A three-part radio documentary series about the global devastation spread by Canadian mining companies.
Written by Asad Ismi
Produced by Kristin Schwartz
Narrated by both
Listen here.
Translation by Alex Petroff, Susy Alvarez, William Sacher and Sandra Cuffe. Voice-over by Matthew Fava and Susy Alvarez. Many thanks to Danae Peart and Kevin Shaw at CHRY 105.5 fm in Toronto.
Canada is the world’s leading mining nation. Sixty percent of all public mining companies are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. About half of all mining capital is raised in Canada. Many Canadian mining companies have become notorious for damaging communities and the environment and fueling wars and repression all over the world. The Canadian government has refused to hold these corporations accountable leading to international criticism of Canada.
Just as European settlers created Canada by stealing and plundering native land, its mining companies today continue these practices at home and abroad. This colonialism and neocolonialism is what Canada is all about.
Episodes:
1. “Damaging Communities and the Environment” focuses on the drastic effect Canadian mining companies have had on indigenous peoples in Canada and Papua New Guinea. With Chief Arthur Petahtegoose, Kathleen Naponse, Jethro Tulli and Mark Ekepa.
2. “Fueling Wars and Repression” describes how Canadian mining companies have been stoking conflict in the Congo, Guatemala, Canada and on an international scale. With Prince Kumwumba, Fausto Valiente, Edgar Godoy, Jim Harding, Chief Paula Sherman and Bob Lovelace.
3. “Who Benefits?” details the enormous benefits that Canadian mining companies get from their operations and from government support. With Joan Kuyek, Jamie Kneen, Karyn Keenan, William Sacher and Edgar Godoy.
“Path of Destruction” Playlist:
32 radio stations from coast to coast in Canada and the U.S. as well as in Switzerland and Australia have aired the documentary.
11 of the stations are in Canada
19 in the U.S.
1 in Switzerland
1 in Australia
Canada:
Secwepemc Radio 91.1 FM–Neskonlith Reservation, BC
CKDU 97.5 fm–Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
CKUT 90.3 fm–McGill University, Montreal, QC
CHRY 105.5 fm–York University, Toronto, ON
CFRU 93.3 fm–University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
CFRC 101.9 fm–Queen’s University, Kingston, ON
CILU 102.7 fm–Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON
CJAM 91.5 fm–University of Windsor, Windsor, ON
CHCR 102.9 fm–Killaloe, ON;104.5 FM in the Ottawa Valley, ON
CKUW 95.9 fm–University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB
CJSF 90.1 fm–Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC
United States:
KPFK 90.7 FM–Los Angeles, 98.7 FM–Santa Barbara, California
KCSB 91.9 FM–University of California, Santa Barbara, California
KIDE 91.3 FM–Hoopa, California–Indigenous Radio
KPFT 90.1 FM–Houston, Texas
KFAI 90.3 FM–Minneapolis and 106.7 FM St. Paul, Minnesota
KGNU 88.5 FM–Boulder, 1390 AM–Denver, 93.7 FM–Nederland, Colorado
KSVR 91.7 FM–Mt Vernon, Washington
KYRS 92.3 FM–Spokane, Washington
KPOV 106.7 FM–Bend, Oregon
KRFP-LP 92.5 FM–Radio Free Moscow, Moscow, Idaho
Boise Community Radio 89.9 FM–Boise, Idaho
KSUA 91.5 FM–University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska
KWMD 104.5 & 87.74 FM-Anchorage, 90.7 FM-Kasilof, 107.9 FM-Mat-Su, Alaska
KRCL 90.9 FM–Salt Lake City, Utah
WRFN-LP 98.9 FM–Radio Free Nashville, Tennessee
KZGM 88.1 FM–Cabool, Missouri
Journey Radio–www.thejourneyradio.org–St. Louis, Missouri(internet radio)
Radio Phoenix–www.radiophoenix.org–Phoenix, Arizona (internet radio)
Progressive Blend Radio–www.pbrmultimedia.com–Washington, DC(internet
radio)
Switzerland:
Radio LoRa 97.5 MHz–Zurich, Switzerland
Australia:
Sydney Educational Radio, 2SER 107.3 FM–Sydney, Australia
REVIEWS
1. “This audio documentary successfully manages to bridge many little-heard perspectives on the Canadian mining industry. First, we hear from indigenous peoples in Canada and beyond as to how mining companies threaten their very existence as peoples; in other words, how the industry is complicit in an ongoing global genocide. We hear from working people around the world on how the industry has devastated their health, livelihoods and environment. Finally, we look at how Canadian mining is intricately connected to, complicit in and profiting off of wars being waged around the world. Ismi and Schwartz provide us with a horrific but solid introduction on how Canadian and international laws, trade agreements and the power of wealth protect mining corporations from answering to any justice system for their crimes. At the same time, the program provides us with hope as it questions the very need for mining and takes an introductory look at alternatives to this devastating resource extraction industry. ‘Path of Destruction’ is an outstanding educational tool addressing the issues of colonialism, resource extraction economies, corporate power, free trade agreements, the military industrial complex and many other issues.”
—Zainab Amadahy is an indigenous writer, community worker and activist based in Toronto. She is a founding member of the Coalition in Support of Indigenous Sovereignty, member of the Board of the Association of Native Development in the Performing and Visual Arts, and the Executive Director of Community Arts Ontario.
2. “Canadian imperialism’s best-kept secret is undoubtedly the inconvenient truth about Canadian mining capital’s genocidal path of destruction. Ismi and Schwartz’s audio documentary illustrates how at home and abroad Canadian mining companies are poisoning the environment, propping up brutal dictatorships, and violently repressing any dissent to their exploits. ‘Path of Destruction’ is a bold exposé of Canadian imperialism, thoroughly dispelling any illusions that Canadians may have about the Canadian state as a positive force in the world.”
—Steve da Silva, Co-producer of ‘Radio BASICS’ on CHRY Radio 105.5 FM–York University, Toronto; Editor, BASICS Community Newsletter.
3. “‘Path of Destruction’ is the best radio documentary I’ve come across in a long time. It combines an
oft-neglected analysis of colonialism in Canada with a radical critique of the mining industry and the other institutions and processes that support it. A very important series which has a powerful impact.”
—-Matt Soltys, Producer of ‘Healing the Earth Radio’ on CFRU Radio 93.3 FM–University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, www.resistanceisfertile.ca.
4. “Ismi and Schwartz have the fearlessness and integrity to report the truth and hold Canadian mining companies accountable. Canadians need to know what’s happening in Africa, for example in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where the slaughter of 4 to 5 million people has occurred for the sake of Canadian (and foreign) profits. We can no longer claim ignorance after listening to this documentary. Essential for all Canadians.”
—David Parker, Spoken Word Coordinator, CKDU Radio 88.1 FM–Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
5. “I have just heard your excellent radio programme ‘Path of Destruction’. Great job and thank you for it. I think it is a daring programme to take on the Industry with facts of history and it is damaging to them and their high moral claims.”
—Xavier Dias, Spokesperson for Jharkhand Mines Area Coordination Committee [JMACC], [An indigenous organization resisting mining and displacement in Jharkand State, India]; Editor of the Hindi monthly ‘Khan Kanij aur ADHIKAR’ [Mines,Minerals & Rights], India’s only community newspaper focused on the effects of mining, www.adhikar.in/
6. “Thank you for ‘Path of Destruction’. The concept of a radio project for a wider information and education campaign is brilliant. This is very helpful information to us in the Cordillera, Philippines, where Canadian mining companies are beefing up their applications (Olympus,Terra Nova,Ivanhoe,Golden Valley).”
—Abigail T. Bengwayan, Public Information Commission, Cordillera Peoples Alliance, The Philippines, www.cpaphils.org/
7. “The new audio documentary, ‘Path of Destruction’ is an important contribution to the growing chorus of resistance to Canadian mining. Through careful analysis of Canadian corporate and government polices, the documentary’s producers expose how mining has devastated communities around the globe and who has benefited from that devastation. Mining policies are carefully situated within the broader context of Canadian colonialism. Most compellingly, the documentary features the voices of those directly affected by those policies. Their urgent stories are a call to action for change that will restore and protect the health of their communities and the rights of its peoples. This documentary can and should be used as a tool to create that change.”
—Alison Brown, Producer of ‘Redeye’ on Vancouver Cooperative Radio, CFRO 102.7 FM, Vancouver BC.
“Path of Destruction” was funded by:
Canadian Union of Postal Workers (National)
CUPW Local 576 North Bay
Canadian Union of Public Employees–Local 3903
CUPE National
CUPE Local 1281
CUPE Local 2191
Public Service Alliance of Canada
Ontario Public Service Employees Union
Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation
Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association
Ken Luckhardt
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Canadian Federation of Students
Ontario Public Interest Research Group-Toronto
Continuing Education Students Association of Ryerson
Fair Trade Clothing Co-op