Mission

Project Underground exists as a vehicle for the environmental, human rights and indigenous rights movements to carry out focused campaigns against abusive extractive resource activity. Project Underground seeks to systematically deal with the problems created by the mining and oil industries by exposing environmental and human rights abuses by the corporations involved in these sectors and by building capacity amongst communities facing mineral and energy development to achieve economic and environmental justice.

Issues

Mining, Gas and Oil Extraction, Human Rights, Environmental Justice, Indigenous Communities

Activities

Education, Organizing, Strategic Campaigning, Direct Action, Technical, Legal, and Scientific Support, Publicity, Capacity Building

Programs/
Projects

Project Undergrounds' programs are structured around its Mining Campaign, Oil campaign, Indigenous Mining Campaign Project (pursued in partnership with the Indigenous Environmental Network), and Information Program. Recent projects have included the creation of a Submarine Tailings Disposal (STD) Toolkit detailing the problems surrounding the safe disposal of mining wastes; a report detailing the connections between oil extraction and war; factsheets detailing ChevronTexaco's destructive practices in the Niger Delta and in Ecuador; and an action campaign supporting Costa Rica's decision to prohibit oil exploration and development as well as open-pit mining.

Constitutency

resource-based communities of color, indigenous communities

Geographical Focus

International, National

Staff

7

Volunteers

5

Publications

Drillbits & Tailings, monthly electriconic newsletter; numerous reports available online.

Annuual Budget

$500,000 - $1,000,000

Year Founded

1996