Al Gedicks to speak on Penokee Iron Mine proposal Jan. 19

ASHLAND, Wis. -- Author and activist Al Gedicks, professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, will present "Extreme Mining: The Penokee Iron Mine Proposal" from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19, in the Sentry Room of the Sigurd Olson Evironmental Institute of Northland College in Ashland, Wis.

Al Gedicks, professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, speaks at the Protect the Earth Gathering at Van Riper State Park near Champion, Mich., on Aug. 6, 2011. (File photo by Keweenaw Now)

Gedicks is the author of Resource Rebels: Native Challenges to Mining and Oil Corporations. Last September Z Magazine published Gedicks' article, "Resisting Resource Colonialism in the Lake Superior Region," on the projected Gogebic Taconite (GTAC) open-pit mine for taconite iron deposits of the Penokee Range in northern Wisconsin.*

From savethewatersedge.com:

"Al is concerned with environmental sociology, Native Americans--and how multinational mining and oil companies affect both. He is also a recognized filmmaker with five films to his credit.

His most recent film, Keepers of the Water, about the Indian-environmental alliance against the proposed Crandon, Wisconsin mine, was awarded "Best Environmental Program" at the 1997 Red Earth American Indian Film and Video Competition in Oklahoma City.

His other films cover the topics of Finnish immigrant experiences and the impacts of mining on Native American and rural communities. Al teaches Racial and Ethnic Minorities, the Sociology of Film, Environmental Sociology, Foundations of Sociological Analysis and American Indians and the Environment. His research and publications center on the issue of environmental threats and sociocultural dislocation posed by mining and oil projects...."

* Editor's Notes:

Click here to read Gedicks' article, "Resisting Resource Colonialism in the Lake Superior Region."

For more about Al Gedicks and the Penokee proposal, see our Nov. 19, 2011, article, "Updated: Penokee iron mining proposal threatens Bad River watershed."