We have followed the ‘Buyat Bay’ saga at this blog beginning with my post entitled ‘Did Newmont Do it?’ in November 2005.
And I was in Indonesia in April to visit Buyat Bay and hear the verdict in the criminal trial.
Richard Ness and Newmont were cleared of all charges.
The ABC TV program ‘Foreign Correspondent’ is running a story on the Buyat Bay saga on Tuesday night. The promo says:
“The tiny inlet of Buyat Bay, has been a battleground with one of the world’s biggest mining companies, Newmont, facing monumental lawsuits from environmental groups, activists, and most importantly the Indonesian government itself.
Newmont has been accused of poisoning an entire community through the discharge of its mining waste into the bay. Water samples taken by Indonesian police indicated massive levels of mercury and arsenic were to be found in Buyat Bay but other tests including those conducted by Australia’s CSIRO found the bay to be clean.
At the centre of these accusations stands Richard Ness, the executive director of Newmont’s Indonesian operations. For the past two years he has been dragged through the courts, and if convicted of the criminal charges brought against him he faces three years in jail.
But Buyat Bay is not what it appears to be, and recent events have exposed serious implications for foreign investors who venture into Indonesia.
Jakarta-based correspondent Geoff Thompson travelled to North Sulawesi to try and discover whether Buyat Bay is an environmental disaster?”
You can read more about Richard Ness at this blog here: http://www.jennifermarohasy.com/blog/archives/001697.html
I am writing a book on the saga.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD is a critical thinker with expertise in the scientific method.
If Richard Ness merely got paid the money forked over to the greenies who created this mess–and nothing more–he’d easily have more than twice the money he’s asking for.
There are increasing complaints by government officials of foreign meddling in domestic affairs through green “front groups” who merely carry out the wishes of international financial interests.
Coal, hydroelectric, oil and biofuel interests, and their allies in related industries have been funding what appear to be “green” and “grass-roots” enterprises for years.
Same goes for mining interests. Don’t want competition? Sic the greens on them and watch your margin on sales rise! It’s an open secret, it’s just that the press doesn’t want to risk offending the thugs.
When the truth comes out, you’ll find the greens have been the highest-paid, and least ethical lobbyists, the world has ever seen.
Go Richard!
Wov, didn’t know this! To make one gold ring, produces 3 tons of toxic waste….
Wow!
Another topic the Greenies fear to discuss. Good going, Jennifer! The ratbags are on the run!
Schiller
i thought the program was on tonight?
Could that be because it hasn’t been on the TV yet?
Poor ol’ Nessie will no doubt write his own book and go on the talk show circuit. He’ll be crying all the way to the bank, poor sod.
Jennifer: No one could complain about bias in our ABC after that Foreign Correspondent expose last night. It gave us a good look at a host of problems up in the area. None the least was continuing “illegal” backyard gold mining operations.