[imc-maritimes] Against Rosia Montana project

[Octavian Barbu]

Dear Madam Sir,
Me and all my friends are against the project wich is about to be started in 
Romania.
Please help us spreding the word all over the world.
With respect,
Octavian Barbu - Prague - Czech Republic

The Rosia Montana gold mine project in Romania is designed to be Europe’s 
largest open cast gold mine. If built, it would displace hundreds of 
families, destroy many of Rosia Montana’s significant archaeological sites, 
and flood the valley with a cyanide leaching pond. In 2002, the IFC was 
considering providing financing to the project sponsor Gabriel Resources, 
based in Canada. The local organization, Association Alburnus Maior, which 
was founded in September 2000 by the villagers of Rosia Montana to oppose 
the Gabriel Resources' gold mine project, extended their campaign to stop 
the public financing of the project. With the support of international NGOs, 
representatives of Alburnus Maior came to Washington during the World Bank 
Annual General Meeting in October 2002 to meet with the IFC project team, 
Executive Directors, and World Bank President Wolfensohn. Shortly after 
these meetings the IFC decided not to finance the project. The World Bank 
official statement said that they "recognized that there were many 
significant environmental and social issues associated with [the project]." 
However, the IFC refused to talk about the problems associated with the 
project, instead sending a letter to the sponsor stating that they withdrew 
because private financing was available for the project.

Gabriel Resources is still pursuing the development of the project, seeking 
private financing and support from Export Credit Agencies. Alburnus Maior 
continues to oppose the project.

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