Lens on the Land: Defending sacred land from Rosemont copper mine

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Ofelia Rivas, O'odham, photo by Josh Schachter

Defending Santa Ritas from Rosemont copper mining

Photos above by Josh Schachter

"I am pleased to see in these images the high spirit of Ophelia, who never rests, fighting for the spirit of the people and a living natural world. Great effort and the way we walk." Alejandro, Sonora, Mexico
Me da mucho gusto ver en estas imágenes el alto espíritu de Ophelia, que no descansa, luchando por el espíritu de la gente y un mundo vivo y natural. Gran esfuerzo y en el camino andamos." -- Alejandro, Sonora, Mexico

Lens on the Land, Rosemont: What's at Stake?
Censored News

Special thanks to Tucson photographers Josh Schachter and John Sartin for this monumental effort to save the sacred wild, and sharing their photos with Censored News!

Volunteer photographers, Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, Sky Island Alliance, the Sonoran Institute, and other key partners in Southern Arizona have joined forces to shed light on what is at stake with the proposed Rosemont Mine through a series of photographic exhibitions and outreach efforts. Rosemont Mine would be located in the northeastern part of the Santa Rita Mountains, and if approved, would severely compromise the natural and cultural heritage of Southern Arizona. The impacted area is one of the most biodiverse regions in the US – home to 9 threatened and endangered species, including the jaguar.

The photographs collected from professional photographers, biologists, community members, and many others will be used in traveling exhibitions, publications, presentations, websites, and any other way we can think of to educate and inspire the public, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and policymakers to take action to protect the Santa Rita Mountains and the surrounding region from the proposed mine. We hope you will join us in this effort!

Photo Rhonda Spencer
Learn more and view more photos at LensontheLand.com)

The project was born in response to the construction of an open-pit copper mine, proposed by a Canadian mining company, that will impact some 14,000 acres of land in Southern Arizona, including critical habitat for nearly a dozen species federally recognized as threatened or endangered as well as precious riparian areas and groundwater resources. By “replacing” plants and animals with human beings in reverential and playful ways, the 20-minute video invites us to consider our role as both stewards and consumers of nature.

The Great Wheat Paste Project! Photos of the process by John Sartin and fellow photographers

                         The wheat paste project: Photos copyright John Sartin and fellow photographers, Tucson