StrawberryNet
Encyclopedia
StrawberryNet is a Romania
n NGO
network aimed at promoting "the protection of the environment, sustainable development, democracy and human rights" in Romania, using electronic telecommunication and ICT (information and communication technologies
).
It is organized as a self-coordination body of NGOs providing or using information and communication services. It is, in legal terms, a foundation
.
In the recent past (2003–04), StrawberryNet has been involved in supporting a website that gave a voice to mining-affected residents in a historic and picturesque Romanian village, some 400 km north of Bucharest
.
Canada
-headquartered Roşia Montană Gold Corporation
was then planning to take to court the Alburnus Maior
non-profit organisation, to prevent it from publishing its rosiamontana.org website.
Roşia Montană Gold Corporation had anticipated carrying out Europe
's largest open-cast mining development in the area, even though it would mean the involuntary resettlement of over 2,000 persons, and the potential destruction of a unique archaeological and natural site.
For the villagers, the website gave a voice to tell the world about their opposition to mining. StrawberryNet took cover of an internet rights charter, to establish that the Canadian-Romanian mining corporation was violating the right to communicate and the freedom of expression and information exchange, by their act of suing the promoter of the site rosiamontana.org. Roşia Montană Gold Corporation is a joint-venture between Minvest, a Romanian, state-owned company and Gabriel Resources
, a company registered in Toronto
and, offshore, in Barbados
and Jersey
(the latter company was founded by serial entrepreneur and convicted heroin dealer Frank Timiş
.)
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n NGO
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
network aimed at promoting "the protection of the environment, sustainable development, democracy and human rights" in Romania, using electronic telecommunication and ICT (information and communication technologies
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
).
It is organized as a self-coordination body of NGOs providing or using information and communication services. It is, in legal terms, a foundation
Foundation (charity)
A foundation is a legal categorization of nonprofit organizations that will typically either donate funds and support to other organizations, or provide the source of funding for its own charitable purposes....
.
In the recent past (2003–04), StrawberryNet has been involved in supporting a website that gave a voice to mining-affected residents in a historic and picturesque Romanian village, some 400 km north of Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
.
Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-headquartered Roşia Montană Gold Corporation
Roșia Montană Gold Corporation
Rosia Montana Gold Corporation is a Romanian company established in 1997, in Alba County, based in Roșia Montană, whose shareholders are the State-owned mining company Minvest Deva - with 19.31%, Gabriel Resources – with 80.46% and other minority shareholders – with 0.23%...
was then planning to take to court the Alburnus Maior
Alburnus Maior
Alburnus Maior is an NGO based in Roşia Montană, Romania, which opposes Gabriel Resources' proposed gold mining project there.-External links:* * *...
non-profit organisation, to prevent it from publishing its rosiamontana.org website.
Roşia Montană Gold Corporation had anticipated carrying out Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
's largest open-cast mining development in the area, even though it would mean the involuntary resettlement of over 2,000 persons, and the potential destruction of a unique archaeological and natural site.
For the villagers, the website gave a voice to tell the world about their opposition to mining. StrawberryNet took cover of an internet rights charter, to establish that the Canadian-Romanian mining corporation was violating the right to communicate and the freedom of expression and information exchange, by their act of suing the promoter of the site rosiamontana.org. Roşia Montană Gold Corporation is a joint-venture between Minvest, a Romanian, state-owned company and Gabriel Resources
Gabriel Resources
Gabriel Resources Ltd. is a multi-national mining firm based in Toronto. Gabriel is currently engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Romania, with its primary focus on the development of its 80% owned controversial Rosia Montana gold project."The company was founded in...
, a company registered in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and, offshore, in Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
and Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
(the latter company was founded by serial entrepreneur and convicted heroin dealer Frank Timiş
Frank Timis
Frank Timiş is a Romanian-Australian businessman living in London, with interests in mining and oil extraction industries. The Sunday Times Rich List estimated his wealth at £162m , making him the 497th richest person in Britain...
.)