Date: Wed, 23 Aug 1995 03:36:21 -0600 (MDT) From: Robert Johnson <johnsorl-AT-colorado.edu> Subject: Request for Help in Guyana Date: Wed, 23 Aug 1995 08:17:03 +0200 From: Douglas Kahn Originally From: khan-AT-ftl.aro.allied.com Originally To: INFOTERRA Please respond directly to khan-AT-ftl.aro.allied.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hi - I am not sure if you have already heard but a major cyanide spill has just occurred in Guyana. The holding pond at the OMAI Gold Mine, (owned by an American Company, Omai) has just cracked. The holding ponds apparently holds about 30 million gallons of mine effluents, tailings, etc. The effluent containing Cyanide and other mine tailings is leaking from the holdling pond into the Omai river about 30 miles south of McKenzie, an area that is home to numerous wildlife and some Amerindian populations. The Omai river feeds into the Essequibo River which drains into the Atlantic Ocean. There is already concern about the impact this will have on the wildlife, the Amerindian communities and the Guyanese people themselves. There is also concern that the people are being led to believe that the rivers will become so diluted (once the cyanide is carried further downstream) that it will not affect the majority of the population. Somehow the people seem to be getting a false sense of security as a result of this. At the moment water is being flown in for neighboring populations. Much faster action is needed. It is not enough to simply send pure water to the people. How can help be sent to Guyana to clean up the contaminated grounds. Your advice and assistance are of utmost urgence.Please respond to me as soon as possible. S. Aggarwal --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu --- ------------------
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