CHILE APPEALS COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF BARRICK GOLD (with clarification of judgment) by El Mercurio (via The Santiago Times), Rob Bartlett Canadian mining company Barrick Gold won a key legal battle in Chile’s legal system on Monday when an Appeals Court annulled a lower court ruling which, if it had stood, would have seriously hampered the company’s US$2.4 billion Pascua Lama gold mine project.

PASCUA LAMA PAYOFF DISPUTED BY CHILE LOCALS by Trey Pollard, Santiago Times/El Mercurio September 11th, 2007 Huasco Valley property owners who live below the Pascua Lama gold mine and administer US$3 million yearly in “hush” money given them by mine owner Barrick Gold charged this weekend that their predecessors used Barrick’s money for personal gain.

La Iglesia y la Comunidad del Valle del Huasco reafirman su compromiso por la Vida y contra la depredación minera by Luis Manuel Claps August 15th, 2007 El 15 de agosto, las comunidades del Valle del Huasco se reunieron para celebrar a la Virgen Nuestra Señora del Tránsito, pero esta vez la fiesta centenaria, estuvo atravesada por una Caminata por la Vida, que denunció los atropellos de la gran minería y defendió la identidad agrícola del Valle.

PM's interest in Latin America easily explained by Thomas Walkom, The Star August 3rd, 2007 On the face of it, Stephen Harper's sudden new fascination with Latin America is baffling. Until February, he expressed no interest in the region. Now, after a six-day swing through Colombia, Chile, Barbados and Haiti, he has declared South America a key foreign policy priority.

Barrick cautious over Pascua Lama by Cameron French, Reuters TORONTO -- Barrick Gold Corp. is "cautious" about the approval process for its Pascua-Lama gold project and could face construction delays if it can't soon reach agreements with the governments of Chile and Argentina, chief executive officer Greg Wilkins said yesterday.

Declaration delivered during the demonstration and received by Barrick to give to the Prime Minister

Canadian Prime Minister enters Barrick's Offices through the Back Door The Dominion Two hours late and in the presence of a huge security entourage that included guards, police and special forces, Stephen Harper arrived at the offices of Barrick Gold and entered through the parking area, in order to avoid the peoples' protest that started at 8:00 am at the entrance to the building.

Harper's visit to Barrick draws group of protesters by Allan Woods , Toronto Star SANTIAGO, CHILE–Prime Minister Stephen Harper was greeted by a small group of protesters as he visited mining giant Barrick Gold's headquarters in Chile yesterday.

Protesters say 'Harper go home' on PM's last day in Chile The Canadian Press Prime Minister Stephen Harper was greeted with "Harper go home" and "Canada: What's HARPERing here?" signs on Wednesday morning as he spent his last day in Chile visiting a controversial Canadian mining company.

Controversia por mina de oro espera al Pimer Ministro en Santiago by Allan Woods (versión en español de Luis Manuel Claps), Toronto Star SANTIAGO, CHILE – Un viaje de buenas noticias y estrechamiento de lazos con América Latina encontrará los primeros signos de controversia esta mañana cuando el Primer Ministro Stephen Harper visite una empresa minera canadiense que, según sus críticos, provocará daños en el medioambiente y las poblaciones locales.

Gold mine controversy awaits PM in Santiago by Allan Woods , TheStar.com SANTIAGO, CHILE–A good-news trip of trade and closer ties with Latin America will encounter the first signs of controversy this morning when Prime Minister Stephen Harper visits a Canadian mining operation that critics say will hurt the environment and local people.

PM turns Canada's focus south by Allan Woods, OTTAWA BUREAU OTTAWA–Prime Minister Stephen Harper sets off for Latin America and the Caribbean tomorrow to wave the Canadian flag in a region that the government, in a major foreign policy shift, now considers "our neighbourhood."

CHILE: Barrick Land Rip-off on Trial by Monica Evans, The Valparaiso Times July 13th, 2007 A Court of Appeals trial began last Friday to determine who rightfully owns 8,600 hectares of land that Canadian mining company Barrick Gold bought from illiterate farmer Rodolfo Villar for 10,000 pesos (US$20).

Gold rush threatens glacier by Lucia Newman in the Huasco Valley, Chile, Al Jazeera Hernan Calderon says he is just an "insignificant insect" to the owners of the Pascua Lama gold mine high in the Andes mountains in northern Chile. The cattle herder used to be able to check his herds in the fields of the Huasco Valley via a public road. He now requires a key for a gate erected after the land was bought by the Canadian company Barrick Gold, the largest mining company in the world.

Congressmen Seek Pascua Lama Review Because Of Glacier Damage by Monica Evans, Santiago Times, EL CIUDADANO A TV news report last week revealing drastic destruction of glaciers near the Pascua Lama gold mine project prompted the Chamber of Deputies to call for an inquiry into the mining project.

Deputies Call For Inquiry Into Chile's Pascua Lama Project by Monica Evans, Valparaiso Times, EL CIUDADANO A report revealing drastic destruction of glaciers last week prompted deputies in the Chamber of Deputies, Valparaíso, to call for an inquiry into the Pascua Lama mining project.

Chile's Glaciers Demand Greater Attention by Mike Hager, Santiago Times (June 12, 2007) A new book about Chile’s vast glacier reserves aims to focus greater public attention on the important role glaciers play in the nation’s water systems and in its natural patrimony.

ENVIRONMENT: Chile's Biggest Freshwater Reserve Left Unprotected by Daniela Estrada, Inter Press Service News Agency (IPS) SANTIAGO, Jun 12 (IPS/IFEJ) - Chile possesses vast freshwater reserves in its glaciers, but lacks laws to protect them. Lawmakers, farmers and environmentalists are calling for legislation to fill that gap.

Successful March in Vallenar: defending the water On Saturday, June 2, 2007, the Huasco Valley again said NO to PASCUA LAMA, YES TO LIFE, YES TO WATER. The activities began at sunrise in the communities of Junta Valeriano and in El Corral, located high in the Andes mountains near the Pascua Lama project. People arrived to load onto buses and cars, and in a caravan traveled together to participate in the march for the defense of water in the Huasco Valley.

Chile: Vallenar Marchers Reject Pascua Lama Project - Again by Monica Evans, The Santiago Times June 12th, 2007 “Water is worth more than gold!” was the chief battle of protesters in a June 2 march against the Pascua Lama mining project and the company responsible, Canadian-based transnational Barrick Gold. The march has become an annual event for Region III's Vallenar (the closest main town to Pascua Lama) since news of the project reached the community over three years ago.