Folks,
Every now and then Mitt Romney makes mistakes.......It will be dangerous if he makes mistakes to push America to war after insulting America's Ally's with constant uncontrollable gaffes on foreign land.....or by engaging a gamble with Public's funds put into private business. People, It will be dangerous to Human Health if Nature for survival is not preserved or properly managed under the environmental protection Act to be managed through Legislative Policy regulation for preserving nature under environmental protection.
...... It must be noted that Commerce and Environmental goes hand in hand (they can never be separated) in order to accomplish the balance of Economic Policy Acts and Job creation and growth in a sustainable manner and by eliminating health insecurities. Consequently, in harmony, all are geared towards improving lives of people with those of their families............
We must be afraid about the unclear non-specific agenda of Mitt Romney's prospects; the world stand to be at risk from Corporate business greed of "Money In The Mouth" in their hurried careless wealth creation before the country has fully recovered from the Economic crisis which they created in the first place. Their quest for Leadership is highly questionable considering they are at war with the Government service delivery for the People.......Their definition and terminology of progressiveness and success will not provide substantive representation to offer adequate Democracy to the general public when women's rights are at risk, cry over corruption within their Party is equally raising alarm.
People, I must say I am glad the Obama Team begun to fire in the quarter final and are on attack challenging the numerous lies from the Republic operatives. It is quarter final, so the Obama Team are on "Truth Checkers" trail, they are weeding out lies in their race to the finishing line.
The Obama Team cannot afford to take any slightest information for granted. They cannot do it alone, they need all of us who are thirsty for real Democratic Reform Change so Peace and Unity is central to the FORWARD move to the success of world's sustainable Progressive Partnership Agenda where fairness in shared sacrifice, (free from brutal killings, pain and sufferings is no more) but in Trust, mutual interest common to all is engraved in the development agenda we all want.
It is therefore that we must keep close watch on EastwoodShare of the invisible votes including those dead voters. This is an alert that must ignite conscious to beware……. We all must make sure that, the invisible and the dead are not allowed to vote. If they do, it will be failing Democracy and shall be slipping backwards falling headlong into corruption number one. It must be known that, corruption under law is illegal and is unconstitutional......
I attach a few Truth Chekers for your information.........
Cheers everybody.......!!! Judy Miriga Diaspora Spokesperson Executive Director Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc., USA http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com Check it out !!!!! Romney and Ryan Rally at Linder Airport in Lakeland Florida (clip 3 of 4) Published on Sep 1, 2012 by grace48457 "Go out and find a person who used to vote for Obama and convince him to be on our team..." (copyright 2012 by Grace Vogt) HD Mitt Romney Misspeaks, Calls America A Company Mitt Romney - Paul Ryan Rally Lakeland, FL 8/31/12 Published on Aug 31, 2012 by moisesthecreator Lakeland, FL - August 31st, 2012 OOPS! Mitt Romney Introduces Paul Ryan as Next President of the United States Bain attacks from within the GOP Published on Aug 30, 2012 by Licentiathe8th Aug 30, 2012 Martin Bashir - The GOP believe in bigger government -- for war Published on Aug 30, 2012 by Licentiathe8th Aug 30, 2012 Rachel Maddow - Eastwood's terribly timed RNC meltdown Published on Aug 31, 2012 by Licentiathe8th Aug 31, 2012 Miners forced to attend Romney's rally Published on Aug 29, 2012 by RTAmerica Employees of an Ohio coal mine are saying that they have been forced to take the day off of a work to attend a political event without pay. Miners at Murray Energy claim the CEO of their company left them no choice but attend a Romney campaign event and it also seems the company has donated more than $900,000 to Republican politicians. Sabrina Eaton of the Plain Dealer joins RT's Liz Wahl to talk about the matter. True Story of Mitt Romney & Bain Capital's Pathological Hypocrisy, Greed & Debt Published on Aug 30, 2012 by MOPEDER01 Aug 29, 2012 Romney's 'success' model is based on massive borrowing to buy companies w/ substantial cash-flow, greasing the sale by paying-off top managment w/ multi-million dollar bonuses, then skimming exorbitant fees & gratuitous dividend kick-backs from leveraging of enormous new debt obligations in addition to original purchase loans, which requires cutting jobs, benefits & overhead, then bailing-out before the company smashes into the ground, abandoned to salvage vultures & bankruptcy court. GO Romney! Published on Aug 30, 2012 by Carolina Liberty PAC 08/27/2012, the North Carolina delegation to the RNC had a breakfast meeting in which the RNC-proposed amendment to rule 15 (changed to rule 16) was brought up by NC State Republican Committeewoman Ada Fisher. At the time, Fisher voiced that she was opposed to the RNC rule change, which would give presidential candidates veto-authority over RNC delegates elected by the people of individual states. Thom Tillis, speaker of the NC house of reps., also spoke against the rule changes. Here is a link to one of the videos from the breakfast meeting, after around the 2:20 mark is where Ada specifically denounces the rule changes and the entire room of the NC delegation is in support of her stance on it, applauding: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/24999593 there are other videos from the same meeting stored on the channel. Romney's War Chest Set to Get $165 Million Bump Published on Aug 20, 2012 by WSJDigitalNetwork When Mitt Romney is officially named his party's nominee, his campaign will have access to $165 million in funds that will be used to blanket the airwaves, Sara Murray reports on The News Hub. Photo: AP. Beneath a Romney lie, a racist dog whistle - The Rachel Maddow Show (August 7th, 2012) Published on Aug 8, 2012 by Panzerfaust04 Melissa Harris-Perry talks with Rachel Maddow about why a new ad in which Mitt Romney lies about President Obama and welfare reform is really designed to play on racist associations of blacks and welfare and in particular attempts to turn women away from gender defensiveness to racial resentment. From the August 7th, 2012 edition of The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. As CEO of Bain Capital Mitt Romney Pocketed Huge Profits While Bankrupting 5 Companies Uploaded by politicalarticles on Jun 3, 2011 Beating Governor RomBOT: http://www.politicalarticles.net/blog/2011/05/19/beating-governor-rombot-why-... Romney asks Florida voters to help him woo former Obama supporters Senior Political Reporter The Ticket – 23 hrs ago  Romney in Lakeland, Fla (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)LAKELAND, Fla.—Mitt Romney wrapped up his visit to the Republican National Convention by pressing supporters to help him win over voters disappointed with Barack Obama's presidency. Speaking at a "farewell" rally at an airport with his wife, Ann, and his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, Romney said the effort to win over former Obama supporters was particularly crucial in Florida, telling supporters that whoever wins here likely will take the presidency. "You're going to have to go out and find a person or two who voted for Barack Obama," Romney said. "I know they are here. They are not as visible as they used to be. You can see some of the glue from the back of the bumper sticker where it used to be. "You can find them," Romney added. "You find them and convince them to get on our team and to help us." Echoing themes he raised in his Thursday night speech at the RNC, Romney argued that he's the person who can deliver on the promises that Obama failed to carry out after the 2008 campaign. "He said he would be measured on whether he created jobs or not. He hasn't," Romney said. "He said he would be measured by whether people have rising incomes or not. They don't. … Almost every measure he described he has failed to perform upon." Pointing to the speech that Ryan gave at the RNC, Romney declared, "We want to be held accountable for the promises we made last night and the night before." After the rally, Romney and Ryan said good-bye on the tarmac, shaking hands as each headed to their new campaign planes. The GOP ticket had been scheduled to campaign together, but Romney canceled his plans to headline a rally with Ryan in Richmond, Va. Instead, he will fly to New Orleans, where he's supposed to tour storm damage incurred by Hurricane Isaac with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. The White House announced Friday that Obama will tour the same region on Monday. DNC security rules trigger free speech worriesBy MICHAEL BIESECKER and MITCH WEISS | Associated Press – 9 hrs ago
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Starting Saturday, someone walking through Charlotte's central business district could run afoul of the law by carrying water bottles, hair spray, socks or magic markers under sweeping security rules enacted ahead of the Democratic National Convention. It would take a particularly strict reading of the rules for someone to be arrested simply for possessing one of those items, but the possibility exists — which worries protesters and free speech advocates. They fear authorities could trample on people's constitutional rights in the name of protecting public safety. The changes to city ordinances adopted earlier this year for "extraordinary events" ban a long list of actions and items that would otherwise be legal from a more than 100-square-block zone. The area includes spots as much as a mile from the sports venues where the Democratic Party events are to be held. The new rules have already been used for events before the convention and will remain on the books after it's over. The special rules that went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday could also bar anyone other than government employees from carrying handbags and backpacks or possessing soda cans, drink coolers, scarves, bike helmets, baby strollers or pets not specifically permitted as service animals. A section banning "a container or object of sufficient weight to be used as a projectile" could be interpreted to include almost anything, from an apple to an iPhone. Those caught violating any of these prohibitions could be subject to arrest and jail. Similar prohibitions have been in place at past conventions, especially those following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Outside the Republican National Convention in 2004, New York City police carried out mass arrests, detaining hundreds of people for days in miserable conditions on a Hudson River pier. Most of those charges were later dropped or thrown out, triggering dozens of lawsuits against the city. At the rain-soaked Republican Convention in Tampa earlier this week, officials banned umbrellas, baseballs and puppet-making materials. There, the rules went largely untested after only a fraction of the expected protesters showed up due to worries about Hurricane Isaac. Charlotte's Uptown business district is home to the headquarters of Bank of America and substantial operations for Wells Fargo, two of the nation's largest financial institutions. The "March on Wall Street South" scheduled for Sunday is expected to draw thousands of protesters. Members of Occupy Charlotte, who are helping to organize the march, said turnout for that and other protests could get a boost from demonstrators deterred from Tampa by the weather. At the other end of the political spectrum, tea party activists and other right wing groups are also planning protests. City and police officials stressed that it's their responsibility to maintain law and order. There has been street violence at some recent high-profile events, such as the 2008 GOP convention in Minneapolis and the NATO Summit in Chicago this year. "History has shown, unfortunately, that while the vast majority are law-abiding and peaceful, expressing their First Amendment rights, a number of folks use the opportunity of large crowds and a platform to cause harm and violence," said Charlotte City Attorney Robert Hagemann, who helped draft the extraordinary event ordinance. Chris Brook, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, said that some of Charlotte's new measures could violate constitutional protections, depending on how they are enforced. Brook said he's especially concerned by language that bars bags "carried with the intent to conceal weapons or other prohibited items." One way for an officer to determine whether an opaque bag held by a person contains a prohibited item would be to search it. But if the person declines to submit to a warrantless search, which is a citizen's protected right, the officer is left to either let the person go or decide that the person is intending to conceal any of the dozens of prohibited items. That could trigger an arrest, during which a search could occur. "I think it's exceptionally difficult to divine whether someone is carrying a backpack for their books or carrying a backpack with the intent to conceal weapons," Brook said. "I think that could easily lead to standardless searches. I think it could easily lead to situations where there is some profiling going on, for example a person wearing a business suit might be far less likely to be searched than some other individuals who might be downtown." Hagemann said officers will use their training, experience and common sense to enforce the ordinances fairly. He said there could be reasonable suspicion to search someone's bag based on body language or demeanor, or if the bag appears to be especially heavy or have sharp, protruding edges. Possession of knives, chains sticks and pipes are banned the ordinance. Somewhat counter-intuitively, handguns and rifles are not included in the long list of potential weapons banned by the city. North Carolina state law specifically grants the right to carry firearms in public places, either in plain view or, if the person has a special permit, concealed. However, Hagemann said that state law doesn't allow guns for those participating in parades or marches, or for spectators of those events. Since the new ordinances were approved in January, officials have already applied the "extraordinary" designation to other events where protesters were expected, including recent shareholder meetings for Bank of America and Duke Energy. Hagemann said the rules may be revisited after the DNC. Protest leaders fear some the more than 1,750 Charlotte police officers might abuse their enhanced powers during the convention. Another concern is whether the 3,400 officers on loan from other departments have received adequate training on the Charlotte ordinances. Mark Newbold, the attorney for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, said out-of-town officers received about 2.5 hours of special training for the convention, including 20 minutes on the city's extraordinary event ordinances. Michael Zytkow, an activist with Occupy Charlotte, was arrested after he spoke beyond his allotted 3 minutes during the meeting where the ordinances were approved. The misdemeanor charge against him was later dropped. He said he tried to test the new rules at one of the shareholder meetings by wheeling a large cooler filled with water bottles down the sidewalk. He said the police left him alone. "I think this is an attempt to vilify protesters," he said of the ordinances. "I think it's an attempt to prevent us from coming out and joining and expressing our rights to march on the street and express our grievances." Environmental healthFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Environmental health is a branch of public health concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health. Other phrases that concern or refer to the discipline of environmental health include environmental public health and environmental health and protection. Environmental health is defined by the World Health Organization as[1]:
Environmental health services are defined by the World Health Organization as:
Environmental health practitioners may be known as sanitarians, public health inspectors, environmental health specialists, environmental health officers or environmental health practitioners. In many European countries physicians and veterinarians are involved in environmental health. Many states in the United States require that individuals have professional licenses in order to practice environmental health. California state law defines the scope of practice of environmental health as follows[2]:
The environmental health profession had its modern-day roots in the sanitary and public health movement of the United Kingdom. This was epitomized by Sir Edwin Chadwick, who was instrumental in the repeal of the poor laws and was the founding president of the Association of Public Sanitary Inspectors in 1884, which today is the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. Environmental medicine may be seen as the medical branch of the broader field of environmental health. Terminology is not fully established, and in many European countries they are used interchangeably. Environmental impact of the coal industryFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected from Environmental effects of coal)
  The environmental impact of the coal industry includes the consideration of issues such as land use, waste management, and water and air pollution caused by the coal mining, processing and the use of its products. In addition to atmospheric pollution, coal burning produces hundreds of millions of tons of solid waste products annually, including fly ash[1], bottom ash, and flue-gas desulfurization sludge, that contain mercury, uranium, thorium, arsenic, and other heavy metals.[citation needed] There are severe health effects caused by burning coal.[2][3] According to the reports issued by the World Health Organization in 2008 and by environmental groups and 2004, coal particulates pollution are estimated to shorten approximately 1,000,000 lives annually worldwide, including nearly 24,000 lives a year in the United States.[4][5] Coal mining generates significant additional independent adverse environmental health impacts, among them the polluted water flowing from mountaintop removal mining.[citation needed]
[edit] Water managementOpen-pit mining requires large amounts of water for coal preparation plants and dust suppression. To meet this requirement mines acquire (and remove) surface or groundwater supplies from nearby agricultural or domestic users, which reduces the productivity of these operations or halts them. These water resources (once separated from their original environment) are rarely returned after mining, creating a permanent degradation in agricultural productivity. Underground mining has a similar (but lesser) effect, due to a lower need for dust-suppression water; however, it still requires sufficient water for coal-washing.[citation needed] Groundwater supplies may be adversely affected by surface mining. These impacts include drainage of usable water from shallow aquifers; lowering of water levels in adjacent areas and changes in flow direction within aquifers; contamination of usable aquifers below mining operations due to infiltration (percolation) of poor-quality mine water; and increased infiltration of precipitation on spoil piles. Where coal (or carbonaceous shale) is present, increased infiltration may result in:
This may contaminate both groundwater and nearby streams for long periods. Deterioration of stream quality results from acid mine drainage, toxic trace elements, high content of dissolved solids in mine drainage water, and increased sediment loads discharged to streams. When coal surfaces are exposed, pyrite comes in contact with water and air and forms sulfuric acid. As water drains from the mine, the acid moves into the waterways; as long as rain falls on the mine tailings the sulfuric-acid production continues, whether the mine is still operating or not.[6] This process is known as acid rock drainage or acid mine drainage. If the coal is strip mined, the entire exposed seam leaches sulfuric acid; this leaves the subsoil infertile on the surface and begins to pollute streams.[citation needed] Also waste piles and coal storage piles can yield sediment to streams. Leached water from these piles can be acid and contain toxic trace elements. Surface waters may be rendered unfit for agriculture, human consumption, bathing, or other household uses.[7] Lakes formed in abandoned surface-mining operations are more likely to be acid if there is coal or carbonaceous shale present in spoil piles, especially if these materials are near the surface and contain pyrites.[citation needed] Sulfuric acid is formed when minerals containing sulphide are oxidised through air contact; this causes acid rain. Leftover chemical deposits from explosives are toxic and increase the salt content of mine water, contaminating it.[citation needed] By the late 1930s, it was estimated that American coal mines produced about 2.3 million tons of sulfuric acid annually. In the Ohio River basin, 1,200 operating coal mines drained an estimated annual 1.4 million tonnes of sulfuric acid into the drainage basin during the 1960s; thousands of abandoned coal mines leached acid as well. In Pennsylvania alone, mine drainage had blighted 2,000 stream miles by 1967.[citation needed] To mitigate these problems, water is monitored at coal mines. The five principal technologies used to control water flow at mine sites are:
In the case of acid mine drainage, contaminated water is generally pumped to a treatment facility which neutralizes its contaminants.[citation needed] [edit] Land use management[edit] Impact to landStrip mining severely alters the landscape, which reduces the value of the natural environment in the surrounding land.[8] The land surface is dedicated to mining activities until it can be reshaped and reclaimed. If mining is allowed, resident human populations must be resettled off the mine site; economic activities, such as agriculture or hunting and gathering food and medicinal plants are interrupted. What becomes of the land surface after mining is determined by the manner in which the mining is conducted. Usually reclamation of disturbed lands to a land use condition is not equal to the original use. Existing land uses (such as livestock grazing, crop and timber production) are temporarily eliminated from the mining area. High-value, intensive-land-use areas like urban and transportation systems are not usually affected by mining operations. If mineral values are sufficient, these improvements may be removed to an adjacent area.[citation needed] Strip mining eliminates existing vegetation, destroys the genetic soil profile, displaces or destroys wildlife and habitat, alters current land uses, and to some extent permanently changes the general topography of the area mined.[9] Adverse impacts on geological features of human interest may occur in a coal strip mine. Geomorphic and geophysical features and outstanding scenic resources may be sacrificed by indiscriminate mining. Paleontological, cultural, and other historic values may be endangered due to the disruptive activities of blasting, ripping, and excavating coal. Stripping of overburden eliminates and destroys archeological and historic features, unless they are removed beforehand.[10][11] The removal of vegetative cover and activities associated with the construction of haul roads, stockpiling of topsoil, displacement of overburden and hauling of soil and coal increase the quantity of dust around mining operations. Dust degrades air quality in the immediate area, has an adverse impact on vegetative life, and constitutes health and safety hazards for mine workers and nearby residents.[10][11] Surface mining disrupts virtually all aesthetic elements of the landscape. Alteration of landforms often imposes unfamiliar and discontinuous configurations. New linear patterns appear as material is extracted and waste piles are developed. Different colors and textures are exposed as vegetative cover is removed and overburden dumped to the side. Dust, vibration, and diesel exhaust odors are created (affecting sight, sound, and smell). Residents of local communities often find such impacts disturbing or unpleasant. In case of mountaintop removal, tops are removed from mountains or hills to expose thick coal seams underneath. The soil and rock removed is deposited in nearby valleys, hollows and depressions, resulting in blocked (and contaminated) waterways.[10][11] Removal of soil and rock overburden covering the coal resource may cause burial and loss of topsoil, exposes parent material, and creates large infertile wastelands. Soil disturbance and associated compaction result in conditions conducive to erosion. Soil removal from the area to be surface-mined alters or destroys many natural soil characteristics, and reduces its biodiversity and productivity for agriculture. Soil structure may be disturbed by pulverization or aggregate breakdown.[10] Mine collapses (or mine subsidences) have the potential to produce major effects above ground, which are especially devastating in developed areas. German underground coal-mining (especially in North Rhine-Westphalia) has damaged thousands of houses, and the coal-mining industries have set aside large sums in funding for future subsidence damages as part of their insurance and state-subsidy schemes.[citation needed] In a particularly spectacular case in the German Saar region (another historical coal-mining area), a suspected mine collapse in 2008 created an earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter magnitude scale, causing some damage to houses. Previously, smaller earthquakes had become increasingly common and coal mining was temporarily suspended in the area.[12] In response to negative land effects of coal mining and the abundance of abandoned mines in the US the federal government enacted the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, which requires reclamation plans for future coal mining sites. These plans must be approved by federal or state authorities before mining begins.[9] As of 2003, over 2 million acres (8,000 km2) of previously mined lands have been reclaimed in the United States.[citation needed] [edit] Waste management The burning of coal leads to substantial fly ash sludge-storage ponds.[citation needed] In the low-coal-content areas waste forms spoil tip. The Environmental Protection Agency classified the 44 sites as potential hazards to communities (which means the waste sites could cause death and significant property damage if an event such as a storm, a terrorist attack or a structural failure caused a spill). They estimate that about 300 dry landfills and wet storage ponds are used around the country to store ash from coal-fired power plants. The storage facilities hold the noncombustible ingredients of coal and the ash trapped by equipment designed to reduce air pollution.[13] [edit] WildlifeSurface mining of coal causes direct and indirect damage to wildlife. The impact on wildlife stems primarily from disturbing, removing and redistributing the land surface. Some impacts are short-term, and confined to the mine site; others have far-reaching, long-term effects. The most direct effect on wildlife is destruction or displacement of species in areas of excavation and spoil piling. Pit and spoil areas are not capable of providing food and cover for most species of wildlife. Mobile wildlife species like game animals, birds, and predators leave these areas. More sedentary animals like invertebrates, reptiles, burrowing rodents and small mammals may be destroyed.[citation needed] The community of microorganisms and nutrient-cycling processes are upset by movement, storage, and redistribution of soil. Without rehabilitation, these areas must undergo a weathering period (which may take a few years to many decades) before vegetation is established and they become suitable habitat. With rehabilitation, impacts on some species are less severe. Humans cannot immediately restore natural biotic communities; they can, however, assist nature through reclamation of land and rehabilitation efforts geared to wildlife needs. Rehabilitation not geared to the needs of wildlife species (or improper management of other land uses after reclamation) can preclude reestablishment of the original fauna.[citation needed] Many wildlife species are highly dependent on vegetation growing in natural drainage areas. This vegetation provides essential food, nesting sites and cover from predators. Activity destroying this vegetation near ponds, reservoirs, marshes and wetlands reduces the quality and quantity of habitat essential for waterfowl, shorebirds and terrestrial species. The commonly used head-of-hollow fill method for disposing of excess overburden is of particular significance to wildlife habitat. Narrow, steep-sided, V-shaped hollows near ridge tops are frequently inhabited by rare or endangered animal and plant species. Extensive placement of spoil in these narrow valleys eliminates habitat for a wide variety of species, some of which may be driven to extinction.[citation needed] Broad and long-lasting impacts on wildlife are caused by habitat impairment. The habitat requirements of many animal species do not permit them to adjust to changes created by land disturbance. These changes reduce living space, and some species can tolerate very little disturbance. In instances where a particularly critical habitat is restricted (such as a lake, pond, or primary breeding area), a species could be eliminated. The range of damage possible is wide.[citation needed] Large mammals and other animals displaced from their home ranges may be forced to use adjacent areas, already stocked to their carrying capacity. This overcrowding results in degradation of remaining habitat, lowered carrying capacity, reduced reproductive success, increased inter- and intra-species competition, and potentially greater losses to wildlife populations than the number of originally displaced animals.[citation needed] Degradation of aquatic habitats is a major impact by surface mining, and may be apparent many miles from a mining site. Sediment contamination of surface water is common with surface mining. Sediment yields may increase a thousand times times their former level as a result of strip mining.[14] If streams, lakes, ponds or marshes are filled or drained, fish, aquatic invertebrates and amphibians are destroyed. Food supplies for predators are reduced by destruction of these land and water species. Animal populations displaced or destroyed can eventually be replaced from populations in surrounding ranges, provided the habitat is eventually restored; an exception would be the extinction of a resident endangered species.[citation needed] Preferred food and cover plants can be established in these openings to benefit a variety of wildlife. Under certain conditions, creation of small lakes in the mined area may also be beneficial. These lakes and ponds may become important water sources for a variety of wildlife inhabiting adjacent areas. Many lakes formed in mine pits are of poor quality as aquatic habitat after mining due to lack of structure, aquatic vegetation, and food species. They may require habitat enhancement and management to be of significant wildlife value.[citation needed] The effects of sediment on aquatic wildlife vary with the species and the amount of contamination. High sediment levels can kill fish directly, bury spawning beds, reduce light transmission, alter temperature gradients, fill in pools, spread streamflows over wider, shallower areas, and reduce production of aquatic organisms used as food by other species. These changes destroy the habitat of valued species, and may enhance habitat for less-desirable species. Existing conditions are already marginal for some freshwater fish in the United States, and the sedimentation of their habitat may result in their extinction. The heaviest sediment pollution of a drainage normally comes within 5 to 25 years after mining. In some areas, unvegetated spoil piles continue to erode even 50 to 65 years after mining.[9] The presence of acid-forming materials exposed as a result of surface mining can affect wildlife by eliminating habitat and by causing direct destruction of some species. Lesser concentrations can suppress productivity, growth rate and reproduction of many aquatic species. Acids, dilute concentrations of heavy metals, and high alkalinity can cause severe damage to wildlife in some areas. The duration of acidic-waste pollution can be long; estimates of the time required to leach exposed acidic materials in the Eastern United States range from 800 to 3,000 years.[9] [edit] Air pollution[edit] Air emissionsSee also: Coal seam fire Coal and coal waste products (including fly ash, bottom ash and boiler slag) releases approximately 20 toxic-release chemicals, including arsenic, lead, mercury, nickel, vanadium, beryllium, cadmium, barium, chromium, copper, molybdenum, zinc, selenium and radium, which are dangerous if released into the environment.[citation needed] While these substances are trace impurities, enough coal is burned that significant amounts of these substances are released.[15] During combustion, the reaction between coal and the air produces oxides of carbon, including carbon dioxide (CO2 (an important greenhouse gas)), oxides of sulfur (mainly sulfur dioxide) (SO2), and various oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Because of the hydrogenous and nitrogenous components of coal, hydrides and nitrides of carbon and sulfur are also produced during the combustion of coal in air. These include hydrogen cyanide (HCN), sulfur nitrate (SNO3) and other toxic substances. Further, acid rain may occur when sulfur dioxide produced by the combustion of coal reacts with oxygen to form sulfur trioxide (SO3); this reacts with water molecules in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid. The sulfuric acid (H2SO4) returns to earth as acid rain. Flue-gas desulfurization scrubbing systems, which use lime to remove sulfur dioxide, can reduce the likelihood of acid rain.[citation needed] However, another form of acid rain is due to carbon dioxide emissions of a coal plant. When released into the atmosphere, the carbon dioxide molecules react with water molecules, to slowly produce carbonic acid (H2CO3). This, in turn, returns to the earth as a corrosive substance. This cannot be prevented as easily as sulfur-dioxide emissions.[citation needed] Fires sometimes occur in coal beds underground. When coal beds are exposed, the fire risk is increased. Weathered coal can also increase ground temperatures if it is left on the surface. Almost all fires in solid coal are ignited by surface fires caused by people or lightning. Spontaneous combustion is caused when coal oxidizes and airflow is insufficient to dissipate heat; this more commonly occurs in stockpiles and waste piles, rarely in bedded coal underground. Where coal fires occur, there is attendant air pollution from emission of smoke and noxious fumes into the atmosphere. Coal seam fires may burn underground for decades, threatening destruction of forests, homes, roadways and other valuable infrastructure. The best-known coal-seam fire may be the one which led to the permanent evacuation of Centralia, Pennsylvania, United States.[16] [edit] Mercury emissionsMercury emission from coal burning are concentrated as they work their way up the food chain and are converted into methylmercury, a toxic compound which harms both wildlife and people who consume freshwater fish.[17][18][19][20][19] Coal burning is a key source of methylmercury in the environment.[21] "Power plants... are responsible for half of... the mercury emissions in the United States."[22] In New York State winds bring mercury from the coal-fired power plants of the Midwest, contaminating the waters of the Catskill Mountains. The mercury is consumed by worms, which are eaten by fish, which are eaten by birds (including bald eagles). As of 2008, mercury levels in bald eagles in the Catskills had reached new heights.[23] "People are exposed to methylmercury almost entirely by eating contaminated fish and wildlife that are at the top of aquatic food chains."[24] Ocean fish account for the majority of human exposure to methylmercury; the full range of sources of methylmercury in ocean fish are not well understood.[25] The United States Environmental Protection Agency has propose the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) regulations,[26] which require all coal plants use the technology which is available to substantially reduce mercury emissions.[27] "Today, more than half of all coal-fired power plants already deploy pollution control technologies that will help them meet these achievable standards. Once final, these standards will level the playing field by ensuring the remaining plants – about 40 percent of all coal fired power plants - take similar steps to decrease dangerous pollutants."[22] This technology is expected to save many thousands of lives every year, and to protect Americans from severe permanent health effects such as those suffered by children exposed to mercury in the womb.[citation needed] [edit] Annual excess deathsIn 2008 the World Health Organization (WHO) and other organizations calculated that coal particulates pollution cause approximately one million deaths annually across the world,[5] which is approximately one third of all premature deaths related to all air pollution sources.[28] Pollutants emitted by burning coal include fine particulates (PM2.5) and ground level ozone. Every year, the burning of coal without the use of available pollution control technology causes thousands of preventable deaths in the United States. A study commissioned by the Maryland nurses association in 2006 found that emissions from just six of Maryland's coal-burning plants caused 700 deaths per year nationwide, including 100 in Maryland.[29] Since installation of pollution abatement equipment on one of these six, the Brandon Shores plant, now "produces 90 percent less nitrogen oxide, an ingredient of smog; 95 percent less sulfur, which causes acid rain; and vastly lower fractions of other pollutants."[29] According to the environmentalists report published in 2004, coal-fired power plants shorten nearly 24,000 lives a year in the United States (2,800 from lung cancer).[4] In the United States alone, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that a range of 13,000 to 34,000 preventable premature deaths will be avoided by the reductions in PM2.5 and ozone expected by the end of the several-years time needed to complete implementation of the coal plant cleanup provisions of the Final Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR).[30] The EPA promulgated these legally enforceable requirements to install available lifesaving pollution control equipment in 2011 under a court order mandating that it protect Americans' health, a duty mandated by Congress in the Clean Air Act.[citation needed] In addition to preventing avoidable premature deaths, the Final Cross-State rule is estimated to prevent 15,000 additional (non-fatal) heart attacks, 19,000 attacks of acute bronchitis; 420,000 upper and lower respiratory symptoms, 400,000 aggravated asthma attacks; and 19,000 hospital and ER trips (e.g., for asthma attacks triggered by soot from coal burning). By reducing the health detriments that arise from burning coal without using available pollution controls, implementation of the Final Cross-State Air Pollution Rule is expected to reduce days when people must miss work or school by 1.8 million.[31][32] The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule requires significant reductions in sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NO) emissions that cross state lines. These pollutants react in the atmosphere to form fine particles and ground-level ozone and are transported long distances, making it difficult for other states to achieve healthy levels of pollution control.[citation needed] The benefits of the emission reductions expected from EPA's recently proposed Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) are not included in the above estimated emission reductions from the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule; once the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards[27] are implemented, death and disease from coal burning are likely to be reduced even further, both directly by reducing mercury poisoning, and by reducing sulfur dioxide emissions.[citation needed] [edit] Greenhouse gases emissionsThe combustion of coal is the largest contributor to the human-made increase of CO2 in the atmosphere.[33] Electric generation using coal burning produces approximately twice the greenhouse gasses per kilowatt compared to generation using natural gas.[34] About one fourth of the carbon dioxide emitted is absorbed by the oceans, causing a steadily increasing ocean acidification.[citation needed] Coal mining produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Methane is the naturally occurring product of the decay of organic matter as coal deposits are formed with increasing depths of burial, rising temperatures, and rising pressure over geological time. A portion of the methane produced is absorbed by the coal and later released from the coal seam (and surrounding disturbed strata) during the mining process.[35] Methane accounts for 10.5 percent of greenhouse-gas emissions created through human activity.[36] According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, methane has a global warming potential 21 times greater than that of carbon dioxide over a 100-year timeline. The process of mining can release pockets of methane. These gases may pose a threat to coal miners, as well as a source of air pollution. This is due to the relaxation of pressure and fracturing of the strata during mining activity, which gives rise to safety concerns for the coal miners if not managed properly. The buildup of pressure in the strata can lead to explosions during (or after) the mining process if prevention methods, such as "methane draining", are not taken.[35] In 2008 James E. Hansen and Pushker Kharecha published a peer-reviewed scientific study analyzing the effect of a coal phase-out on atmospheric CO2 levels.Their baseline mitigation scenario was a phaseout of global coal emissions by 2050. Under the Business as Usual scenario, atmospheric CO2 peaks at 563 parts per million (ppm) in the year 2100. Under the four coal phase-out scenarios, atmospheric CO2 peaks at 422–446 ppm between 2045 and 2060 and declines thereafter.[37] [edit] Radiation exposureCoal also contains low levels of uranium, thorium, and other naturally occurring radioactive isotopes whose release into the environment may lead to radioactive contamination.[15][38] The radioactive trace impurities mentioned above expose plant operators to radiation levels above background levels but below that experienced by nuclear power plant workers. John Gofman, M.D., Ph.D, (Professor Emeritus of Medical Physics at the University of California, Berkeley, and the co-discoverer of uranium-233) compared the radiation dose per megawatt-year from operation of a nuclear generating unit to the radiation dose from operation of a coal-fired unit and found that the dose from natural nucleides associated with nuclear power would be 35-81 times higher than the dose from coal.[39] When comparing the radiation impact of coal and nuclear plants on the surrounding environment, however, coal-plant wastes are more radioactive than the waste generated by nuclear plants producing the same amount of energy. Plant-emitted radiation carried by coal-derived fly ash delivers 100 times more radiation to the surrounding environment than does the normal operation of a similarly productive nuclear plant.[40] Effects of Oil & Drilling on the EnvironmentMelanie J. Martin Melanie J. Martin specializes in environmental issues and sustainable living. Her work has appeared in venues such as the Environmental News Network, "Ocean" magazine and "GREEN Retailer." Martin holds a Master of Arts in English.
Oil drilling has diverse and widespread effects on the environment. It can destroy habitats, disrupt animal migrations and force people to give up their traditional way of life. Noise Pollution
Oil Spills
Infrastructure
Byproducts
Effects on People
Read more: Effects of Oil & Drilling on the Environment | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5480073_effects-oil-drilling-environment.html#ixzz25KrIitY3 ############################# World Diamond Council DIAMOND MINING AND THE ENVIRONMENT FACT SHEET
The formal diamond mining industry constantly strives to strike a balance between its economic, social and environmental responsibilities, while making a positive and lasting contribution to the environment and communities in which it operates. However there is also a large amount of informal alluvial diamond digging – which is not currently regulated and therefore neither is its impact on the environment. This document, as the majority of diamond mining is formal, focuses on the environmental impact on this sector. To recover diamonds, the industry is using modern mining methods and a more clinical approach to sustainability of mining and therefore the impact on the environment is being minimized while the benefits to the communities and countries where they are found are being maximized. These benefits are particularly true in Africa, where the prudent harnessing of natural resources by government is one of the fundamental platforms to help countries develop and pull their citizens out of the poverty cycle that blights much of the African continent. The Diamond mining industry faces environmental challenges It must be recognised that mineral extraction by its very nature of mining does have the potential to impact the environment unless carefully managed. The key challenge is Land Disturbance; Diamond mining uses a variety of methods, some of which involve the removal of large quantities of soil from the earth. However it must be remembered that it is economically beneficial to recover the greatest amount of diamonds while moving the least amount of other material. Therefore diamond mines seek to have the minimum sized footprint, and move only that necessary material (known as waste) efficiently. Modern day best practice calls for a full review of the plans for removal, storage and return of this topsoil/waste and the environmental impact it will have to allow the area to return to its previous state. In addition to land disturbances there are a number of other associated challenges: • Energy use and emissions• Waste and recycling• Use of water• Impact on BiodiversityHowever, importantly, diamond mining unlike other industrial processes and types of mining does not use hazardous material. Environmental standards Today most modern diamond mines are managed to the ISO 14001 standards of environmental management, and the major companies have a policy of regularly publishing reports on their environmental performance. Many of the major diamond mining companies go beyond the ISO 14001 standard and use Environmental Impact Assessments and Social Impact Assessments to identify the environmental and social impacts of mines as well as to identify gaps at their operations. Generally, conducting these assessments is a legal requirement used by local authorities before permission to mine is granted. Predicting environmental and social impacts from the outset enables planners ways to identify reduce potentially negative impacts on the environment and then to shape the negative impact on the local environment and harness the positive impacts. Community engagement Engaging with the community is an essential part of assessing environmental impact. Governments, local communities and non-governmental organisations all play a key role in identifying local issues, as well as influencing environmental management within the industry. By engaging day-to-day with these groups, the diamond mining industry benefits from shared FOR MEDIA USE knowledge, constructive dialogue and improved relationships. This is fundamental to robust and successful environmental management. Increasingly, governments and NGOs across the world are recognising the diamond industry's efforts to minimise its environmental impact. In many cases, they are joining forces with the diamond mining industry to develop effective and sustainable safeguards for their mining operations. Mining challenges and management process The different environmental impacts from different types of mining Every diamond mine will have a slightly different environmental management plan, because its effect on the environment will differ according to its geographical, social and ecological situation. The location of the diamond mine and mining methods will also have an impact on the management plan. Here are the different types of mining and how their impacts are mitigated: • ExplorationThe environmental impact of the land exploration involved in diamond mining is minimised in several ways: o Vehicle tracks are reusedo Minimal amounts of soil are cleared during drilling and samplingo Topsoil from exploration sites is refilled and replaced• Open pit and underground miningIn open pit mining, geological structures called Kimberlite pipes (funnel-like tubes of rock which extend far into the depths of the Earth) are mined to extract the diamonds. Because they are so deep and so old (the youngest known Kimberlite pipes are several tens of millions of years old), they are found in the ground often beneath overburden (such as sand and soil). This kind of mining can be done near the surface and up to, and in some instances, over 1km below ground. This means that large quantities of surplus waste rock, sand, soil and processed Kimberlite can accumulate in the immediate vicinity of such areas which need to be managed accordingly and rehabilitated. Plans are put in place by the mining companies for the removal, storage and return of this topsoil/waste to return the area to its previous state. • Coastal and inland alluvial miningWhen diamond deposits are found in coastal areas, mining companies may be required to remove soil and plant life before they begin mining. Mining of beaches and inland alluvial diamond deposits can also require the removal of overburden (such as sand and soil) and the construction of sea-walls. This kind of mining does result in large-scale excavation along coastal areas and modification of the land. However, once the mining is complete, soil and plant life is replaced and the visual impact and the impact on the surrounding land is removed over time by wind and wave motion. In areas with very low rainfall, special techniques are used to re-vegetate the area. • Marine miningDiamond deposits are sometimes found on the seabed, seabed matter needs to be removed from marine diamond mining sites to access the diamonds beneath. To minimise the impact on the environment, the seabed matter is replaced in its original position. Research has shown that over a period of years, fish and marine mammals return to the mined seabed area. • Informal diamond diggingSmall-scale informal alluvial diamond digging (artisanal diamond mining) is usually undertaken by individuals, families or small groups operating with the simplest equipment, FOR MEDIA USE such as sieves and pans, to search for the diamonds. The majority of small-scale alluvial diamond mining is defined as 'informal' because it is undertaken on land which is neither licensed nor regulated for the mining activities taking place. Due to the very nature of this mining, it has little or no regard to the environmental impact or associated impacts on biodiversity and future agricultural land use. The formal diamond industry is seeking to formalise and develop a more ecologically sensitive approach to informal diamond digging through the Diamond Development Initiative. A Pilot was recently announced in Tanzania, involving Governments, Diamond companies, NGOs and the local community. The aim of the pilot is, if successful, the pilot can be extended to other parts of Africa where informal mining occurs. Environmental challenges associated with the formal industry • Energy use, air quality and pollutionDiamond exploration and mining use two forms of energy: electricity and hydrocarbons (diesel, marine gas, oil and petrol). A by-product of both electricity and hydrocarbon energy is the release of carbon emissions 1 into the air, such as CO2 (a naturally occurring gas).2 Carbon emissions areconsidered to be a major factor in global warming and climate change. 3Industrial activity (including the production and use of electricity) creates emissions – greenhouse gases – and other chemical (synthetic and natural) substances. These are released into the air and cause a range of environmental problems, from climate change to smog, which threaten our health and our environment. Reducing energy consumption helps to protect the planet. Taking action Energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes are widely used across the diamond mining industry. Emission levels are monitored through energy and carbon emission assessments. Mines have reduced their energy use by introducing a range of schemes: installing timers on boilers, shutting off pressurised fans over weekends, running mud pumps in off-peak periods and introducing battery-powered vehicles that do not emit harmful gases. Furthermore, solar panels and energy-saving schemes have reduced the amount of electricity used at mines. Mining company BHP Billiton has established an Energy Smart Program at their Ekati Diamond Mine in Canada's Northwest Territories. This programme has saved the equivalent of one million litres of diesel fuel per year since its inception. Since 1996, the principal electrical energy source for Argyle Diamonds in Western Australia has been the Ord River hydroelectric power generator, which supplies up to 94% of Argyle's electricity. This initiative has realised greenhouse reductions of approximately 70 kilotonnes per annum. • Waste and recycling1 In this context, emissions refer to the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere overa specified area and period of time. Outside of this context, emissions can refer to any substance released as a by-product of industrial or commercial activity. 2 Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a by-product of burning fossil fuels and other industrial processes. Itis the principal human-made greenhouse gas that affects the Earth's radiative balance. 3 Climate change is a change in climate that is attributed either directly or indirectly to humanactivity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. Sometimes climate change is referred to as global warming, although this is only one part of climate change.
Diamond mines are no different from any other large industrial operation: their wastes can include oil, paper, scrap metal, batteries, tyres and small quantities of plastic and glass. Taking action To ensure that all types of waste are monitored and minimised, the diamond industry continues to investigate ways of reducing waste and increasing re-use (e.g. in the case of tyres used for the likes of road marking) and recycling (e.g. of scrap metal). For example, waste materials are separated into categories at the mine to ensure appropriate disposal and recycling. Over the last few years, a particular effort has been made to recover and recycle oil and grease. Used oil is mainly sent off-site for recycling, but at Namdeb some oil is recycled immediately at the mine site. • Water: protecting water quality and minimising consumptionDiamond mining uses water, rather than chemicals, for extraction, but of course, water is scarce in many parts of Africa, where diamond mining companies often operate. This makes it even more important that the diamond mining process does not pollute natural water sources and that it uses as little as possible. Taking action The industry needs to conserve water in every way it can through reduction, recovery, reuse and recycling. There are strict targets for usage, which are carefully monitored; alternative water sources are investigated; and recovery and recycling programmes are put in place. • Biodiversity: nature's need for balanceThe term 'biodiversity' refers to the existence of different kinds of plants and animals on earth, from humans to wild plants and animals and even farm animals and crops. Human activity can pose a threat to nature: the need for different kinds of plants and animals to exist side-by-side. Diamond mining takes place in a wide variety of environments across the world – from Canada to Africa. In Africa alone, diamond mines exist in a wide variety of ecosystems - the African Savannah [in southern Africa], the Karoo Biome [in South Africa], the Namib Desert and the Benguela marine ecosystem [in Namibia]. 4Taking action Minimising mining's impact on these ecosystems starts at exploration, continues throughout the mining process and carries on after a mine has been closed. When a mining company moves into an area to mine for diamonds, the native plant life around a site is harvested and the seeds replanted. This keeps the native species around a site healthy and unaffected by the mining process, and protects local biodiversity by maintaining plant life (that is part of the wider local ecosystem). To do this diamond mining companies work with the Millennium Seed Bank (run by The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew Gardens in London, UK) on a global seed conservation programme which collects, conserves and researches the world's seed-bearing plants. Protecting local wildlife can be a harder challenge as animals are sensitive to change, and so the diamond mining industry runs and supports numerous wildlife conservation projects. Mining company Rio Tinto protects and promotes biodiversity at its Diavik Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories of Canada by monitoring environmental impact through an Advisory Board, which was set up when mining began there in 2003. One of the Board's projects is a research study to protect fish species found at the mine site. The fish are an 4 The term 'ecosystem' essentially refers to the relationship between living organisms and theirnon-living environment. It is about the link between different species and physical and climatic factors. Ecosystems are constantly changing and evolving in response to environmental fluctuations.
important source of food for the local indigenous communities. As a result of the programme's success, the scope of the work has been widened to include water quality and monitoring the native arctic deer population. The diamond industry has established a number of Nature Reserves, where there are breeding programmes for rare and endangered species which have introduced antelope, disease-free buffalo and white rhino calves into the population. Programs have also been set-up to re-introduce native wildlife, including the African elephant, wild dog and black rhino. The diamond industry has worked with the South African National Parks and Peace Parks Foundation to develop a trans-frontier park (a protected conservation area that straddles international boundaries) incorporating large areas of land around the Venetia diamond mine in northern South Africa. In Western Australia, Argyle Diamonds works with Aboriginal elders to ensure that mining areas are rehabilitated and plant species provide food and produce for the local community. Furthermore, local Aboriginal people are regularly employed in the seeding process and in other rehabilitation activities. An example of how the diamond industry uses ISO 14001 benchmarks for environmental management De Beers was an early adopter of ISO 14001, having its first mine certified in 1998. All except one of De Beers' mines and a number of other sites including exploration ventures and laboratories and the Diamond Trading Company are currently ISO 14001 certified, while all of the remaining mines should be certified this year. In 2000, the South African Department of Minerals and Energy introduced a new award scheme for Excellence in Mining Environmental Management (EMEM awards). De Beers has received a number of these awards at different mines. An example of how the diamond industry uses advanced planning to minimise environmental impact In 2002 EKATI Diamond Mine, owned by BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. and two geologists Chuck Fipke and Stewart Blusson, a team of highly motivated employees founded the Energy Smart Program. In the year to June 2006, the program saved approximately 1.5 mega liters of diesel fuel, which saved the greenhouse gas equivalent of removing 1,600 cars from the road. The program has reduced the environmental impact of the site, raised the consciousness of employees about energy efficiency, and reduced costs. It demonstrates that by raising energy efficiency awareness we can all contribute to cost savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. An example of the how diamond industry works with the community to mitigate its environmental impact The Diavik mine in Canada is jointly owned by Rio Tinto plc and Aber Diamonds Corporation. Diavik mine entered into an Environmental Agreement which was developed with local Aboriginal groups, and the federal and territorial governments. Concluded in March 2000, the agreement formalizes Diavik's environmental protection commitments, establishes reclamation security requirements, and provides transparency and oversight to local communities. Additional sources of information Diamond Facts www.diamondfacts.orgUS Media Contact 866-490-8855 usmedia@diamondfacts.org International Media Contact 44-207-878-3114 intlmedia@diamondfacts.org How Does Mining Affect the People?By Brayan Peter Mining is destructive to the environment as trees and vegetation are cleared and burned for mining. Natural minerals and metals are stripped from the soil. In fact mining is one of the causes for deforestation. When the environment is drastically affected, naturally the people will be affected. The mining pits dug during land dredging mining remain as stagnant water pools serving as breeding ground for mosquitoes and other water-born insects.People living near such water pool areas have high possibility of getting water-born diseases such as malaria. The gravel, mud, and rocks displaced during river dredging mining disrupt the natural flow of the river. As a result, fish and other aquatic living organisms often die and fishermen find it very difficult to navigate in the obstructed rivers. Sand and gravel mining may sometimes pave way for contaminating the groundwater. Chemicals used during mining process causes pollution to the environment, animals, and people.The chemicals such as cyanide, mercury, or methyl mercury used to amalgamate the metals and minerals extracted by mining are discharged into rivers, streams, bays, and oceans, thus contaminating the water bodies and the aquatic organisms such as fish living within the water bodies. People who consume such contaminated aquatic organisms are prone to serious health hazards. The contaminated water cannot be used for bathing, drinking, cooking, or washing clothes, thus creating water scarcity problem for people living nearby. The toxic waste from mine tailings flow into either an abandoned mining pit or adjacent forest in the case of land dredging and pollute the river in the case of river dredging. The people who are exposed to the toxic waste from the tailings suffer health problems. They may suffer from skin rashes, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Some mining involves the unintentional dispersal of heavy metals, such as lead, into the atmosphere. This can have serious health effects such as mental retardation in children. Asbestos dispersed into the environment during asbestos mining is life threatening for local residents and workers. People living near mining areas or mining villages are very much disturbed and affected by the impact of mining. Theft, drugs/alcohol, prostitution, rape, cultural degradation and sexual abuse are unfortunately some of the worst problems of people living in mining areas. The poor people who face the health problems of mining cannot afford for a medical treatment, or the people who live in a remote village where a doctor is not accessible remain untreated for their illness. The mining operators and their families may also face problems. The miners also have life risks when they are working in the mine. The family of small scale miners may suffer from financial and protection problems as the miners leave their family in search of work. The effect of each proposed mining process on the environmental should be analyzed before granting permission to proceed mining. For example, the mining and use of asbestos are banned in most parts of the world life as asbestos dispersed into the environment is life threatening for people for several years. Thus deforestation, mineral/metal depletion and chemical pollution due to mining can have unfavorable impact on the environment, aquatic habitats, people, animals, and of course the mining operators . Mining operators must be aware of the impacts of their mining operations, adopt self safety measures and ensure minimum risk to the environment and people. Bryan Peter is a Copywriter of Underground Mining. Our primary mission is to help you realize the importance of natural resources derived from the process of mining to our economic comfort and standard of life. For more information visit: Diamond Mining contact him at brayan.peter@gmail.com |
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