Difference between revisions of "Mining and Metals"

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[[Image:Spinwatch-map-thumbnail.jpg‎|350px|right|thumb||To take a tour around the various mining companies and related agencies based in London, visit our [[London Mining Map]].]]
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This portal reports and exposes the spin and lobbying by the '''metals and mining industry'''.  
 
This portal reports and exposes the spin and lobbying by the '''metals and mining industry'''.  
  
In particular we investigate the UK's complicity in the activities of companies registered on the [[London Stock Exchange]], the epicentre of mining investment and metals price fixing worldwide. We reveal their links to government, the banking sector, think tanks, NGOs and the arms industry.  
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In particular it investigates the UK's complicity in the activities of companies registered on the [[London Stock Exchange]] and the [[London Metal Exchange]], epicenters of mining investments and metal price fixing worldwide. We reveal their links to the UK government, banking sector, think tanks, NGOs and arms industry.  
  
We also document the effects of mining and processing on communities and the environment in the UK and worldwide, and expose attempts to 'greenwash' this.<br><br>
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We also document the effects of mining activities on communities around the world, and expose attempts to generate 'greenwashing' PR and CSR initiatives.<br><br>
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[[Image:Bauxite red earth mining.jpg|thumb|right|350px||Bauxite mining in India: this aluminium ore is shallow strip mined from semi-tropical forests, often displacing indigenous peoples and creating large scale soil erosion and water pollution.]]
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This portal is part of [[Powerbase:About|Powerbase]]&mdash;your guide to networks of power, lobbying and deceptive PR. Powerbase has a policy of [[Powerbase:A Guide to Referencing|strict referencing]] and is overseen by a [[User:Melissa Jones|Managing editor]], a [[User:David|Sysop]] and several associate Portal editors.<br><br>
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==Why mining and metals?==
 
==Why mining and metals?==
 
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[[Image:We-are-the-dongria-kondh.jpg|thumb|right|350px||'''British-registered Indian aluminium company [[Vedanta]]''' has been exposed for human rights and environmental violations in its quest for 73 million tonnes of bauxite from the tribal mountain homeland of the [[Dongria Kondh]]]]
 
Metals are all around us – from your can of lemonade, to your bike, car or plane, to your laptop, buildings and pots and pans. But we rarely think about where these materials come from and what impact they have on the planet and people.  
 
Metals are all around us – from your can of lemonade, to your bike, car or plane, to your laptop, buildings and pots and pans. But we rarely think about where these materials come from and what impact they have on the planet and people.  
  
Mining and metals companies, with the support of their trade associations, think tanks, corporate social responsibility programmes and PR agencies, try to paint their products as clean and green. Yet these are among the most polluting and energy intensive industrial processes in the world, often linked to the displacement of indigenous peoples, poor working conditions, conflict, human rights abuses, pollution, climate change and militarisation.  
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Mining and metals companies, with the support of their trade associations, think tanks, corporate social responsibility programmes and PR agencies, try to paint their products as clean and green.  
  
Around 30 per cent of aluminium, for example, is used by the arms or 'defence' industry, making it an important 'strategic metal' for most governments. <ref>Felix Padel and Samarendra Das, 2010. 'Out of This Earth: East India Adivasis and the Aluminium Cartel', Orient Blackswan, Delhi</ref>
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Yet these are among the most polluting and energy intensive industrial processes in the world, often linked to the displacement of indigenous peoples, poor working conditions, conflict, human rights abuses, pollution, climate change and militarisation.  
 
 
'''This portal is part of [[Powerbase:About|Powerbase]]&mdash;your guide to networks of power, lobbying and deceptive PR. Powerbase has a policy of [[Powerbase:A Guide to Referencing|strict referencing]] and is overseen by a [[User:Melissa Jones|Managing editor]], a [[User:David|Sysop]] and several associate Portal editors.'''
 
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Around 30 per cent of aluminium, for example, is used by the arms or 'defence' industry, making it an important 'strategic metal' for governments. <ref>Felix Padel and Samarendra Das, 2010. 'Out of This Earth: East India Adivasis and the Aluminium Cartel', Orient Blackswan, Delhi</ref>
 
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Aluminium is more energy intensive and polluting than any other metal to produce. The industry goes to great lengths to portray this shiny and versatile metal as part of the solution to climate change due to its recyclability and lightweight nature. But the real story of aluminium is one of destruction, displacement and waste.
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Aluminium is more energy intensive and polluting than any other metal to produce. The [http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Aluminium_Industry industry] goes to great lengths to portray this shiny and versatile metal as part of the solution to climate change due to its recyclability and lightweight nature. But the real story of aluminium is one of destruction, displacement and waste.
  
 
====The process and its impacts====
 
====The process and its impacts====
  
• Bauxite (aluminium's ore) is shallow strip mined from semi tropical forests, often displacing indigenous peoples and destroying their livelihoods, as well as creating large scale soil erosion and water pollution.
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[[Bauxite]] (aluminium's ore) is shallow strip mined from semi tropical forests, often displacing indigenous peoples and destroying their livelihoods, as well as creating large scale soil erosion and water pollution.
  
• Bauxite is refined to produce alumina, leaving tonnes of 'red mud' - the caustic and toxic sludge that flooded several Hungarian towns in 2010.
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• Bauxite is refined to produce [[alumina]], leaving tonnes of 'red mud' - the caustic and toxic sludge that flooded several Hungarian towns in 2010.
  
 
• Alumina is then smelted to remove the strongly bonded oxygen and produce aluminium. This process is often carried out thousands of miles from where it was mined and requires huge amounts of energy, producing highly polluting fluorides, sulphur dioxide, perfluorocarbons (very strong greenhouse gases), cyanide and a classified hazardous waste called [[Spent Pot Lining]].
 
• Alumina is then smelted to remove the strongly bonded oxygen and produce aluminium. This process is often carried out thousands of miles from where it was mined and requires huge amounts of energy, producing highly polluting fluorides, sulphur dioxide, perfluorocarbons (very strong greenhouse gases), cyanide and a classified hazardous waste called [[Spent Pot Lining]].
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{{Template:Mining and Metals badge}}
Related Powerbase categories:
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Powerbase categories associated with this page:
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Mining_and_Metals Mining and Metals]
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Aluminium_Industry Aluminium Industry]
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Mining_and_Metals:_Arms_Industry Mining and Metals: Arms Industry]
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Mining_and_Metals:_Industry-Friendly_Experts Mining and Metals: Industry-Friendly Experts]
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Mining_and_Metals:_Industry_Lobby_Groups Mining and Metals: Industry Lobby Groups]
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Mining_and_Metals:_Lobbyists Mining and Metals: Lobbyists]
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Mining_and_Metals:_Public_Relations Mining and Metals: Public Relations]
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Mining_and_Metals:_Trade_Associations Mining and Metals: Trade Associations]
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Mining_and_Metals:_Transnational_Corporations Mining and Metals: Transnational Corporations]
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php?title=Category:xxx]
 
*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php?title=Category:xxx]
 
*[http://www.Powerbase.info/index.php/Category:xx]
 
*[http://www.Powerbase.info/index.php/Category:xxx]
 
 
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*[[x]]
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----Mining Corporations
 
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*[[Vedanta Resources]]
*[[x]]
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*[[Cairn Energy]]
*[[x]]
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*[[Rio Tinto Alcan]]
*[[x]]
 
*[[x]]
 
*[[x]]
 
  
*[[x]]
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----Trade Associations and UK involvement
*[[x]]
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*[[London Metal Exchange]]
*[[x]]
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*[[International Council on Mining and Metals]]
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*[[International Aluminium Institute]]
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*[[All-Party Parliamentary Group for the UK Aluminium Industry]]
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*[[Aluminium Federation]]
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*[[European Aluminium Association]]
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*[[Canning House]]
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*[[Metals Forum]]
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*[[Secat]]
  
*[[x]]
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----Individuals
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*[[Shriti Vadera]]
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*[[Philip Dunne]]
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*[[Henry Dickinson]]
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*[[Ian Hannam]]
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*[[Anil Agarwal]]
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*[[Kathryn Fuller]]
  
*[[x]]
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----PR Companies
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*[[Partner PR]]
  
 
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===References===
 
===References===
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
[[Category:Mining and metals]]
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[[Category:Mining and Metals]]

Latest revision as of 17:53, 24 November 2011

Welcome to the Mining and Metals portal on Powerbase

To take a tour around the various mining companies and related agencies based in London, visit our London Mining Map.

This portal reports and exposes the spin and lobbying by the metals and mining industry.

In particular it investigates the UK's complicity in the activities of companies registered on the London Stock Exchange and the London Metal Exchange, epicenters of mining investments and metal price fixing worldwide. We reveal their links to the UK government, banking sector, think tanks, NGOs and arms industry.

We also document the effects of mining activities on communities around the world, and expose attempts to generate 'greenwashing' PR and CSR initiatives.

This portal is part of Powerbase—your guide to networks of power, lobbying and deceptive PR. Powerbase has a policy of strict referencing and is overseen by a Managing editor, a Sysop and several associate Portal editors.

Why mining and metals?

British-registered Indian aluminium company Vedanta has been exposed for human rights and environmental violations in its quest for 73 million tonnes of bauxite from the tribal mountain homeland of the Dongria Kondh

Metals are all around us – from your can of lemonade, to your bike, car or plane, to your laptop, buildings and pots and pans. But we rarely think about where these materials come from and what impact they have on the planet and people.

Mining and metals companies, with the support of their trade associations, think tanks, corporate social responsibility programmes and PR agencies, try to paint their products as clean and green.

Yet these are among the most polluting and energy intensive industrial processes in the world, often linked to the displacement of indigenous peoples, poor working conditions, conflict, human rights abuses, pollution, climate change and militarisation.

Around 30 per cent of aluminium, for example, is used by the arms or 'defence' industry, making it an important 'strategic metal' for governments. [1]

The aluminium industry

Aluminium is more energy intensive and polluting than any other metal to produce. The industry goes to great lengths to portray this shiny and versatile metal as part of the solution to climate change due to its recyclability and lightweight nature. But the real story of aluminium is one of destruction, displacement and waste.

The process and its impacts

Bauxite (aluminium's ore) is shallow strip mined from semi tropical forests, often displacing indigenous peoples and destroying their livelihoods, as well as creating large scale soil erosion and water pollution.

• Bauxite is refined to produce alumina, leaving tonnes of 'red mud' - the caustic and toxic sludge that flooded several Hungarian towns in 2010.

• Alumina is then smelted to remove the strongly bonded oxygen and produce aluminium. This process is often carried out thousands of miles from where it was mined and requires huge amounts of energy, producing highly polluting fluorides, sulphur dioxide, perfluorocarbons (very strong greenhouse gases), cyanide and a classified hazardous waste called Spent Pot Lining.

Producing one tonne of aluminium uses 1378 tonnes of water and produces 13.1 tons of greenhouse gases (CO2e), making it responsible for 1 per cent of global carbon emissions - and growing. Though recycling aluminium uses 95 per cent less energy than making it new, it still uses the same amount as producing new steel.

Companies

British-registered Indian aluminium company Vedanta has been exposed for human rights and environmental violations in its quest for 73 million tonnes of Bauxite from the tribal mountain homeland of the Dongria Kondh.[2]


Categories

Mining-alcans-60px.jpg This article is part of the Mining and Metals project of Spinwatch

Powerbase categories associated with this page:


Priority pages


Mining Corporations
Trade Associations and UK involvement
Individuals
PR Companies

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References

  1. Felix Padel and Samarendra Das, 2010. 'Out of This Earth: East India Adivasis and the Aluminium Cartel', Orient Blackswan, Delhi
  2. Maseeh Rahman, India blocks Vedanta mine on Dongria-Kondh tribe's sacred hill The Guardian, 24 August 2010. Accessed 12/07/11