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WIRADJURI ELDER EXPOSES MINE PIT COLLAPSE
AT LAKE COWAL
20 March 2008


This photo shows the collapsed wall at Barrick's gold mine at Lake Cowal
20 March 2008. Photo: Damian Baker

Wiradjuri Traditional Owner exposes a massive collapse at Barrick's Cowal Gold Project in Lake Cowal, 45 km north-west of West Wyalong, central western NSW.

After a flight with Friends of the Earth Australia yesterday Neville 'Chappy' Williams stated, " It is hard to bear the pain of the destruction of our sacred site. Barrick has ignored our demands to protect cultural objects and the ecological significance of the lake."

Lake Cowal is an ephemeral lake lying in the Lachlan River plain within the Murray-Darling Basin.

"We are deeply concerned about the mine's impact on local aboriginal and farming communities particularly the mines massive consumption of water", says Natalie Lowrey, National Liaison Officer, Friends of the Earth Australia. "The pit wall collapse also creates a major concern for workers at the mine site."

Up to 100 Wiradjuri and their supporters will be converging at Lake Cowal to voice their opposition to the mine over the Easter weekend.

More info:
Neville 'Chappy' Williams,
Mooka/Kalara Traditional Owner
0447 841 560

Natalie Lowrey,
Friends of the Earth Australia
0421 226 200

Wiradjuri Elders Neville "Chappy" Williams (third from left) and Ron Gardner (back to camera in wheelchair) in tense negotiations with Barrick's Steve Robinson (fourth from left) while other Barrick staff and protestors look on. Barrick Gold office foyer, Perth Western Australia 11 July 2007.
Photo: Jane Morrison

Elders and supporters of the Wiradjuri Aboriginal Nation have occupied the Australian head office of the world's largest gold mining company, Barrick Gold.

Around 35 people peacefully occupied Barrick Gold's Australian headquarters in Perth, Western Australia on Wednesday in a bid to force the company to meet Wiradjuri protocols relating to people with bloodlines to Lake Cowal in Central New South Wales where Barrick is operating a gold mine.

... read more

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PETER MUNK , CHAIR OF BARRICK GOLD ADMITS LIABILITY FOR THE DESECRATION OF LAKE COWAL SACRED SITE, AUSTRALIA



Neville 'Chappy' Williams, Wiradjuri Traditional Owner, Lake Cowal, and Arinya Freeman (Wiradjuri Nation) listen to a webcast of Uncle Chappy's confrontation with Barrick Gold's founder and Chairman, Peter Munk at Barrisk's AGM on May 2nd, 2007 in Toronto, Canada. Photo: Allan Cedillo Lissner/GlobalAware.org
For more photos from actions in Canada

At today’s Barrick Gold AGM held at the Convention Centre in Toronto,
Neville ‘Chappy’ Williams, traditional owner of Lake Cowal and Western
Shoshone delegates from Nevada successfully questioned the Barrick Gold
Board of Directors during the live webcast. Shareholders were amazed and
concerned the interveners had traveled so far to raise their objections.

... read more

___________________________________EDIA ALERT

SYDNEY RESIDENTS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT CYANIDE

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1912374.htm

By Caro Meldrum

Concerned citizens have gathered at Chullora in western Sydney to protest against the multinational mining company Barrick Gold. The protest was part of an International Day of Action against the company. Barrick Gold has mines across the globe, including North and South America, Africa and Australia.

Protestors gathered at the entrance to transport company, Pacific National, on Dasea street, to blockade trucks carrying cyanide to Barrick's mine at Lake Cowal.

"Cyanide Watch" organiser, Graeme Dunstan, says he wants to know how much cyanide is being transported on Sydney roads.

"We want communities to know about the possible threat from a cyanide spill to their public health and water ways," he said.

Mr Dunstan says the maker of the cyanide, Orica, the transporter Pacific National, and the New South Wales Planning Minister are withholding information about how much cyanide is being trucked around the state.

"If the government won't tell us how much cyanide is being carried, if the carrier Pacific National say they can't tell us, and Orica are refusing to tell us, how are we going to find out?" he said.

"If they won't tell us, we're going to ask the truck drivers direct. We'll stand in front of the trucks and demand to know."

"We're going to make sure they become visible, we are going to drag them into accountability."

But Barrick Gold says it is committed to ensuring that the environment and local communities are protected. The company's community relations manager, Bill Shallvey, says strict safety precautions are in place to prevent spillages and accidents.

"The company has always been open about how much cyanide is being transported to site. These figures appear on our Environment Impact Statement," he said.

"These figures state there are in excess of 6,000 of cyanide tonnes per annum for the Lake Cowal project."

"Barrick is the first mine globally that has been certified under the International Cyanide Management Code. And we also choose to buy our cyanide off Orica, which is also a signatory to that code."

"And that code is actually voluntary. It involves the safe transport, manufacturing, handling of materials, emergency response planning and community consultation."

Mr Shallvey says Mr Dunstan's claim that Barrick Gold is withholding information is unfounded.

"We don't hide these things," he said.

"I don't think Mr Dunstan has anything better to do, and he misleads a lot of young people that don't know any better. Mr Dunstan encourages these people to trespass on site and do things that are very dangerous."

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Neville "Chappy" Williams, Wiradjuri Traditional Owner addressing protestors outside the Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation (WCC)'s office, Condobolin, Saturday 7 April 2007. Barrick Gold funds the WCC through a secret agreement that the majority of the Wiradjuri Nation
has not authorised. Photo: Jane Morrison

NOTICE TO BARRICK GOLD TO CEASE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF LAKE COWAL

I, Neville Williams, on behalf of the Traditional Owners of Lake Cowal have already issued Barrick Gold with three Notices to Quit our sacred ground. Under Wiradjuri Custom, Tradition and Law/Lore, you have received your three warnings. You must now respect the unceded sovereignty of the Wiradjuri Nation and cease all operations, restore the landscape; remove all equipment and replace all artefacts to their GPS'd positions. This is to be done under supervision of the Traditional Owners of Lake Cowal. We reserve our right to take further action as necessary.

Signed this day 8 April 2007.

Neville “Chappy” Williams for and on behalf of the Mooka/Kalara united families within the Wiradjuri Nation.

Media Releases from Lake Cowal Corroboree 2007
- Occupation of World's Largest Gold Mining Company
- Occupation and Lock-on's:Work Stopped at Lake Cowal Gold Mine
- 14 Protestors Arrested at Wiradjuri Lake Cowal Demonstration
- Police Foiled In Attempt To Re-Arrest Lake Cowal Protestor

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MEDIA ALERT
Monday 9th April 2007

Police Foiled In Attempt To Re-Arrest Lake Cowal Protestor

Activists at the Lake Cowal camp this morning surrounded a police vehicle to prevent officers from re-arresting a student protestor.

Following 14 arrests at the Lake Cowal Gold Mine, 47 kms from West Wyalong, Central Western New South Wales, police arrived unannounced this morning and attempted to re-arrest a student protestor known as “Trent”.

Yesterday 14 protestors were arrested after actions at the mine in which some locked on to the conveyor belt while others entered the mine’s offices in support of Traditional Wiradjuri demands to stop desecrating their ancient, sacred lake and to leave the mine.

The protestors were charged with entering “inclosed lands” under the obscure Inclosed Lands Act 1901 and later released on the condition that they did not come within 10 kilometres of the mine.

The Lake Cowal Easter convergence camp is located 2 km from the mine on the Marsden Road between Condobolin and West Wyalong.

After police had put “Trent” into their bullwagon, protestors surrounded it, demanding his release. One of the policemen threatened to spray the campers with capsicum if they did not move.

Finally the police said they would let “Trent” go and arrest him later. Protestors are concerned that people returning home from the camp could be arrested as they leave the 10 km bail-imposed zone around the mine.th

Contacts:
Neville Williams
0416 316 774

Ellie Gilbert
0427 795 639

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MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 9th April 2007

14 Protestors Arrested at Wiradjuri Lake Cowal Demonstration

Fourteen protestors have been arrested at a demonstration in support of Wiradjuri Traditional Owners who want the Lake Cowal Gold Mine stopped.

Around 100 Aboriginal and environmental supporters demonstrated at the Lake Cowal Gold mine, 47 kms from West Wyalong over Easter to protest against the desecration of traditional Wiradjuri lands and environmental damage caused by gold mining.

Some of the demonstrators locked themselves onto pieces of machinery, shutting down mine operations, while others occupied the mine's offices.

West Wyalong police charged the protestors with entering “inclosed land” under the obscure Inclosed Land Act 1901. The protestors were released on bail on the condition that they did not come within 10 kilometres of the mine.

Wiradjuri Traditional Owners have been holding convergences at Lake Cowal for a number of years as part of their campaign to raise awareness about the destruction of their ancient cultural heritage and their demands for the mine to be closed.

During yesterday's protest, a Barrick Gold mine manager refused to accept an eviction notice from Traditional Owner, Neville “Chappy” Williams. Mine Manager, Bill Shallvey, rudely refused to take the notice, the fourth issued to Barrick since 2002, shouting that Williams and his supporters were “misleading people”.

“Our Aboriginal People are being denied access to our sacred ground. Protestors from around the world are here to support our claim for access to our ancient lands. Australian Aboriginal Peoples have the oldest continuing living culture in the world. We Wiradjuri People are also being denied the right of spiritual and religious freedom under s.116 of the Australian Constitution,” Mr Williams said.

“Barrick is desecrating our sacred site and Dreaming Place and denying us access to our traditional lands. The company has moved or destroyed more than 10 000 artefacts including marked trees, damaging the integrity of the area forever.

“The company did a deal with five unauthorised Wiradjuri, who signed away the ancient inheritance of over 30 000 people of the Wiradjuri Nation. After signing the secret agreement with Barrick they discontinued their Native Title Claim over the area. Our Mooka and Kalara united families' claim is still active in the Federal Court and is proceeding towards determination. Our claim group is more than several thousand people who have bloodline back to Country over thousands and thousands of years.

“Despite Barrick's assertion that we are misleading people, what we are doing is our ancient cultural duty to protect our sacred Country for the generations to come. We are also raising awareness of the dangers of cyanide leach gold mining and the mine's excessive use of precious water in the middle of the worst drought on record. The fullest dams, in the very parched countryside between Condobolin and the mine, are the toxic tailings ponds west of the open cut pit, which extends into the lakebed.

“I am proud of the courageous and brave protestors who entered the mine, occupied its office and locked onto the conveyor belt, shutting down operations. They had my authority to enter our traditional lands.”

The Easter Sunday protest was the climax of the weekend of actions that included a Saturday morning demonstration in Condobolin outside the offices of the Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation funded by Barrick under the secret agreement.

Attended by environmentalists from Bolivia, Canada, the United States, England, France, Germany, Iraq, Papua New Guinea and Switzerland as well as most Australian states, the campaign to protect Lake Cowal continues to gain international recognition as momentum grows in the fight to stop the desecration of Indigenous lands and the environmental destruction resulting from gold mining on all continents.

Activists are working towards international solidarity against Barrick on 2 May 2007, the day of its Annual General Meeting.

Contacts:
Neville Williams
0416 316 774

Ellie Gilbert
0427 795 639

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MEDIA ALERT
Sunday 8th April 2007
2.00pm EST

Occupation and Lock-on's:
Work Stopped at Lake Cowal Gold Mine

Sunday 8th April
2.20pm

Wiradjuri Traditional Owners, locals, environmentalist and Lake Cowal campaign supporters are currently occupying the world's largest gold mining company.

Two activists with support people have locked onto machinery inside Barrick Gold's mine site at Lake Cowal, in central western NSW. The mine has appeared to stop work.

Fifteen people are currently occupying the office. Six more people have entered the mine site, whilst several others are already inside.

The mine has appeared to stop work due to the peaceful actions of
supporters who have gathered over the easter weekend for corroborre with Wiradjuri Traditional Owners.

Police are currently inside the mine site.

Contact:
Nicola Ison
0423 717 567

Holly Creenaune
0417 682 541

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MEDIA ALERT
Sunday 8th April 2007
12.30pm EST

Occupation of World's Largest Gold Mining Company

Today over 80 people are occupying, disrupting work and shutting down mine operations at the massive gold mine at Lake Cowal near Condobolin in central NSW. People have locked on to machinery inside the mine site.

Wiradjuri Traditional Owners, locals, environmentalists and supporters from as far as Sweden, France and Canada are converging to protest the illegal operation of the worlds largest gold mining company Barrick Gold.

Wiradjuri Traditional Owner, Neville 'Chappy' Williams says. "We are the first nation of people in this land. Wiradjuri has never ceded our sovereignty over our lands and waters. We have the right to life. We have right to existence. We have the right to being Wiradjuri people in our own lands ."

Australian Student Environment Network's national convenor, Nicola Ison says, "In the lead up t Barrick Gold's AGM on 2 nd May, Wiradjuri and their supporters are presenting an eviction notice to the gold mining giant ."

" Barrick gold is stripping NSW of its precious water resources , internationally significant wetlands and destroying Wiradjuri history and culture."

" Barrick is transporting over 6000 tonnes of cyanide annually from Gladstone, Queensland to Lake Cowal, New South Wales, creating risk of spill and lethal contamination of waterways along the 1600 km transport route" says Ison.

Friends of the Earth campaigner, Holly Creenaune says, "While Australian communities are in the grip of devastating drought Barrick draws up to 17 million litres of fresh water each day at Lake Cowal . In the last 2 years, the water table has dropped 35 m due to Barrick's mine."

"We will continue to disrupt mining at Lake Cowal until there is land justice and water equity for Wiradjuri and central NSW communities."

Contact:
Nicola Ison
0423 717 567

Holly Creenaune
0417 682 541

For a Media Briefing on the Lake Cowal Campaign please contact:
Natalie Lowrey :: 0421 356 067 :: natalie.lowrey@foe.org.au

http://www.savelakecowal.org
http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/gold/lakep.html
http://peacebus.com.cyber-pod.com/CyanideWatch/

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Action Alert
BLOCKADE TO EXPOSE CYANIDE TRANSPORT THREAT

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Lake Cowal Actions have included: