I wish the Canadian govt would nationalize the cell phone industry in Canada and then maybe we will end the rip offs in this country. Capitalism doesn't work my friend, no one can argue that and if they try then I say just wait a few more months as the whole US economy stalls and the dollar becomes worthelss. Do you really think that these up and coming countries want to imitate the US way of ding things?

*** Central banking and fiat money creation caused that mess, not capitalism. The US never had a true capitalist system, except at the beginning. Capitalism only operates properly in a sound money environment. Once the bankers are in control, it's all over. As a gold investor, I'm surprised you don't get that.

In any case this has nothing to do with mining. Ecudaor hasn't got the knowledge to mine pebbles much less metals so I think we are safe and have a very secure future. I couldn't care less about the other stuff the government does down there. We have so much corruption in Canada and the USA that maybe we need Correa to come up here and straighten things out

*** The way this govt. treats other sectors of the economy tells us a great deal about how they'll behave towards mining, so I think the subject is germain. Besides, who says they want mining in Ecuador? Apparently the socialists don't. Are you prepared to pack up and leave if they get their way?

BTW Correa is doing wonders for the Galapagos

http://www.galapagos.org/news/02_200...

*** I'm sure he is, but have you ever travelled into back country of the kind where Aurelian is located? The amount of slash and burn agriculture and deforestation through illegal logging might surprise you. It's not all as pristine as some activists like to portray, and it isn't all outsiders doing the damage.

A mine of the kind we are building, has a low impact on the environment compared to the harm caused by desperately poor people spread all across the landscape. Concentrate them in towns with full employment and schools for their children and you watch the effect of that in a few short years. Even a massive operation like Ecuacorriente can have a low impact if managed properly.

This is not some idle interest for me. I have a lot invested here, and until the present govt showed its true colors my plan was to plow it back into the country, maybe even move down there when I retire, which will be very soon if this thing goes through.

I have a long history with Latin America, starting in the 70's assisting political refugees from Chile, Nicaragua and El Salvador. I did translation work for the Nica. govt. back when they were fighting the Contras. I wore it on my sleeve back then, just like you do today, but personal experience dealing with the situation on the ground changed my mind.

I believe people want the freedom to choose their own destiny, not have it dictated to them by Central Authority, no matter what pleasant little package it arrives in. And that is exactly what's being sold in Ecuador right now. Central Authority. Frankly, I find the whole concept of socialism an absurd negation of human nature, and eco-socialism an outright fraud. It is nothing but Marxism in disguise, because as deluded as they are, Marxists have at least learned that they aren't welcome anywhere, and so they go around masquerading as something else.

Here's what socialism did to the environment. A first hand account:

http://www.kiddofspeed.com/chapter1....

ebear