Are we being Delphied? En Excerpt from the United Nations Global Strait Jacket
Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on May 14th, 2012 2:48pm
Are we being Delphied? There are a number of similarities from the workshops the mine has been putting on to what is referenced in this book. To quickly define the Delphi technique:
The goal of the Delphi technique is to lead a targeted group of people to a predetermined outcome, while giving the illusion of taking public input and under the pretext of being accountable to the public. For the Delphi to work, it is critical that the targeted group be kept away from knowledgeable people who could lead them away from the Delphier's predetermined outcome.
Keeping us away from knowledgeable people... or in their case "experts" who are being paid by the mine! Second, without giving us any of their test blast data, and other materials that is "proprietary", are they not keeping experts away from us since we aren't able to independantly verify or validate any of their claims?
If you were at the previous workshop that occured at TRU you'll appreciate this excerpt:
One variation on the Delphi technique is to use a series of meetings. The attendees are often given a number or a colored card when they enter the room, to determine at which table they are to sit. The purpose of this is to break up the groups of potentially knowledgeable people who arrive together so that they will be sitting with strangers and therefore be subdued.
They didn't give out cards at the meeting, but they had assigned seating, why not just let people come in and sit where they want? Sounds very similar to the above statement. A short excerpt of the book is provided below:
In Response to Nancy Bepple's Column: Reduction in energy use a good investment
Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on April 26th, 2012 11:29am
Nancy Bepple wrote the following article in the Kamloops Daily News on April 23, 2012, (http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/article/20120423/KAMLOOPS0304/120429970/-1/kamloops/bepple-reduction-in-energy-use-a-good-investment) encouraging us to reduce our energy use. We found this interesting considering her position in the Ajax mine, and the amount of energy they will be using at a drastically reduced rate. Our response follows:
Overview of the Environmental Review Process
Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on April 17th, 2012 2:02pm
Here is a brief review of the environmental review process. The EAO document "The Environmental Review Process" can be found on the internet at: www.eao.gov.bc.ca/ea_process.html
The Role of the Community Advisory Group (CAG)
Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on April 17th, 2012 11:02am
The BC Government created the CAG in order to ensure that the concerns, questions and suggestions of the general public were heard, and dealt with in a transparent manner. It is therefore only logical that the CAG should be fully involved throughout the Environmental Assessment (EA) review process. it is far more representative of the general public of Kamloops and area than is the Technical Working Group. The latter consists of about 45 members, 36 of whom represent federal and provincial departments and agencies. The balance are First Nations representatives, municipal officials (TNRD), and one member who represents the City of Kamloops. In contrast, the CAG has a broad and diverse membership, widely representative of the residents of Kamloops and the surrounding area.
KAPA report on the March 28 meeting of the Community Advisory Group
Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on April 12th, 2012 8:06pm
The BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) has created a Community Advisory Group (CAG), tasked with seeking input from the residents of Kamloops and the addressing their concerns. The membership of CAG includes the following organizations; Grasslands Conservation Council of BC, Kamloops Area Preservation Association (KAPA) Kamloops Naturalist Club, Kamloops & District Fish & Game Association, Kamloops Astronomical Society, Kamloops Stockmen's Association, Pineview Community Group, Thompson Institute of Environmental Studies, Aberdeen Highlands Development Corporation, Kamloops Fly Fisher's Association, Thompson Watershed Coalition, Aberdeen Community Association, Coalition to protect East Kamloops and the Lac Le Jeune Community Association (representing residents living along the Lac Le Jeune Road adjacent to Kamloops).
KAPA Submission to BC EAO Office
Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on March 27th, 2012 11:51am
Today we have submitted our final response to the BC EAO public comment period. Today is the last day to make submissions, so if you do have time please review our document and submit your own questions as well to the BC EAO web site. Click here for the Ajax public comment form, and here is KAPA's submission to the BC EAO.
Water, water everywhere...
Posted by Ruth Madsen on February 20th, 2012 10:03pm
The following letter written by Ruth Madsen, summarizes our concerns regarding water and the Ajax mine, as well as conflicts raised in the feasibility study by some facts mentioned by Ajax. The booklet that was released said the mine would be a "zero discharge facility" yet, the Feasibility Study mentions the Tailings Facility would be a "zero discharge facility" not the entire mine. These are the kinds of misleading statements that keep us concerned about the mine and the amount of honesty coming from KGHM Ajax.
Copper Mining in Arizona from Arizona Public Media
Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on February 14th, 2012 2:59pm
The following article explains much that we have to look forward to should the mine be approved. http://www.azpm.org/arizona.copper/story/2011/3/18/1842-tailings-dust-under-the-microscope/. Take note the size of the tailings piles Ajax proposes to have tailings facilities over 500feet tall, right next to the Coquihalla highway coming into Kamloops.
ASARCO MISSION COMPLEX COPPER MINES - YOUR SILENT TOXIC MINE DUST NEIGHBOR-SAHUARITA-GREEN VALLEY, AZ
Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on February 14th, 2012 11:53am
Further to our last post about the Asacro mine in Arizona, the following link describes another experience by a citizen living next to the mine.
The following video complements his story.
Asarco Mine in Arizona - very similar to Ajax
Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on February 14th, 2012 6:47am
The following video and map deal with the Asarco Mine, near Sahuarita, Arizona, USA. The town is about 10 kilometres from the open pit. The dimensions of the mine are similar to ( but slightly larger than) those of the proposed KGHM - Ajax mine, with a pit 2.5 miles long X 1.5 miles wide and 1200 feet deep. The mine has 618 employees. Dust has become a major issue for the people of Sahurita, as the video clearly shows. What KGHM Ajax must now explain is what new technology have they discovered that will prevent a similar dispersion of dust over Kamloops, where some residences are about 1 to 2 kilometres away from the mine site. The proposed KGHM Ajax mine is too darn close to the city. Are they proposing to use water, given all the water problems Aberdeen has? Will they use dust suppressants of some kind, only for those products to be blown over the city. Too many questions, and too few answers coming from the government or the proponent.