By: Lionel Little Eagle

Earth is once again under attack at the essence of her existence.  Deep in the heart of an earth-place called Pascua Lama a man made cancer is being drilled and filled with sodium cyanide, arsenic, toxic byproducts and all-American/Canadian bullshit.  Pascua Lama is located in the highlands of the Andes Mountains along the Chilean and Argentinean boarder and it is one of the Creators most beautiful masterpieces.  Unfortunately the greed of man has made it's way to this isolated earth-place and has shoved deep the gauntlet of terror and greed into heart of our Mother Earth. Gold has been discovered and let no man dare to stand in the way.  Reminds me of the Black Hills of the United States and governmental corruption that took place and is still taking place today.  Let no man stand in the way but watch the spirits roar!
 
One of the most powerful gold mining conglomerates in the world, Barrick, is being backed by 1.5 billion dollar of United States funding.  Plus many very rich men including former president George Bush. Shameful, but what's new!  Barick has hired their own glacier experts to help re-classified these Glaciers as "ice fields or ice reservoirs".  Wow, and Columbus discovered America!  There are those right-wing conservatives who would also tell you that the natives of the region are happy and glad to have the big shovels digging in their back yards, chopping up their glaciers.  They are happy like the natives when they were given those first few sips of "fire-water" so many years ago, they are happy like those natives of Long Island who smiled when they were given those pretty god-damn beads.  So don't give me that shit about "happy natives", its' all a corporate lie, a greedy mans dream and earth mans nightmare. 
 
There is a growing wave of awareness, roaring spirits, moving like a tsunami toward this very issue.  It is taking many forms, including some email petitions.  I am not a big believer in the email petition process but I signed it and sent it on its way.  It seems too un-organized, un-recognized to make a real difference.  It made me feel good to put my name down and hit the go button but what did I really do to help?  I would suggest that we do fill out and forward the email petitions, the more people that know the more that go.  I would also suggest that you email or write directly to those who are at the center of this circle (see below).  The indigenous Diaguitas medicine people of the region are hard at work, sending their powerful prayers in all directions; they are seeking connection with your powerful medicine as well. 
 
Barricks plan is to move three massive glaciers in order to get to the gold.  Am I missing something here?  This ridiculous concept/plan will fail, it will not only destory the fertile lands that are already doing the Creators good work but it will bring catastrophic damage to the trails and lands that will feel the force of such a mega-move.  There is frozen rock, frozen soil, and frozen spirits associated with this place.  I am no biologist but something does not seem right with this crazy plan. Raúl Montenegro, a real Argentine biologist and Alternative Nobel Prize (formally Right Livelihood Award) winner agrees with the medicine people and farmers. "The issue is serious in that the project would put pressure on two important river basins which serve as the principle water supply for communities within a semi-arid environment,"  The earth's glaciers are already being tested by CO2 and fossil fuels, their soul survival and the survival of the land and people are tied together at this one location.  Here, Diaguitas natives, have some more beads! 
  
We are gently easing our way through this very temporary existence that seems so important to us now.  What we say or write will have little impact on seven generations, what we do will change their lifes.  Do the right thing fellow citizen of this sweet earth FOR this sweet earth.
 
Go ahead and add your name to the online petitions, hit the go button it's better than doing nothing.  But if those Diaguitas prayers find you, those glaciers sing your song and you want to make a real difference then sit down and write a very personal letter from your personal viewpoint to the people/organizations below.
 
"When You Pray, Move Your Feet." -- African Proverb.
 
Sra. Michelle Bachelet Jeria
Presidenta de la República
Palacio de La Moneda
Santiago
Chile
Fax: (+562) 6904020
E-mail: opinion(at)presidencia.cl, internet(at)presidencia.cl, mhansen(at)presidencia.cl

Ana Lya Uriarte
Directora
CONAMA
Teatinos 254/258, Santiago Centro
Santiago
Chile
Teléfonos: Recepción: (56-2) 240 5600 / Oficina de Información: (56-2) 241 1800
Fax: (56-2) 244 1262
E-mail: informacion(at)conama.cl

Hon. David Emerson
Minister of International Trade
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Telephone: 943-0267
Fax: 943-0219
E-mail: Emerson.D(at)parl.gc.ca

Hon. Peter MacKay
Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Telephone: 992-6022
Fax: 992-2337
E-mail: MacKay.P(at)parl.gc.ca

Vincent Borg
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
Barrick Gold Corporation
BCE Place
Canada Trust Tower
161 Bay Street, Suite 3700
P.O. Box 212
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2S1
Telephone: (416) 307-7477 / Toll Free: 1-800-720-7415
Fax: (416) 861-1509
E-mail: vborg(at)barrick.com

Copyright © 2006 - Lionel Little Eagle is the founder of the Earth Citizenship Network and author of the critically acclaimed non-fiction book, Greengrass Pipe Dancers.  He calls his home Earth and currently resides in Battle Ground, Washington, USA.  He can be reached at littleeagle9@hotmail.com