Media Bias: Does it exist? - Part II
Our second illustration comes from the pages of the Financial Post, July 19, 2007. In an article by Peter Foster, we find this statement in the opening paragraph:
“You would think that reputable news sources, when covering a protest, might take the time and trouble to investigate the grounds for the protest. But not apparently if it involves a Canadian mining company operating overseas, and not if you can throw in a visit from Stephen Harper to give the protest a little news value.
…as part of his Latin American and Caribbean tour, Mr. Harper visited Barrick Gold’s Pascua-Lama Mine in Chile. The CBC reported that protests were expected. The Toronto Star too eagerly anticipated agitation, and pointed out that Mr. Harper was visiting a mine ‘that critics say will hurt the environment and local people.’“
It was left up to Prime Minister Harper to set the record straight, pointing out that “the company “follows Canadian standards of corporate social responsibility,” and all appropriate local rules and regulations.” The 2006 documentary “Mine Your Own Business” illustrated how most of the opposition to the mine came from radical environmentalist groups who claimed that Chilean natives were better off “poor but happy.” Initially, the controversy was stirred up by a chain letter which connected the Barrick mine with George Bush and claimed the company would send all the gold abroad, destroy glaciers, contaminate the water with cyanide and leave the locals with poisoned water and illnesses.
In fact, the article points out, 94% of local farmers and water users support the project. It has been subjected to the most rigorous environmental review and the mine received more than 67,000 job applications when they offered to train local people. Moreover, Barrick is taking over an area that had been mined unsustainably for 2,000 years and is transforming it into a clean, safe, efficient and modern operation!
So while on a tour of Latin American countries (which Liberals had neglected for years), Prime Minister Harper visits a Chilean mine owned by a Canadian company. The purpose is ostensibly to illustrate the good and cooperative relations with our best partner in democracy in the region. What were the headlines for the visit? Things like, ‘Protesters say ‘Harper go home’ on PM’s last day in Chile‘ and ‘Harper follows Bush on Latin America good will tour.’
They can’t let the Prime Minister look good at any cost!
