The ‘A’ word ‘polarizes and disrupts’
Dr. Michael Mehta speaks on mining and social impacts.
NEWS/ AJAX — The ‘A’ word has “polarized and disrupted” Kamloops and some common ground is desperately needed, a TRU professor said Sunday.
Dr. Michael Mehta, speaking to about 70 people in the university’s Clocktower Theatre, said the Ajax mine proposal has become “a test of friend or foe” in community conversation.
He said the lack of a social-impact study is a glaring omission in the environmental assessment process. He said a social impact assessment should study “how we live, play, work, relate to one another and generally cope,” and how those things would be affected if KGHM International’s application is approved.
“The process is broken on many levels,” Mehta said of the federal-provincial approval process. “It is essentially a support-for-business process.”
Mining projects are historically divisive, he said, especially when they haven’t achieved social licence. ‘Not exploring the impacts isn’t an option, yet there are those who prefer to stick their heads in the sand.”
In the case of the Ajax plan, a study should include bio-physical environment, history, political and social pressure, cultural attitudes and population characteristics, the professor said.
“How do we create common ground?” he asked.
Mehta noted that some public information sessions sponsored by KGHM International have required people to register if they want to attend. “How crappy a thing is that to do to a community, and if you don’t register you’re held back by security at the front desk?”
Impacts of mines aren’t just a case of jobs versus the environment, he said. “We are not dollars and cents. We are not just people who work. We have a lot more going for us.
Mehta said he isn’t anti-mining “but there is a better way. We need to stop all EI (environmental impact) assessments in B.C. now. This is not a scientific question — this is a social impact question.”
During a question and answer session, several in the audience wanted to know how to get the message out, especially against the current process and against a major mining company.
“You are more than enough to take down any project,” Mehta said. “As this thing ramps up, the stakes get higher and we need people to be brave.”
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Why is it that the polarized positions of “yea” and “nay” have been fostered and, I suspect, promoted in this matter? Simply put, it serves the needs of big business (read KGHM) to set those who oppose the mine as “opposers”. If your only choice, besides heartily endorsing Ajax, is to “oppose” it, then by necessity you have become what Ibsen aptly identified as “The Enemy Of The People”. This is a handy and well-tested strategy employed by business bullies for generations. Anyone even questioning the “goodness” of a development is instantly relegated as a “left-wing nut” or an “elitist” or some other equally vile epithet is hurled.
This matter regarding Ajax will result in people leaving Kamloops. The community is already becoming a hostile place. We have to recognize that setting up camps and becoming polarized is exactly what KGHM wants.
Let’s talk about what we ALL want Kamloops to be… then build the conversation… an unregistered conversation. How about it, Mayor Milobar?
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Great comment. The letters sent out to business by KGHM in the last few days are another attempt to divide our comunity into supporters and opposers. The company wants the support of the “business community” and will use all sorts of testimonials about “science, facts and tranparency” etc to gain this support (all the while offering NO robust science, facts or transparency). Those who go will end up feeling it is a done deal, and the letter is written in such a way that those with concerns will be alienated and unlikely to attend. Divisive, damaging and so harmful to our community already!
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Right now, waves of migrating and resident birds are traveling through the grassland and wetland areas that Ajax is planning to decimate. These areas are valuable, not only to the migrant and local bird and mammal populations, but also because they act as lungs in the sense of cleaning the air and water which also pass through every day. Canadians need to think about the archaic mining act, and how it enables foreign companies like Ajax to come in and pretty much take over, regardless of negaitve environmental and social impact. The environmental review will probably be a rubber stamp affair– big money and big business rule and the few dollars they’ve flung around to various groups to try to get them onside will lull many into thinking that all will be well and they’re really a caring company, providing jobs for everybody. Right….
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Indeed – Dr Mehta had some great ideas for how government could take the lead, and how if this project is approved the city could work out an agreement to make sure that the citizens at least have some financial benefit… But, our political “leaders” with the exception of Dennis Walsh, didn’t show up.
This topic should be talked about at every barbeque and bike ride, because it is imperative that people learn the pros and cons and educate themselves. The “wait for the studies” approach plays right into the hands of the company – they are producing the “studies” to which these people refer and that is definitely an issue.
Thanks so much Mel, for being there and for reporting on it.
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This was a great talk, but asking for a social impact assessment at this stage of the game seems like asking for the moon. Thus far we’ve not been granted an independent panel review nor an independent health assessment.
It’s true that Ajax has become a tricky topic. Ironically, the company that espoused “conversation” now seems to benefit from the lack thereof. People need to speak up, to show a bit of courage, and do more. I applaud Dr. Mehta for his efforts.
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