Re: Phosphate mining

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

<snip>
> Yes, I am concerned about our environment and yes, I do read articles
> about my concerns and I will continue to ask questions.  I truly don't
> mean to hurt anyones feelings or ruffle feathers and I certainly
> wouldn't and don't object to anyone earning a living.  If my questions
> and ignorance bothered anyone, for that I am sorry.  I would rather
> risk being viewed as ignorant than remain so...... Could you, any of
> you suggest better reading, more balanced... ? Is there anything I
> could do to help?  <snip>
>
> Carl E.

Dear Carl,

I wish I could recommend some 'more balanced' approach, but the only one 
 I know of is to read all biased sides throw in the 
government/regulatory assessment, and draw your own conclusions. For 
example: Missouri has a long standing lead industry and resulting lead 
pollution problems, from mining and smelting. The only sources for 
firsthand information are the lead company, government mining and 
regulatory documents, environmental group literature and some academic 
papers by professors/students working in the lead belt. To understand 
the scope of things you have to read the PR releases from the company, 
talk to the workers, read the anti-lead diatribes from the enviros, dig 
in the library and public documents for government assessments, talk to 
the locals who may/may not be affected by the lead industry (positive 
and negative) and dig through academic tomes.
The local press may or may not be fair--often 'investigatory' reporting 
has a point of view to promote, even in the 'objective reporting'. What 
helps, too, it to have a basic understanding of the substance, its uses, 
its hazards, how it is mined, etc. A beginning chemistry or mineral text 
can often furnish this.  If you have an opportunity to visit a 
phosphate mine I would take it. Often the workers are a good source of 
information--they know the industry, (pluses and minuses) and generally 
are more likely to tell a many-sided truth than a company news release.

What can you do? 1) Become as well-informed on the issue as you can.
2) You sent us to a fine government website. They have a few 
opportunities for citizen participation listed. If nothing else, attend 
their meetings if you can. You are more likely to change the mind of a 
county commissioner or local permitter than to influence US policy on 
phosphate to North Korea, but maybe you can present some facts to alter 
the course of mining where you live. If you go into this with the idea 
that you can be part of the solution, you can. Remember that old saw: 
Think Globally Act Locally? It actually can be made to work!
4) Find some aspect of the phosphate mining issue and become an expert 
on it. How the mining affects groundwater. What are air quality issues? 
Don't try to do it all, but by picking one point, you may be able to 
become the spokesman for it. There were many arguments against an Army 
Corps dam here 25 years ago--a friend of mine gave over 400 lectures on 
how the dam would affect caves and vice versa--he was  well informed, an 
self educated, with only a high school degree, but he ended up debating 
Army Corps colonels on this point of their plan. The dam was eventually 
voted down by 64% in a non-binding referendum, which caused the 
politicians to back off, and the dam was never built.
5)Always be polite and respectful of people with opposing views. There 
are none of us who have all the answers--many development decisions are 
a result of a string of compromises a mile long.

Hope this gives you some ideas how to proceed.
best wishes,
  Jo