2012-60404

ARGUMENTATIVE PAPER

Eng 10 WFQ3

Mining be stopped in the Philippines

The currently issues about mining such as the Mining Executive Order no. 79 raised arguments from opposing sides. The pro side of the debate argues that mining should still be continued since it contributes a lot to the economy of the country. However, one must still acknowledge other factors that makes it necessary for mining to be stopped.

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 (Historical Sketch of the Mining Industry 1).

Mining greatly affects the environment. 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 (Hardrock Mining: Environmental Impacts 1). 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 (Siltation & Sedimentation 1). Excessive erosion and sedimentation from mining affect vegetations and soil organisms and

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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 (Hardrock Mining: Environmental Impacts 1).

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 (Hardrock Mining: Environmental Impacts 1).

Mine tailings that are released to a body of water harm aquatic organisms. (Hardrock Mining: Environmental Impacts 1) One example is the case of the ore deposits from Marcopper Mining Corporation that were released into Calancan Bay, Marinduque (De Silva 1). A research study proved that it was harmful to the coral reef community. Coral reefs serve as habitat to many aquatic organisms. Harming the coral reefs endanger the aquatic organisms, thus, ruining the ecosystem.

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. This will greatly affect farmers who try to cultivate the land (Squillace 1).

Two, valley fills often bury streams that causes the permanent loss of an ecosystem (Squillace 1). Streams are ways of transport for consumable water and habitat for freshwater organisms. If a stream is buried, the balance in the ecosystem will be greatly damaged.

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Three, existing vegetation is destroyed. Even the useful microorganisms are disturbed and, thus, destroyed, too (Squillace 1). Even if one try to rehabilitate the area used, it woulbd be to no avail because the area used will be basically dead without the presence of these microorganisms to help the flourish of vegetation.

Four, since there is a lot of deposits and sediments from the mine, the surrounding water becomes polluted. This is harmful for the organisms that live in the water body that maintains the balance in the ecosystem (Squillace 1)

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 (Squillace 1).

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 (Squillace 1). Organisms live in a habitat they are capable of living in under certain conditions. Once these conditions are changed, such as the chemical state, it threatens them and can cause them to die.

Seven, wildlifes habitat is permanently damaged due to the alteration of the mining site (Squillace 1). They will lose their homes thus, endangering them to extinction.

Eight, aquatic species become endangered due to the changes in their habitat brought upon by strip mining (Squillace 1). Immediate alteration of the organisms environment harm them.

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Nine, dust from mining pollutes the air which can also harm people and other organisms near the area. (Squillace 1) Once dust enter the respiratory system of an organism, it can cause several complications to the system. Miners will be greatly affected by these complications. There is this respiratory complication named pneumoconiosis which is the term used to denote the group of respiratory complications caused by dust. Complication caused by black coal dust and graphite mining is called black lung disease. Long exposure to asbestos mining can cause asbestosis to the miners (Macnair 1).

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. (Environmental and Social Impacts of Mining 1) Citizens near and workers in mining sites are also in danger of occupational health hazards due to the different substances from the mining site.

Another issue is the loss of the homes of indigenous people. Information from MGB shows that as of June 2012, 771 kinds of large-scale permits covering 1/30 of the countrys total land area was approved by the government. Most of this area cover territories of indigenous people, technically threatening their survival and habitat (Salamat 1).

Mining, no doubt, contributes largely to the economy of the country. In fact, in the year 2011, it contributed P17.36 billion was the total tax collected by the sectors of the government related to the mining industry (Mining Industry Statistics 1). However, the longterm effects of mining far outweigh its contribution to the economy. Even though it brings

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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. Some argue that mining have brought sustainable development to the now developed countries such as China and Japan thus, it can also do the same to the Philippines. However, we must consider that these countries also have other income-generating industries and they do not lean largely on mining.

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. The concept of responsible mining relies on the voluntary compliance of large-scale mining companies and the governments ability to enforce and implement such provisions (The Myth of Responsible Mining 1). No one can dictate what large-scale mining company owners can do, and since it is voluntary, they can choose not to comply. Since the government has no strong implementation mechanisms for responsible mining, then it will fail.

There are still cases of abandoned mining sites that propose danger to nearby residents and settlers. In fact, MGB noted 21 abandoned mining sites in the country (Ribaya 1) Since there will be no guarantee of responsible mining, then one can guarantee additional cases of abandoned mining sites in the future. These abandoned mining sites propose dangers of waste contamination and possible cave-ins that can harm nearby residents trough landslides and other related disasters. Since the land has been explored, it will be very susceptible to failing.

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

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more on another field of industry to replace mining, one that is less harmful yet equally beneficial. The government could focus its funds to the field of agriculture which the Philippines is well suited for. The state of agriculture today will become even better and will become as beneficial as mining if harnessed well.

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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. Macnair, Trisha. Miners Lung Disease. BBC Health. Web. 11 October 2012. <http:// www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/miners-lung-disease.shtml> 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. Ribaya, Rio Rose. "Abandoned sites pose danger - solon" Manila Bulletin 12 January 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012. Web. <http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/347619/ abandoned-sites-pose-danger-solon> Salamat, Marya. Eight reasons why Aquinos new mining policy is deadlier than Mining Acti of 995. Bulatlat 13 July 2012. Retrieved 02 October 2012. Web. < http:// bulatlat.com/main/2012/07/13/eight-reasons-why-aquino%e2/%80%99snew- mining-policy-is-deadlier-than-the-mining-act-of-1995/> 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. -. "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>. -. "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>. -. Mining Industry Statistics. Department of Environment & Natural Resources. Mines and Geosciences Bureau. Print. <http://www.mgb.gov.ph/Files/Statistics/ MineralIndustryStatistics.pdf? -. The Myth of Responsible Mining. Web. 03 Oct. 2012. <http:// www.no2miningph.org/ wp/ articles/the-myth-of-responsible-mining/>

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