Rio Tinto’s Panguna mine poisoned land and water in Bougainville from 1972 until the late 80s. The mine was the catalyst for a civil war that saw an estimated 20,000 people killed between 1988 and 1997. Rio Tinto and the Australian and Papua New Guinean (PNG) government were complicit in the civil war.
Today, the autonomous region of Bougainville is fighting for full independence from PNG. However, mining companies including Australian linked RTG are trying to reopen the Panguna mine.
Join us as we talk with newly appointed Bougainvillean parliamentarian, Theonila Matbob. She will talk to the importance of protecting her people and the environment from Panguna’s ongoing impacts on human health and the land.
MODERATOR: Kim Croxford
PANELISTS
Theonila Matbob, a Bougainvillian politician and Cabinet Minister contested the seat of Ioro in the 2020 Bougainvillian General Election. She beat 15 men to win the seat. Growing up through the civil war she is one of a group of Boungainvillean villagers who filed an OECD complaint against Rio Tinto over environmental degradation caused by the Panguna mine.
We’ll also hear from Keren Adams from the Human Rights Law Centre about the impacts of Australian linked companies in Bougainville.
REPORT: After the mine: living with Rio Tinto’s deadly legacy, by Human Rights Resource Centre
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Beyond Mining - Protecting land, water & life.
This podcast series was recorded from a number of talks, panel discussion & workshops held between the 22nd-29th November 2020 at the Beyond Mining Counter Conference. This counter conference was organised by Blockade IMARC. Blockade IMARC is made up of an alliance of organisations that have been protesting the International Mining & Resources Conference held annually in so-called Melbourne, Australia on unceded Wurunjeri & Boon Wurrung country. Content Topics: First Nations' Sovereignty, Capitalism, Colonialism, Extractivism, Activism
For more information, please check out blockadeimarc.com
For contact, please email us at community(at)blockadeimarc.com
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