The Fight for Oak Flat is a documentary series about the proposed Resolution Copper Mine in Arizona and the people fighting to stop it from destroying Oak Flat, a unique natural area held sacred by indigenous peoples and used heavily by outdoor enthusiasts. ACT NOW
THE LARGEST PROPOSED COPPER MINE IN U.S. HISTORY IS THREATENING TO DESTROY OAK FLAT, ARIZONA, A LAND SACRED TO THE INDIGENOUS WESTERN APACHE PEOPLE…
The proposed Resolution Copper Mine would be a massive underground mine just 60 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona . The site, Oak Flat, is a unique outdoor area sacred to the Western Apache people and enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts. The area was specifically protected from mining by President Eisenhower and more than a dozen attempts to pass the mine failed in congress before the late Senator John McCain and others slipped a land swap deal for the mine into the must-pass Defense Authorization Act for 2015.
Resolution Copper is owned by Rio Tinto and BHP, the two largest mining firms in the world. The mine would be dug 7000 feet underground and use a destructive method called “block-caving” to extract to ore from beneath, leaving a sinkhole almost two miles wide and as deep as the Eiffel tower in its place.
Rio Tinto was recently caught destroying sacred aboriginal rock shelters in Australia, after which their C.E.O. was forced to step down and the company stated – “We are determined to ensure that the destruction of a heritage site of such exceptional archaeological and cultural significance never occurs again at a Rio Tinto operation.” They must be held to that promise.
The project promises big economic benefits for these foreign mining companies while the U.S. and Arizona will likely keep none of the precious ore and collect only a small portion of the eventual profits. Furthermore, it comes at a huge cost to the environment, it impedes the religious freedom of the Western Apache peoples and robs Arizonans of a beautiful recreational area.
This short documentary and subsequent videos tells the stories of several impacted groups and their fight against the mine. Below you can read more information about the mine’s plan of operations, the Environmental Impact Statement awaiting approval from the U.S. Forest Service as well as efforts to repeal the land swap legislation that authorized the mine.
The U.S. Forest Service and Resolution Copper denied requests to interview for this film.
MINE PLAN OF OPERATIONS AND THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
EFFORTS TO SAVE OAK FLAT
PRESENTED BY
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ABOUT THE FILM:
The Fight for Oak Flat is a documentary series filmed, directed and edited by Craig Johnson, a filmmaker based in Phoenix, Arizona. Drone Footage and additional shots by Duke Romero and Nick Deo. Still photos by Steve Pavey. Audio mastered by Kevrie Howard. Narrated by Don Steuter, Duke Romero and Dr. Lian Bighorse. The films received support from the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter. All filmmaking decisions were made solely by Craig Johnson. You can see more of his work at www.craigrj.com.
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The Fight For Oak Flat 