Question

Discuss briefly about any two important areas where people have been affected by mining.

Answer 1

Guyana and Indonesia are important areas where people have been affected by mining.

1. In Guyana, both large and small scale mining occur. In 1995, the tailings dam which was filled with cyanide waste, collapsed and spilled into the Essequibo River, the biggest river in Guyana.The toxic waste drained north- exposing 10,000 people. All of the fish in the river died. Many people developed skin rashes and respiratory problems.
2. In Indonesia, a U.S. mining company has been extracting gold since 1996.In 2004, they extracted all the gold. The company is currently being sued by the Indonesian government for intentionally dumping poisonous waste, such as arsenic and mercury, into the Buyat Bay. This waste has poisoned the fish in the bay.This was their main source of protein and economic livelihood. Many people in this region have complained of headaches, breathing difficulty, and skin rashes and tumors.