Redgrave Dismisses 'desperate' Criticism.

24-06-2006 06:01

Redgrave Dismisses 'desperate' Criticism.Crusading actress VANESSA REDGRAVE has dismissed a British newspaper advert requesting her to stop campaigning against a Canadian mining firm which plans to create the biggest open-cast gold mine in Europe.Seventy-seven residents of Rosia Montana took out a full page ad in The Guardian today (23JUN06), telling Redgrave they are in favour of the Gabriel Resources plan because it will improve their poor standard of living. But the 69-year-old is adamant the petitioners were paid by Gabriel Resources to speak out against her, and the company is desperate to appease its shareholders in the face of staunch protests.She says, "I can quite understand why some of the villagers have accepted money. But it won't save Rosia Montana. It won't save this area that will be poisoned for decades and decades."I'm amazed that they should be so desperate as to put in an advert criticising me, but it's for their shareholders back in Canada."