Volcano thwarts Pebble Mine protest trip

According to the U.K.'s Independent, because air travel restrictions are still in effect due to the volcanic ash cloud over the British Isles and much of Europe, a delegation of Alaskans won't be able to register complaints over the proposed Pebble Mine in person. The delegation had hoped to present its opposition face-to-face at Anglo American's annual general meeting in London Thursday and deliver a petition signed by 100,000 people. Even though the Alaskans can't make it, alternative arrangements have been made to present their case. Verner Wilson, himself an Anglo American stockholder, plans to present the signatures on the delegation's behalf and take the opportunity "to ask the chief executive, Cynthia Carroll, if she will keep a promise not to develop the mine in the face of local opposition." Read more here. Read more about what the delegation had been planning to say, here, from Alaska Newspapers Inc. (via The Bristol Bay Times). Also, Alaska Beat has heard rumors which we can't confirm that the mine's opponents and proponents both plan to hold press conferences in Anchorage on Friday.