The construction of a copper and gold mine will have a serious impact on the lives of villagers and the environment in the Sepik River region in Papua New Guinea. This project will provide critical information and awareness of environmental damage. It will empower the villagers to assert their human rights and help them express their concerns when dealing with the mining company and government.
Middle Sepik River is home to about 10,000 people in 50 villages. They're concerned that the effects of a copper and gold mine on their livelihoods and the environment are not being acknowledged by the mining company or the government. They're worried about siltation and pollution of the river and the social and health impacts of mining. They are also concerned about villagers seeking jobs in the mines and leaving their traditional communities for short-term gains.
The project will strengthen the voices of the villagers by empowering them with communication strategies to express their concerns to the mining company and the government. The project will conduct workshops and information sessions in the villages to determine their concerns and identify resources and communication tools that would be of most help to the communities.
The goal of this project is to have the concerns of the people of Middle Sepik recognized by the mining company and the government. This will help empower local people to make choices for themselves and their community. Strengthening the voices of the marginalized people of Middle Sepik River will help protect their culture, health and livelihoods. Communication strategies developed for Middle Sepik will be used as a blueprint for Upper and Lower Sepik areas which are faced with the same issues.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
