Arguing a "possible attack", the multinational executives down to 20 minutes of Pascua Lama forum:

Arguing a "possible attack", the multinational executives down to 20 minutes of Pascua Lama forum:
The chair was never empty Barrick
(By Javier Karmy)
translated from original spanish article


Barrick demanded a forum without the press, other than a parking lot, side access to the auditorium, a security officer for the executive to remove any banner or canvas, and present in second place, leaving the other to criticize before they submit the project. Despite all these assurances worthy of a ruler, the largest multinational mining gold withdrew discuss. The empty chair of the forum said it all.

Due to the presence of opponents of the flagship project of the binational Canadian Barrick Gold and the large number of media covering the event, executives of transnational stopped participating in a debate organized by five students in Commercial Engineering from the University Adolfo Ibáñez as an essential part of the course Entrepreneurship Workshop.

It was supposed to be a forum on the Pascua Lama project where Barrick Gold is to explain your project worldwide star and to discuss with them the religious Cristina Hoar, Servant of the Holy Spirit and the director of the Latin American Observatory of Environmental Conflicts (OLCA), Lucio Cuenca. Both were escorted to the communities of the Valle del Huasco in the region of Atacama, during all these years of conflict with the transnational.

However, a phone call drove overland to discuss, talk to Barrick Gold and express what so many people wanted to tell you long ago. Had argued that the transnational information that environmentalists made a "terrorist attack" against the executive of the multinational.

While demanding a free press forum, other than a parking lot, side access to the auditorium, a security officer for the executive, as well as remove any banner or canvas, and present in second place, leaving the other before they criticize submit the project. Despite all these assurances worthy of a ruling that students were willing to grant, the largest multinational mining gold withdrew debate, warning 20 minutes before the scheduled time. The empty chair of the forum said it all.

They fear the truth
Sister Cristina Hoar regretted the situation because "they are" faceless "and said" what Barrick is afraid? Of truth. "
As for Lucio Cuenca "This attitude is usually part of Barrick, as on other occasions they have been invited to discuss but they are not put in places where they do not have full control of the situation." This was the time trial Barrick under the II Social Forum in Chile in November 2006 when Barrick's lawyer apologized to go abroad. In fact, Cuenca reminded that the only time he has discussed with the executive of Barrick was last year at school Manquehue in the context of discussions of the school. "But that was not advertised nor was public," he said.

Elias Musalem, one of the organizers, said obfuscated the term, that the debate was "half" as it "had everything ready and 20 minutes before the forum, Barrick called us saying that he ran because, they said, had information that there would be an attack against them. "
While initially Barrick opened the door leading to the camp by plane Pascua Lama project in the Cordillera of the Third Region of Atacama where they take pictures of the area concerned, today we called and explained the wrinkle-and-college andalusia final exits are worse because of the university students are left with a pure vision and not that of Barrick. "

Musalem explained that "hurts us because we will surely fail the practice of this workshop, but we will seek explanations for Barrick, and that the climb to its corporate website as it is a disrespect, because I doubt the alleged attack, because Chile has not killed people in debates of this kind, "he concluded.

Undoubtedly, much more important than if the teacher decides to approve or not the class to students the importance of this area is that once again has become evident that the darker side of Barrick Gold, which is unable to sit or to discuss, or sit in front of a canvas. So we rescued the voice of the professor who moderated the discussion to mean "Unfortunately, the silence."

Barrick bails out of debate at last minute, again!

Latest News Tuesday, March 24 2009, 13:32 pm Source: Invertia Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez Public debate on Pascua Lama: Minera Barrick cancels at the last minute


Only 20 minutes before they would start the debate, the organizers were notified that the Barrick Gold would not attend the debate. The reasons were lack of security. Jaime Prieto Santelices SANTIAGO, March 24 .-

Students of the University Adolfo Ibáñez, organizers and members of Center for Latin American Environmental Conflicts (OLCA) and Anti-Barrick protestors with banners were left stood up when the Barrick gold company did not show up. Only 20 minutes before they would start the debate they, were notified that the Barrick Gold mining is “withdrew” from the debate. This was explained by the director of OLCA Lucio Cuenca, who expressed annoyance that was not the first time that Canadian Mining Company cancel to participate in a public debate about Pascua Lama, adding that “It its quite irresponsible not appear here to defend their views and opinions. They have never had willingness to discuss openly and we drew attention to the world have agreed to this forum. ” According to which Cuenca, 20 minutes before the organizers received a call in which the company reported that “there were no guarantees and that it was withdrawing. People claimed that the University had a commitment to attend.This has also happened in a lot of other opportunities that Barrick has refused to discuss openly with those who have a different opinion to them. ” The debate to be held in one of the main auditorium of the hall was called , “Exploiting the gold in Chile breaks the ecosystem? Truth or Lie?” and with the participation of OLCA as Barrick and exhibitors. According to Cuena, Rodrigo Rivas, who is responsible for communications for Latin America was expected to attend .As was Guillermo Rolando Jefe Responsabilidad Social Empresarial Barrick Sudamérica. A unnamed source had said that one of the Barrick invited was preparing to leave when he got a phone call from his superior to say not to attend the debate, he disagreed but had to follow orders. The company, adding that ” We were not aware that we would not have the final word in the debate , that was imposed as a condition for coming. Lucio Cuenca replied, “That is not logical because it is a debate and that is left to the organizers to draw order “. This also happened again when Barrick spoek in Toronto, Canada during the Governemnt Roundtables on the Extractive industry meetings. Prior to the beginning of the Roundtable council person Luis Faura was to follow Barrick lawyer and represenative Jose Antonio Urrutia. The day of the presentation the order was switched and Luis Faura spoke first while Jose Antonio urrutia was able to refute his and Lucio statements by speaking last and have the last word. Back in October two representatives from Barrick travel to Copiapo to meet with Bishop Don Gaspar for a meeting to explain all the good work the company has been doing with the community and how they could make improvements on some of their mistakes. The representatives there also stated they were willing to meet openly with the community both for and against the Pascua Lama project to discuss their concerns they have with the project in an open forum. This promise of a future meeting and transparency was made to a Bishop and again it shows the lack of credibility and misleading statements they would make. Currently, Barrick Gold is the biggest producer of gold in the world and is in negotiations with the government of Argentina and Chile to seek agreement on the payment and amount of taxes that will mega gold. The company expects to reduce the cost of U.S. $ 2,700 million and reach agreement with authorities. Earlier this month, the chief executive of Barrick, Aaron Regent, argued that “only are a handful of outstanding issues to be defined with Argentina and Chile. ” Pascua Lama, one of the biggest gold projects, with 18 million ounces of gold in the Andes on the boundary between both countries, but just has not progressed because of the tax dispute. If there is a decision this year, production would begin in late 2012 or early 2013.

Barrick CEO vists Argentina for secret meetings

VIVIANA PASTOR - DIARIO DE CUYO
FEB 27 2009

http://www.diariodecuyo.com.ar/home/new_noticia.php?noticia_id=329842

The number one came to define Barrick Pascua Lama
With your new suit CEO, Aaron Regent was almost 4 hours together with Governor José Luis Gioja. A strong gesture to begin with.
VIVIANA PASTOR - DIARY OF WHICH
Never had fallen to South America from the base of operations in Toronto. The plane left the company yesterday to Aaron Regent (43), highest worldwide Barrick, early in San Juan. Had a long and secret reunion with Governor Gioja and returned to Vancouver. Why? Protocol is said he came to present his compliments, but nobody makes such a journey and in the midst of a heavy silence, for that. Industry sources indicated that they gave the last stitch to the announcement of the start of operations for the largest gold mine in South America, whose decision to start is almost taken.

At least the trip was a lightning strong signal that things are going well and it was well beyond both the government and from the company, although neither the governor nor the executive of the company referred the matter in public.

At 12.45 the delegation of Barrick came to Government House in three cars Remise, so as not to attract attention. For the first time the faces were the new President and CEO of Barrick, Aaron Regent, and the governor José Luis Gioja.

In the morning the reunion was handled with extreme secrecy, and even had different versions concerning the timetable, the government and from Barrick repeatedly that he wanted him to share media, but had two early in guarding Government House and were warned that they could not come to mingle with the Regent, which Gioja not talk and could not bring the photographers.

Positioned at the side of the courtyard, in the governor's private, there were 15.40 when they saw the departure of men and Barrick Gioja all very smiling, there were greetings at the door and there he took photos that were published today . That until a governor's secretary came to ask the guards not to let police take pictures of the print media who were there.

Both hermeticism could not be simple greetings protocol, as indicated by the afternoon the government releases and expressions of the people of Barrick.

From Canada, Regent came to San Juan only to wind up with issues related to Gioja Pascua Lama. Hence the importance of meeting and the mystique that surrounded him. A fact no less important was the presence at the reunion of the project manager Ron Kettles.

High-level sources said that this was the main reason why the couple came to see Regent Gioja. According to what transpired, were spinning fine together to define the official announcement of the start of Pascua Lama, which would be next April, to start construction in September. The question is whether it will be in San Juan and Buenos Aires, in this case the presence of President Cristina Kirchner, or perhaps in concert in Chile and Argentina.

It seems that this time would be given all the conditions for the project to start next September, when waiting on the same date in 2007 and 2008 but was delayed by the delay of permits and sectoral tax definitions.

It is not just what is at stake, it is the largest gold exploration projects in South America with an investment of more than 3,000 million dollars, although this figure will be updated by the mining in the third quarter.

Besides the governor attended the reunion, the Secretary of Mines of the Province, Felipe Saavedra, and in addition to Barrick and its CEO said Ron Kettles, Kelvin Dusniski, Julio Hernan Claudeville and Zabala.