BRENDAN MCLAUGHLIN

Seattle

Contributor and Editor at Freelance

Author and editor, stories in Kairos, Menda City, Crow Name, OBELUS, and Orca. Trying to think less and write more.

Featured in: Favicon

dailystar.co.uk Favicon

allevents.in Favicon

lexology.com Favicon

mondaq.com Favicon

earthworks.org Favicon

northernohio.golf Favicon

tahomaliteraryreview.com Favicon

mdpi.com

Articles

New Report Hammers Vale S.A.’s Brazilian Mine Operations

1 month ago | earthworks.org | BRENDAN MCLAUGHLIN |Brendan McLaughlin

Mining giant failing to deliver on promises of worker safety, human rights guarantees and environmental protectionToday Earthworks, in partnership with Instituto Cordilheira and Movimento pelas Serras e Águas de Minas Gerais (MovSAM), published a report that shows the extent to which Vale S.A. is responsible for serious and ongoing human rights violations at its mining operations in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Remembering Congressman Raúl Grijalva

Mar 24, 2025 | earthworks.org | BRENDAN MCLAUGHLIN |Brendan McLaughlin |Jennifer Krill

Congressman Raúl Grijalva passed away on March 13 at the age of 77. He leaves a lasting legacy as a dedicated champion for Indigenous People; environmental justice; and oil, gas, and mining-impacted communities. Mr. Grijalva served the people in his district, and served the country, with humility and authenticity. And those he served loved him because he fought for them.
Mineral Processing on Military Bases Will Not Make the US Safer

Mar 20, 2025 | earthworks.org | BRENDAN MCLAUGHLIN |Brendan McLaughlin |Raquel Dominguez

Reuters has reported that the Trump administration plans to issue an Executive Order to build minerals refining facilities on military bases. This stems from the president’s speech to Congress promising to expand extraction and processing of energy transition minerals, particularly rare earth elements. These minerals are used in renewable energy technologies like electric vehicle batteries; they also have military uses.
Weak Permitting for Industrial Development Threatens Communities in Imperial Valley, California

Mar 11, 2025 | earthworks.org | BRENDAN MCLAUGHLIN |Brendan McLaughlin |Jared Naimark

A new plan would allow certain industries to bypass full environmental review in California’s Imperial Valley. The plan is supposedly designed to encourage lithium extraction, but it does away with important permitting requirements for certain other industries. This greenwashing would harm the health of local communities, bulldoze over Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and worsen demands on the already overtaxed Colorado River, an important lifeline for residents and the economy.
Faster Mining Won’t Bring Peace, Security, or Climate Action

Feb 13, 2025 | earthworks.org | BRENDAN MCLAUGHLIN |Brendan McLaughlin |Raquel Dominguez

The mining industry claims that the United States needs to speed up mine permitting to secure the minerals needed for the renewable energy transition. But make no mistake, these and any other actions that seek to boost extraction benefit mining companies alone.
The President's “Dominance” Orders: Mine the United States, But Let China Make Electric Vehicles with America’s Minerals

Jan 30, 2025 | earthworks.org | BRENDAN MCLAUGHLIN |Brendan McLaughlin |Aaron Mintzes

Even though the President supports mining in the US, his policies might send US minerals into foreign-made EVs sold back to Americans. This strategy might lead to mineral dependence rather than the dominance he craves. President Trump’s call for “mineral dominance” may have the opposite of its intended effect. Last week, the President signed three Executive Orders (EO) on mining.
Barrick Threatens Involuntary Resettlement

Dec 10, 2024 | earthworks.org | BRENDAN MCLAUGHLIN |Brendan McLaughlin

No Agreement Reached After Three Days of Meetings Between Barrick Gold and Communities in the Dominican RepublicGuest blog by María Alejandra Torres GarcíaIn the Dominican Republic, Barrick Gold, a mining company, is proposing building a second dam to contain mine waste, which would mean six communities would have to relocate. These communities are already affected by polluted water and damaged crops.
It's Time for the Canadian Government to End Support for First Quantum Minerals

Oct 23, 2024 | earthworks.org | BRENDAN MCLAUGHLIN |Brendan McLaughlin

In October and November of last year, Panamanians took to the streets in record numbers in one of the largest mass mobilizations the country has ever seen, lasting over a month. The protests were in response to an illegal contract between the Canadian mining company, First Quantum Minerals (FQM), and the government that allowed the company to continue operating a controversial copper mine.
The International Council on Mining and Metals’ new Indigenous Peoples and Mining Position Statement Risks Doing More Harm Than Good

Sep 5, 2024 | earthworks.org | BRENDAN MCLAUGHLIN |Brendan McLaughlin

A new mining trade association statement on mining and Indigenous Peoples fails to advance Indigenous rights and creates unnecessary confusion, risking further violations of Indigenous Peoples’ rights worldwide. The statement comes as demand for energy transition minerals, which are used in EV batteries and other renewable energy technologies, is skyrocketing. More than half of energy transition minerals worldwide are on Indigenous Peoples’ lands.
Bending the Line: New Research Confirms the Key to a Just Clean Energy Transition is A Circular Minerals Economy

Aug 27, 2024 | earthworks.org | BRENDAN MCLAUGHLIN |Brendan McLaughlin

Meeting the ambitious targets necessary to avert climate catastrophe will require scaling up our use of low-carbon energy sources. These solar, wind, and battery technologies, including electric vehicle (EV) batteries, currently rely on minerals such as cobalt, lithium, nickel, graphite, and rare earths which are almost exclusively mined or extracted from the ground at great cost to the environment and communities.