This feature documentary takes us through the twists and turns of judicial proceedings pitting Canadian mining companies Barrick Gold and Banro against author Alain Deneault, his co-writers and publisher Éditions Écosociété, following the 2008 release of the book Noir Canada, which raised troubling questions about the controversial practices of Canadian mining companies in Africa. Silence is Gold is a legal and political thriller that captures years of intense psychological tension.
Ages 15 to 18
Civics/Citizenship - Citizen Responsibilities
Geography - Natural Resources
History and Citizenship Education - Economy and Development (1500-present)
Technology Education - Environment and Technology
Silence Is Gold highlights the challenges that small organizations face when attempting to inform the general public about how corporations are behaving. Why should we develop critical thinking tools about companies in the same way as we strive for media literacy (31:40)? What is force majeure and how does it allow for loopholes of responsibility (48:30)? Discuss the ways in which large companies can use lawsuits to keep information private (e.g., “bankrupting” their opponents and forcing them into silence while the information is before the courts).