We stand at the base of what remains of a hill that Australian mining executives call “dinkidi,” Australian slang for “the real thing.” Just years ago, this was a green hill dotted with trees and farmers’ modest homes. It may be hard for mining executives at OceanaGold and elsewhere to believe, but these farmers tell us that their dream is simply to end the mining. To you readers, and especially those who think of gold as something of value, we invite you into the room. Is OceanaGold, like other global mining firms, using cyanide to separate the gold and copper from the surrounding rock? OceanaGold is but one of dozens of mining companies now in the Philippines that have celebrated the skyrocketing gold, copper, and other mineral prices since 2000.