A Sacred Mountain Up For Mining(India)

[walksalone11]

http://www.survival international. org/tribes/ dongria/compensa tion#main

The Dongria Kondh of India call themselves Jharnia, or protector of
streams. Now they are striving to protect their homeland from
destruction. Over 8000 members live in the lush Niyamgiri Hills in the
eastern Indian state of Orissa, and consider the Niyamgiri mountain
sacred. But the British mining company Vedanta Resources wants to mine
for bauxite, or aluminum ore. In fact, the company has already built a
refinery at the base of the mountain.

Mining would destroy the dense forests and kill rich species of unique
wildlife. It would destroy the people's cultural identity and means of
subsistence. Survival International reports that India's Supreme Court
ruled that Vedanta could proceed with the mining as long as profits were
used towards "tribal development. " But the Dongria remain firm in their
resistance -- no amount of money would compensate for the destruction of
their homeland and way of life.

Fortunately pressure to halt mining has come from outside sources as
well. Vedanta has lost investors such as the Church of England, the
investment firm Martin Currie and most recently the Joseph Rowntree
Charitable Trust. In addition, the British and Norwegian governments
have come out to condemn the company's actions.