{"id":4090,"date":"2022-04-22T20:22:24","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T20:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyondclimatepromises.ca\/?p=4090"},"modified":"2022-08-15T18:29:21","modified_gmt":"2022-08-15T18:29:21","slug":"gold-mining-expansion-letter-to-the-govt-of-ns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondclimatepromises.ca\/fr\/gold-mining-expansion-letter-to-the-govt-of-ns\/","title":{"rendered":"Gold mining expansion\u2014Letter to the Gov’t of NS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Re: Proposed Touquoy open-pit gold mine expansion in Moose River<\/strong>
Proposed Beaver Dam, Fifteen Mile Stream, and Cochrane Hill gold mining sites<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Premier Houston, Minister Rushton, and Deputy Minister Gatien, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s hard to fathom that in 2022, we are having to explain that the proposed expansion of an open-pit gold mine in Nova Scotia would be an irresponsible course of action. Presumably, you are aware of the toxic legacy of gold mining in Nova Scotia. We\u2019ve included several references at the end should you need a refresher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you happen to be under the impression that gold mining today is environmentally safe, then let us disabuse you of that notion. It\u2019s never a question of if <\/em>a new or expanded gold mine will contaminate the environment, but when<\/em>, and for how long<\/em>?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Counter to what pro-mining propaganda suggests, gold is not<\/em><\/a> a critical mineral in Canada, and it is not needed for clean energy or other climate solutions. Most of the gold mined today is used for jewelry production (50-60%<\/a>) and for banking and investments (30-40%<\/a>). Since gold can be infinitely recycled, demand going forward can be met by adopting circular economy policies and innovative investment strategies<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How could it possibly be reasonable to produce 20 tons of contaminated waste for one new gold ring? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For every ounce of gold that Atlantic Gold produces, it extracts 70 tonnes of ore and rock waste<\/a>. In a single year, that adds up to roughly 8 million tonnes at the Touquoy Mine. Moreover, toxic sodium cyanide is used to extract gold from rock. Gold mining is also energy intensive and results in staggering<\/a> GHG emissions. In fact, carbon emissions from Atlantic Gold\u2019s 2020 gold production at Touquoy was equivalent to taking 106,663 return flights<\/a> between New York and Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re uncertain as to the environmental harms caused by gold mining today, you are not qualified to make decisions concerning the mining of natural resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut we need rural jobs!\u201d Indeed we do. What happened to your government\u2019s promise of a green and sustainable economy, expressed in the Premier\u2019s mandate letter<\/a>? By contaminating local watersheds and ecosystems and endangering human health, gold mining impedes Nova Scotia\u2019s ability to provide green and sustainable jobs in rural areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further devastation of the local environment through gold mining expansion is compounded by the modern-day context: we are dealing with a climate crisis, biodiversity crisis, and more. As a number of lauded world leaders have proclaimed, we are also the last generation that is in a position to do something about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you aren\u2019t sufficiently terrified by the situation in which we find ourselves, please refer to the latest reports from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: <\/p>\n\n\n\n