I received the following email this morning protesting the recognition GSIS is giving to Wayne Murdy of Newmont Mining. I am deeply embarassed by the GSIS community of students and faculty right now, as they refuse to open their minds and look deeper into the issue before opening their mouths and putting their signature on such a letter.

I am not shocked by the email I received, just disappointed. In the past, I would have also been appalled by GSIS honoring a man from the world of mining, but with further research, I see that Wayne Murdy is one of the few good men in a horribly corrupt business. He has a vision that I share - a world in which big business is no longer at odds with the advancement of civil society, development and the preservation of the environment.

I have been a part of the corporate programs that train Newmont in 21st century business skills that focus highly on ethics. I have watched the idea of sustainable development infiltrate the minds of the leadership of Newmont. It has been marvelous!

I have also lived in a gold mining town in Guinea, West Africa, and I know what kind of development occurs with such an extractive process. Lots of money pours in, helping greatly in the short run, but little long term development takes place. Wayne Murdy has a bigger vision, and I support GSIS' decision to honor that.

I suggest we GSIS students open our minds a bit and not condemn a man for his company's past, but rather thank him for his struggle to change its future.

If you would like to talk more about this and the good Newmont is doing, please let me know.

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Here is the aforementioned closed-minded letter:

Dear Member of the University of Denver Community,

If you share our concern, please sign the attached letter and send it back to sandras112@yahoo.com by August 24th.

On August 30th, Wayne Murdy the Chairman and CEO of Newmont Mining Corporation will be given a top honor at the Graduate School of International Studies' prestigious Korbel Dinner. This blatant conflict of interest with GSIS' values is inexcusable. Newmont mining is honoring someone whose company is accused of perpetrating the abuses many of us work everyday to prevent!
For more information about GSIS's honoring of Newmont, the Denver Post has published this article: http://www.denverpost.com/allewis/ci_6541381

In fact, Oxfam America is currently circulating the following letter about Newmont:

"Late last year, Father Marco Arana and Dr. Mirtha Vasquez Chuquilin were working on behalf of poor communities near the Yanacocha Mine in Peru, when they became the targets of death threats, harassment and surveillance at work and in their homes.

An investigation by the Peruvian publication La Republica revealed that a firm hired by Newmont Mining to provide security at the mine was involved in the surveillance."

If you are as appalled as we are, please join us in sending a letter of protest to the University of Denver administration with a copy sent to the Denver Post editor. You can add your voice of protest by sending your name, degree, graduation year, and current position (optional) to Sandra Sirota at sandras112@yahoo.com by August 24th. The dinner is at the end of the month, so we have a short time to make our complaints known.


Sincerely,

Sandra Sirota, Anne Coughlin, and concerned GSIS Alumni
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