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Date Posted: 15:35:02 03/04/00 Sat
Author: Anonymous
Subject: THE GLOBAL MINING INITIATIVE - YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE YOUR VIEWS KNOWN -CF


THE GLOBAL MINING INITIATIVE

PNGeans often moan and complain about the lack of action by our government in keeping mining companies in line. Many of our leaders have close association (too close) with some of their executives and cannot pull them into place. At times our authorities are too ignorant of the issues and are virtual cripples as far as imposing strict enviornmental guidelines on these transnational corporations is concerned.

Not all TNCs are irresponsible however, many have learned a valuable lesson from Bougainville and have come to relaise that they cannot depend on the government to reflect true commnunity feelings in relation to the environment. The bigger ones are aware that peoples views are hardly reflected in parliament (if ever) nor translated into effective mining policies within their country, especially in third world countries, where a bulk of the untapped mineral wealth still lies. This was also one of the structural causes of the Bougainville revolution.

There is now a way for us, the public, to make our views known. I suggest that all you intellectuals out there start thinking about the issues that affect us all and get these documented and submitted to our various government departments and NGOs back in PNG , in preparation for submission to the various Work Groups within this Organisation.The Task has started, so get your thinking caps on and start writing instead of feeling hopeless and down-trodden. The government is a cripple, its up to us, citizens, to force change by dealing directly with these organisations via our NGOs back in PNG. Read on for more info.

Cheers



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Adapted from: http://www.riotinto.com

What is the Global Mining Initiative?

The Initiative brings together many of the world’s largest mining and minerals companies.

This leadership exercise aims to ensure that an industry which is essential to the well-being of a changing world is responsive to global needs and challenges.
The Initiative will include a number of activities leading up to a global conference on mining and sustainable development in 2002. This conference will be a significant contribution to the events that will mark the 10th anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit. The objective is to reach a clearer definition and understanding of the positive part the mining and minerals industry can play in making the transition to sustainable patterns of economic development.


The Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development analysis

A major focus of the Global Mining Initiative will be an independent analysis of the issues that the industry faces. It will be commissioned through the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) with the aim of bringing
a wide spectrum of sponsors into the process. Its aim is to generate broadly-based and authoritative analysis of the key issues for the mining and minerals industry which arise from people’s expectations of sustainable development.

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) has designed the process for this analysis. A key feature is that it will be conducted at arm’s length from the industry, and based on broad participation by people with whom the
industry must engage as it conducts its affairs. These include governments, international organisations, civil society organisations and other business sectors. By seeking through open dialogue a shared understanding of the central issues
facing the industry, this analysis will build the foundation for the new relationships and partnerships which the scale of the challenges demands.

Why is this work needed?

Meeting the development needs of the world’s growing population without depriving future generations of the means to meet their own needs, is a daunting challenge. Responsible mining has an important contribution to make. The vital importance of metals and minerals to economic development, and the benefits of wealth and employment generation are clear. But the indirect benefits in terms of
capacity-building in areas such as education, health care and community development, innovation and the contribution to building sustainable livelihoods are less evident. The industry needs to engage more actively with others, in order to understand issues better, work out priorities and address the criticism its performance sometimes attracts. Part of this engagement will be explaining better what the industry does, but another part will be to establish where further changes are needed in the way it operates. The analysis will provide the essential underpinning to this effort. It needs to sort out and prioritise the issues which deserve attention. It needs also to clarify where the boundaries lie for action by different actors, and to address the dilemma of what to do when positive objectives come into conflict with each other.

The analysis will cover a broad range of areas - though not all can be handled in the same detail. This reflects the many social and environmental issues which arise, and the product and geographic diversity of the industry. Examples include the management of waste, the use of power and water, secondary development and biological diversity impacts, recycling, human rights and issues of governance and capacity-building. This illustrative list underlines the need for the industry to be
developing new forms of partnership with its key stakeholders.

Who is doing the study?
The WBCSD has appointed Richard Sandbrook, former Executive Director of IIED, as the Project Co-ordinator. He and the WBCSD will bring together the three main parts of the analytical process. The Sponsoring Group will consist of a range of mining and minerals companies, together with other interested groups. The hope is that representative bodies of other interested parties such as international organisations, governments, umbrella non-government organisations and the academic community will want to contribute to the work and take up places on the Sponsoring Group. This group will fund and oversee the project. To underline the independence of the work, the aim is that at least 40 per cent and preferably
50 per cent of the total costs will be met from outside the mining industry.

The Assurance Group will comprise respected individuals from the various stakeholder groups with a strong track record of contributing to work in fields related to the analysis. Their role will be to provide high level peer review of the work agenda and findings.

The Work Group will bring together the necessary expertise and links with other centres of excellence to deliver the substance of the analysis. A key feature will be the integrity and independence of the team. Details of the membership of these groups will be published once they are fully established.

What will it cost?
An initial core budget of US$3 million has been established, to be supplemented by at least $2 million of associated study work.

What is the timetable?
After a detailed design stage, the project has been under way since October 1999. The aim is for the Sponsoring, Assurance and Work Groups to be up and running in the first part of 2000. The results of the analysis should be delivered to the industry towards the end of 2001.

What will be the results of the project?
As with other aspects of the process, this will depend on the views and contributions of the various participants. However, it is planned that there will be a report, to be published in late 2001. This will include analysis of the issues. It may also, depending on the course of the work, explore new standards and benchmarks, and seek to agree processes for carrying on work on other issues beyond the scope of the current project. An important hoped-for outcome will be new working methods and relationships, and improved trust and understanding
between the participants. The industry will need to draw on the outcomes of the analysis in shaping its contribution to the planned conference, and in planning its future management strategies.

What is the WBCSD?
Based in Geneva, the World Business Council for Sustainable
Development is a coalition of more than 120 international
companies from 36 countries representing over 20 major
industrial sectors. They share a common commitment to the
environment and to the principles of economic growth and
sustainable development.

More details from:
• Robert Wilson
Rio Tinto plc, 6 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LD
United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0)20 7930 2399 e-mail: sustaindev@riotinto.com

• Richard Sandbrook
c/o IIED, 3 Endsleigh Street, London WC1, United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0)20 7388 2117 e-mail: richard.sandbrook@iied.org

• Bjorn Stigson
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
160, Route de Florissant, 1231 Conches, Switzerland
Tel +41 22 839 3100 e-mail: werner@wbcsd.ch
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