Commission - 1984 Bougainville, PNG IMPACT STUDY

Transferring an old Blog across to here so that my work is together in one space.

Commission - 1984   IMPACT STUDY

    Since 1972, The Copper and Gold mine at Panguna, Bougainville, Papua New 
Guinea, majority-owned by Rio Tinto has produced billion's of tones of mine waste 
tailings that they release into the Jaba and Kawerong rivers. 

    Every day, arable land downstream from the mine is covered by polluted waste,

resulting in contamination, erosion, land destruction, food shortages, and illness.
	
    A group of concerned business men and dedicated citizens, including our friend 

Mr. Carolus Ketsimur,( politician, journalist, businessman, jazz man,)approached me 

to produce a series of eight works, in response to viewing the devastation.

	These works were to be hung in the reception room at the  recently established

        Department of Environment and Conservation.  
	The functions of the department of Environment and Conservation include:
Environmental impact assessment,
pollution control,
management of waste,
Conservation of flora and fauna,
biodiversity assessment and data management,
Hydrological investigation, data collection and analysis,
Education and awareness.

    Initially I was excited, I love any excuse to travel by air. 

    During the first part of the journey I looked out of the helicopter, and  the 

environment was stunning. The majority of the jungle we traversed, from Buka to 

Kieta, looked in good health. The ocean was clear, the Islands and reefs were

mesmerizing. However as we approached and travelled over Loloho, Kieta and 

Panguna the land transformed into humming hives of urban activity. 

	When we hovered over the open cut mine I was struck by the sheer size. It is
a 4 km diameter hole, with an estimated reserve of one billion tonnes of ore copper 
and twelve million ounces of gold. Impressive!

	However, as we travelled from the mine down the Jaba-Kawerong river, 
I felt like I was traversing a gaping wound. Red, green, grey and unnatural blue 
tailings stretched almost 40km downstream to the coast, and on it's journey the 
damage on the 38 villages, with an estimated population of 14,000 people, is
obvious.

 
	Looking at the psychedelic moon-scape I wondered how anyone managed to 
access clean water? And I Immediately understood the health impacts: skin diseases, 
diarrhea, respiratory problems  and pregnancy complications. Couldn't see how
fish survives, vegetation grew or people flourished? It was obvious that this 'sludge' impacted the health, economy, social and cultural 
rights of these communities.

	
	Flying at approximately 400 - 500 ft, with the helicopter door wide open, I could 

see a lot of details. I noted: land destruction, build up of tailings, flooding, lack of 

clean  water, landslides, collapsing levies, copper contamination, treacherous river 

crossings, destroyed gardens and ailing forests.

	My 8 paintings are my visual record from this single sighting. They are a
response to the violation of human rights and unbelievable, environmental damage.

Pastel -  Oil on canvas 24inches x 24 inches