{"id":649,"date":"2014-06-25T10:10:52","date_gmt":"2014-06-25T04:40:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tibetnature.lhasocialwork.com\/en\/?p=649"},"modified":"2014-07-08T11:30:55","modified_gmt":"2014-07-08T06:00:55","slug":"impacts-hazards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tibetnature.net\/en\/impacts-hazards\/","title":{"rendered":"Impacts And Future Alternatives Of Mining"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hazards Of Mining<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the existence and development of human society it is\u00a0necessary to conserve the environment and to simultaneously\u00a0meet man\u2019s demand for materials through the continuing\u00a0exploration of mineral resources. However, to a varying\u00a0degree, mining activities have changed the original state of\u00a0the environment and created potential dangers for both\u00a0ecological and social systems. Therefore, the continued\u00a0development of human society depends on the attitude of\u00a0the mineral industry towards achieving ecologically sustainabledevelopment of this sector.<\/p>\n

The scale of mineral extraction in Tibet is rapidly\u00a0expanding with China\u2019s industrialisation and modernisation\u00a0programmes. Mining activities quite obviously impose considerable impacts on the natural environment, but these\u00a0practices in Tibet have jeopardised not only its natural\u00a0endowments but also its people. Moreover, as the mineral\u00a0and energy potential in Tibet is vast and underdeveloped,\u00a0China will continue to invest heavily in mineral exploration\u00a0to meet its increasing domestic demand and to reduce its\u00a0fo\"Untitled-1reign debt. Given these pursuits, further degeneration of\u00a0the environment is inevitable, which makes the issue of\u00a0mineral extraction in Tibet of serious concern.<\/p>\n

Since the Chinese invasion of Tibet, the use of mineral\u00a0resources has been unprecedented. The activities have\u00a0evidently profited the Chinese immensely, as has been\u00a0revealed by the enormous quantities of production and the\u00a0increasingly huge investments in the mining sector. This\u00a0acceleration continues. But the process of extraction has\u00a0paid little attention to the impact of mining. As a result,\u00a0despite the generation of huge revenues in fuelling China\u2019s\u00a0economic growth, mining activities have failed to produce\u00a0real benefits for Tibetans as the majority still live in\u00a0impoverished conditions.<\/p>\n

Natural Resources<\/strong>
\nEnvironmental impacts of mining are largely unreported by\u00a0the Chinese authorities in Tibet. The extensive mining\u00a0activities have led to the destabilisation of fragile mountain\u00a0slopes, degradation of pastures, increased rates of sediment\u00a0in river catchments, deforestation and other perils. The\u00a0constant treatment of Tibetan natural resources as if\u00a0inexhaustible, and the extraction of minerals, has also resulted\u00a0in water contamination and air pollution. In many areas the\u00a0pressure on local mineral resources has been mounting each\u00a0year, further impoverishing the region.<\/p>\n

The increasing practise of unchecked mining activities\u00a0has not just damaged but permanently altered the shape of\u00a0the plateau\u2019s landscape. Despite protests by local people,\u00a0vast areas of pastures have been turned into mining zones.\u00a0The once-99 per cent pastoral land of Tsalung, Diru, Kham,\u00a0is today completely transformed into a mining zone (TIN\u00a01997b). Nomads and farmers from Nagchu, Central and\u00a0Eastern Tibet, raised objections when gold mining in their\u00a0regions was taking a heavy and destructive toll on their\u00a0pastoral land \u2014 but to no avail.<\/p>\n

In the gold-rich Serta County, Kandze, Kham, gold mining\u00a0has devastated the subsistence of the nomads who have\u00a0lived in the region for centuries. According to a former\u00a0inhabitant of the region, Jigme Sonam, the Chinese\u00a0authorities have ordered the evacuation of the Serta area\u00a0for mining without any monetary or social compensation to\u00a0the nomads. The land was confiscated under the pretext\u00a0that it belongs to the \u201cmotherland\u201d (TCHRD 1997b).<\/p>\n

Vast tracts of rich grazing land were destroyed and more\u00a0than 17,000 nomads were forced to start a new livelihood\u00a0when a huge uranium deposit was discovered in Riwoche,\u00a0Kham in 1990 (Ackerly 1990). In the mineral-rich Amdo\u00a0Province, extraction and industrialisation have disrupted\u00a0some 76 per cent of the valley\u2019s 16,000 sq.km area resulting\u00a0in soil erosion and water loss (Xinhua 1996b).<\/p>\n

Lhasa residents\u2019 concern about the ever-increasing dust\u00a0pollution being caused by cement factories describes the\u00a0growing air impurity of the region (Xinhua 1998c) and\u00a0highlights the reckless attitude of the authorities. Further,\u00a0Tibet\u2019s industrial water treatment is the worst in China, and\u00a0the percentage of industrial solid wastes in water resources\u00a0in Amdo are the highest of any province in China (The World\u00a0Resources 1998).<\/p>\n

Human Health and Animals<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hundreds of thousands of litres of untreated, polluted water\u00a0caused by mining in Tibet pour into major rivers like the\u00a0Yangtze each day. At the same time, dozens of ferro-silicon,\u00a0iron, steel, aluminium and silicon carbide plants are releasing\u00a0their daily dosage of thick poisonous smoke (ICT 1993).\u00a0All this is hazardous to human health and life. Uranium\u00a0mining has been linked to illness among the local people,\u00a0thought to be caused by exposure to radon gas or from\u00a0drinking water contaminated by mine tailings (ATC 1998).\u00a0Deaths, injuries and human and animal birth deformities in\u00a0nearby mining processing are some of the direct effects of\u00a0the state of mining in Tibet (ICT 1993).<\/p>\n

In a village in Ngaba, Amdo, at least 35 people died after\u00a0drinking water polluted by waste from a nearby uranium\u00a0mine.\u00a0Gonpo Dhondup, who escaped from Tibet in 1987, stated\u00a0at the 1992 World Uranium Hearing in Salzburg, Germany\u00a0on 14 September, 1992 that in Amdo Province areas\u00a0surrounding uranium mines have experienced decreasing\u00a0crop yields and the increasing deaths of domestic animals\u00a0and fish.\u00a0He also cited mysterious illnesses among humans\u00a0including skin and eye diseases, and births of deformed\u00a0babies. At Thewo, site of the largest uranium mine in Tibet,\u00a0more than 50 Tibetans and their domestic animal died\u00a0between 1987-91 from mysterious illnesses.\u00a0Corpses of both\u00a0humans and animals turned blue after death.<\/p>\n

Population Transfer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another major problem arising from mining in Tibet is the\u00a0settlement of an increasing number of Chinese into Tibetan\u00a0regions in the form of labour, technicians and others. This\u00a0mass migration has created extra pressures on the plateau\u2019s\u00a0dwindling natural resources, intensified ethnic tensions, and\u00a0is leading to the marginalisation of Tibetans in their own\u00a0country. During gold rush periods in Amdo and in northern\u00a0\u2018TAR\u2019, tens of thousands of Chinese migrated into the area\u00a0and additional thousands of Chinese were recruited by the\u00a0government (Xizang Ribao 1994).<\/p>\n

Plans for building several\u00a0towns to accommodate half a million migrant workers in\u00a0Tibet in April 1996, are in the process with each proposed\u00a0town set to house about 100,000 workers (Chan 1996).\u00a0Economic incentives in the form of three to four times\u00a0the rate of standard pay, tax breaks and lower interest loans,\u00a0plus subsidies from Beijing totalling US$ 125 million a year,\u00a0are provided to attract and encourage more Chinese settlers\u00a0and workers into Tibet (Chu 1999). Subsidised truck fuel\u00a0and machinery costs, and improved infrastructure, are some\u00a0of the benefits made to increase the Chinese presence inTibet.<\/p>\n

\"Untitled-1<\/p>\n

In addition to the legal mining of Tibet\u2019s mineral\u00a0resources, the potential adverse environmental effects are\u00a0compounded by widespread illegal mining. Fights among the\u00a0illegal miners for the best spots of gold in the region are\u00a0common, often leading to several deaths. According to Gonpo, who was a participant at the Tibet People\u2019s\u00a0Consultative Conference in Lhasa in May 1995, \u201cthere are\u00a0over 12,000 miners unlawfully extracting gold in Gansu,\u00a0Amdo and districts of Nagchu in the TAR\u201d (DIIR 1996b).
\nIt is presumed that the number of illegal mining operations,\u00a0especially for gold, are more common in the Tibetan regions outside \u2018TAR\u2019. Both farmers and nomads in these areas\u00a0have raised serious objections to the heavy extraction of\u00a0minerals and the consequent destruction of pastures.<\/p>\n

Forced Labour<\/strong><\/p>\n

With increasing prospects and advantages in Tibet today\u00a0more and more Chinese are migrating there resulting in social\u00a0unrest and ethnic conflicts. Chinese nationals run most of\u00a0the work in the mineral sector. Local participation and\u00a0employment in mining enterprises has remained minimal\u00a0and any direct benefit to Tibetans from such industrial\u00a0development is insignificant. The use of forced labour,\u00a0particularly prisoners, in State-run mining and in building\u00a0infrastructure in Tibet continues to prevail despite heavy\u00a0international pressure.<\/p>\n

For instance, a tungsten mine near\u00a0Xinduquiao uses about 800 prisoners through the so-called\u00a0\u201creform through labour programme\u201d of China (TIN 1995).\u00a0Tibetan individuals and families often have to work in\u00a0adjacent mines as demanded by authorities. Failing to turn\u00a0up for work results in fines and doubling the amount of\u00a0work next time, and often these labourers are not paid. The\u00a0deaths of many thousands of peasants from 12-15 hour\u00a0stints of forced labour in the deserts and mountainous regions\u00a0of Eastern Turkestan (Xinjiang) are kept secret (Golos\u00a0Vostochnogo Turkestana 1997).<\/p>\n

The use of forced labour is banned under the\u00a0International Labour Organisation\u2019s Conventions number\u00a029 and number 105.\u00a0Convention 29 describes forced labour\u00a0as \u201cwork extracted from persons under the menace of penalty\u00a0and for which the individuals have not offered voluntarily\u201d.\u00a0Convention 105 is concerned with the banning of forced\u00a0labour as a \u201cmeans of political coercion or as punishment\u00a0for political views, as a method of mobilising and using labour\u00a0for purposes of economic development or as a means of\u00a0racial, social, national or religious discrimination\u201d. Clearly,\u00a0the use of Tibetan and Chinese prison labour violates these\u00a0conventions.<\/p>\n

Social Unrest and Conflicts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite the potentially severe impacts of mining on people\u00a0and the environment in the form of contamination of\u00a0drinking water or disruption of livelihood, these affected\u00a0peoples often have very little meaningful input into decisionmaking\u00a0processes about whether a mine will be constructed\u00a0or not. Environmental protests by local people have been\u00a0ignored and crushed; many individuals have been subjected\u00a0to severe punishments, often leading to long term\u00a0imprisonment and torture.<\/p>\n

In 1991, Phuntsok Chosang and Gyatso pasted posters\u00a0for the third time to protest the building of roads into their\u00a0hometown Meldro Gongkar, \u2018TAR\u2019, for the transportation\u00a0of minerals from Thalung Mine in Gyama to China.\u00a0Subsequently locals in the mining area also raised objections\u00a0to the operation of the mine because it uses toxic materials\u00a0and dynamite in blasting the area. According\u00a0to Phuntsok the mine has caused severe\u00a0ecological imbalance in the form of soil\u00a0erosion, frequent rainfall and hailstorms and\u00a0many wild animals, birds and farm animals\u00a0have died from the toxic gases released. But\u00a0the authorities ignored their pleas and both\u00a0Phuntsok Chosang and Gyatso were imprisoned, tortured\u00a0and put in solitary confinement for 13 days and nights\u00a0(TCHRD 1997a).<\/p>\n

FUTURE ALTERNATIVES:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The development of mineral industries is inevitable for the\u00a0overall development of Tibet\u2019s economy. For years the\u00a0utilisation of Tibet\u2019s mineral resources has been hampered\u00a0by bureaucratic restrictions, legal uncertainties, illegal mining\u00a0activities, lack of capital and poor infrastructure. It is,\u00a0therefore, important to mitigate mining activities through\u00a0effective government action and policies that propel sound\u00a0development. The challenge is not to stop development, but\u00a0to meet development needs of the Tibetan people in a\u00a0sustainable way.<\/p>\n

Effective Legislation<\/strong><\/p>\n

The mineral resources law has an important role to play in\u00a0promoting rational use as well as in conserving the mineral\u00a0resources. It was only in August 1986 that China formulated\u00a0its first mineral resources law, which came into effect in\u00a0October the same year. But the exploration and extraction\u00a0of mineral resources in Tibet had already started in 1956.\u00a0In those three decades both the government and private\u00a0miners took a huge toll of the fragile environment and the\u00a0Tibetan people.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, in order to curtail the serious problem of\u00a0illegal mining and to bring order to many mining localities,\u00a0China amended its first mining laws on 29 August 1996.\u00a0This revised law came into effect on 1 January 1997 and is\u00a0known as the Mineral Resources Law of\u00a0the \u201cChinese government\u201d and consists of\u00a0seven chapters and 53 articles. Though most\u00a0of the old laws were retained, much of the\u00a0revamped law has been designed to facilitate\u00a0modernisation of the mining sector, and to attract increased\u00a0foreign investment by introducing market mechanisms.<\/p>\n

As stated in Article 10 of the Mining Law, \u201cthe State\u00a0should give due consideration to the interests of those areas\u00a0and make arrangements favourable to the areas\u2019 economic\u00a0development and to the production and livelihood of the\u00a0local minority nationalities\u201d. So far the mining industries in\u00a0Tibet have benefited Tibetans marginally. The statistics of a\u00a0United Nations Development Program report on Tibet\u00a0shows a clear fall of life expectancy, a drop of post-school\u00a0employment, and a decrease in literacy rate to 31 per cent\u00a0(ICJ 1997).<\/p>\n

Proper Implementation of Rules<\/strong><\/p>\n

The situation of mineral resources in Tibet is still quite chaotic\u00a0and the mining laws and regulations are still in evolution.\u00a0This can be attributed mainly to the ineffective regulation\u00a0and unsound legal system. For instance, mining is practised\u00a0in places specified as a \u201cno mining area\u201d under Article 20\u00a0of the Mining Law. Chinese government collect fees by\u00a0issuing mining rights on public and private lands, but the\u00a0Tibetans receive no benifits as compensation for encroaching\u00a0on their ancestral land. Exploration and mining rights issued\u00a0by the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources are not\u00a0made for public viewing, as stated in the law. The revamped\u00a0mining laws do not provide any solution for the effective\u00a0and efficient running of mining activities.<\/p>\n

The authorities should not propose the confiscation of\u00a0land in the name of the \u201cmotherland\u201d. Jurisdictional disputes\u00a0are another obstruction preventing speedy, effective\u00a0approvals.Clear divisions on authorities should be\u00a0established at the district and village level to prevent\u00a0government red tape. Illegal activities and corruption of all\u00a0kinds should be handled with heavy punishments. If it is a\u00a0problem to deal within the established structure, a new agency\u00a0directly appointed from the higher level could be given the\u00a0charge de force to handle the situation. Other improvements\u00a0needed include transparency of information dissemination\u00a0between the government and the public. More research and\u00a0comparative studies on similar small-scale mining operations\u00a0should also be conducted.<\/p>\n

Technical Upgrading<\/strong>
\nDue to the use of outdated technologies and equipment in\u00a0mining activities most of the mines in Tibet suffer from a\u00a0lack of structure optimisation. The backwardness of\u00a0technology has resulted in low efficiency in recovery,\u00a0production and utilisation of the mineral resources. Minimal\u00a0safety standards, wastage of resources and poor economic\u00a0returns in most mines are some of the constant problems.\u00a0Underdevelopment of transportation infrastructure is\u00a0another issue that remains inadequate in most of the mining\u00a0areas.<\/p>\n

The introduction of appropriate technology is required\u00a0to minimise environmental damage and improve economic\u00a0returns. Proper development of technical standards in small\u00a0and large size production units and providing skills training\u00a0in the mining sector are just a few changes that can be made\u00a0to generate better returns.<\/p>\n

Participation of People<\/strong><\/p>\n

Environmental Impact Assessments of mining areas should\u00a0be conducted and the results made available for public\u00a0viewing before starting any mining projects. It is\u00a0recommended to allow and encourage the public, especially\u00a0local communities, to participate in the environmental aspect\u00a0of mining activities. For example, a Public Hearing or a\u00a0round table conference can be held prior to the issue of a\u00a0mineral title by the relevant mining management agency.<\/p>\n

Direct benefits to Tibetans should be provided\u00a0whenever mining is done in their territory. This can be in\u00a0the form of provision of jobs, social securities and social\u00a0welfare schemes. All workers in mines should be treated\u00a0equally regarding job placements. Tibetans hold only about\u00a010 per cent of the mining jobs in Kham and less than 20\u00a0per cent in Amdo and U-Tsang, with the rest of the jobs\u00a0going to Chinese settlers (DIIR 1992). Tibetans should be\u00a0given preference over other nationals.<\/p>\n

Check Human Pressures<\/strong>
\nThe influx of a large number of Chinese workers into Tibet,\u00a0especially miners, creates serious social and ecological\u00a0problems. Therefore, mining developments in Tibet \u2014 as\u00a0with all development projects \u2014 should discourage Chinese\u00a0population transfer. Necessary steps should be taken to halt\u00a0\u201cmigrational skilled workers\u201d over the border. Tibetans\u00a0should be provided technical knowledge and training to\u00a0develop appropriate skills rather than directly appointing\u00a0Chinese workers and overseers.<\/p>\n

Large proportions of the Chinese settlers in Tibet are\u00a0illegal miners. The government should take necessary steps\u00a0to stop illegal mining and the random exploitation of mineral\u00a0resources. These miners should be punished\u00a0according to mining laws and must be deported\u00a0to their native towns.<\/p>\n

Foreign Investment<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the past a few foreign companies have been involved\u00a0in mining in Tibet despite varying difficulties. Some have\u00a0shown great respect and care for the Tibetan people and\u00a0some have engaged in jeopardising Tibet\u2019s environment by\u00a0focussing solely on economic gains. The industrialisation of\u00a0Amdo, for instance, has attracted a total foreign investment\u00a0of US$ 400 million, which includes US$ 70 million in foreign\u00a0loans from aid agencies (Lafitte 1998a).<\/p>\n

How much of these so-called developmental projects have\u00a0benefited the Tibetans is understandable as the real income\u00a0and standard of living of Tibetans still remains low. On the\u00a0other hand, both the investors in Tibet and the Chinese\u00a0government have profitably pocketed from these businesses.\u00a0The current pattern of development has marginalised\u00a0Tibetans and excluded them from effective participation,\u00a0which is an intrinsic aspect of any sound development. The\u00a0livelihood of most of the Tibetans who live in small rural\u00a0communities has been neglected, receiving little of the\u00a0investments (ICJ 1997).<\/p>\n

Decisions by investors in Tibet directly will in future affect\u00a0the plateau\u2019s ecology and the livelihood of Tibetans. It\u00a0therefore becomes important to consider the local issues\u00a0thoroughly by building safeguards projects to ensure social\u00a0development to the Tibetan populace. Proper social, cultural\u00a0and environmental impact assessments should be done before\u00a0launching any major mining operations in Tibet. Low priority\u00a0should be given to massive infrastructure projects such as\u00a0real estate, intensive mining and resource exploitation, the\u00a0construction of heavy industries and large dams.<\/p>\n

CONCLUSION<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tibet\u2019s unique geological evolution led to the formation of\u00a0abundant minerals and natural resources. For centuries these\u00a0resources were not exploited since traditional beliefs\u00a0prescribed that extraction of minerals would diminish the\u00a0land\u2019s fertility, upset the presiding deities and harm society.\u00a0Moreover, there were then no major commercial industries\u00a0and factories so the mineral resources of Tibet were basically\u00a0kept intact in a flourishing, natural and peaceful environment.<\/p>\n

China\u2019s haphazard mining practices continue to affect\u00a0the fragile ecology of the Tibetan plateau. These include\u00a0the destabilisation of fragile mountain slopes, the pollution\u00a0of major river systems, degradation of agriculture and\u00a0pastoral lands, deforestation, air pollution, not to mention\u00a0that diminishing mineral resources lead to the\u00a0impoverishment of the Tibetan region. Besides ecological\u00a0concerns, the unregulated mining sector in Tibet is leading\u00a0to the dilution of Tibetan culture and traditions by\u00a0encouraging a further influx of Chinese settlers and also\u00a0causes social conflicts.<\/p>\n

Therefore, the Chinese government and associated mining\u00a0enterprises working in Tibet must urgently address the\u00a0limitation of current mining practices in Tibet and shouldachieve ecologically and socially sustainable development.<\/p>\n

Source: Tibet 2000 Environment and Developement Issues, DIIR<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hazards Of Mining For the existence and development of human society it is\u00a0necessary to conserve the environment and to simultaneously\u00a0meet man\u2019s demand for materials through the continuing\u00a0exploration of mineral resources.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-minerals-and-mining"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tibetnature.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tibetnature.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tibetnature.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tibetnature.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tibetnature.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=649"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/tibetnature.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/649\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":748,"href":"https:\/\/tibetnature.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/649\/revisions\/748"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tibetnature.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tibetnature.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=649"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tibetnature.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}