Social and Environmental Justice – Can You Help?

Are you concerned about how our exploitation of resources impacts on the environment and local communities? Are you aware of mining activity in your region that is causing hardship to local people? Or failing to adequately protect human rights and minimise harm to surrounding land and waterways?
Whether or not you have extensive knowledge of the mining industry, your observations are crucial to the effectiveness of the Justice in Mining Network, which is seeking your help in mapping mining issues in areas where Jesuits have a presence.
Justice in Mining is one of four Global Ignatian Advocacy Networks (GIANs), and works to ensure issues of equity and sustainability are addressed in mining projects. The Network collaborates with other organisations around the globe to advocate for a fairer and wiser use of the world’s limited resources.
The Network is conducting a survey of mining activity and related issues in communities where Jesuits have a presence either individually or through institutions.
The purpose of the survey is to identify the key concerns around mining and its related impacts in areas where there is a Jesuit connection or presence.  The results will inform the Justice in Mining Network of the most pressing issues in regions where Jesuits work, helping the Network formulate its strategies for how and where it can assist and/or influence.
The survey is directed at any Jesuit or Jesuit institution e.g. Jesuit social centre, Jesuit educational institution, Jesuit spirituality centre, or Jesuit residence.  The survey seeks to identify mining-related issues occurring in the respondent’s geographical region of operation.
Whether the respondent’s work concerns mining issues or not is not important.  You may, for example, work with people who have been displaced as a result of mining projects, or whose waterways are polluted by mining by-products. Or you may simply be aware of human rights issues caused by mining in your area. Do not be shy in contributing – the more responses the survey receives, the better informed it will be.
The survey comprises 27 questions and should not take more than 15 minutes to complete.  The survey can be accessed via: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MM23PRX, or a copy of the document can be emailed to you on request. Survey responses should be received no later than Friday, 31 April 2017.
The survey is being funded by Magis through the Xavier Network.  Responses will be analysed by the Justice in Mining Network and a summary of results will be distributed to respondents and the broader Jesuit community.
Respondents should indicate if there are aspects of their response that they wish to keep confidential. Questions can be directed to Carolyn Ryan of the Justice in Mining Network at [email protected].