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Peter Munk, Chair of Barrick Gold Admits Liability for The Desecration Of Lake Cowal Sacred Site, Australia � This footage was taken from Barrick Gold's AGM in Toronto, Canada�. Peter Munk, founder and CEO of Barrick Gold is being cornered by Neville 'Chappy' Williams and Indigenous activist, Ellie Gilbert who speak out and confront him directly about what the gold mining project is doing to Worqadjuri sacred land back in central western New South Wales, Australia. May 2007. Film maker, Christian Pena �At today�s Barrick Gold AGM held at the Convention Centre in Toronto, Neville �Chappy� Williams, traditional owner of Lake Cowal and Western Shoshone delegates from Nevada successfully questioned the Barrick Gold Board of Directors during the live webcast. Shareholders were amazed and concerned the interveners had traveled so far to raise their objections Peter Munk tried to explain why Barrick Gold shares continued their �disappointing� decline in value whilst the mining industry is �drowning in liquidity� as he put it. Peter Munk blamed Barrick Gold�s demise on NGOs who pressure
governments to require too many permits before mining can commence. He
cited 500 permits before the controversial Pascua Lama could begin
construction in a glacier area on the border of Chile and Argentina.
The Western Shoshone delegate, granddaughter of the late Mary Dann
articulated her intense opposition to Barrick�s plan to mine her
Peoples� sacred mountain.
Next Neville �Chappy� Williams took the microphone and passionately
put his case and personally served a Notice to Quit on Peter Munk and
the Board of Directors. He stated: �On April 07, Barrick�s mines
manager, Bill Shallvey, refused to be served this document. As an elder
of the Wiradjuri Nation I serve this document on Barrick Gold on behalf
of the Mooka and Kalara united families within the Wiradjuri Nation.�
The Notice to Cease Illegal Occupation of Lake Cowal includes: �Under Wiradjuri custom, tradition and Law/Lore you have received your three warnings. You must now respect the unceded sovereignty of the Wiradjuri Nation and cease all operations; restore the landscape; remove all equipment and replace all artifacts to their GPS�d positions.� We reserve our right to take further action as necessary.� After the AGM Neville �Chappy� Williams approached Peter Munk and
stressed that Barrick Gold is desecrating the sacred site of Lake
Cowal. Peter Munk tried to say he had so many employees he didn�t
really know what Barrick Gold was doing.
Eleanor Gilbert, challenged this by saying: �But the buck stops
with you Mr Munk. Ultimately you are the one responsible.� Peter Munk
agreed. Neville Williams continued by detailing the desecration and
stressed his right to religious freedom under section 116 of the
Australian Constitution. As Peter Munk moved away he turned to Neville
Williams and with a haunted look in his eyes said: �I�m so sorry.�
Media from Quebec and Chile recorded Peter Munk�s admission of
liability. Later a shareholder approached Neville Williams saying:
�I�ve got shares in Barrick. I�m thinking now whether I should sell my
shares in Barrick Gold.�
In a peaceful demonstration outside the AGM supporters were handing out the Alternative Annual Report for Barrick Gold [www.protestbarrick.net] when two were roughly arrested for trespassing whilst they stood on the sidewalk. |
