ATTENTION: TO ALL Filipinos or Fil-Americans in the Las Vegas Area

Fish and Other Marine Life Dies from the mine toxic waste coming from the waters of the contaminated Boac and Mogpog Rivers

Here's an urgent message from Reda Hicks, one of the attorneys representing Marinduque in its lawsuit against Barrick Gold Corp. If you are in the area, please attend this important event.

Hello all!

I am one of the attorneys representing the Province of Marinduque in its lawsuit against Barrick Gold Corp., the mining company that wreaked havoc on their environment, health, and economy. I am writing to seek support from the Filipino community in Nevada, and particularly Las Vegas, in our efforts to seek justice for Marinduque. This case has been ongoing for over five years, and all of that time the defendant has never denied that it caused horrible environmental damage and health problems in Marinduque. Rather, it has argued that the case should not be in Nevada (they want to send it to Canada where the courts refuse to consider cases based on bad acts in other countries) because the people of Nevada do not have an interest in the outcome. We want to show Barrick that they are wrong, that Filipinos in Nevada care what the company, which obtains 60% of its revenue from Nevada mines, does to injure environments in the Philippines and other places. Marinduque is not the only place in the Philippines that has been exploited by foreign companies, and the Filipino population in Nevada cares about stopping this kind of behavior anywhere in the Philippines.

So here's how you can help: After a very long procedural battle that has gone all the way to the Supreme Court, we finally have a hearing in a Nevada court that could move this case toward a resolution. The hearing is set for this Friday, September 10, 9:30am at the Clark County Courthouse in Las Vegas, Judge Adair's courtroom. We would welcome any of you who are able to attend the hearing and show your support for Marinduque's efforts to force cleanup of the mess that Barrick made. Help us show the company in a tangible way that Filipinos, Nevadans, will not support any company's efforts to exploit the Philippines and then skirt responsibility for that exploitation.

If anyone has any questions, they can email me at rhicks@diamondmccarthy.com. Also, lots of background information on the case is available on the web if you google Marinduque and Barrick.

I thank you in advance for your support for our efforts.

Salamat po!
Reda Hicks