DENVER: STOP NEWMONT GENOCIDE Aug. 30

Colorado AIM organizes protest of Newmont mining

Newmont mining is destroying Indigenous lands and lives around the globe. With new death threats for resisters, following the Denver protest of Newmont, Colorado AIM calls out to those ready to be arrested to stop Newmont's genocide of Indigenous Peoples.

The protest is also a call to halt the genocide of Iraqi children.

PROTEST: Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007
Marriot Hotel (17th and California St., downtown Denver)
5:00 PM
BRING YOUR COURAGE, YOUR VOICE, YOUR BULLHORNS, and YOUR MOST CREATIVE PROTEST STRATEGIES

From COLORADO AIM:
On Thursday, August 30, 2007, the University of Denver Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) will honor Wayne Murdy, CEO of Newmont Mining Corporation for the company's "progressive" work around the world. That work happens on every continent, and involves the invasion of indigenous peoples' territories from the Western Shoshone in Nevada to the Quechua/Aymara in Peru and Bolivia to the Aboriginal peoples ofAustralia.

Two years ago, Colorado AIM joined with the Stop Newmont Coalition to force Newmont to be accountable to the communities that it is destroying through its mining. Brothers and sisters from Peru, Ghana and Western Shoshone joined us at the annual shareholder's meeting to expose Newmont's practices.

Newmont was so frightened by our mobilization that it changed locations for the meeting three times, and ended up in an armed location with sharpshooters on the roof of the building where the meeting was held. This year, Newmont was so frightened of a repeat performance in Denver that it held its annual meeting in Delaware.

Newmont has been put on notice that as long as it is invading and poisoning indigenous peoples' territories, and steal Native peoples' natural resources, that there will be no business as usual. It will be exposed for its actions at every opportunity. Such an opportunity is Thursday, August 30, in downtown Denver.

Colorado AIM has joined the call for a mass protest action at the University of Denver's annual Korbel Dinner, the largest fundraiser for the Graduate School of International Affairs. The keynote speaker will be Madeleine Albright, the former Secretary of State under Bill Clinton.

DEAD CHILDREN IN IRAQ
On the estimated death of 500,000 children in Iraq because of U.S. sanctions there, Albright had the following exchange on CBS' "60Minutes."Lesley Stahl on U.S. sanctions against Iraq: We have heard that a half million children have died. I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: "I think this is a very hard choice, but the price--we think the price is worth it." --60 Minutes (5/12/96) This statement alone is worth picketing the dinner for, but, in addition to Albright (after whose father the dinner is named), DU will be giving an award to Wayne Murdy of Newmont.

Here are two letters -- one from activists in communities being destroyed by Newmont, and one from OXFAM International, the renowned international human rights group. Both give reasons to protest this event. This is the link to the OXFAM letter:http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/earthworks/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=6822&t=nodirtygold_sansleft.dwt

Indigenous leaders are in imminent threat. Father Marco Arana, whom we in Colorado AIM honored two years ago, is under death threats right now for opposing Newmont. Our Native sisters and brothers are asking for us to stand for them against Newmont here in Denver, Newmont's international headquarters.Can you give one or two hours of your time to walk with a sign, to raise your voice, and to let Newmont and DU know our outrage?

We march against Columbus and Columbus Day, but Newmont is the heir of Columbus, it is the living expression today of the Columbus legacy --invasion, greed and destruction. Join us in the streets, for all of our Native relations.

If you are arrestable at this action, and if you are willing to risk arrest at this protest, let the organizers know.
Thanks.

Top photo: Glenn Morris and Western Shoshone Carrie Dann protest Newmont in Denver/Photo Colorado AIM Photo 2: Newmont protest in Peru Photo 3: Iraq victims of war, Veterans for Peace Iraqi Memorial on Memorial Day 2007, in Santa Monica/Photo Brenda Norrell