Inside the Chelopech Mine in Bulgaria
Gold : The Balkan Trail
From 1990 to 1998 more than 30 000 people in the world were forced to leave their homes because of gold mining projects
A single gold ring leaves behind up to 20 tonnes of toxic waste. For the period 1990-1998 more than 30 000 people all over the world have left their homes. Because of gold.
The gold mining companies become more and more interested in the East European countries. Underdeveloped legislation, corruption and governments’ negligence of the interests of the people create the best natural environment for gold hunters. The non-stop raising price of gold –at the New York Stock Exchange reached its highest level since 1980 – the troy ounce is more than a 1000 USD at the world markets, and it stimulates the search for new deposits and new places. Moreover, the gold jewelry retailers marked the highest incomes in their history – about $14,5 billion US dollars only for the first six months of 2007.
The Balkan gold trail crosses Romania, Ukraine, Turkey, Bulgaria and Serbia – everywhere, with small exceptions it leaves behind devastated environment and sick people. And everywhere we tracked the same persons, who represent the companies, registered in Canada and closely connected between themselves at highest corporate level, or through the Geoscience Foundation, created by John Menzies, president of Euromax Resources.
They are active in Turkey and since 1988 they develop one of the biggest and oldest mines in this part of the world. Now, the damages are countless. They moved to Ukraine after the accident in Baia Mare in January 2000. At present, they work in several places in Bulgaria and Rosia Montana, Romania. In these four countries the projects are on territories close to protected zones or areas that should be protected, but because of the big financial interests, the status of those areas was changed. In the near future they are expected in the Bor smelting plant in Serbia.
The big corporations are settling in Transilvania, the Rhodopi Mountains and the Gulf of Edremit. The crash is inevitable, the end – predictable.
The investigation was carried out with the financial support of SCOOP, Danish Network for Investigative Journalism.
To read the stories about gold digging, click here:
2: Gold Mines in Turkey, part 1
3: Gold Mines in Turkey, part 2
4: Gold Mines in Bulgaria, part 1
5: Gold Mines in Bulgaria, part 2
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