Re: Phosphate mining

Good Morning Jo!

Your scope appears enormous, compassionate and humbling...... I do
applaud your contribution to this academia.  Would that there were
more persons like you.

Thank you for your kind consideration....

Carl E. 



Jo Schaper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> [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