Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Will Greenland become the next Shitheap?
It is too early to tell but there are mining companies drooling to go after the mineral resources of that land, even though some may exist under 150 meters of ice. The Greenlanders would like that to happen under the strictest supervision and environmental control (fat chance).
But the key question is whether these activities can be carried out without damaging the pristine Arctic environment. Stendal says the government is determined to ensure miners adhere to the highest international standards, though he admits officials have little experience of regulating extraction. Jon Burgwald of Greenpeace fears not: “I’m definitely nervous about the current mining projects. The information we need on these operations has not been made public.”Small country, big companies, much desired resource, it doesn't look good for Greenland.
Burgwald says waste water from the mines is a major issue, as if it is not disposed of properly it could have “very serious impacts”. The use of toxic chemicals in some mining processes is another problem, and the transport of the products to and from the mine sites could also raise issues. Equally problematically, some of the rare earths are likely to be found in deposits that also contain uranium, which could lead to the dispersal of uranium dust in a pristine environment.
Mikkel Myrup, of the local environmental organisation Avataq, believes the Greenland government lacks the capabilities to ensure the environmental safety of mines at present. “We do not have the institutions ready, or the competencies, and we are facing a huge invasion from many big multinational companies.”
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Glad I'm gonna be there in a few weeks, before they fuck it up completely. Would have liked to see a glacier though ...
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