"The evidence from the ground is that development bank involvement in extractive industries like mining is beneficial for the multinational firms leading these projects, but that good intentions are powerless to prevent major, often lethal, impacts on the communities that live next door." ---------------------------- Vali "Noble blood is an accident of fortune; noble actions are the chief mark of greatness." "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." Aboneaza-te la <mailto:ngo_list-subscr...@yahoogroups.com> ngo_list: o alternativa moderata (un pic) la [ngolist] Please consider the environment - do you really need to print this email? http://www.bankwatch.org/newsroom/releases.shtml?x=2222102 Bankwatch-produced film on Kyrgyz gold mining wins award at One World film festival March 19, 2010 <http://www.bankwatch.org/> CEE Bankwatch Network <http://aa.ecn.cz/img_upload/8b4cb37fba47da1c76cf3e44aa940cd2/allthatglitter s.jpg> Today at the prestigious One World international documentary film festival in Prague, the Bankwatch-produced film 'All that glitters', directed by Tomas Kudrna, picked up the Czech Radio Award for creative use of music and sound in a documentary film. <http://www.bankwatch.org/newsroom/releases.shtml?x=2222102#one> [1]
The film focuses on the lives of the villagers of Barskon, a remote settlement in the west of Kyrgyzstan that, since 1997, has also been home to a controversial gold mine. In 1998, nearly two tons of cyanide spilled from the gold mine operations, poisoning the nearby river and leaving several people dead and hundreds seeking medical treatment. CEE Bankwatch Network's interest in teaming up with the Czech director Tomas Kudrna stems from the involvement of two international public financial institutions - the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) - in the gold mine. <http://www.bankwatch.org/newsroom/releases.shtml?x=2222102#two> [2] Bankwatch has worked over the years with local communities to bring their grievances to the attention of these international funders. Petr Hlobil, Bankwatch's International affairs coordinator, said: "We are delighted that 'All that glitters' has received this award and that it has been seen by so many people at the One World festival this year. The EBRD and the IFC may have been involved in the Kyrgyz gold mine's development and funding, but the film shows that the project failed to bring tangible development benefits for local people or for Kyrgyzstan. It's staggering that in spite of the tragic accidents that have blighted this gold mine already, the project's used cyanide is being stored on permafrost which is threatened by climate change. "The EBRD has recently ended its involvement in the project, alleging that it has shown the viability of mining projects in Kyrgyzstan. We intend to show 'All that glitters' to audiences around the world. The evidence from the ground is that development bank involvement in extractive industries like mining is beneficial for the multinational firms leading these projects, but that good intentions are powerless to prevent major, often lethal, impacts on the communities that live next door." For more information or to arrange an interview with the film's director Petr Hlobil International affairs coordinator, CEE Bankwatch Network Tel: +420 603 154 349 Email: petrh <mailto:pe...@bankwatch.org> @bankwatch.org 1. Information about 'All that glitters' is available at the <http://www.oneworld.cz/2010/films-a-z/16975> One World Film Festival website. 2. Background information about the gold mining project can be seen at <http://bankwatch.org/project/kumtor> Bankwatch's website. (C) CEE Bankwatch Network
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