MInd Our Earth - Our Mined Earth
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Lara Kelly, chair of the Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network - Irish Antenna welcomed the 80 attendees to this webinar which promised to examine the environmental and social impacts of the extractives industry across several regions. Speakers highlighted case studies from Africa and Ireland, drawing connections between global resource demand and local consequences.
Father Aniedi Okure of the Dominican Order discussed cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo, emphasising its severe effects on local communities, including environmental degradation and human suffering. Sister Brigid Corrigan MMM focused on Uganda’s East African Crude Oil Pipeline project, raising concerns about ecological damage and risks to livelihoods. Fidelma O’Kane, representing the Save Our Sperrins campaign, outlined opposition to Dalradian Gold’s proposed mine in Northern Ireland, noting the heavy burden placed on local activists to navigate complex documentation and regulatory processes.
The session concluded with a discussion on practical actions participants could take, such as increasing awareness, supporting affected communities, and advocating for stronger corporate accountability.
Toni Pyke Justice and Ecology Officer of the Association of Missionary Religious Leaders in Ireland (AMRI) offered a poignant and thought-provoking reflection, exploring the connections between our personal lifestyles and the global extractive industries. Marking the anniversary of the death of Pope Francis, she drew on the teachings of Laudato Si' to invite deeper reflection on individual responsibility. Her contribution encouraged participants to consider how everyday choices are linked to mining practices in Africa, and to reflect critically on our own role and impact within these global systems.
Lara Kelly, Chair of Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network Ireland, opened the webinar by outlining what the extractive industry entails and how it connects to everyday life. She invited participants to reflect on the ways in which we are all implicated in and affected by these industries through our consumption and choices. Building on the earlier reflection by Toni Pyke, she set the tone for the discussion by emphasising the personal dimension of global mining issues and encouraging a deeper awareness of our shared responsibility. You can access Lara's slides HERE
Sister Paoula Mourad, an OLA Sister and member of the Irish antenna of the Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network Ireland, provided an overview of the network for all in attendance. She explained who we are, who else is involved, and the nature of our work in promoting justice and advocacy around issues such as extractive industries. She also warmly invited participants to engage further with the network, encouraging anyone interested to consider becoming a member, noting that new members are always welcome. (aefjnireland@gmail.com)
Father Aniedi Okure, a Dominican priest who is the Dominican Delegate to the UN in Geneva originally from Nigeria, reflected on the far-reaching impacts of extractive industries on local communities. He highlighted that the damage extends beyond environmental degradation to include the displacement of people with little regard for their rights or entitlements. He spoke about the disruption of lives and livelihoods, the cycle of enforced poverty that can follow, and the profound effects on vulnerable groups, particularly mothers, young children, and access to education. His contribution ultimately raised a critical question about whether the human and environmental costs of such extraction can ever be justified.
Sister Brigid Corrigan, an MMM sister who has spent many years working in East Africa, including Uganda and Tanzania, offered a deeply personal account of the impacts of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, which is currently under development with oil production anticipated in 2026. Drawing on her lived experience, she described the profound changes taking place across the region, highlighting the risks posed to freshwater sources, local communities, and the wider environment.
She spoke of the potential consequences for vital water systems, including major lakes that sustain millions of people, warning that any environmental damage could have devastating and far-reaching effects. She also reflected on how once-beautiful natural and tourist areas are being transformed into industrial landscapes dominated by rigs and refineries. Throughout her contribution, she emphasised the ongoing disregard for both the rights of local people and the integrity of the natural environment.
Her testimony conveyed a strong sense of loss, offering a vivid comparison between the places she once knew and their current state, and underscoring the human and ecological cost of large-scale extractive projects.
You can download Brigid's slides HERE
Fidelma O'Kane, a volunteer with Save Our Sperrins, brought the discussion closer to home by sharing her experience of opposing proposed gold mining in County Tyrone. As part of a sustained grassroots campaign, she has worked alongside local residents and her own family to challenge plans by Dalradian Gold to develop a mine in the Sperrins, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Drawing connections with the earlier presentations on Africa, she highlighted concerns that similar environmental and social harms could occur locally if the project proceeds. She described the intensity of the campaign, the complexity of the planning and regulatory processes, and the challenges faced by community members in responding to large-scale corporate proposals. Her account reflected both determination and frustration, as she outlined the imbalance of resources and the difficulties in navigating the information and processes involved.
Her contribution grounded the global issues discussed in the webinar within a local context, underscoring that the impacts of extractive industries are not distant concerns, but ones that can directly affect communities closer to home.
Toni Pyke of Association of Missionary Religious Leaders in Ireland then facilitated a Q&A session, which provided space for participants to share reflections, raise concerns, and ask what practical steps could be taken next. The discussion captured a sense of frustration, particularly regarding the challenges faced by Fidelma O'Kane and others like her, whose sustained efforts often struggle to gain traction against the influence and resources of large corporations. Contributors reflected on the imbalance of power between multinational companies and human rights defenders, whether in Africa or Ireland, and voiced concerns that authorities can at times appear to hinder, rather than uphold, the rights of local and Indigenous communities and the protection of their environments.
We should note David Donoghue—who played a key role in shaping the final stages of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015—offered a broader perspective at a recent AMRI conference where he emphasised that a central principle of the SDGs was to place those furthest behind at the heart of global development efforts, particularly in relation to environmental justice. Reflecting on the unanimous agreement of 193 countries at the time, he expressed doubt as to whether such global consensus could be achieved again in today’s geopolitical climate.
He concluded by sharing his concern about the future direction of the SDGs, especially in how they will address the interconnected challenges of environmental protection, social justice, and economic development in an increasingly complex and divided world.
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