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<p class=style3 align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=5
color=red face=Garamond><span style='font-size:18.0pt'><br>
</span></font></b><font size=6 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:26.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>ACTION ALERT<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=4
color=red face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;
color:red'>Monthly Call-In Day TODAY<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=4
color=red face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;
color:red'>December 9, 2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=5
color=navy face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font
size=5 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica'>JOIN
HUNDREDS ACROSS THE <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region>
AND <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">CANADA</st1:country-region></st1:place>:
<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font
size=5 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Helvetica'>TELL
PACIFIC RIM TO DROP ITS DISGRACEFUL LAWSUIT AGAINST <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">EL SALVADOR</st1:country-region></st1:place>!!!<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;font-weight:bold;font-style:
italic'>Help us reach our national goal of <u>200 calls</u> by picking up
the phone today to tell Pacific Rim - the Canadian gold mining firm -
that we will not stay silent while the company uses the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> Central American
Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) to extort <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>.</span></font></i></b><font
face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>Over 100 people have already pledged to call in
today for the first Pacific Rim Monthly Call-In Day! <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>In the department of <ST1:CITY u5:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Cabañas</ST1:CITY></st1:City>, <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION u5:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION></st1:country-region>,
communities have been protesting against a proposed gold mining project by <ST1:PLACE u5:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Pacific Rim</ST1:PLACE></st1:place>. Their concern? That cyanide
used to extract gold would poison <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION u5:st="on"><ST1:PLACE u5:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</ST1:PLACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION></st1:country-region></st1:place>’s
largest river, the primary source of drinking water for millions in the
country<i><span style='font-style:italic'>.</span></i> Their protests were
strong enough to shut down the <ST1:CITY u5:st="on"><ST1:PLACE u5:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">El Dorado</ST1:PLACE></ST1:CITY></st1:City></st1:place>
gold mining site. In 2007, the Ministry of Environment denied <ST1:PLACE u5:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Pacific Rim</ST1:PLACE></st1:place>’s permit to drill for
gold.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Having been cornered by the
formidable community resistance, the company is now suing the Salvadoran
government for $77 million in “lost profit” (read more about
the <a
href="http://www.cispes.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=496&Itemid=28"
moz-do-not-send=true>Pacific Rim lawsuit</a>), How can they do this?!
CAFTA protects the “rights” of corporations over national laws
that safeguard workers and the environment. Chapter 10 of the agreement
gives private foreign investors the “right” to sue for
“profit infringement” and extort millions of dollars from
governments like <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION u5:st="on"><ST1:PLACE u5:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</ST1:PLACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION></st1:country-region></st1:place>.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Even more worrisome, the
communities in resistance to the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">El
Dorado</st1:place></st1:City> mine have been plagued by <a
href="http://www.cispes.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=620&Itemid=27">political
violence, death threats and kidnappings</a><font color=navy><span
style='color:navy'>.</span></font><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;font-weight:bold;font-style:
italic'>During CISPES’ October Week of Action to kick-off the Stop
the Suits! campaign, we flooded the CEO of <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific Rim</st1:place>’s
phone line with hundreds of calls.</span></font></i></b><font
face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'> Activists from
the Pacific Northwest converged on <st1:City w:st="on">Vancouver</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">British Columbia</st1:State>, bringing the message of
the Salvadoran anti-mining movement to <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific Rim</st1:place>’s
swank corporate office. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>Just last week, the Salvadoran mining resistance
amped up its efforts to expose <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific Rim</st1:place>’s
mining disgraceful plans with a sophisticated, nation-wide advertising
campaign to inform the country about the lawsuit and harmful impacts of
metallic mining.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>We must make sure <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific Rim</st1:place>
knows we haven’t forgotten its reprehensible actions—especially
now, a month after the terrible destruction of Hurricane Ida, which left
$343 million in damages. <b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>As the country began its reconstruction efforts with the
drained coffers inherited from past governments, <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific
Rim</st1:place> had the nerve to donate hurricane relief funds while
actively suing the Salvadoran government for </span></i>at least<i><span
style='font-style:italic'> $77 million!</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;font-style:italic'>Today CISPES is kicking off
our Monthly Call-In Days to CEO Thomas Shrake to demand <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific
Rim</st1:place> drop its outrageous lawsuit—join in and make your
call today! <o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=4
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>CALL Pacific Rim Headquarters today -- from
the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> <img border=0
width=1 height=1 id="_x0000_i1058" src="cid:image003.gif@01CA78BA.32C7B740">1-
(888) 775-7097 or from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place>
(604) 689-1976 -- and leave a message with the corporate secretary <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>(see call script below)</span></i></span></font></b><i><font
size=4 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:black;font-style:italic'>.</span></font></i><font size=4
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'> </span></font><font color=black><span style='color:
black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=4
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=3
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>You can also <a href="tomshrake@usa.net"
title="blocked::tomshrake@usa.net">email CEO Thomas
Shrake directly</a></span></font></b><font color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial;color:black'>.</span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>After you make your call, send an email to <font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><a href="mailto:cispes@cispes.org"
title="blocked::mailto:cispes@cispes.org">cispes@cispes.org</a> </span></font>to
let us know if you got any response and to help us keep better track of how
many calls. Also, keep an eye out for action alerts for the future
call in days in the coming months!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText2><b><i><font size=4 face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Helvetica'>Use the following script to
contact Thomas Shrake, CEO and President of <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific
Rim</st1:place>:<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:justify'><i><font
size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;
font-style:italic'>To call from the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region>
dial <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>1- (888) 775-7097</span></b>, or
from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>(604) 689-1976</span></b>, then leave a
message for the corporate secretary:<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:justify'><font
size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica'>1.
Hello, I am calling to urge President and CEO Thomas Shrake and the Board
of Pacific Rim, to drop the lawsuit you filed against the government of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
Local and national civic organizations have been actively opposing the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">El Dorado</st1:City></st1:place> mine since
2004. Salvadoran environmentalists, economists and social movement
leaders have roundly rejected the mine, and now this outrageous lawsuit, on
a number of grounds.<font color="#0019f5"><span style='color:#0019F5'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:justify'><b><font
size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;
font-weight:bold'>2. Choose 1 or 2 of the following points.</span></font></b><font
face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:48.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:
-24.0pt'><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'> </span></font><font
face=Symbol><span style='font-family:Symbol'>·</span></font><font
face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'> <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>Environmental: </span></b>Salvadoran community
activists and environmental organizations have consistently denounced the
devastating environmental impacts that would result from the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">El Dorado</st1:City></st1:place> mine. The
mine would contaminate the river that serves as the primary source of
drinking water for the majority of Salvadorans and use over <st1:metricconverter
ProductID="10,000 gallons" w:st="on">10,000 gallons</st1:metricconverter>
of water a day. All this in a country where 30% of the rural
population lacks access to potable water.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:48.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:
-24.0pt'><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'> </span></font><font
face=Symbol><span style='font-family:Symbol'>·</span></font><font
face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'> <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>Trade justice: </span></b>The Central American
Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), the basis for Pacific Rim’s lawsuit,
was widely opposed throughout the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region>
and <st1:place w:st="on">Central America</st1:place>. Citizen advocacy
groups in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>
charge that CAFTA is unconstitutional and have brought the case before
their Supreme Court. As CAFTA’s legitimacy itself is in
question, <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific Rim</st1:place>’s lawsuit
appears even more bogus.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:48.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:
-24.0pt'><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'> </span></font><font
face=Symbol><span style='font-family:Symbol'>·</span></font><font
face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'> <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>Economic: </span></b>According to economic
experts, the mine provides no long-term economic benefit for <st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region>, only for <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific
Rim</st1:place>. The gold mining industry contributes only 0.04% to <st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region>’s GDP while foreign
companies like <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific Rim</st1:place> plan to take
away millions in profit.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:48.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:
-24.0pt'><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'> </span></font><font
face=Symbol><span style='font-family:Symbol'>·</span></font><font
face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'> <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>Human rights:</span></b> I have heard first-hand
accounts of horrible political violence against community members in
Cabañas who have actively opposed the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">El
Dorado</st1:City></st1:place> mine. Even if Pacific Rim did not directly
instigate this violence, the murder of Marcelo Rivera, and the attempted
assassinations of Father Luis Quintanilla and Ramiro Rivera are undoubtedly
a result of <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific Rim</st1:place>’s presence.
The fact that people are risking their lives to fight against <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">El Dorado</st1:City></st1:place> shows just
how unwelcome gold mines are and how disgraceful this lawsuit is.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:48.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:
-24.0pt'><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'> </span></font><font
face=Symbol><span style='font-family:Symbol'>·</span></font><font
face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'> <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>Sovereignty: </span></b>This lawsuit infringes
upon the rights of sovereign governments to protect the interests of their
people as they see fit. Each country has the right to determine how
its land is used, as well as the fate of its natural resources. Your
lawsuit tramples on those rights. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:justify'><font
size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica'>3.
It is shameful that Mr. Shrake is willing to wreak profound economic damage
on an entire nation, for the financial gain of his
company—particularly now following the devastation caused by
Hurricane Ida, a time when the country is in great need of resources for
reconstruction efforts expected to cost over $300 million. These
lawsuits will hit the poorest people in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place> the hardest. If Mr.
Shrake has his way, much-needed funding for post-hurricane reconstruction
and social programs like health care, food and housing will go directly
into the pockets of your shareholders.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;font-weight:bold'>For these reasons, I again
urge you to withdraw the disgraceful lawsuit that Pacific Rim has filed
against <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>.</span></font></b><font
face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:10.0pt'>© 2008 CISPES - The Committee in Solidarity with
the People of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place></span></font></span><font
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