RIMM members have extended their support to the statement issued by Oxfam Australia calling for a ban on mine waste disposal into waterways. The statement issued as an open letter to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) mining ministers, mining industry executives and financiers who gathered in February 2007 at Perth, Australia to discuss 'Improving Leading Practice Sustainable Development in the Mining Industry'. The open letter expressed concern about the dumping of toxic wastes by mining countries into the rivers and oceans of some of the world's poorest countries such as Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the Philippines. These actions cause irreversible environmental damage, rob people of livelihoods and drive human poverty. In addition to adversely affecting aquatic life and therefore the food supply and livelihood of people, it also contaminates drinking water resulting in skin lesions and poisoning that causes death of local people. The letter also stated that many of the worst offending mines were owned and operated by companies from Australia, the United States of America (USA) and Canada; countries that have effectively banned the practice of dumping waste into their own rivers and oceans. Stressing that the safe disposal of mine waste is the single largest environmental challenge facing the mining sector worldwide, the letter called for an immediate worldwide ban on mine waste disposal in waterways. In addition to participating in the APEC conference Oxfam Australia was also able to stage a press conference outside.
