Mining: Social and Environmental Impacts
Mining is an activity rarely associated with deforestation and forest degradation. Nor is it usually associated with wars, dictatorships and violation of human rights, and even less with the worsening of poverty and social inequity. On the contrary, mining is presented as the paradigm of wealth (in particular when dealing with gold and diamond mining), while its marketing conceals its terrible social and environmental consequences. However, mining is responsible for such impacts and many others, making it one of the most depredatory activities in the world. For these reasons, it has seemed important to give people a tool to enable them to better understand the various aspects of mining activities in relation to social and environmental issues, as a way of encouraging the adoption of an informed position on this issue, leading to a well-founded opposition to face those who present it as a positive activity for the development of the countries of the South.
World Rainforest Movement
Once again, we are pleased to announce the publication of a new book
titled "Mining. Social and Environmental Impacts."
Mining is an activity rarely associated with deforestation and forest
degradation. Nor is it usually associated with wars, dictatorships and
violation of human rights, and even less with the worsening of poverty and
social inequity. On the contrary, mining is presented as the paradigm of
wealth (in particular when dealing with gold and diamond mining), while
its marketing conceals its terrible social and environmental consequences.
However, mining is responsible for such impacts and many others, making it
one of the most depredatory activities in the world.
For these reasons, it has seemed important to give people a tool to enable
them to better understand the various aspects of mining activities in
relation to social and environmental issues, as a way of encouraging the
adoption of an informed position on this issue, leading to a well-founded
opposition to face those who present it as a positive activity for the
development of the countries of the South.
As part of the above, we also considered it important to show a diversity
of concrete experiences in various countries regarding the exploitation of
a wide range of minerals, in order to appreciate the common
characteristics of mining activities.
The result is this book (available in English, French and Spanish), which
we have divided into two main sections. In the first part, a detailed
description is made of the various aspects of mining activities, including
types of mining, and social actors and impacts involved. The second part
gives details of concrete impacts and struggles in many countries of
Africa, Latin America, Asia and Australasia, arising as a response to the
actions of various types of mining and mining companies.
We hope that this book will serve as a tool to support local struggles
against mining, to generate awareness on the issue and to strengthen
campaigns against this type of activity ending in the destruction and
degradation of wide forest areas and of local livelihoods and cultures.
Non Governmental Organizations and Indigenous Peoples Organizations can
ask for a free copy of the book. To do so, please contact WRM
International Secretariat at: [email protected] and send your postal
address (please include detailed information).
For other organizations or institutions its cost is US$ 10 (shipment
included). You can either send a cheque (against a U.S bank) payable to:
"Fundación Movimiento Mundial por los Bosques Tropicales" to the following
address:
Maldonado 1858, CP 11200
Montevideo - URUGUAY (South America)
or transfer the money to the following bank account:
Name of the Bank : Bank Boston, Sucursal URUGUAY
Address: Zabala 1463, Montevideo, Uruguay
Account number: 6020517
Account in name of: Fundación Movimiento Mundial por los Bosques
Tropicales
Agencia Bulevar España
Swift Code: FN BB UY MM