2012-60404

ARGUMENTATIVE PAPER

Eng 10 WFQ3

To Mine or not To Mine?

The currently released Mining Executive Order no. 79 raised arguments from opposing sides. The pro side of the debate argues that miming should still be continued since it contributes a lot to the economy of the country. However, one must still acknowledge other factors to decide on whether to continue mining or not.

Mining has been a big part of the countrys history. It traces back in time when raw gold was exchanged by people of Ma-I with exotic Chinese, Japanese, Indian and other Asian traders. Most of the products left the country. Philippine mineral production grew by the time Suez Canal was opened for trade during the Spanish Era.America exploited the gold resources of the country which lead to the development of the mining industry. (www.prrm.org/publications/gmo2/historical.htm)

Mining greatly affects the environment negatively. Several kinds of mining were being used here in the country, and these methods have their big disadvantages to the state of our environment. First, hard rock mining, a kind of underground mining that damages the environment. It produces high amounts of mining wastes that propose environmental effects. (EPA) Erosion, in geology, is defined as the displacement of weathered rocks that was produced by the transport of a material to a new place by the medium of water, wind, ice or gravity. (Thompson 199) Sedimentation is defined as the deposition of particles carried by a flowing transport medium. (blackwarriorriver.org/siltation-sedimentation.html) Excessive erosion and sedimentation from mining affect vegetations and soil organisms and even the nutrients of the topsoil which could actually help vegetation and revegetation effort. Addition to this, it can also increase the possibility and severity of floods. (EPA)

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Acid from mine drainage contaminates both surface water and ground water. It terminates aquatic life and can release toxic materials from the water to the soil. Such event can also affect human health. (EPA) Mine tailings that are released to a body of water harm aquatic organisms. (EPA) One example is the case of the ore deposits from Marcopper Mining Corporation that were released into Calancan Bay, Marinduque. (De Silva) A research study proved that it was harmful to the coral reef community.

Another kind of mining is strip mining, or surface mining, which causes a lot of damage, too, to the environment. The Canatuan mine undergone with this type of mining. Strip mining incurs several negative effects to the environment. One, the soil involved in strip mining is severely eroded and becomes less fertile. Two, valley fills often bury streams that causes the permanent loss of an ecosystem. Three, existing vegetation is destroyed. Even the useful microorganisms are disturbed and, thus, destroyed, too. Four, since there is a lot of deposits and sediments from the mine, the surrounding water becomes polluted. Five, water reserves underground are drained. These underground sources of water are called aquifers. In many coal fields, what acts as aquifers are the coal beds. Now, surface mining cut through this coal bed and any other aquifer above the area where the mining takes place. Blasting can also break up the rock layers that hold the water, thus draining it. Six, due to the release of chemicals, the waters acidity increases which affects the balance of the system and may endanger the organisms inhabiting there. Seven, wildlifes habitat is permanently damaged due to the alteration of the mining site. Eight, aquatic species become endangered due to the changes in their habitat brought upon by strip mining. Nine, dust from mining pollutes the air which can also harm people and other organisms near the area. (Squillace)

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Mining negatively affects the society. Various gold rushes affected local populations by endangering their homes. As to quote from an article: From the Sioux of the Black Hills, to the Aborigines around Bendigo in Australia, the history of gold is tainted with blood; and today Amazonian tribes, like the Yanomami and Macuxi, the Galamsey of West Africa, and the Igorot of the Philippines, are similarly endangered. (www.rainforestinfo.org.au/wrr2003/ wrr03%20march-april/impacts%20of%20mining.htm) Citizens near and workers in mining sites are also in danger of occupational health hazards due to the different substances from the mining site.

Mining, no doubt, contributes largely to the economy of the country. In fact, in the year 2009, it contributed P12,380.3 Million to the total exports of the country(MGB). However, the long-term effects of mining far outweigh its contribution to the economy. Even though it brings income for now, it could not compensate for the damages that will occur in the near future, especially if a mining site is left haphazardly and was not restored properly.

Responsible mining, most will agree, can regulate the harmful effects mining can bring to the environment. However, responsible mining has long since been promoted, and yet, the results stay the same which indicates that responsible mining wont just work. There are still cases of abandoned mining sites that propose danger to nearby residents and settlers.

Mining should be stopped in the Philippines because its consequences are greater than its benefits. Beside it being a main contributor to the income of several provinces, it still negatively affects the environment and the society a lot. Rather, the country should focus more on another field of industry to replace mining, one that is less harmful yet equally beneficial.

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Works Cited:

De Silva, Leopoldo P., Jr., and Katherine A. Hipol. Assessing Coral Reef Vitality Using The FORAM(Foraminifers in Reef Assessment and Monitoring) Index: Impact of Mine Tailings to the Coral Reefs of Coral Reefs of Calancan Bay Marinduque. Thesis. National Institute of Geological Sciences University of the Philippines-Diliman. Print. Merriam, Eric R., J. Todd Petty, George T. Merovich, Jr., Jennifer B. Fulton, and Michael P. Strager. Additive Effects of Mining and Residential Development on Stream Conditions in a Central Appalachian Watershed. Thesis. West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-6125 USA, 2010. Print. Palmer, M.A. et al. Mountaintop Mining Consequences. Science. 08 Jan. 2010. Vol. 327. p. 148. Squillace, Mark. Chapter 2: The Environmental Effects of Strip Mining. The Strip Mining Handbook. Web. <https://sites.google.com/site/ stripmininghandbook/chapter-2-1 Thompson, Graham. "Weathering and Erosion." Introduction to Earth Science. Ed. Jonathan Turk. Philippine ed. Pasig City: Cengage Learning Asia Pte, 2012. 199. Print.

"Hardrock Mining: Environmental Impacts." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 06 Sept. 2012. <http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/env.htm>. "Historical Sketch of the Mining Industry." Historical Sketch of the Mining Industry. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Sept. 2012. <http://www.prrm.org/publications/gmo2/historical.htm>. "Environmental and Social Impacts of Mining." N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Sept. 2012. <http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/wrr2003/wrr03%20march-april/impacts% 20of%20mining.htm>. Philippines. Department of Environment & Natural Resources. Mines and Geosciences Bureau. MINING INDUSTRY STATISTICS. Print.

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