mining

A rare and pristine ecosystem in Arizona is scheduled for demolition, thanks to a last-minute rider attached to a finance bill by Arizona senator John McCain that awarded the Oak Flats region to an Australian mining company. The land is sacred to the San Carlos Apaches, whose organization, Apache Stronghold, is leading the fight to stop the mine. They held a rally in Tucson to kick-off a two=week intensive campaign, culminating in a large protest gathering at Oak Flats in late February. We have audio from the rally, and an interview with Apache Stronghold spokesperson Wentsler Nosey/

Recently passed legislation traded a culturally and environmentally significant area within the Tonto National Forest to a foreign-owned mining company in exchange for less desirable parcels of land in Arizona. The planned Copper mine at Oak Flats will destroy an area several miles square. The San Carlos Apaches who have strong ancestral ties to the area being threatened, are organizing to prevent its destruction.