I'm not joking actually. I was at first, but if you stop and think about it, it's a brilliant idea (if don't mind saying).

What do environmentalists hate most about mining? Damage to the environment, and to local communities, right? Well, we already have the support of the local community, so let's take care of the environment.

We'll cause some damage, there's no getting around that - all human activity has an impact - but we can compensate, and even improve on local conditions by becoming guardians of the remaining concessions.

The Aurelian concessions cover a vast area. There is very little outcropping or surface expression - most mineralization is under tons of overburden. You could search for years and find nothing. FDN was a one-off. Furthermore, the area is a watershed, and a natural habitat for endangered wildlife. So protect it! Take the initiative.

We're going to be down there for a long time. That's more than obvious at this point. So how long are these activists going to be around? What kind of attention span do they have? Once they get their way, it's off to the next big battle. So let's do their work for them, and bid them a fond farewell.

We don't need any more boom towns in the Amazon. Leave that mess for Brazil to sort out. Between Corriente, Aurelian, and Dynasty there's enough employment for the local population without having to bring in huge numbers of outsiders with no commitment to the community. We want to see schools and clinics built, not bars and whorehouses.

This idea coincides perfectly with everyone's interests. All we need is the vision to make it happen.

ebear