Four months ago Ortega said Imataca is off limits to gold mining because of the environmental destruction that will result.

Now suddenly Merly has signalled that VZ is willing to open up 4 million hectacres of the Imataca to gold mining. Quite a turnaround.

If fear of destruction of the rain forest is paramount, would VZ give this acreage over to small scale miners who have no desire nor capacity to reclaim the land or would the oppurtunity be awarded to an international corporation who has the financial wherewithall to restore, has made a committment to restore, has a plan to restore, and has the reputation of a good and trusted corporate citizen.