Save Tây Nguyên Campaign Sheds Light on An Inconvenient Truth

April 22, 2009

Today, on Earth Day, Viet Tan is launching the Save Tây Nguyên campaign against bauxite mining in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

The mining projects are a reckless disregard for the ecological and cultural richness of one of Vietnam’s most verdant regions. Bauxite mining poses a negative impact to the local economy and creates a long-lasting environmental problem that could affect generations to come.

The Save Tây Nguyên campaign strives to raise public consciousness of the economic, environmental, and human costs of bauxite mining and to support Vietnam’s growing green movement.

Viet Tan is working to shed light on the shadowy alliance between Hanoi and Beijing to exploit bauxite in the Central Highlands. We support Vietnamese scientists and medical professionals in their efforts to conduct research and raise public awareness on the risks of bauxite processing.

We urge you to get involved in the Save Tây Nguyên campaign through the following actions:

1. Call or e-mail the two state-run companies exploiting bauxite in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, Vinacomin and Chinalco, and insist that they protect the local environment and ethnic cultures.

2. Host or join a teach-in on the subject of bauxite mining. You can find materials on how to organize a successful teach-in or workshop at www.viettan.org/savetaynguyen (including videos, slideshow presentations, and teach-in guides).

3. Urge international environmental organizations and human rights groups to focus on the dangers of bauxite mining and to insist on the rights of Vietnamese citizens to be informed and freely express their concerns.

4. Join us on facebook at http://tinyurl.com/vtfacebook for news and updates on the campaign.

Make every day Earth Day and help Save Tây Nguyên for future generations.