The NGO Mining Working Group (MWG) is an NGO coalition that, in partnership with our members and affected local communities, advocates at and through the United Nations for human and environmental rights as related to extractive industries. The MWG addresses unjust and unsustainable extractive practices and policies through the lens of the rights of local communities, indigenous peoples, and the Earth’s carrying capacity.
Upcoming Events
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Past Events & Posts
MWG at the UN Water Conference
A Virtual Side Event of the UN 2023 Water Conference Thursday, March 23, 2023 from 2-3 p.m. EDT
“Impacts of Extractives on Water and the Environment: Protection and Accountability Through a Human Rights Framework”
Sponsored by NGO Mining Working Group and Center for Earth Ethics
Concept Note: This online panel will highlight the challenges in addressing the human right to equitable access to clean, safe water. Particular attention will be paid to the role that extractive industries, like mining, pose toward meeting the targets of SDG6, as well as cross-cutting issues, including but not limited to: health, migration, gender, Indigenous rights, education, climate change, and biodiversity loss. These are crucial considerations as we build toward a Water Action Agenda that is scalable and committed to action.
Featured Speakers: Talia Boyd – Indigenous Environmental Network – Diné/Navajo Nation
Mary Tahu – Solomon Islands Climate Action Network
Laura Ramirez Chavez – Red Eclesial Panamazonica (REPAM)
Susan Power – Al-Haq
Blair Nelsen – NGO Mining Working Group
Learn More: Water & Sanitation: a People’s Guide to SDG6 is available at http://bit.ly/mwg-sdg6
“The Sea Is Sacred”: Mining Working Group at the UN Ocean Conference
“The Sea is Sacred: Religious Responses to Deep Seabed Mining” is a virtual side event of the 2022 United Nations Oceans Conference in Lisbon. This event unites faith-based voices to highlight the challenges that deep sea mining poses toward managing, protecting, conserving and restoring marine ecosystems. This virtual side event was recorded on June 29, 2022. It was sponsored by the NGO Mining Working Group, the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, VIVAT International, and the Pacific Conference of Churches.
List of speakers:
His Eminence Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi, Bishop of Tonga & Niue
Rev. James Bhagwan, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, Fiji
Avery Davis Lamb, co-Executive Director, Creation Justice Ministries, USA
Tevita Naikasowalu, JPIC Coordinator and HEIR, Columban Mission Office in Fiji
Sr. Wendy Flannery, RSM, Australia Olivia Baro, Youth Engagement and Empowerment Ecumenical Enabler, Pacific Conference of Churches, Fiji
Learn more about this issue at: https://www.pacificblueline.org/
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Mining Working Group at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
MWG’s Amazon Subcommittee held a side event at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues entitled, “The Self-Determination of Indigenous Peoples in the Amazon. Reports of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network.”
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Mining Working Group Side Event at the United Nations Oceans Conference 2022
The MWG is pleased to announce our UN Ocean Conference Side Event, “Sea is Sacred. Religious Responses to Deep Seabed Mining.” Find the flyer with the link to the event below.
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Mining Working Group at CSocD60
The Mining Working Group, in collaboration with VIVAT International, Sisters of Charity Federation and Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, organized a side event at the 60th meeting of the Commission for Social Development. The event, “Divestment From Extractive Industries: Building Forward for Resilient and Sustainable Recovery & Implementing Inclusive Practices in line with 2030 Agenda,”…
NGO Mining Working Group 