Here’s a free event taking place in Ottawa.
Thanks,
Sasha Kebo, MES
Project Manager-GIS | Directeur de Projet-SIG
You're invited! Save the Date - Monday,
February 8, 2010 for An Evening Forum on The Use of Mercury in Artisanal and
Small-Scale Gold Mining
Please join Pollution Probe for an
evening forum to learn about the global challenge of reducing mercury use in Artisanal
and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) in developing countries. Come and
learn how Canadians can contribute to developing solutions.
We look forward to a lively discussion
with our panel of experts from the United Nations Environment Programme, the
Natural Resources Defence Council and the Artisanal Gold Council.
Event Details:
Monday, February 8, 2010
7:00-9:00 pm (refreshments at 6:30 p.m.)
Crowne Plaza
Ottawa,
Richelieu Room
101
Lyon Street
Ottawa, Ontario
No admission fee. Registration is not
necessary.
For more information, contact Julie
Sommerfreund at
[hidden email] or
416-926-1907 x234
===============================
The Use of Mercury in Artisanal and
Small-Scale Gold Mining - How We Can Play a Role in Creating Solutions
Mercury is a highly toxic pollutant that
can damage the brain and nervous system. Around the
world, mercury levels in fish have risen
to the point of being unsafe for those who rely on fish
as a regular part of their diet. Mercury
accumulates in fish through the release of mercury to
the environment from human activities.
Once released, mercury can pollute the local
environment and travel long distances
polluting the world’s lakes and streams.
Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining
(ASGM) in developing countries, is the largest remaining
intentional use of mercury on the
planet. Unlike other industrial uses, most, if not all of the
mercury used in ASGM escapes into the
environment. As a result, ASGM is second only to
burning coal for electricity as the
largest source of global mercury releases to the atmosphere.
Reducing or eliminating the use of
mercury in ASGM presents a considerable challenge to
governments for two reasons. Firstly, as
many as 20 million people in more than 70 countries
(such as Indonesia,
Brazil and Columbia) engage in ASGM as a way to attempt
to escape
poverty. Secondly, mercury is cheap,
accessible and allows ASGM miners to yield gold rapidly.
This enables miners to work
independently, improving their ability to gain rapid access to this
new source of wealth.
Solutions will require innovation,
investment and the support of many partners, including
mining communities in developing
countries, governments in both developing and developed
countries, environmental
non-governmental organisations, development organisations, aid
organisations, and dedicated
individuals.
Please join us on Monday, February 8,
2010 as our panel of experts present the challenges we
face in addressing ASGM and how we can
all make a difference. We look forward to a lively
discussion!
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