The former CEO of Denver-based Newmont Mining, Wayne Murdy, has been selected as the recipient of the University of Denver’s prestigious annual ‘International Bridge Builder’ award, despite a history of alleged human and environmental rights abuses committed by the company. Murdy’s selection for this award has generated controversy among the public and the University of Denver community. Read more in The Denver Post.
Newmont Mining has been at the center of on-going controversies over the impacts of gold mining on local communities. Communities in Ghana, Peru, Indonesia, and the US allege that Newmont has poisoned the environment and decreased their quality of life. Environmental activists, community organizations, and even Newmont’s own shareholders have pressured for increased accountability on Newmont’s part. Newmont maintains that it is a socially-responsible corporation that works hard to improve the well-being of the people where it mines for gold; Newmont was recently acquitted of pollution charges in Indonesia’s Buyat Bay.
Paula Palmer of Global Response says of Newmont’s professed emphasis on corporate responsibility: “During Wayne Murdy’s tenure, we have not seen Newmont take significant steps to address the needs and rights of local communities. I think most of the changes have been on paper.”
To find out more about Greengrants’ support of community organizations pressing for Newmont Mining to clean up its act:
- in Indonesia, click here.
- in Romania, click here.