Newsletter articles

Down to Earth No. 70, August 2006

A dramatic rise in the price of nickel is prompting the development of a major new nickel mine in Sulawesi. What will be the impacts for local people and their environment?

The Indonesian government and Anglo-Australian mining multinational Rio Tinto are negotiating the terms of a contract to develop the La Sampala nickel deposit on the borders of Southeast and Central Sulawesi. Spokesman for Rio Tinto in Indonesia, Anang R Noor, said the company plans to invest US$1 billion in the project.

Down to Earth No 68  February 2006

Aceh's forests are being stripped in the name of post-tsunami reconstruction. In reality, the timber becomes part of lucrative international timber smuggling.

The products of illegal logging from South-east Aceh are transported to Sibolga on the west coast of North Sumatra, and from South Aceh to ports near Medan in North Sumatra. From there, they are exported to Malaysia and further afield.

Down to Earth No 68  February 2006

Freeport, operator of the giant Grasberg goldmine in West Papua, is in the public spotlight once again over its financial relationship with the Indonesian security forces.

After almost forty years of largely fruitless protest, Amungme and Kamoro indigenous owners of the Freeport concession area in West Papua can be forgiven their cynicism at the latest push for accountability from the US-based mining company, Freeport.