Mining has to stop...

Article/Blog by: Tiffanie Bejar

Mining has to stop! But why should it be stopped?

The effects of mining are drastic effects on both man and nature alike.  According to http://iminco.net/what-is-mining/, Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals, liquids and gases from the earth which are present as orebodies, veins, seams or liquids. Mining is required to obtain any non-renewable resource that can’t be grown or created artificially in a factory or laboratory.

(Picture above from: http://www.123rf.com/photo_15236642_mining-industry-landscape-with-open-pit-opencast-background.html)

Below, we found some negative and positive effects of mining. We will enumerate these one by one.

First, is the Positive effects.

Positive Effects

• It can help improve the economy of the country.
• Provides employment to some individuals.
• Provides minerals/metals that could be exported.
• Provides infrastructure to remote areas in the country.

(Photo from: http://gweedosplace.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/gems_f03.jpg) The Photo Above shows some examples of gems

There are some positive effects (as mentioned above) which is mostly takes effect on people and mostly for economic reasons.

Now let's see the negative effects of mining.

Negative Effects

• Fatalities and injures to miners.
• Chemical pollution
• Massive destruction of flora (plants) and fauna (animals)
• The emergence of rock dumps, tailings dams that some people consider unsightly. 

(Source: http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110305231959AAiACE9)

Is mining really necessary? We should think twice and think of the consequences we and the future generations will have to face.

So I team up with my two friends so that even in our small ways, we could stop mining one step at a time. In the posts below, we will show you what we plan on doing just to make this stop.