3. Dirty Gold
An introduction to the issue by Leo Lynch
"If humanity knew the truth about gold mining and how much harm it generates, things would begin to change".
Mariano Fiestas, citrus farmer in the San Lorenzo Valley, site of the proposed Tamborgande gold mine in Peru.
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TARNISHED INDUSTRY
The traditional image of pickaxe toting pioneers seaming gold from mountains and rivers could not be further from the reality of modern gold mining. In fact the way modern gold is mined for quick and easy profit has profoundly negative impacts on communities and the environment.
- EFFECTS OF DIRTY GOLD MINING
Poisoned Water
The chemical processes used in gold mining are badly polluting water resources. Bad practices are raising acid levels in rivers and lakes, dumping of toxic waste in rivers and oceans. Cyanide used in leaching gold pollutes water, leading to fish kills and endangering other species. Mine wastes leave behind harmful by-products such as mercury and heavy metals which can seep into the food chain, sickening people and animals for generations.
Waste
Cost effective ore mining methods are extremely wasteful. The amount of useable material left after this process is only a small fraction of the total mass. Everything else is waste. Irresponsible mining companies often abandon these toxic heaps thus leaving communities to suffer their effects.
Toll on Indigenous Peoples
Around half of all gold mined comes from native lands that are the traditional territories of indigenous peoples. In many cases governments do not recognise these indigenous peoples as owners of their lands. Unscrupulous governments can then sell off the subsurface rights to the mining corporations.
Human Rights
Local communities affected by minings impacts are demanding that projects only go forward with their prior consent. In reality this concept: known as "free, prior and informed consent" is often disregarded. Rural communities are often vulnerable to eviction from their traditional lands once a mining lease is granted.
Heritage Areas
The mining industry has increasingly threatened natural heritage areas including officially protected lands that are deemed of high conservation value. Advanced mining technologies are increasing pressure on governments to allow mining in previously protected areas.
Economies
Although there are large profits to be made from gold mining the short term gains are cancelled out by long term negative effects. More diversive, labour intensive sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing are being set aside in favour of mining. Since many countries simply export the raw materials for ming the opportunity to add finished products is lost to local communities. The number of people being employed by the mining industry is also declining worldwide. The minerals extracted are also a non-renewable resource and the aftermath of a mining operation is often devestated landscapes and long term pollution.
Endangered Communities
Large, open pit mining operations may displace farmers and other groups from their traditional lands. Frequently they are not given adequate compensation to buy land elsewhere. Those that do stay often bear the costs of environmental damage to their traditional resources such as water and farm land. When the minerals have been extracted local communities are often left with cleaning up the environmental damage and the effects on public health of pollution.
Polluted Air
Mines produce a great deal of air pollution, especially oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, components of smog and acid rain as well as lead.
In the Peruvian town of La Oroya, the site of a US based smelter operation a study by the Peruvian Ministry of Health found that 99% of children in the area had severe lead poisoning.
Workers Rights
In Latin America mine workers have been trying to unionise to defend their rights and protect their health. However even where unions are deemed legal there is widespread intimidation and hostility. In the Paracatu gold mine in Brazil workers were exposed to highly toxic levels of lead. In Colombia in 2001, eleven members of the metals, mining and oil workers union federations were killed.
Worker Safety
In Bolivia the average life expectancy for a miner is 35 to 40 years compared with the general populations life expectancy of 64 years. But this is only the tip of the iceberg as far as other mining hazards go. High levels of respiratory problems such as silicosis, tuberculosis, bronchitis, lung cancer are commonly found in miners. While the International Labor Organisation (ILO) estimates that while mining accounts for just one percent of the worlds labour force, the industry accounts for five percent of on the job fatalities. Rock falls, tunnel collapses, fires, heat exhaustion are just some of the dangers faced by miners every day. - DIRTY GOLD IN LATIN AMERICA:
There are many controversial mining operations in Latin America which create the negative effects outlined above.
A good place to monitor individual operations is Mining News.net which can be found here. - HOW CAN I HELP?
You can take the consumer pledge here.
It's easy to fill out and will only take a few moments of your time. This link also contains the No Dirty Gold Toolkit - A Guide For Student Organisers. - LINKS AND OTHER INFORMATION:
These links below deal more directly with the Dirty Gold issue and give further information:
NoDirtyGold
Oxfam America
Mineral Policy - A CASE STUDY - CAJAMARCA, PERU
"When I was growing up, my grandfather had a big bag where he kept all his silver. We all had money in our pockets, and we had all the food we wanted. Now we can see the natural pastures have been destroyed and the water is dirty. There is so much poverty here and when Yanacocha says we are better now, better than before, it is all lies".Eriberto Ventura Castrejon, 52, farmer.
The Yannacocha gold mine in Cajamarca, Peru is the largest gold mine in Latin america and the second largest in the world. however local communities are now suffering from pollution, increased intimidation over land rights and public health issues.Read more about it in the following links:
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