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Suzy2 - That's a company statement designed to reassure the investment community. At the end of the day, there is something on the Sami side suggesting they are not happy. The Swedish government knows about that (and so does BEM, I'm sure), hence the swedish government's letter to UNESCO - it's a 'conflict' between the interest of reindeer husbandry and mineral exploitation. The point is you want the reindeer herders to say the mine is a good idea - or at least their best option. They haven't. So that's the key. Work out why and then address the issue. You can address it three ways: (a) ignore their concerns - I'd suggest that ain't gonna happen as easily these days in Sweden as perhaps it would have done 50 years ago. The world has moved on. And Sweden is more progressive than most. It ain't Brazil. (b) rely on process to deliver the outcome - hmmmmm, ok. That doesn't seem to be working. or (c) identify what their 'price' is and get them to buy into the project. I'm as convinced as you that this is doable. But the Sami aren't. Regardless of how many statements the board issue. Long term, Kallak is going to happen, and when I mean long term I mean within the next 300 years. The key to doing it now is to find a way with the Sami to help them understand that doing it with BEM is their best bet. So BEM have to construct that 'bet' and present it to the Sami beyond what they've done already. What I see from the company announcements it is us against them. How about finding a way that it is presented as 'the Sami have helped us devise this and it is in everyone's best interest '? I don't know why the Sami are not on board. Sometimes it can be down to a personality clash between the people sent to resolve these issues. That stupid. So I'd suggest, with what is at stake, the board approach it again or differently, whichever applies. Relying on process ain't gonna do much.
All very quiet......
There could of course be a quite different reason for the failure of this process more connected with who owns it.
Everybody concerned knows that a mine at Kallak will not prevent the Jahkagaska from carrying out any part of their work. Anybody who can be bothered to read the Company's statements knows that every effort has been made and will be made to engage with the local community.
"As the Company moves forward with the project, we will work more closely with Jåhkågaska, to learn from their annual reindeer herding management plan ("renbruksplan"), such that we can plan together our mutual activities. Kallak represents only about 0.5 per cent of Jåhkågaska's available pasture lands, and Jåhkågaska's 4,500 reindeer make up less than ten per cent of the total number of reindeer that are present in Laponia over some part of the year."
Why would they do that...would they give up their mobile phones and lap tops and let children in Africa dig up the minerals needed for the Green transformation of the Planet. GT is a vegan and I can't see her being a big supporter of the reindeer industry...ruminants are bad news.
It's up to the BEM board to come up with a strategy. For the moment, they don't seem to have any strategy other than to follow process.
Agreed there is a process basically the politicians are petrified of the Sami and Greta Thunberg
imagine if Greta rallied the young people rightly or wrongly there would be 50k young people demonstrating.
SO if the government agree this is so sensitive they need to reimburse Beowulf £100 million
Did I ever express an interest in reindeer numbers, let me think?
Maybe you can email Kurt and give home some ideas, it seems to me he is more than happy just waiting and occasionally give an upbeat radio interview repeating the same old *******s..
It's up to the BEM board to come up with a strategy. For the moment, they don't seem to have any strategy other than to follow process. If only they were more imaginative. There's a few ways they could do it. I'm not sure if the board have given up or they simply lack imagination. As a punter on the outside, I have to say it's frustrating to watch a company with so much potential seemingly willingly stand still. They're good guys, they're great miners but that's not enough in this case. If they don't develop their approach, they may just see the Kallak prospect get flushed down the toilet - for nothing beyond a politician not thinking beyond the end of their tiny noses. Suzy2: The ICR btw is on the internet. With your interest in reindeer numbers Suzy2, I'm surprised you haven't already come across it. ;-)
Perhaps we should pay the Sami to use their reindeer to pull cart loads of ore out of the mine. Used to work ok with donkeys and very green.
That's quite a speech Takayama...who are the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry and what are their demands?
I agree completely with you johnthegolf and treetop. Those things did happen. But they didn't hit the mark for whatever reason. But everyone has their price ultimately (which one poster already pointed out). So I can't help but believe that there is a solution to this. We can wait for the poiticians, but of course, they have different interests related to their careers, or we can try again to get a local solution. It may not be a bucket of cash, but I'm guessing it revolves around somehow cracking the 'reindeer husbandry' nut. There are relatively few Samis but they have deep roots - and, in not a particularly legal way - that is their land. So if only there were a way to get them onboard....... . We would then present the politicians with a solution to their conundrum. Because the politicians aren't going to find a solution. They've other things to think about.
That is correct Treetop.I remember several articles quite a few years ago now on not only providing jobs for the young in the region but also for the young Sami as the reindeer industry actually involved so few people.I also recall how the government revenue from Kallak would help to continue to subsidise the Sami which was proving to be a burden on finances and regarded by many as trespassers in the area anyway.Whether that will have a bearing on the outcome remains to be seen.ATB
Taka,pretty sure there was a campaign from the area by young people wanting more industry in the area to stop the young gravitating to the cities for work. They reckoned only a few,influential Sami benefited from reindeer and it was harming the area instead of helping. Dont know what became of that but it would be interesting to know if the drift away has continued to happen with lack of prospects.
Roller1 - my motivation is to make money too. But sometimes the easiest way to make money is to consider what is stopping you from making money and deal with it. The days of gunboat diplomacy are over, and doing nothing leads us to the situation where we are now. But yes, let's make money. And be smart about it.
I'd add that the letter boils down the government's dilemma to being a conflict between the national interest of mineral extraction against the national interest of reindeer husbandry. Meanwhile, the ICR (International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry) talk about recruitment into the livelihood as being a major challenge to the future of reindeer husbandry. It isn't one for a mining company to resolve but ........ . There seems to be enough there for a reasonable dialogue if one hasn't already taken place, wouldn't you think? Big rich (ok, not yet) mining company working with local indigenous people to secure the long term future of reindeer husbandry? Looking at the ICR, it doesn't look like an approach that's been particularly tried yet.
Yes I have. It's on the internet via the Beowulf Facebook group. In answer to your question, no. Nothing devious. They are simply inviting "comments and recommendations". Ho hum.
3cardbrag: That's a tough call. Some people simply aren't driven by cash. My comment was a bit vague also. What I mean by that was that the Sami have nothing to gain by a mine. They're already happy with their lifestyle. They may get a few extra jobs and some extra cash, but I'm guessing that doesn't amount to a hill of beans for them. It amounts to a lot for Sweden and the non-Samis but politically, Sami are king at the moment. There must be something that they'd like though. I guess if I was Kurt, I'd be looking at their needs beyond the simple employment/cash equation in order to make it a win/win. That would feel easier at the moment. I've followed the story for some years now, and I know that the "friendly hand of industry" has been extended, but perhaps the Sami didn't feel it was genuine enough. I haven't followed the exact detail of everything so I apologise if Kurt has done everything, but you know, if it hasn't worked, it's always worth trying again. With all that is at stake, I wouldn't put all my eggs in the 'sweden's mining process is going to resolve this for me" basket. I'd perhaps go a bit deeper in to work out what would nudge the Sami. It would be worth it, wouldn't it? And after all, their demands look resolvable to me.
Has anyone had sight of the devious Swedish government's referral to UNESCO ?
If not, could there have been a request to extend the Laponia boundary to protect the Sami ?
Perhaps I'm getting paranoid ?
Re "It isn't in the interest of the Sami for the mine to go ahead"
When it suits them takay. But I'd bet a pound to a penny if someone came along with a big enough wad of cash they would sell their ancestral souls.
I'll start, my motive is to make money that's all.. couldn't give a monkeys about Sweden, Sami, reindeer or green planet... That's all for me, at least I'm honest..
Can you be more specific please Suzy2?
Johnthegolf - Good post. I'd say that I don't know the answers. I'm guessing. The difficulty with doing your own research about such things is sometimes we tend not to challenge ourselves. I'm basing my view on my impression - BEM have got a really good case, they've done everything by the book, environmentally it makes sense to produce ore locally (shipping it is massively bad for the environment), bridges can be built for the reindeer, and the environment will renew itself when the mine moves out in 50-100 years. Look at Chernobyl these days! But you are going against the Sami nation. Did you watch the movie 'Klaus' with your kids over Christmas? The Sami feature. They were the good guys. BEM would be the bad guys. And Sweden is essentially a country of people who care about things like that. As is quite a lot of the world which has wealth. It is pristine, untouched ancient forest (I think). It isn't in the interest of the Sami for the mine to go ahead. Politicians sometimes make the wrong decisions. It's a tough one - and of course I (personally) believe it is doable, and manageable to have a mine there. Non-Sami have moved into the area- it's been the way of the world for 200 years at least for outsiders to move into such areas as a result of industrialisation. So whose interests should the politicians protect? Those of the indigenous Sami or those of the invaders who have been there for 200 or more years - and their wider interests (ie Sweden)? Such 'border disputes' have been a feature for a long time now. The question goes way beyond BEM's preparedness I think. And that's the question Baylan has on his mind - as well as other politicians.
Pure theatre for sure. But tragedy or comedy?
ATB
lbjj, I’m afraid I am old-school. Think - $Billions! The rest, mostly, is theatre! In my opinion only. atb