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Why term "Blood coal" is used
by Fredericton Peace Coalition
Friday, Oct. 20, 2006 at 11:20 AM
To clarify what was written in the media on why it is called 'blood coal' and NB Power's connection to it.
During the illegal demolition of peoples' homes in Tabaco for the El Cerrejon coal mine, some inhabitants were beaten with clubs. Some of those whose houses were demolished were sick, including the children of community leader Jose Julio Perez -who visited Fredericton in March 2006. One of the women said that a man's head was badly wounded by a wooden club and his daughter, who was trying to help her father, was also attacked by the police, who beat her leg with wooden clubs. Emilio Perez was attacked by fifteen men - either policemen or security personnel. He was clubbed unconscious and left on the ground. He spent eight days in hospital and still suffers from bad headaches and forgetfulness. Another woman was hit by a rock in her side. Her husband was attacked too. He fought back, and because of his agility in struggling against his attackers, they said that he must be a guerrilla - a false accusation which, in the current circumstances in Colombia, could lead to police reprisals or paramilitary attack. The police attempted to wound his eyes, which became covered in blood as they beat him. There are no confirmed murders associated with this mine like there are at Drummond and other coal mines in Colombia - the most recent murder being this past September.
But pollution and poverty caused by the mining operations are slowly killing people around the mine that supplies us with 10-16% of our electricity. With word that NB Power is looking to buy more coal from Colombia, those who met with NB Power urged them not to buy coal from Drummond where many union activists have been murdered.
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