Mining - What Are the Benefits and What Are Some of the Burdens?
There have been long running campaigns to demonise mining, all who work in it, and what it stands for while at the same time enjoying the benefits that the resources industry confers to society. So what is Mining all about?
It may surprise you, but other than agricultural products, in our modern lives, we are almost constantly using items made in part from materials mined from the earth; from the minerals in your toothpaste to the metal frame of your car and even the road itself, to the salt on your dinner table and the silver chain around your neck. Even the computer you are using to read this article contains about 37 materials that came from mining activities. The electricity to power it may come from coal, oil, or gas brought from underground.
Investments in Mining lead to economic expansion and help reduce poverty. Higher income taxes for states; improved services and higher employment in local communities coupled to the raised demand for goods and services make the economies of the local communities around mining areas thrive.
But mining operations can also be harmful.
The nature of this process creates a potential negative impact on the environment both during the operation and for years after a mine has been closed. Large areas of forest may need to be cleared so that the land can be digged into. Chemicals like mercury and cyanide are often used and sometimes released into nearby water bodies becoming responsible for water pollution and even if the effects may not be immediately apparent, they are usually noticed after some years. The role of national governments should therefore consist in adopting regulations that minimise the negative effects on the environment whilst concurrently rewarding international investors. Mining is in fact an extremely capital intensive business and investors need to be rewarded for the investments they make.
Since mining is necessary for our survival, our responsibility is to conduct this activity in the most environmentally sensitive manner possible. Mining companies nowadays utilise state-of-the-art technology and practices to limit emissions and toxic discharge. When mines close after their typical 15-30 year lives, miners, usually reclaim the mining sites and restore the environment to its state before mining occurred.
This industry, like many others in today's modern world, comes with its benefits and burdens for our society. Thanks to the modernisation in the extractive processes and as long as responsible investors will continue to look at Mining, the hope is that the benefits will far outweigh the burdens going forward.
It may surprise you, but other than agricultural products, in our modern lives, we are almost constantly using items made in part from materials mined from the earth; from the minerals in your toothpaste to the metal frame of your car and even the road itself, to the salt on your dinner table and the silver chain around your neck. Even the computer you are using to read this article contains about 37 materials that came from mining activities. The electricity to power it may come from coal, oil, or gas brought from underground.
Investments in Mining lead to economic expansion and help reduce poverty. Higher income taxes for states; improved services and higher employment in local communities coupled to the raised demand for goods and services make the economies of the local communities around mining areas thrive.
But mining operations can also be harmful.
The nature of this process creates a potential negative impact on the environment both during the operation and for years after a mine has been closed. Large areas of forest may need to be cleared so that the land can be digged into. Chemicals like mercury and cyanide are often used and sometimes released into nearby water bodies becoming responsible for water pollution and even if the effects may not be immediately apparent, they are usually noticed after some years. The role of national governments should therefore consist in adopting regulations that minimise the negative effects on the environment whilst concurrently rewarding international investors. Mining is in fact an extremely capital intensive business and investors need to be rewarded for the investments they make.
Since mining is necessary for our survival, our responsibility is to conduct this activity in the most environmentally sensitive manner possible. Mining companies nowadays utilise state-of-the-art technology and practices to limit emissions and toxic discharge. When mines close after their typical 15-30 year lives, miners, usually reclaim the mining sites and restore the environment to its state before mining occurred.
This industry, like many others in today's modern world, comes with its benefits and burdens for our society. Thanks to the modernisation in the extractive processes and as long as responsible investors will continue to look at Mining, the hope is that the benefits will far outweigh the burdens going forward.
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