of color. It identifies fossil fuel racism as a subset of environmental racism characterized by the disproportionate and racialized effects of climate change, fossil fuel extraction, transportation, processing, and consumption on Black, Brown, Indigenous, and poor populations.

"The fossil fuel industry is fueling a public health crisis that disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income communities. Healy said: 'We can tackle the #ClimateCrisis, improve public health, and confront systemic racism by phasing out fossil fuels and enacting a #GreenNewDeal.'

"The study makes the following recommendations:

- The U.S. should implement a managed phase out of fossil fuel production to drive absolute pollution reductions in ‘#SacrificeZones’ and to align our policy with 1.5°C pathways.
- Enact a Green New Deal to halt climate change and build a more just and regenerative economy.
- Protect and expand democratic spaces."

Source:
https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/new-study-fossil-fuels-disproportionately-impact-black-brown-indigenous-and-poor-communities-throughout-the-supply-chain/

Press Release from the Center For Biological Diversity

For Immediate Release, May 10, 2023

#NewMexico Sued Over Failure to Control Skyrocketing #Oil, #Gas #Pollution

Landmark Lawsuit Targets State’s Constitutional Duty

SANTA FE, N.M.— "A coalition of #IndigenousPeoples, #youth, frontline community members and #environmental groups sued New Mexico, the state legislature, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and state agencies today for violating their state constitutional duty to control the rapidly growing pollution from the #OilAndGas industry.

"The first-of-its-kind lawsuit seeks compliance with the pollution control clause of the New Mexico Constitution under Article 20, Section 21. No previous lawsuit has targeted the 1971 amendment, which mandates that the state prevent the despoilment of New Mexico’s air, water and other natural resources, and protect the state’s beautiful and healthful environment.

"Oil production in New Mexico’s #PermianBasin, one of the largest oilfields in the world, has increased nearly 10-fold since 2010, leading to a surge of devastating air, water and #climate pollution.

"Today’s lawsuit demands that the state comply with its constitutional duty to protect New Mexico’s environment, and that permitting of oil and gas wells be suspended in the meantime.

"'New Mexico’s failure to control oil and gas pollution violates our constitution and fundamental human rights to clean air, land and water,' said Gail Evans, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute and lead counsel on the case. 'If concern for our environment and public health won’t push New Mexico’s leaders to control the reckless oil and gas industry, we hope legal action will.'

"Air quality in several of the state’s oil- and gas-producing counties fails to meet federal standards established to protect public health. Eddy and San Juan Counties received an 'F' from the American Lung Association for high ozone days, and Lea and Sandoval Counties got a 'D.'

"Indigenous, youth and frontline communities are disproportionately harmed by the state’s failure to control oil and gas pollution. Plaintiffs in the case are additionally seeking relief under the constitution’s equal protection and fundamental rights clauses.

"'New Mexico has allowed sacred #Diné lands in the Eastern #Navajo Agency to be completely ravaged by oil and gas extraction and pollution,' said Mario Atencio, a plaintiff in the case from #Torreon / #Starlake Chapter of the #NavajoNation. 'There is zero accountability for the dangerous #AirPollution that my community breathes and the #ToxicSpills that pollute our precious lands and waters.'

"Oil and gas operators spill toxic liquid waste an average of four times per day in New Mexico, endangering land, air, water and public health.
Meanwhile, as the state faces increasing #aridification from #ClimateChange, oil companies use vast quantities of New Mexico’s dwindling #freshwater resources for #fracking. In 2019 the industry used approximately 14 billion gallons of New Mexico's fresh water resources — equivalent to household use for more than 278,000 people.

"'#Extractive industry is desecrating our #ancestral homelands and imposing irreparable harm to our water, #plant and #animal relatives,' said Julia Bernal, executive director of Pueblo Action Alliance. 'It’s unacceptable that New Mexico is continuing the legacy of harm and pollution through our communities by its racist and inequitable policies.'

"This constitutional lawsuit has far-reaching implications. As the second-largest oil-producing state in the country and one of the leading gas producers, New Mexico is responsible for over 50% more greenhouse gas emissions than the national average. Pollution from New Mexico’s oil and gas industry plays a colossal role in the climate crisis, threatening plaintiffs’ right to a livable future.

“'I’m terrified to think of my generation’s climate future when I’ve already seen triple-digit heat records and the biggest wildfire in New Mexico’s history last summer,' said 21-year-old Zephyr Jaramillo with Youth United for Climate Crisis Action. 'As one of the largest oilfields in the world, the Permian Basin threatens to pollute my future into oblivion. New Mexico needs to change course and rein in oil and gas pollution to give all of us a chance at a healthy future.'

"The case was filed today in the First Judicial District Court of New Mexico by #IndigenousLifeways, #PuebloActionAlliance, Youth United for Climate Crisis Action, Center for Biological Diversity, WildEarth Guardians and individuals living on the frontlines of oil and gas extraction."

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/new-mexico-sued-over-failure-to-control-skyrocketing-oil-gas-pollution-2023-05-10/

#CenterForBiologicalDiversity

Media Advisory, October 2, 2023

Contact:
Kelley Dennings, (919) 355-8102, KDennings@biologicaldiversity.org

Virtual #FilmSeries Showcases Link Between Health, #Capitalism

Film, #Webinar Series Begins Oct. 5

TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity will host an environmental and reproductive health film and webinar series every Thursday this fall beginning Oct. 5. The series will explore how capitalism harms the health of people and the planet.

The featured films are A Silent Transformation, Children of the Vine, We the Guinea Pigs and The Climate Baby Dilemma. Watch each film for free and then join the webinars on Thursdays for live discussions and Q&As with people from the films, frontline communities, and subject matter experts.

“These movies tell powerful stories that show the link between the health of our families and the health of the environment,” said Kelley Dennings, population and sustainability campaigner at the Center. “Those who watch them will walk away with a deeper understanding of how our #extractive capitalist system hurts people and the planet.”

What: Environmental and Reproductive Health Film and Webinar Series, with a focus on our current extractive economy.

When: Every Thursday from Oct. 5 to Nov. 2

Where: Registration is required to view the films and attend the webinars. Sign up at the link below.

Who: Alternative economy webinar speakers include:

- Adoma Addo, former Center staff and co-author of the upcoming report, Alternative Economies: Uplifting Activities for a Sustainable Future.

- Emily Kawano, coordinator at U.S. Solidarity Economy Network and co-director of Wellspring Cooperative Corporation.

- Alison Dreith, director of strategic partnerships with Midwest Access Coalition, an abortion fund mutual aid organization.

Background

The Environmental and Reproductive Health Film and Webinar Series is a follow-up to the Center’s important 2022 report about #inequity, reproductive harm, #environmental #pollution and capitalism.

The dates and times are as follows:

A Silent Transformation — film viewing Oct. 5–Oct. 12; webinar Oct. 12. The modern economy increasingly denies people basic amenities for a decent life. This documentary shows how the co-operative model is as critical as ever.

Children of the Vine — film viewing Oct. 12–Oct. 19; webinar Oct. 19. An unsettling investigation into the controversial #herbicide #Roundup and its impact on public health.

We the Guinea Pigs — film viewing Oct. 19–Oct. 26; webinar Oct. 26. As #plastic has gained ground in society this film finds there is also an inexplicable increase in the number of diseases and disorders, from breast cancer to poor sperm quality.

The Climate Baby Dilemma — film viewing Oct. 26–Nov. 2; webinar Nov. 2. Explores the growing number of Gen-Z and millennials who are refusing to bring a child into an increasingly unstable world because of #ClimateChange or struggling with the question of whether they should.

Each film is available to view for free for a week. Webinars will take place at 4 p.m. PT/ 7 p.m. ET.

https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/population/environmental_reproductive_health_film_series

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/virtual-film-series-showcases-link-between-health-capitalism-2023-10-02/