Persuasive Essay
by
Fe Briones
Mining, in its broadest sense, the process of obtaining useful minerals from the earth’s crust. The process includes excavations in underground mines and surface excavations in open-pit, or opencut (strip) mines. In addition, recent technological developments may soon make economically feasible the mining of metallic ores from the seafloor. Mining normally means an operation that involves the physical removal of rock and earth. A number of substances, notably natural gas, petroleum, and some sulfur, are produced by methods (primarily drilling) that are not classified as mining.
To use these minerals, mining is indispensable. In today’s high demands of the modern technologies, these minerals are necessary for its operation. Countries with rich deposit of minerals, like Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East became rich, powerful and famous.
But mining at all times is not advantageous. Mining, according to some environmentalist is killing the earth slowly. Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes challenged government officials who advocate mining to live in areas ravaged by mining so they would have a taste of the sufferings of the poor as he warned government officials that the wrath of the people would be upon them if they insist on pursuing activities that would destroy the environment like mining and geothermal exploration.
According to Bishop Bastes, mining and geothermal exploration are both destructive of the environment which eventually ravages the people especially the poor who have no other choice but to stay in their localities. Yes, its true, people who are most affected are the poor. Precisely, the rich will not be affected. In fact, the capitalists, the lords of the mining are the rich and mining will make them richer. The sad fact is, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the very government agency who is expected to protect our nature, the Mother Earth, is issuing permit to these mining operators to operate mining activities.
It is an accepted fact that mining can help uplift our nation’s economy. If we will explore our land, our forest and our sea bed, we will find that our country is rich with mineral deposits. But look at the Banawe Rice Terraces of our Ifugao People. This terraces which is one of the world’s wonder is already near its destruction. One of the causes is said to be the excavations made by small miners. These causes soil erosion that deformed the rice terraces.
But environmentalists like Bishop Bastes whose heart belongs to the poor will not just sit-down and wait for the disasters brought by mining kill thousands of people and destruct the environment which is the very source of living of the ordinary and poor residents. He expressed his strong support to the anti-mining groups who filed a case against DENR and local officials relative to the mining activities in the town of Matnog. He also sounded the alarm against the planned geothermal explorations around Bulusan Volcano, an active volcano in the province of Sorsogon.
The effects of environmental degradation are now very evident with the floods that struck many provinces in the north and elsewhere in the country. The soil erosion that happened in Mount Asog of Iriga City, just this year had been suspected to be caused by quarrying. The quarrying in Buhi was already stopped because of the danger that the mountain will collapsed if they will continue to quarry the decorative stones that holds the mountain soil. These and other activities similar to mining are detrimental to our environment and to our lives. Let us not wait for the Ormoc Tragedy to happen to us, and worst, the tragedy that happened in Albay during Typhoon Reming. Let us not gamble our life for the benefit we will get from mining. As what Bishop Bastes said, “Only the poor who are at the disadvantage when this happens while the officials and those who profited from mining are in the comforts of their mansions.”
Work Cited:
“Mining.”Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
“Bishop dares pro-mining exec:Live in mine areas”. Bicol Mail. Vol. XXVI, No. 18 (October 13, 2011), page 1 & 16.
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