Wisconsin Campaign to Ban Cyanide in Mining
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO BAN CYANIDE IN MINING


The Wisconsin Campaign to Ban Cyanide in Mining invites all community groups and local governments to join in the effort to protect our environment from the threat of a cyanide disaster. Spills that we have seen in other countries can and have occurred here in the U.S. The Crandon mine plans to use up to 20 tons a month of sodium cyanide, which would be shipped in to the mine site on northern Wisconsin roads. No matter what processing method is used at the mine site, we cannot risk the release of even tiny amounts of cyanide into our waterways and fisheries.

After the Winter 2000 cyanide disaster in Europe, five Wisconsin groups--the Wolf Watershed Educational Project/Midwest Treaty Network, Mining Impact Coalition, Wisconsin Resources Protection Council, Northern Thunder, and Wisconsin's Environmental Decade--called for a ban on cyanide in Wisconsin mines. Legislation will be introduced into the next session of the Wisconsin Legislature to prohibit the use of cyanide in mining--based on similar efforts in Montana, Colorado, and the Australian state of New South Wales. NOW is the time to begin to support this campaign, and make it a top issue in the Fall election !!! For more background information, see the factsheet below, or http://www.alphacdc.com/treaty/cyanide.html.

  1. Circulate PETITION to Ban Cyanide in Mining. Print off the petition to ban cyanide in mining at http://www.alphacdc.com/treaty/petition.html and get as many signatures as you can from your group, friends, and family, and at events such as fairs, powwows, concerts, etc. Print off and distribute the factsheet at the end of this message. Send completed petitions to the the Wolf Watershed Educational Project, c/o Midwest Treaty Network, 731 State St., Madison WI 53703.

  2. Pledge Campaign for CANDIDATES. Demand that your State Assembly and Senate candidates (both incumbents and challengers) pledge to support a prohibition on cyanide in mining: "I hereby pledge to support and vote in favor of legislation to prohibit the use of all cyanide in Wisconsin mines and metallic ore processing facilities."

  3. Pass a GROUP RESOLUTION. in your environmental organization, rod & gun club, union, church, fishing group, student group, Hazmat team, etc. (and any other community groups) for a cyanide ban in mining. **You can also simply respond to this letter and ask that your group be signed on to the Campaign.** All groups that passed resolutions for the 1998 mining moratorium bill should sign on to the new campaign as one way to potentially slow or stop the Crandon mine and other possible mines. Take the wording from the local government resolution below, and please send copies to the Wolf Watershed Educational Project.

  4. Make a CONTRIBUTION. Make a tax-deductible contribution to "MTN/PC Foundation" and send it to: Wolf Watershed Educational Project (WWEP), c/o Midwest Treaty Network, 731 State St., Madison WI 53703.

  5. Share Information and GATHER DATA. Help the Campaign gather data about cyanide in mining. Send the Campaign any information you have -- newspaper clippings, emails, webpage links, organization contact information -- about problems with cyanide in mining and groups in other countries and states that are working to ban cyanide in mining.
  6. LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESOLUTION. Have your local village, township, and county governments pass the following Local Government Resolution supporting a prohibition on the use of cyanide in Wisconsin mines, and send a copy to the WWEP. (If you are a tribal member, ask your representatives to introduce a similar resolution in your tribal council.)