We Went to America's Biggest Copper Mine: The Corruption Will Shock You 

"they gave us 50 bucks and a backpack so yeah sure destroy this town" Holy hell that's....frightening.

I’ve been supporting Apache Stronghold’s fight against Resolution Copper for 12 years now and I applaud you for getting the facts and laying out the timeline so clearly and accurately. This is a story of corporate greed and government corruption driving eco-destruction, indigenous g-cide, and the dispossession of the working class. This is a crucially important fight in the American Southwest. THANK YOU for reporting on it so faithfully! THANK YOU!!

Corruption, theft , fraud in passing a bill.

I live in a mining town. When one of our biggest mines closed it affected our school district which consists of 3 small towns and numerous surrounding locations. We went from graduating 125 kids a year to about 50. Grocery stores closed, along with gas stations, theaters, restaurants, bars,liquor stores, and many other small businesses. With the good working people gone, low income welfare types came. People not wanting to work saw opportunity for low cost housing and low job prospects so they could continue collecting handouts. We are now in the second generation of these people. Crime has risen, homes are in disrepair, blight is everywhere and rarely enforced, businesses barely survive, and to top it all off, meth came here with these people too. We are in a remote area and wouldn't exist in the first place had there not been mining. Because we are so far away from things new businesses don't see it cost effective to set up here. Now i could blame the mines for not providing for the town, but it isn't their fault that it wasn't cost effective to stay open. Times were much better when they were here, and we still use school buildings that were built by them. Nobody trusts that they will be open forever, and they never said they would be here in Minnesota. As far as pollution goes, we have clean air and the best water in the state. Our city water comes from an abandoned mine pit. The twin cities 4 hours south on the other hand is a cesspool. They all come up here on weekends to catch fish they can eat and escape the true enemy of the land- overpopulation. When it comes to copper, everyone in this video was using it. We should mine it here, or stop using it. Regulate everything heavily though- most copper comes from third world countries with no regulation, child labor etc. Do it right and do it here. Don't be against something unless you're willing to live without it.

“Boom and bust” is a nice way of saying “a company extracted all the value it could from us and our land then left us to rot”

They're not even pretending to care anymore.

Big international companies have been doing this to indigenous peoples' land for decades in the Philippines. But they would actually use imposter indigenous organizations to sign the land over. Lands rich in metal like gold etc.

The way that bill passed is straight up criminal. It's insane. Two senators on the payrol of the mining company hide it in a bill about space funding? No shoplifter should be in jail while these two criminals are walking free. And neither should they be in jail after the senators are locked up, but that's a different story

Corporations never cease to find ways to disappoint and disgust me.

"We are all the dust beneath the carpet..." Such a profound and true statement.

Thank you for reporting this travesty. I also live in a mining town where the mine has created a superfund site, yet continues to operate. I’ve been to Oak Flats, the ceremonial ground of San Carlos Apache. The mine must be stopped from destroying this place.

Mining companies or companies in general have NEVER been a friend to the people. Only politicians and the corporations benefit.

I have seen this in West Virginia with coal it disgusting to see it happen. Nothing good will come of it

this kind of reporting, is thankless, very rare nowadays, and absolutely needed. i appreciate what you do. i wish i could contribute in some way monetarily, im sorry i cant. keep up the good work and know youre doing something good, be proud.

Rise up, people. "Fight the power!"

What blows my mind is that those who would see this project through have no qualms about the fact that the profits would be funneled out of the US. Our economy wouldn’t even benefit. I mean what are we even doing here? Does anything matter?

"we are dust underneath the carpet to the mining corporations." damn

Literally a devils bargain dealing with these companies.

So they're just not gonna stop until the entire world is literally on fire??.

Save Oak Flat. Protect the environment. Protect the people.

It’s sickening to watch mining companies flatten mountains and ruin an entire ecosystem.

They are going to destroy that poor town.

Why isn’t the DOJ investigating this?!

Ely & Strafford Mines in Vermont - exact same thing. Strafford mine polluted the Connecticut river for 40 miles South of the mine. Took nearly 20 years to get Super Fund status. Look in to the V.A.G mine in Lowell. That has contaminated a 100 mile diameter circle of the water table. You can't fix that. Ever.

"Freedom only exists so long as it is profitable and the second it isn't the elites will pull back the curtain and reveal the brick wall at the back of the theater." Frank Zappa

I'm originally from the Salt Lake Valley. I've seen the grand canyon, but it didn't have nearly the guttural impact on me that seeing Kennecott Copper Mine did. Human eyes were not meant to see mountains turned inside-out. I fear for the people of Superior.

Anaconda, Butte and Opportunity too. Superfund sites I live within the one most west of the three. Smelter town, copper town and 20 square mile toxic dump pit. Century old heavy metal particulates still permeate every house to one inch thick, blown by the prevailing winds. It is reported that Anaconda has the highest instance of M.S. per capita of almost any place on earth. Those particulates breathed by my best friend during rehab of an old victorian here, cost him life after a 12 year battle with that ugly disease. Eleven of those years in a nursing home - he was a complete vegetable within 2 years, had no idea he was even alive, they just kept him that way instead of mercy when they knew there was no return and no way back. 12 years at 30 grand a month. That's what the home saw. Best friend ever without a doubt. Luck of the draw, who will be next. Piles of slag 100' high by 4 miles wide and 2 miles deep, covered in still-not-so clean dirt, tall dry grass planted 360 around my ville, now I feel very Lahaina ripe - purpose by design ? All it takes now is a small spark to ignite a firestorm if and when the wind is right and when they decide. Many from Libby died too and still are and will - Grace foots the bill for that. Arco and EPA for Butte and vicinity. I had what I believed to be a possible solution for the Berkeley Pit. Laser bored shaft 20 miles down, pour in the offending contents and seal the hole. Same for Chernobyl and Fukashima, Yucca and Hanford, Picher and Superior, many more yet unidentified. Cheaper than shipping it to the sun. Laser cauterizes the walls as it descends, sterilizing as it goes at the same time. Cap and plug with volumes of cement. Gone and out of sight forevermore. Now sterile hole fill with potable water. Group of another shore are going for 17 miles deep to see what's there. We can do better and go deeper and eliminate ALL of our waste anywhere and of anything at all that we simply have no need for - it is junk dude, throw it away - Sweep America Clean. Something for the 40 million new arrivals to do if they want to be fed. Time to release Z.P.E. to the masses so we can move on and finally put nuclear to bed without regret or rue. Answers and solutions exist but power and money will not hear. A plea is no longer our stance, it has come to we must demand of them or else... i quit...

The people need to take what's theirs.

It's the same for California communities that sprung up around old oil wells and refineries. You'd think they would be super wealthy, but that wealth doesn't go to the communities, the wealth goes to the investors instead. And all the "externalities", the pollution, disease, and crime after the extraction site is sold off? That stays with the communities because the investors consider it someone else's problem. Maybe we should make it their problem? If they get rid of a mine or well without cleaning up the site first, the toxic substances should be shipped to their families. It will probably never fly, but a guy can dream.

Ravage the land and give the people a dime to do it while keeping the rest of the dollar. If corporations shared the wealth it be one thing but, the wealth is never shared.

I'm an AZ native and frequent the superior area often. Because the higher elevations, the mountains are almost like a sky island with different animals and plants found there than in our deserts. Mountain Lions are still in those mountains. The other problem with their block mining plan is that the rains here keep things dry, and then flood rapidly on an almost annual basis. They will lose equipment and soil to these floods and they will leech sediment into the water when the floods come. Mining here is not a problem, block mining here is a stupid idea.

Oak Flats is one of the best sport climbing areas around.

10:13 in response to that man: it is great that your town is getting the support it needs again, no doubt it seems like a lifeline. But if Resolution Copper can afford to build health centres, hold festivals, fund scholarships, support local schools, and give out $50 gift cards at will, you have to ask yourself: how much then, are they profiting? Because we can be assured they wouldn't be giving this town anything like this unless it only cost a tiny fraction of the wealth they're extracting. What I'd love to see is a community owned mining cooperative, that can balance protections for sacred tribal areas, environmental protections and water usage, while also providing jobs and wealth to the community, instead of multinational mining conglomerates.

Unfortunately, this is a story that is happening everywhere in the world.

STOP these Corporations

The cautionary tale of Jerome Arizona springs to mind. Jerome was once the 4th most populous city in Arizona, but when the copper ran out it became a ghost town, with less than 100 residents.

There used to be a beautiful campground at Oak Flats. That closed several years ago as part of the land swap deal. It makes one wonder if reducing tourist traffic in the area is part of a plan to keep the fight quiet.

The same kind of damage went on, and still goes on, in Nevada. Cyanide settling ponds, heap leach mining, polluted streams, huge mine tailings, ruined land, drinking water laced with chemicals, toxic dust.

Mines were shut down in AZ because the cost to get the metal out of the ground exceeded the value of the metal. This is what happens when the market price isn't driven by the companies mining it, but instead by the people trading paper in commodities and intentionally driving the price down.

Just drove thru Oak Flat. Some of the most beautiful country. I would HATE to see that area destroyed by a huge ugly mine.

These resource extraction corporations must be forced to do land reclamation, to clean up their toxic leftovers before they leave.

Glad you're taking about this. I've been wanting more larger media creators and such to address it.

This is happening in northern Minnesota. It's a foreign-owned company and they'll destroy the Boundary Waters, and they're buying off the police force with all kinds of toys. Same thing happens with the pipelines.

Nearly fell out of my chair when they slipped that land grab bill in a must pass military bill. That made me so mad.

This is Journalism, not sitting behind a desk reading other people's work.

Captain Planet tells us sabotaging mining equipment until local demands are met is a legitimate form of protest.

THAT SHOULD BE A NATIVE OWNED MINE.

If mining is finally permitted the following requirements must be set backed with a really large reclamation bond posted by Resolution Copper: 1. all reactive minerals including but not limited to sulfides, arsenides, tellurides, minerals containing heavy metals. shall be removed and suitably sequestered . 2. Water used in all processes shall either be reused or if released treated to drinking water standards 3. All emissions from any processing plant must be captured and suitably put to use or sequestered 4 Tailings ponds or mine dumps shall be secured against loss and if retaining structures are employed they shall be concrete structures built to hydroelectric dam standards. No earthen retaining structures 5. On completion of the mining the surface shall be restored to a state compatible with the surrounding ecology.

A few billionaires shouldn’t own and control the means of production, distribution and exchange. Workers make the world run, workers should run the world.🏴🌎

Would have loved to have heard more from people supporting the mine. I grew up in an iron mining town in Michigan, that also had a rich history of copper mining in its past. The area has suffered and had slow decline since the late 70’s. The decline continues today, populations in towns across the area are 50% or less of what they were just 25 years ago. Schools enrollments 30% of what it used to be. Recently, there’s been a renewed interest in mining because there is still enormous mineral deposits throughout the UP of Michigan. It’s difficult to not see both sides. One side is much needed jobs, the other is worrying about pristine trout rivers and nature. As much as I don’t necessarily care for a mine, we don’t get much assistance here and out of towners driving though on vacation isn’t a real job.

It’s sick how short sighted people are and how easily they are fooled with a $50 food voucher.

Agree, protect Oak Flat😢

Rio Tinto(China), BHP(Australia)...How does this benefit America again?

We are not opposed to using copper in our daily lives. We just don't want it to come from here.

Patagonia, Arizona is facing the same problem. South32, a mining company out of Australia is set to use 1.6 Billion gallons of water in a drought stricken state. Promises of jobs and the same type of rhetoric is swaying the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, The United States Forest Service, local county & city politicians. Profits before people.

We live in the United CORPORATIONS of America. CORPORATIONS will always prevail. The only way to save this land from being mined is to find a way that makes this land unprofitable to be mined.

And yet the country absolutely needs those mines. Such a tough predicament. Wish there was a good answer.😢

You said Superior and every Midwesterner was like "oh you mean the next town over.." And then you blew their minds by saying Arizona.

The only way to solve greed is to set a trap and bait it with money.

And what happens when the copper is either eliminated from the batteries or a new technology changes things altogether. The mining company will move on again without any consequence to what happens to the town or to the environment.

Misrepresenting legislation sounds like fraud, which can be a criminal offense with no Statue of limitations...

Reclamation bonding is the only legislative tool to hold large corporations accountable. Pay to play…pay the people not the lobbyists and legislators!

Why if we are the richest country in the world why do we let foreign companies come in and do this to our land . Of course with congresses help and filling their pockets with cash.

I love seeing these idiots taking 50 dollar certificates in exchange for their entire lives. I feel bad for the others impacted by those idiots. This is sad.

Don't forget the Golden Rule: Those of that whom owned the gold, makes the rules....

Nobody knows corruption like unions.

THANKs More PerFect Union For COVERing This Story .

8:43 Exactly. Most politicians go into politics to do good but end up doing well. 💸

The reality is that we need copper. Period. Where do we get it? The computer you are reading this on has copper in it, your cell phone has copper in it, your car has a LOT of copper in it. It is easy to say no to mining but then what.......

The way these mines are operated destroy the water.

Years ago, a North Carolina farmer discovered a mineral lode containing emeralds and hiddenite on his property. He tried to keep it a secret, but soon rumors of the hidden treasure sparked and spread like wildfire. When the government caught wind of it, they wanted to steal his farm.

Dang, I bet that mayor doesn't live there.

I grew up in Morenci Az, a copper mining town. The day after I graduated, I left there vowing never to work at a copper mine. Two years later, I'm in San Manuel working for Magma Copper underground. Yes, I hated it. But, money was good, while it lasted. Finally, I got into the career I wanted and spent 37 years. This is a corporate country and world. Congress is useless. The Supreme Jester Court is the same. Ya'll keep praying, I've given up on that, too. Money talks, and we do the walking.

You must stand up and put a stop to the lies!!

Thank you for sharing this story. Protect the sacred. #VeteransforOakflat

Not exactly on the same level but there is a case to be told of the theft/ loss of the natural resources indigenous people have been subjected through under the last 50 years. Land, Fishing, Hunting, Gathering, Practicing, Ect. Many we still hold but are being strangle held on...

Rio wants to mine Oak Flat !! Such a jewel! Hope the tribes succeed.

My mom came from a family of 14 kids that grew up in an Arizona copper mining town. Most of them including her and her father got dementia. A few that stayed behind got cancer. I wonder why.

Thank you for covering this!

West virginia is the congo. Congo is the richest in minerals but the poorest country in the world.

I've done some rock climbing out there and the place is beautiful. One day I saw a Golden Eagle just cruising through this canyon. Lower Oak Flat is awesome and the companies that want to mine there will create another environmental disaster....say NO to these mining companies NOW!

Native Americans & townspeople Stand your ground. No one profits much from letting a company rob your land.

I would love to see a special targeting the collusion and price fixing of Ball, crown, and ardagh in the beverage packaging industry. I currently work for one of these oligopoly companies and even tho we are unionized it seems so have little impact on working conditions, safe staffing lvls, or pay with the threat of plant shutdowns if one particular plant becomes to noisy

How about researching johnstown, PA? It looks like that town went downhill after big steel left, used to have about 60,000 population at its peak and now is down to about 18,000.

"Deciding who the economy is for..." the core, essential, vital and only question that should count when looking at billion dollar projects.

I too am from West Virginia. I've also seen everyday people suffer from poverty, Cancer, and other diseases while politicians and corporations rape our land for its resources. How can shady bills passed through the Congress get to the Supreme Court? Those types of dealings should not happen and I'm seriously asking, How can we get these types of bills weighed in on by the Supreme Court and make it illegal once and for all to add hidden sections like this into other, completely unrelated, bill packages? I truly believe if this country has a chance in hell to not completely crumble, these dealings must be stopped! Calling all like-minded people in this cause!

This is where capitalism always leads. It's all part of the deal

I worked in mining. Mining provides wealth and employment. Minerals are about as important as food. Where the heck do these guys think wealth comes from?

Worst part is once they polluted the land and water, and people get sick, all they have to do is file for bankruptcy and argue that paying for long term health care will kill the business, so they get to keep mining and get more profit, and the workers and family suffer

I wonder how many of these people use cell phones, computers, and TVs. I wonder where they think the copper comes from. Maybe they think it comes from someone else's back yard.

Love Bernie Sanders...I hope the real Americans the native people win.

If push comes to shove the tribes should own the mine at the very least. Capitalism can be ruthless and sometimes the only way to make sure there's no exploitation is to take control of the situation. Hope that arizona keeps being run by blue politicians as if leadership goes red the corporations may get what they want. Like I said if it becomes unavoidable for the copper to be mined, the tribes should own it!

The backside of the "green" transition... it has never been about the environment, only about profits

Living in Alberta, in one of their boom periods, I constantly heard "there's a hundred years of oil down there". And it stays there when the price of a barrel goes below a certain point. Then, all of a sudden, you're upside down on that house you bought and you want to leave but you have to take a big hit to do it.

Protest mining while driving cars, using cell phones, and enjoying indoor plumbing...frickin genius

That’s a beautiful car Mr TJ Mullet was driven around Superior in. I doubt he realized the steel, aluminum and copper that he’s sitting on was all mined. The fuel and oil that car burned to run was all pumped out of the ground. The plastic that makes up the shell of his camera is made from oil. The rare earth elements that make up the computer chips inside that camera were mined. The lithium in the batteries that power said camera were mined. The glass that makes up the camera lens was mined. Everyone can sit here and say mining is bad, but nobody is using a horse as their main means of travel, going down to the river everyday to fetch water, growing their own vegetables for food and then going to sleep at night in their buck skin Teepees. I don’t necessarily agree with putting a huge block cave mine under a culturally sensitive area, but at the same time nobody in this video is living off the land and hunting and gathering for their primary sources of food. You want to stop mining? Stop buying products that require mining. Unfortunately this is the way we choose to live. Nobody is stopping us from giving up the current comforts of life. If it can’t be grown it has to be mined.

I love your video content, Thank you for your truth and for caring enough to do them.

I never lived in the area, or dug copper, but I had family who lived, worked, and died in Globe, Miami, Claypool, and Superior and spent many school vacations in the area when I was a younger man. I wish I could convey to you how desperate people were in the area even then, how dead the towns are, and how limited options are for so many people. I wish I could tell you all the dirty, petty, politics whenever anyone tries to build any sort of business or economic base. I wish you could know what it's like to stand with those tailings towering above you and to see the devastation, or to stand in a hillside graveyard while an old timer tells you how it was. You'd understand what that $50 dollars in food meant, what the hope of stable jobs in the area meant. These people are not stupid, they're desperate. " We knew it was killing us, but there were no other jobs, so what were we going to do?", I was told. "Don't come here for anything but a visit young man, there's no future here. ", I was told about a childhood refuge when I was turning into a young man. It was so desperate that a great uncle I never met could survive the Bataan Death March, survive being a POW for years, and then come home to die in those mines trying to pull others out after a mine collapse.

People can‘t just sit on land that has natural minerals and resources everybody needs. If you can‘t or won‘t utilize these resources on your own somebody else will.

Possibly follow Norways lead in genuinely helping the entire nation equally, not just a very few BILLIONAIRES while long term destroying locals, the wildlife, and the environment.