Gold's Social Impact
The True Price of Beauty
"Every ton of gold mined results in 1 death and 12 serious injuries."When a mining company selects an area to begin excavation, they are often welcomed by corrupt governments who will get the largest share of any revenue that remains in the country. Compared to the total profits that the mine will create during it's operation, this amount is miniscule. Most of the money will be retained by the company, to be spent in other countries which already have thriving economies.In many cases, mines are opened without any consultation of local government and citizens. Although organizations like the World Bank are demanding "free, prior, informed consent for all operations which may impact communities", most of the voices are still not being heard. Opposition to mining has often been met with police brutality and worse.
Displacement
Indigenous peoples, farmers and other rural citizens become displaced if their homes are located in the area where a company has chosen to mine. Even when ownership of the land can be proven, people are often removed by force. In the early 1990's the UK based company Rio Tinto used Indonesian military to burn villages and make way for their new gold mine.
Once mining has been established, other citizens have no choice but to relocate. Road building, pollution and even crime associated with mines and their camps can make life impossible for nearby farms and villages. Water contamination from tailings ponds, garbage dumps and poorly planned septic systems can cause steep drops in farm production. The result is that families who have made a modest living in an area for generations must seek work elsewhere.
Population Increase
Mining companies are notorious for exploiting countries which have low standards of living, and poor labor laws. Although wages are low, people flock to newly opened mines seeking work. This sudden increase in population has an immediate effect on surrounding communities. Where social services such as schools and hospitals are available, the demand for care cannot always be met. Natives of the area are forced to share their services with migrant workers, and local governments must foot the bill.
Occasionally mining companies will contribute to the improvement of local amenities, creating new roads, buildings and homes. In many cases, the quality of living does improve near mining operations. This 'generosity' however, is meant only to improve the productivity of the mine, and in turn increases the burdens on local government. As the cost of living rises, crime, drug use, and other social problems continue to rise as well.
Once the ore in the mine has been exhausted, the company will pack up their operation and leave the community to clean up the crime and pollution on their own. Hundreds of out of work miners must now attempt to find jobs elsewhere, or become vagrants, causing further strain on local governments and economies.
Slavery and Exploitation
Although 'legal' slavery is rare, all types of mining are nearly always associated with slavery of some kind. Miners are forced to work in poor conditions, for long hours, and with minimal pay. In many countries, women are expected to contribute to mining operations, but must share the same wage that her husband would receive if he were not married.
Mining jobs are always temporary, for each area can yield only so much ore. Workers who are fortunate enough to be paid for their efforts cannot expect any income security such as promotion or pension. They are often forced to work without proper safety equipment, or expected to pay for their own from their modest wages.
Even in the most pristinely run mines, accidents and fatalities are common. Mine workers account for about 1 percent of all employed people in the world, yet mining causes over 5 percent of all work related fatalities. Every ton of gold mined results in 1 death and 12 serious injuries.
In addition to forced labour, many mining camps keep women and children as prostitutes, often against their will. Many of these women are kidnapped, deceived or coerced into traveling to the camps, after which they are restrained with violence and forced to work. In some countries, such as Suriname, extreme poverty causes men and women to sell their own children into slavery. Some will be forced to work in various industries, such as mining, while others will be forced to serve in even more degrading roles. For many of these women, their lives will end in rape and murder.
