Ecobreves – CHILE: State TV Runs Ads for Controversial Mining Company

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SANTIAGO, Aug 29 2005 (IPS) - Environmental and citizen groups protested last week outside the state-run Televisión Nacional de Chile (TVN) for broadcasting advertisement for a Canadian mining company that aims to remove three glaciers in the northern Chilean Andes to extract gold, silver and copper. The spot for Barrick Gold, owner of the Pascua Lama project, during the news hour of TVN “sends an unmistakable sign of bias” in the conflict between the firm and the farmers and residents of the northern Valle de Huasco, who oppose the mining plan, say activists.

The groups have twice asked to meet with TVN director Daniel Fernández to tell him that the ad crosses the editorial line of the public television station. But Fernández has not agreed to receive them.

“It is inconceivable that the national channel doesn't provide the necessary coverage in a conflict this important for the community and the environment,” César Padilla, head of the Latin American Observatory for Environmental Conflicts, told Tierramérica.