Last week, I wrote about an English-based multinational mining corporation infringing on the human rights of people in a far away place. This week, I’m going to be writing about an English-based multinational mining corporation infringing on the human rights of people in a far away place. To save me time in future weeks, this Rogue Report presents the Lemmer-Template-For-Writing-A-Mildly-Amusing-Report-On-The-Terrible-Things-Mining-Companies-Are-Willing-To-Do-For-Rocks-And-DirtÓ.

1. Name the company you wish to discuss: For example, English-based multinational mining corporation Monterrico Metals Plc. Point the reader to the Monterrico website which features lots of nice pictures of the nice company doing nice things for nice photogenic local kids, who are probably very nice - all this niceness will be juxtaposed nicely against the nastiness that is to follow.

2. Explain the situation: For example, Monterrico is facing a multi-million pound claim for damages from protesters who were beaten and detained by police in 2005 during a protest against a new Monterrico mine. Details are important; details like how 28 protesters were beaten, whipped and handcuffed-and-hooded before being taken away by police, two female protesters claim they were threatened with rape, and four protesters were shot, resulting in one man losing his eye and one man bleeding to death. Present the other side of the story too, for example; Monterrico says they had no control over the police, and that a police officer was shot in the leg by a protester, which led to the heavy police force. Puns like, “the police officer didn’t have a leg to stand on”, or “the police officer was hopping mad after being shot” are unacceptable, unless you’re pointing out the pun is unacceptable. 

3. Thicken the plot: Monterrico claims that they had no control over the police action. Monterrico’s claim doesn’t explain why some former employees would testify that the company was directing the police action; according to statements by three former mine employees, the police received instructions directly from the mine’s manager; “the commanding officer of the police did no speak in these briefings”, and the head of the mine’s security told the police that “they had to report every 10 to 15 minutes… to the management of the mining company.” Be careful; this kind of thickening the plot will suggest that Monterrico is lying - heaven forbid.

4. Quotes: Use quotes, like Richard Meeran, a London lawyer representing the protesters, saying, “The company must have been aware of the victims ordeal… yet there is no evidence of it taking any steps to prevent the harm. On the contrary, it would appear that the company was working in cahoots with the police.” Present the other side of the story with a quote from Monterrico which says something like, “Monterrico vigorously denies any of its officers or employees were in any way involved with the alleged abuses.” Again, this implies someone is telling lies, and you’ll wish this event had happened on your door step, where it would be easier to ascertain the truth, instead of happening in Peru.

5. Provide some context: You’ve spent 400 words waffling on about something happening somewhere where it might not happen again. Show that your writing about a big issue. For example, explain that over 156 people were arrested in June during protests against Peru’s liberal economic policies, and that only two weeks ago women from Peru joined women from across South America to travel to England to lobby the government not to licence international mining companies that infringe on human rights. Explain Peru’s testy relationship with international mining; explain how only last month a police officer was killed protecting an American owned mine from protesters; explain how a report has found that the toxic waste from an American owned Occidental Petroleum mine is poisoning local communities and contaminating the environment.

6. Be annoyed that once again you have to write another report about multinational companies treating people like expendable resources; be thankful there are people like Richard Meeran and institutes like The Guardian to highlight these issues; be very glad you’re not an indigenous Peruvian living next door to a Monterrico mine.

Contact Monterrico here.

Words: Richard Lemmer. Richard is back at uni and struggling to hit deadlines cause he's got so much to write for Ctrl.Alt.Shift. Beth, the cultural collusions manager at our HQ also fancies him.
 

Photo: Flickr user donshades