Re: Phosphate mining

jacques jedwab wrote:
> In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
>
> > Please, in regard to phosphate mining and how it is affecting the
> > environment in the Gulf of Mexico, specifically, the west coast of
> > Florida and Louisianna: When the uses of phosphate are mentioned
> > "they" always say they use it for fertilizer and "other" uses.... 
> > Don't those "other" uses include explosives and neuclear weapons?  Is
> > that the real reason WHY the powers that be allow the descruction of
> > our beautiful coast, land, water supply and contaminate the air?  I
> > read an article in the Carnegie Report that said last month over 20
> > tons of phosphate was delivered to North Korea!  Would a scientic
> > expert, please, care to post a comment?  As is the case with petroleum
> > is phosphate also more about.... follow the money?
> > Thank you.
>
>
> These questions reflect the prevailing abysmal holding in disgust of ALL
> mining and chemical activities. 
>
>  J.J.

Hi Jacques!

   It is the lack of educational balance which promotes the poster's 
question, as well as the polarization of enviromentalists vs 
industrialists in the States. Modern people have very little clue where 
the benefits of their modern lifestyle come from, and that there is a 
price for that. On the other hand, people want products cheaply, so the 
mineral/chemical companies do not feel they can afford to do any but the 
required minimum in environmental compliance and restoration after a 
resource is exploited and so forth. These standards are much lower in 
the States than in Europe. It is what drives a company to the cheapest 
and usually worst operating practice, which brings out the screaming and 
placard waving locals and environmentalists on the other side, instead 
of requiring slightly more expensive methods of mining, resulting in 
higher prices,(which should be gladly paid by the same 
environmental-professing folks) but more preservation of the land, and a 
better stewardship ethic all around.

We seem incapable of the longer view here by working together instead of 
at short-sighted cross-purposes.  Phosphate mining is often in conflict 
with local groundwater resources (furnishes local drinking water) and 
the tourist industry in north Florida. This is a political powderkeg.

Perhaps the poster should work towards viable compromise, instead of 
citing statistics. Twenty tons of anything isn't very much in the big 
picture.
best,
Jo



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