Czech government pushes people to edge in new coal mine expansion
October 19, 2015
Prague – In a landmark decision today, the Czech Republic reversed a quarter century-old ban that prohibited the expansion of surface mining in an area of Northern Bohemia, allowing excavation in close vicinity of homes of more than 120 000 people.
Public action: Mourning the demise of Czech responsibility for climate action
October 12, 2015
Video and pictures from a public action agains lifting the coal mining limits in the Czech Republic that so far have saved towns from being resettled.
When environmental improvement becomes resettlement – lessons from Serbia’s Kolubara mine
September 25, 2015
European financial institutions and Serbian authorities have failed to address the human impacts of resettlement in Serbia’s lignite mining fields, a new study shows.
European Bank Says Mining Projects Don’t Damage Glaciers
July 8, 2015
For years, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has been involved in the Kumtor mining project, which some experts say is contaminating ground and surface waters. Kyrgyz local communities have been complaining that the gold mine is causing negative environmental and social impacts on the nearby villages. Additionally, international NGOs and Kyrgyz environmentalists believe that the Canadian-operated Centerra Gold mine is triggering rapid glacier melt due to company’s mining practices. The EBRD has denied these claims.
Interviewing the EBRD about the Kumtor gold mine
May 14, 2015
This interview was conducted during the EBRD annual meeting and business forum, 14-15 May 2015 in Tbilisi. The interview was led by Ryskeldi Satke (RS) with Dr. Alistair Clark (AC), EBRD’s Managing Director Environment and Sustainability Department; Michaela Bergman (MB), EBRD’s Chief Counselor for Social Issues Environment and Sustainability Department; and Dr. Dariusz Prasek (DP), Director, Project Appraisal Environment Department.
Battles against cyanide continue in Romania
April 30, 2015
After the epic battle against the Rosia Montana gold mine in Romania ended in success, many people still don’t know that Romania and other countries in the region such as Bulgaria are still threatened by several gold mining proposals, some of which would involve the use of cyanide leaching.
Unpaid coal bill: Romanian coal exports to Serbia marred by corruption
April 21, 2015
A dodgy deal to export coal from Romania to Serbia has left the Romanian state-owned coal supplier with a potential seven million euros write-off.
Exhibition brings coal-affected communities in Colombia and Croatia a step closer together
March 24, 2015
A photo exhibition in Croatia is connecting the dots between communities in Colombia and the Istrian coast that are negatively affected by coal.
Victories piling up: 130 more hectares of forest saved from lignite mining in Romania
March 12, 2015
Bucharest – A Romanian court has accepted a petition filed by Bankwatch Romania and Greenpeace Romania, and cancelled the environmental permit which allowed cutting down 130 hectares of forests – equivalent to approximately 260 football pitches – to make way for the expansion of the Pinoasa lignite open pit.
Czech coal mining communities are under threat
March 12, 2015
A debate over coal mining limits in the Czech Republic shows that mining communities in EU countries are facing similar struggles as in other parts of the world. It also illustrates how “securing energy supply” has become a catch-all argument even when the energy demand in no way justifies it.
