This week marks the official start of cabin season. It’s also the kick off of a public education campaign to help Minnesotans learn more about sulfide mining, a controversial issue facing those cabin owners, as well as all Minnesotans – especially those who live in, work near or simply have an appreciation for Northern Minnesota. Two sulfide mines are proposed in lakecountry. They would bring much needed jobs to the area, but there are also economic implications and environmental considerations that need to be fully explored.
The campaign, called Mining Truth, is intended to help Minnesotans learn about sulfide mining and to encourage an open, fact-based dialogue about the issue. The hope is to make it easy for Minnesotans to understand all sides of the issue so that they can make an informed choice when it is time to make important decisions about sulfide mining in our State.
To kick off the campaign on May 23rd, Mining Truth is asking for 1,000 businesses, non-profit organizations, elected officials and individuals to take the “Take Two, Ask Two” pledge by Memorial Day. The pledge is a promise to take two minutes to learn about sulfide mining, then ask two friends to do the same. The pledge can be found at MiningTruth.org and on Facebook.
The campaign also includes:
• MiningTruth.org, an online hub for mining related news and updates.
• An online poll to help understand what Minnesotans think about sulfide mining today
• A Facebook community for the exchange of information and opinions
• Free copies of the Truth Report, a resource guide on the sulfide mining issue in Minnesota. This 50-page, “white paper” has been nationally sourced.
• An advertising campaign to support awareness of the issue – including four billboards on the I-35 corridor between the Twin Cities and Duluth
• Community events planned throughout the summer
Mining Truth was started by concerned organizations including Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, MCEA and Conservation Minnesota. It is the first time these organizations have joined forces around a common strategy – a commitment to a truthful, open dialogue on this issue. Historically, these three organizations have been advocates for the environment, but this is a much bigger issue for the state of Minnesota. The campaign is already gaining momentum in the form of support from several organizations and small businesses around Minnesota. Mining Truth recognizes that support from other sectors is critical to the campaign’s credibility and ultimately its success.
