The centennial museum will completely displace the existing top rated mining and mineral museum and its K-12 education programs. The existing mineral museum displays the history, the technology, and the products of the copper industry. It supports the mining industry by inspiring and educating future geologists and mining engineers. The sole source contractor’s questionnaire for the new centennial museum revealed that it will only present the social aspects of the mining industry. On the surface, replacing the technology focused mineral museum with the socially focused centennial museum is a major loss for Freeport. So why are they so willing to provide a million dollars of financial support for the centennial museum?
Freeport’s lobbyist was initially very active in promoting the centennial museum legislation that is now destroying the mineral museum. Other industries representing the 5Cs (cattle, cotton, and citrus) eventually recognized that the centennial museum is a very bad idea and backed out of the industry collation that was supposedly going to fund it. Yet Freeport continues to support it for no obvious reason. They are the major financial contributor, and their lobbyist is a board member on the Arizona Centennial 2012 Foundation.
Obviously, there has to be a reason, but it appears to have nothing to do with the public promotion of Freeport’s industry or products and nothing to do with training future employees. Until recently, Freeport was a major supporter of the mineral museum. Suddenly, they appear eager to sacrifice, and even support the destruction of, the mineral museum. There must be something much more important that they want.
What could it be?
They have been throwing their money around here in southern Arizona because they want people to buy into the mining operation in the Santa Rita Mountains. Everybody can see it here.
ReplyDeleteWhen will the mining company realize that the donation will be wasted on the AHS and this whole boondoggle. Have them take a tour around the Papago Park Marley AHS Museum. They probably are not blind? Empty parking lot and boring exhibits. Will the AHS charge admission to the Centennial Museum. If they do then expect a massive failure.
ReplyDeleteThey have no financial interest in Rosemont Copper at all. You need to check your facts and also speak to a more diverse sample of "everybody in the area".
ReplyDeleteI think it's a mistake for FCX to support this. I think they have some Do Gooder in the company who ignorantly things this is a good project and wants the company to have a high profile leadership position. Good intentions I'm sure, but a huge mistake for mining outreach efforts. We've spent million$ of dollars and thousands of hours of volunteer hours to make the great museum what it is today.
If they want a 5c museum, there are many better suited, vacatant, state-owned buildings available around the capitol area...
The Freeport "Do Gooder" is their lobbyist.
ReplyDeleteTo Mark B. in Vail.
ReplyDeleteIf I am incorrect on the funding source ie Roesmont then I stand corrected.
Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold bought out Phelps Dodge to become a major mining company in Arizona. However, Mark B is correct. The Santa Rita project is not theirs.
ReplyDeleteMark B. Sorry for the mistake.
ReplyDelete