To the editor:
Though my note to the Vail Voice is addressed to the general readership, it is in response to the recent guest editorial by Andre Lauzon. I’m hopeful that my thoughts lend greater light to Mr. Lauzon’s recitation of no less than “11 Wins” for all who live within the shadow of Hudbay Minerals’ beneficent plan for the greater good of our region.
I read Mr. Lauzon’s words of encouragement twice so that I might find solace in what he had to offer. Admittedly, jaded as it might seem, I still had doubts of his true sincerity.
Prior to submitting my thoughts to this publication, I thought I should immerse myself in the very environment that lies at the center of debate. So, I ventured to a point high in the hills of the Santa Rita Range and found a vantage that offered unlimited views of the area upon which the Canadian consortium is focused. I couldn’t help but feel, given Mr. Lauzon’s stated interest in our region, that I might well enjoy a chance encounter with the man himself. Though I searched about extensively, I found no trace of Mr. Lauzon. In all fairness to him, it is quite possible that his handlers had scheduled a Hudbay goodwill dinner or some other social engagement, rendering him unable to be present.
So alone I sat in the early eve in my enjoyment of the panorama before me. I admired the sweep of land originating from the south and east as it moved the eye to the flats of Corona and beyond. The enchanting purples and deep sage greens before me were magnifying their magnificence in the failing light of day. This palette of desert color was punctuated by the bold, bright reds of Ocotillo flower tops, and the brittle bush bloom that spread like a golden carpet before me. Sorry you had to miss it, Mr. Lauzon, it was a good one.
Alas, you did miss it, as did your list of 11 supposed benefits of the Rosemont Mine for our community. I will abstain from offering feedback on all 11 points of your winning scenario, as I could well render my note too lengthy. Let’s just say that all of your stated “11 wins for the Locals” carry questionable overtones. For now, I will address only one of the items and address a concern not included within your “comprehensive” offering.
From the list, “Jobs/ Economic Benefits”: If the commercial enterprise of Hudbay Minerals is to remain competitive in today’s world market, it must constantly adjust for economic change. This means trimming any fat from its operational overhead to render itself lean and mean as an extraction company. The competition will be operating under such business structure, so Hudbay will have no other choice.
Hudbay’s cost analysis team will study this aspect of the Rosemont project every day and suggest the needed trimmings. The integration of automation and a reduction of labor is undoubtedly a key component of that strategy. That means less money spent locally, and more money shipped north to “the stakeholders.” It’s nothing personal—as a matter of fact, it’s far removed from anything personal. It’s just good business.
At the recent gathering of concerned citizens at the federal building were a number of tribal elders. These folks represented the Tohono O’odham nation, Pasqua Yaqui tribe, and the Hopi. These tribes are deeply concerned for the well-being of the sacred spaces within the area that is about to be desecrated. These people have no choice other than to defend this soil. It is their past. It is their future.
We have all heard statements in respect to the long, rich heritage of mining in Arizona. The timeline of such heritage pales, however, compared to the connection the indigenous people have to these same lands, well beyond the recent interruptive presence of the extraction industry. Our culture of Western European descent seems, all too often, sadly incapable of such comprehension.
Within the context of the 11 winning points of what Hudbay’s presence will bring to the region, we are still faced with a gaping difference, much like the mile-wide hole the company proposes to excavate. As much as I want to believe that you, Mr. Lauzon, have nothing but our best interests at heart, you will remain that champion only as long as whatever monies you glean from the Rosemont project continue to flow into your hands. Those who align their commitment to a future other than what you and your “stakeholders” perceive, appreciate no compensation beyond the beauty of this land to which they are dedicated. Therein lies all the difference in the world.
I remain hopeful that I have possibly misjudged your alliances and will perhaps meet you on one of those aforementioned scenic rises in the Santa Ritas affording us a shared vision of the beauty that is to be found there, and which should remain for future generations.
It was noted that Hudbay will continue to move forward with preparatory work in the area. This is being done while many open-ended questions in respect to its operation are supposedly finalized or litigated in federal court. It strikes this writer that if Mr. Lauzon truly has concern for the region’s wellbeing, he would be reluctant to encourage such movement.
Royce Davenport, Vail
