We have a compicated relationship with extractive geological industries. We all rely on the geological materials extracted from the ground (oil, coal, gas, metals, industrial minerals, water etc) for our everyday lives. Even just to read this blog entry you are using several different metals that make the device and its electronics, plastics for the case, silica in the screen - before we start to consider the fuels used to generate the electricity that's required. This reliance on extracting geological materials from the Earth is matched by ambivalence caused by the social and environmental costs of that extraction.
Two stories came out over the summer that illustrate the dissonant extremes of this industry. The first is a slide show showing the shocking conditions in which children are working in some Tanzanian gold mines (warning: some of the photos are a little upsetting).
Tanzania's child gold miners
The other side of the industry are the positive economic effects that mining can bring. Western Australia is currently undergoing a remarkable economic boom by providing the geological resources for Asia's economic growth. Some of the peolpe who are benefitting from this are the several former Cowbridge geologists who have very good jobs working in this area.
Western Australia's resource boom
As geologists we share this ethical dilemma. How do you think that we can create positive social, environmental and economic impacts from industries that, like it or not, are essential?
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