Guest post: Polish open pit lignite mine in Lubin challenged in front of Constitutional Court
September 18, 2013
The Lubin municipality in south-western Poland, under threat by Polish government plans to build a new open-pit lignite mine, is taking its case to the Polish Constitutional Court.
[Campaign update] EBRD not digging for truth at the Kolubara mine, Serbia
July 26, 2013
By putting too much trust in its client EPS, the EBRD failed to notice that an important grievance mechanism for villagers near the mine was not in place – for two years. [*]
The EIB and development, a chance to clean up the bank’s act
July 11, 2013
The current review of the European Investment Bank’s mandate for lending outside of the EU brings some of the pitfalls of the bank’s development lending to the fore and offers a chance for improvements.
[Campaign update] Kolubara landslide: Images of devastation, people waiting for compensation
July 3, 2013
People in Junkovac (Serbia) are still waiting for information on how they will be compensated after a landslide connected to the Kolubara lignite mine has destroyed several houses and terrified the town one month ago.
Guest post: New film: Tar sands – to the ends of the earth
June 17, 2013
Friends of the Earth Europe’s new film, documenting the efforts of local communities in Madagascar to protect their island home from tar sands development, was premiered in Europe last week at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Shale gas in Poland: Government gags local opposition
April 12, 2013
Poland’s government is hasting to adopt liberal shale gas legislation. It tries to avoid any interference by factually excluding local opposition movements and by pre-empting the development of an EU wide framework on unconventional fossil fuels.
Coal power plants make you sick
March 7, 2013
A new report calculates the effects of coal-fired power generation across Europe on chronic lung disease and some heart conditions and the associated costs. It is another clue for both the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank to end support for coal as the two revise their energy policies.
Constant dripping wears away the stone. Kyrgyz parliament votes to renegotiate Kumtor gold mine contract.
February 21, 2013
Challenging a mining operation that generates about ten percent of GDP in a country and particularly doing so on environmental and social grounds is an intimidating task. But as the example of the Kumtor gold mine in Kyrgyzstan shows, indefatigability and scientific expertise can persuade decision-makers to defend the interests of a country and its people.
Rio Tinto’s responsibilities in Mongolia extend beyond shareholders
February 15, 2013
New civil society recommendations for the Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia illustrate that much more than the bottom line needs to be considered to avoid development at the expense of local communities.
A mostly accommodating lion’s den – the second civil society meeting with the EIB Board of Directors
February 8, 2013
A meeting of civil society and the European Investment Bank’s Board of Directors saw a surprising degree of agreement between two often adverse groups.