What’s the connection between access to water, human rights and mining projects? It’s a complicated area where the vast challenges that lie ahead can only increase as the century progresses.

As people become ever more aware of what’s going on the world — including the impact of commercial activity on human rights — the expectations of society are inevitably rising.

Two gold mines, two thousand miles apart. Both were closed down in 2006. One is still held back by the legacies of the past. One is set to reopen in 2014. What lessons can they teach us about SLO?