The heavy price of Greek gold

1. The heavy price of Greek gold

2. Current stage of the project

3. Current stage of the project

4. Current stage of the project

5. Current stage of the project

6. Current stage of the project

7. Skouries on the map • Forestry • Tourism • Farming • Beekeeping • Fishery

9. Environmental Impact Assessment

10. Environmental Impact Assessment 3,273 hectares (3,273,000 m2) of primevalforest • Endangered plants Beech with Ilexaquifoliumand Taxusbaccata rich in epiphytes • Endangered and Threatened avifauna Birds, reptiles(e.g. salamanders), jackals

11. Authorities that have expressed objections to the project • Environmental Council of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) • Technical Chamber of Central Macedonia, Greece • Board of AUTH • Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration • Faculty of Agriculture and Greek Forestry Society • Geological Association of Greece

12. Criticism on the project’s (approved) Environmental Impact Assessment Flash smelting, FinnishOutotec • Application on copper sulphide ores (chalcopyrite)-> gold, copper, lead and iron. Skouries: • Application on mixture chalcopyrite - arsenopyrite - pyrite mines of northeastern Halkidiki • Never applied in industrial scale for gold production. • No reported separation method. CAN THE USE OF CYANIDE BE AVOIDED?

13. Criticism on the project’s (approved) Environmental Impact Assessment • Uncontrollable effects on the balance of the water resources of the wider region - interruption of the flow of existing sources - shutdown irrigation and water supply wells - possible salinization of coastal aquifers. • Solid waste generation and • Risk of Arsenic generation

14. An image that traveled the world Stratoni beach, 2010

15. Stratoni beach - Blue Flag? What are the monitored parameters? • The Microbiological parameters monitored are: • Enterococci - Intestinal enterococci (cfu/100 ml) • Coliforms - Escherichia coli (cfu/100 ml) • The Visual parameters monitoredare: Tarry residues, glass, plastic, rubber or any other waste. The purpose of visual tracking is to control the presence of contaminants so that when such pollution, to take appropriate management measures including public awareness. NO CONSIDERATION FOR HEAVY METALS! Source: Special Secretariat for Water

17. Interesting economic relations

18. The company

19. Brief history of the project • In 2003, assets of Cassandra Mines in Halkidikipreviously owned by TVX HELLAS, are transferred to the Greek State for 11 million euros. • The state sells the mines to HELLAS GOLD S.A. for the same price without prior economic assessment of the assets and without an open competition. • The value of the minerals in Halkidiki is estimated at 15.5 billion euros. • In 2008 the European Commission finds the transaction to be in violation of EU competition rules and Greece is ordered to reclaim 15.3 million euros from Hellas Gold. • Greek Environment Minister GiorgosPapakonstantinouappeals to the court!

20. Brief history of the project In July 2011, the Greek State approved the Environmental Impact Assessment. According to the Greek Mining Regulation: • the mining company has full possession of the mineral contained in the concessions granted and there are no royalties for the State • Hellas Gold enjoys tax relief and exception from damages from already existing mines in the region • any activity that disturbs mining is prohibited in designated mining areas • private land can be expropriated • any protection status for areas designated as protected by national and international conventions does not hold.

21. Examples of Canadian Mining Diplomacy • Thrace, Greece – ElDorado Gold – 2013 • Galicia, Spain - Edgewater Resources – 2013 • Santa Rosa, Guatemala - Tahoe Resources – 2013 • Morelos, Mexico: Esperanza Resources – 2013 • Honduras: Mining Law Reform  – 2010-2012 • Philippines: TVI Pacific – 2011 – 2012 • Costa Rica: Infinito Gold – 2010 • Chiapas, Mexico: Blackfire Exploration – 2007-2010 • Ecuador: Mining Law Reform – 2008-2009 • Guatemala: Glamis Gold – 2004 Mining Watch Canada

22. Private Property - No trespassing

23. Public and Private Police Forces

24. Excessive presence of police forces & the attempt to criminalize the fight • Citizens kidnapped by police forces • Irrational use of chemicals (tear gas in schools, cars, houses) • Hundreds of residents (even young students) called to report to police • Phone calls transcripts between residents and local and international journalists used as judicial material criminal organization

25. Human rights violations Greece: Need for investigation of police conduct towards residents of town objecting gold mining operation • uncontrollable use of chemicals • illegal DNA samples collection • denied access to a lawyer for ‘suspects’ of possible involvement in the arson attack on the work site of Hellas Gold

26. Hellas GoldCorporate Social Responsibility As part of its CSR strategy, Hellas Gold is funding • the Aristotle Municipality and • the Greek police forces Attempts to sponsor sport clubs of northern Greece.

27. Massive demonstrations to Save Skouries

28. Massive demonstrations to Save Skouries

29. International day of mobilization to save Skouries - London

30. International day of mobilization to save Skouries - Paris

31. International day of mobilization to save Skouries - Brussels

32. International day of mobilization to save Skouries - Amsterdam

33. Demonstration in support of gold mines