When you think of cyanide, you think of poison. You don’t think of Yosemite National Park, and neither should mining companies. But with the price of gold over $1,700 an ounce, the pressure is on to open up mining claims around Yosemite.
The home of Half Dome and El Capitan is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It’s crazy to think there are 185 active mining claims within just 10 miles of the park, and with enough pressure from mining companies, they can be reopened anytime.
You and I know that Yosemite is priceless — no matter how high the price of gold, this beautiful park and the wildlife that live there are worth much more. Will you join me in urging the president and Congress to ban new mining claims near Yosemite? President Obama has already protected the Grand Canyon National Park with a buffer zone that prevents industrial mining near that park. Now it’s time for the President to give Yosemite the same protection.
A modern gold rush would be a disaster for the Yosemite we know and love. Industrial mines remove hundreds of tons of ore from the earth to process a few ounces of gold, scarring the land and releasing heavy metals like lead into ponds and streams that flow into Yosemite. Industrial mining operations use toxic chemicals like cyanide and mercury to separate gold from crushed ore. With a heavy rain or landslide, these chemicals can escape their containment ponds and poison the surrounding area.
We cannot let this happen. Urge President Obama and Congress to save Yosemite from toxic mining. The animals and endangered species that find refuge in Yosemite National Park don’t know where the park border ends and a gold mine begins. They can easily drink from a stream or eat a fish that’s contains a lethal dose of mining waste. But if enough of us speak out, we can save Yosemite from toxic mining. Thank you for taking action and spreading the word.
(Riptide heartily endorses this action statement from Environment California. Please contact your elected representatives in Congress and the White House.)
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