it's hard to believe all the "imperialist" hype when the US is ven's #1 trading partner both import and export...re: mine restoration of lands. it's not an environmentally friendly business by nature...all mining countries have restoration issues, some of the worst environmental mine issues are going on in the US also...as the technology/awareness  gets better the restoration gets better (personally i like the "fill the mine with water, call it a lake and sell condos" idea) but the illegal miners currently doing the mining in the area use centuries old tech (i.e. poor mercury and acid on it until it shows yellow)....regulated mining by the canadians (the most advanced/experienced miners in the world) is the lesser of two evils imo