Did Someone Say This Time is Different?

The story announcing the travel of several indigenous people from Ecuador is interesting from a number of perspectives.  Of course there is the obvious, the potential for extreme reactions included both sides.  Certainly the people of the community have a stake in what occurs in their backyard.  And the corporation wishes to exercise the rights granted to it by the government.  So where do I create the title of is - this time something's different?


Well it comes from my now growing experience with trading.  Trading is all about perspectives.  Trading opens your mind to amazing new perspectives.  And in reading this announcement, I saw another perspective, while acknowledging the traditional.  Isn't it interesting that the local people can and do gather themselves in such a manner that somewhere, someone, has taken this bet - they put forward their money to make sure this objective was reached.  Maybe they had some guidance from a more than self serving NGO - maybe the internet has provided a gateway to being different as a default.  As expected, their objectives will be phased - but ultimately I expect they wish to become a meaningful participant in the process of the mine development.  And I expect that meaningful is different to different players, and in different locales.


It becomes a discussion of values.  The local communities have values.  The corporation has values.  They are both populated by free thinking people.  These people all have ideas about the value they bring to their activity - and their value desired from the process.  The reconciliation of those values becomes path forward.


As with a divorce, once the process gets embroiled in the legal system for whatever reason, there is no longer any winners.  It is only a sad testament to the participants that the efforts have been degraded to that point.  And the "trader" that put their money on the local community believes it is a good trade.  And the corporation believes they are on the right side of the trade.  The lawyers will be the only winners.

Ecuadorean villagers come to Canada to fight for day in court

ON MARCH 25, CANADIAN MINING COMPANY AND TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE WILL ASK ONTARIO COURT TO DISMISS INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST THEM

TORONTO, March 22 /CNW/ - Four villagers from the Ecuadorean Andes are travelling to Toronto for the first major court hearing in a billion dollar international human rights lawsuit.

In 2007, Marcia Ramirez, Polivio Pérez and Israel Pérez sued Canada's Copper Mesa Mining Corporation, Copper Mesa's directors, and the Toronto Stock Exchange after they suffered violence and death threats related to a proposed large open pit copper mine in their community.

Now, the mining company and the TSX are asking an Ontario court to dismiss the lawsuit before any evidence is heard.

On Thursday March 25, 2010, in a Toronto courtroom, a judge will consider whether it is possible for Canadian law to provide a remedy for Marcia, Israel and Polivio for abuse they suffered at the hands of Canada's mining industry.

The Plaintiffs consider this lawsuit to be part of a larger struggle to bring accountability to the Canadian mining industry.

The Plaintiffs will make a brief statement outside the courtroom building at 330 University Avenue, Toronto at 9:00 am on March 25, 2010.

For more information: www.ramirezversuscoppermesa.com

For further information: Murray Klippenstein, Senior legal counsel for the Plaintiffs, (416) 598-0288 (office), (416) 937-8634 (mobile); Cory Wanless, Legal counsel for the Plaintiffs, (416) 598-0288 (office), (647) 886-1914 (mobile)

And then there is always yet another perspective.  As taken from Mira Monte Mining.