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Through the environmental advocacy group ELAW (Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide), from July 21st to August 7th, I’ll be participating in a workshop in Ghana geared towards promoting sustainable mining (as well as logging) practices by “empowering young environmental professionals”. Follow me on my blog as I work with mining impacts abroad as well as ways to implement best manage practices for minimizing and preventing the impacts of water contamination on local communities.
Friday August 6, 2010
Just sitting here waiting for our flight tonight at 11pm. It’s amazing. In a few short weeks, I feel like I’ve gone from a vague and unattached view of impacted communities to witnessing something so raw and real. There seems to be a basic way of humanity that’s interrupted by these large scale projects, as well as the natural environment. In these areas, people still live off the land and that’s not a novelty or unique; it’s just the way of life here.
We should NOT be anti-mining or against large scale projects; we should be pro-sustainability. Even as destructive as these projects are, they bring in jobs and leaps in technological advancements as well as industrial minerals we all benefit from (phosphorus for fertilizers, gold, silver, etc). And honestly, companies are going to mine no matter what. However, they can also bring devastation, cyanide-laden streams, and even displacement on community wide scales. Public involvement with monitoring them is essential.
I really hope I get another chance to come to Ghana (or other parts of Africa) to work on environmental issues. Coming to an area like this for just a “visit” or vacation wouldn’t have the same kind of engagement like this experience has had. “Amazing” seems so under-par as far as descriptions go.
Thursday August 5, 2010
Coming to end of our trip and its more and more depressing. I don’t want to go.
Today we met with Ellen Irvine, Cultural Affairs Officer for the Embassy of the USA in Ghana. Also attending the meeting was Augustine (upcoming director at CEPIL), some members of USAID, and some other reps from groups working in the area on Economic and Environmental issues. Wow, what a meeting. It wasn’t so much the content of the meeting that stuck with me but it was the fact that this was the first group of Americans I’ve seen in a few weeks and their well-manicured appearance and language seemed awkward for some reason. Guess I’m getting used to the relaxed Ghanaian lifestyle.
We discussed many of the events and issues that was the focus of our stay and what some of the legal issues were that we encountered. The embassy was unbelievable (well, unbelievable on a Ghanaian scale; the building reminded me of their presidential palace). Ellen was so helpful and actually encouraged me to apply for the Fulbright so that I can have a chance to come back and study.
Wednesday August 4, 2010
A fairly uneventful day but we did manage to get some food and shopping in. CEPIL organized a “goodbye” dinner for us and the other interns, Annabel and Sandrine from Canada. I’d like to think I’m getting used the palm oil in these Ghanaian dishes but alas, my stomach disagrees. Nevertheless, the food is pretty amazing, especially the plantains. I’m addicted to the roasted ones. During our dinner, we received some amazing African shirts sold locally. I’m really going to miss the CEPIL employees; their causes as well as their personalities are unique and welcomed.
Mary, Annabel, Sandrine, and me receiving our gifts. Felicia is woman standing next to me.
Tuesday August 3, 2010
The presentation went really well. There were so many different organizations there: a representative from OxFam (www.oxfam.org), someone from WACAM, some journalists, some students, and many other people. Their questions were great and I really hope that I will be able to collaborate with a lot of these people in the future. I’m still reeling from the experience.
Here I am presenting!
The wife of the director at WACAM actually asked why I didn’t include more information on some of the different forms of cyanide, which actually threw me off. I wasn’t expecting people to be so science-focused. It was great! I think next time I won’t underestimate my audiences so much.
The audience that could easily stump me with educated querstions.
Basically, through some moderate comparative analysis (moderate due to the lack of a full analysis and full resources needed for one) I came to the conclusion that synthetic liners, better modeling, and a more adequate outline of mitigation plans in the EIA’s was needed. General, I know, but many of the issues rested on a lack of enforcement from the GEPA which would entail challenging a lot of the legal language and practices of the mining facilities. Basically, there is much work to be done
Monday August 2, 2010
The weekend was mostly spent working on our presentation set for tomorrow. We did manage to get out and walk around Oso (they have a great supermarket Kaola’s and some street markets). For our presentation, Mary’s focusing on more of the public involvement and EIS (EIA in Ghana) process. My portion of the presentation will focus on some of the technical aspects of their tailings facilities and why some have sent such large amounts of cyanide out into the open. I will also include some technical analysis and breakdown of two of their EIA’s (one from Kibi Gold and one from Newmont Ghana).
Thursday July 29, 2010
Today we met with one of the environmental experts at Third World Network (www.twnafrica.org) Abdulai Darimani. This organization is very similar to GBRW but with a wider range and more severe impacts and legal issues to work with (not to diminish the work at GBRW; we are lucky not to have this level of devestation in Nevada). Abdulai spoke a lot about how Ghanaians never actually see any of the “profits” allegedly brought in by the mining sector. Mining companies are able to extract minerals without paying the necessary taxes and costs, both monetarily and environmentally. Ghanaians are left with no gold and no just compensation.
In the afternoon, we met with the director of WACAM (www.wacamghana.org) Daniel Owusu Koranteng as well as an impacted person and WACAM rep for the Wassa region. This organization strives to empower the local community members with knowledge to fight the mine companies muscling in on their lands and crops. Most of the mining projects in these impacted regions are in heavily forested and agriculturally rich areas. Cocoa, rubber trees, palm trees, and even coconuts are grown on vast tracks. When the mining companies compensate for the loss of a crop (at the lowest compensation amount possible) for only one year, is that fair when the life of a cocoa tree can produce from 50 to 60 years? Its not only a violation of basic human rights but can also be seen as a death sentence as farming is a way of life here. It forces you to think about what the word “value” means. Gold is valuable and agriculture is valuable. But only one will keep you alive.
Cocoa farmer. They had bags of cocoa everywhere!
Wednesday July 28, 2010
Court was uneventful. Anglo-Gold Mining, the defendant, was a no show. We did have a chance to speak with the plaintiffs in the case who were seeking compensation when the mining company destroyed their crops and fields. Here, since there are few legal entitlements of indigenous people to the land, compensation is based on a ‘per crop’ basis. When a mining company finds gold, the state claims the land and gives it over to the mining company. Displacement and crop impacts are two of the big problems in this region. The hearing itself was brief but interesting. In Ghana, due to the heavy British Colonial influence, they still wear little white wigs in court. Its pretty adorable.
Plaintiffs and CEPIL attorneys. Their village was impacted when a mining facility took over their crop fields
The hotel we stayed in a was like something out of Out of Africa: solid wood, iron windows, and a huge formal dining area. One of the waiters, a young man who had just graduated high school, stopped me and said,”Are you from America? I want to study in economics in America!” I told him I’d find all the information I could and send it to him. I hope he finds a way.
The view from our hotel window in Tarkwa. Not too bad, eh?
Tuesday July 27, 2010
Monday we spent around an hour and a half speaking with the head of the Science and Geology department, Dr. Thomas Akabzaa. As an environmental science student, it was great to see not only a science department from another school, but also science in action on another continent. Dr. Akabzaa has worked with the GEPA EIA (our version of an EIS) process as well as mining projects and facilities in both Canada and Africa. Basically, there is a lack of regulation enforcement as well as adequate modeling and analysis that are the main reasons some of these environmental impacts are so huge.
This afternoon, we left for Tarkwa (West Ghana). Traveling in our group is me, Mary, Sulee our driver, and two attorneys who will be participating in the court cases we’re watching (Kumi and Carl). The drive alone was unbelievable. It felt like I was seeing where the color green comes from. Little shops and people lined the streets all the way to Tarkwa. We stopped in the old capital of the region, Sokiadi, for a rest and beverage. Its amazing that this paradise is the norm for this region.
On our way to Tarkwa. Lush, tropical vegetation the entire way! The scenery is just a bit different compared to arid Nevada, wouldn't you say?
Monday July 26, 2010
The weekend was nonstop sightseeing. I hate portraying the typical picture-snapping American tourist but I had to make allocations; I didn’t want miss capturing anything. Friday at CEPIL was spent attending meetings with both the head of Mining Operations at the Ghana EPA (GEPA). There we discussed the environmental assessment and large scale mining process as it relates to the general public. The process was extremely similar to that of the United States but we definitely have a larger community of people who are able to understand the technical documents associated with these projects.
Later that afternoon we met with the head of public relations with Newmont Ghana (NGGL). It was fascinating to see how similar the language is that people use to justify these large mining projects. Yes, they do bring jobs but how many of the people in these villages are actgualy employed? And what about the cyanide-contaminated water that the community members are forced to drink? We need development but at what cost?
Saturday, we started out the day at the Ghanaian market. Small scale vendors bring in their crafts to sell at market and some of these items were really amazing to see. Our guide’s (Sulee) brothers, who had a shop in the market, showed us the drums they made and they even showed us how they were played. It was unanimous that I had no music capabilities whatsoever. After some hefty spending, we left the market and headed to the National Museum which was an accumulation of every bit of slave history in Africa.
Me getting my groove on!
That evening was spent sitting sea-side off the coast of Ghana, sipping on the national beer, Star. The view was unbelievable and the fact that I was watching the sunset at a café off of the coast of Africa was even more amazing.
My new friend!
Sunday we spent the day at the Botanical Gardens one hour north of Accra. It was amazing to see where all of our spices actually come from and grow locally. The drive alone was breathtaking. That afternoon we spent some time shopping at the International Market, another small-vendor area. Mary found some material to have a shirt hand-made which is still cheaper than buying a premade shirt at WalMart. We trekked through an impoverished Muslim community settlement to find the tailor to sew her shirt. Just walking through those alleys was amazing. It makes you feel pretty humble honestly.
Cocoa tree growing in the Botanical Gardens
Friday July 23, 2010
From left to right: Me, Dr. Akabzaa (head og Geology and Science, University of Ghana), and Mary
I, along with my workshop partner Mary (an environmental attorney from Minnesota), arrived Wednesday afternoon in the busy city of Accra. Words like “amazing” or “different” doesn’t describe this town or its inhabitants. Due to massive overpopulation, there’s several people, if not several dozen more, per square block either selling something, waiting for a ride, or just walking. It still amazes me seeing this many people. The views here are amazing and brilliant as well; even the color green looks hypnotic. The people here dress well also; some of the traditional dresses are like works of art.
Last night, we ventured out via taxi to the restaurant Buka in the Osa district (downtown I think). The car exhaust is so bad, I have a feeling I’ll end up sounding like a young George Burns by the time we come back to the states. The food is really enjoyable and surprisingly light. I have fallen in love with the plantain and I’m anxious to try something called Fufu.
View of Accra, Ghana
Thursday morning, after meeting with Augustine, the director of CEPIL (www.cepil.org), we were filled in on our agenda which includes meeting with the director of the EPA and other environmental officials. One of our goals will be to assess the issues with how tailings impoundments are designed or managed. One of the differences between Ghana and the United States (among many) is access to government documents which will make research a bit more challenging. Even with the issues this country faces, I have a feeling I’m going to have a hard time wanting to come back home.
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