Investigative MEDIA

Archives for June 2016

Questions remain three years after Yarnell Hill Fire disaster

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Hearses carrying the bodies of Granite Mountain Hotshots passes through Peeples Valley. Photo By John Dougherty

Hearses carrying the bodies of Granite Mountain Hotshots pass through Peeples Valley, AZ. Photo By John DoughertyNews Analysis

News Analysis

Jasper, Alberta—Three years ago today, at 4:42 p.m., 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots were killed when a fast-moving wildfire entrapped them in a box canyon at the base of the Weaver Mountains west of Yarnell, AZ.

Since that day of wildland firefighting infamy, three books have been published that have yet to answer why the men were in a location they should never have been. And now, a major Hollywood movie is in production that will ultimately completely distort what happened on that tragic afternoon. (How could you, Jeff Bridges?)

More than 22,000 comments have been posted on this site, some of which have helped piece together much of what happened on the worst day of firefighting in the history of Interagency Hotshot Crews after two state-sponsored investigations failed to provide a clear explanation.

But the ultimate “Why”, remains sealed, locked in the code of silence that permeates the world of wildland firefighting where the fear of telling the truth falls a distant third to securing a high-dollar government pension and avoid being blacklisted.

[Read more…]

SW wildfire agencies issue updated structure protection rules

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The Southwest Coordinating Group this week released an updated guideline for fighting wildfires in the “Wildland Urban Interface” and for structural protection.

“SWCG’s first and foremost intent is to protect human life (i.e. keep our firefighters and the public safe),” states the June 17 memo sent to Southwest Agency Administrators, incident commanders and zone chairs.

“Secondly, once firefighter and public safety has been established, firefighting responders and resources will work aggressively to keep any wildfire away from structures and communities.

“All strategies and tactics will be based on this intent; fully understanding we will not be able to protect structures in every situation.

“Management of risk to responders, fire behavior, resource availability, and other critical factors will all dictate and/or contribute to the appropriate strategy/strategies implemented.”

The memo was sent to the Arizona State Forestry Division, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, New Mexico State Forestry Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service.

The memo concludes stating: “Wildland fire resources across the Southwest generally do not have the responsibility per policy as well as the the capability and training to perform structure fire suppression actions.”

Documentary about Hudbay Mining gaining attention during Canadian tour

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REGINA, Saskatchewan—Arizona investigative journalist John Dougherty’s cross-Canada tour showing his documentary film “Flin Flon Flim Flam” was featured last week in a Canadian newspaper story and a one-hour radio show hosted by Amnesty International.
The radio interview was broadcast live on CJTR 91.3 FM in Regina and is available as a podcast from Amnesty International’s Human Rights Radio. The wide-ranging interview discussed the key facets of the documentary that focuses on Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals’ worldwide operations in Manitoba, Guatemala, Peru and Arizona.

The issues highlighted in Dougherty’s film continue to receive national and international attention. Just today, the Toronto Star reported on the far-reaching implications of criminal and civil legal proceedings occurring in both Guatemalan and Canadian courts regarding the murder of a leader of a local indigenous community in that Central American country.  In today’s, article Hudbay remarkably would not acknowledge whether or not it is paying the legal costs of the alleged murderer.

The Toronto Star article comes on top of an April New York Times article critical of Hudbay’s role in the same case. [Read more…]

After Successful Canadian Debut, More Screening Dates Added for Hudbay Documentary, Flin Flon Flim Flam

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(Chicago) After a successful debut in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa, InvestigativeMEDIA is adding three locations on its trans-Canada tour to screen its groundbreaking documentary “Flin Flon Flim Flam”.

The 51-minute film documents the notorious history of Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals’ worldwide operations. Hudbay is one of Canada’s oldest mining companies and was featured in a critical story earlier this year in The New York Times for alleged human rights abuses in Guatemala.

The exposé reveals Hudbay’s widespread environmental contamination of its primary operating base in Flin Flon, reports on allegations of murder, gang rapes and shootings in Guatemala, reveals Hudbay’s hidden conflicts with indigenous people in Peru and the company’s plans to destroy one of the world’s most biologically-diverse ecosystems in Arizona that is home to the only known wild jaguar in the U.S.

In addition to six upcoming screenings in June including Winnipeg on June 7 and Flin Flon on June 10, InvestigativeMEDIA has added three stops in British Columbia in July.

The film will be shown at 7 p.m., July 9 at the Okanagan College Lecture Theatre in Kelowna; 3 p.m., July 10 at the Salmar Classic in Salmon Arm and  7:00 p.m., July 15 at The Vic in Victoria. InvestigativeMEDIA will also show the film in downtown Vancouver at 7 p.m., July 12 at the Cinematheque.

“Concerned Canadians who attended the first three screenings stayed after the film and engaged in a vigorous discussion about mining issues in Canada and abroad,” says InvestigativeMEDIA’s John Dougherty, the film’s director. “Hudbay has operated with near impunity for more than 85 years. It’s time to hold the company responsible for its environmental and social abuses.”

Future Canadian Screening Dates

Date & Time City & Theater
June 7, 2016 Winnipeg
7:00 PM Cinematheque
June 10, 2016 Flin Flon
7:00 PM Hapnot Theatre
June 14, 2016 Saskatoon
7:00 PM The Broadway
June 17, 2016 Regina
7:00 PM Regina Public Library
June 22, 2016 Calgary
7:00 PM Globe Cinema
June 25, 2016 Edmonton
4:00 PM Garneau
July 9, 2016 Kelowna
7:00 PM Okanagan College Lecture Theatre
July 10, 2016 Salmon Arm
3:00 PM Salmar Classic
July 12, 2016 Vancouver
7:00 PM Cinematheque
July 15, 2016 Victoria
7:00 PM The Vic