With such an unpromising background it is boggling to see that a residents association in the Transylvanian village of Rosia Montana have managed to block a multi-billion dollar open cast gold mine, a project that would destroy three villages and create the biggest cyanide lake in Europe. The protestors say that groundwater in the whole region would be contaminated and if the cyanide dam bursts it will poison the Danube River and the Black Sea.
What's remarkable about the victory of the local charity is the fact that the Canadian mining company, Gabriel Resources, have invested hundreds of millions of Euro in a national marketing campaign that promises thousands of jobs and billions of Euro in taxes (a promise that is disputed by opponents). The Canadian miners have the uncritical support of the local and county council, the president of the country (Traian Basescu) and most of the national media. But they didn't manage to buy the legal system, which has blocked them by refusing planning permission. This is the most encouraging news about Romania's legal system in the last 20 years.
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