Mining Lithium Violates Indigenous Rights and Permanently Pollutes the Earth!
Channel: Robin Greenfield
Date: 2022-04-15

The growth of the electric car industry is being used as an excuse to further violate Indigenous rights and permanently pollute and destroy natural resources. The mining process uses 2 billion gallons of water per year from already depleted groundwater and 11300 gallons of diesel per day. It releases carcinogenic compounds into a critical water supply to create batteries that are not built to be recycled. This upcoming documentary explores the nuanced true cost of green energy and offers alternative solutions in this critical time.
 
Take action! This is a CRITICAL MOMENT for the Thacker Pass opposition. The State of Nevada recently issued permits allowing the mining company to pollute air and water, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is preparing to desecrate the sacred sites of Peehee Mu'huh by digging up the resting places of those killed in the 1865 Thacker Pass massacre!
 
Join us in speaking out against this desecration! CALL EVERY DAY! PRESSURE DECISION MAKERS.
 
1. Call Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and ask her to revoke the permits for the Thacker Pass lithium mine and allow access to the site for traditional ceremonies! Ask that the Department of the Interior order the Bureau of Land Management to stop any disturbance of cultural sites and Native American human remains in Thacker Pass so that meaningful, government-to-government consultation can happen with local tribes. And finally, request that Secretary Haaland personally meet with representatives of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Burns Paiute Tribe, and Winnemucca Indian Colony to hear their concerns about the Thacker Pass Lithium Mine Project. Call 202-208-3100, then Press 3, then press 0 to leave a comment, or email feedback@ios.doi.gov (and copy your email to contact@protectthackerpass.org).
 
2. Call Raul Grijalva, Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee at (202) 225-2435 (or contact at https://grijalva.house.gov/contact-raul/) and ask him to investigate the human rights crimes being committed at Thacker Pass against Native American Tribes!
 
3. Call Far Western Anthropological Research Group, and tell them they are about to desecrate a sacred site against the wishes of regional tribes! Call both numbers, (530) 756-3941 and (775) 847-0223, or emailcraig@farwestern.com (and copy your email tocontact@protectthackerpass.org).
 
4. Call Kathleen Rehberg, BLM Field Manager at Humboldt River Field Office and ask her to remove the trespass signs at Thacker Pass to allow native people to engage in ceremony and visit sacred sites. Tell her this illegal project will not stand! 775-623-1739 or krehberg@blm.gov (and copy your email to contact@protectthackerpass.org).
 
TALKING POINTS! Express your opposition to this project and demand the permits be rejected and rolled back.
 
- Introduce yourself. If you’re a tribal member, or have relevant qualifications, say so.
- Say "I am concerned about the planned Thacker Pass lithium mine in Northern Nevada."
- Tell them that "Three federally-recognized tribes have sued the BLM over this project, alleging there was NO consultation with native tribes. This is illegal!"
- Use facts from: https://www.protectthackerpass.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Fact-Sheet-v3.pdf
- Say "Thank you."
 
More you can do:
- SIGN UP for Protect Thacker Pass updates: https://protectthackerpass.org
- FOLLOW US on social media and help spread the word. Use #ProtectThackerPass
- EDUCATE yourself by studying material at https://protectthackerpass.org
- SPEAK: Write letters to the editor to local and regional papers in Nevada, surrounding states, and globally.
- BE PREPARED to come to the site to protest the illegal desecration!
 
Donate for the completion of the documentary: https://www.nizhonifilms.com

Find out more information about the project: https://www.protectthackerpass.org
 
Direction/Cinematography/Production: 
James Foguth https://www.instagram.com/nizhonifilms @nizhonifilms
Lauren Glaze https://www.instagram.com/powerintheplants @powerintheplants
Editing: Josh Patton, Lauren Glaze, and James Foguth