Entries Tagged as 'Agriculture'
September 10th, 2007 · 1 Comment
WILD NATURE - POISONED AND SILENT
By Mariette Lieferink
John Jordi wrote: “In this particular part of the globe we have subdued the land, fenced in its creatures and harnessed its wild rivers. It was a massive task at first – foolhardy almost – but now we have emerged totally victorious. And it might be our trouble: our victory was too total. In places nature has capitulated leaving behind poisoned, lifeless streams; exhausted infertile soil; and each spring becomes more silent.” (The Star, March 10 1971)
This has become the legacy of gold and uranium mining since uranium has contaminated…
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Tags: Mining · Pollution · Agriculture · DME - Minerals and Energy · Uranium
September 10th, 2007 · No Comments
FARMERS STILL SUFFER THE POLLUTED LEGACY OF MINING
The destructive legacy of mining that still affects the Merafong region with serious water pollutant issues was examined by Elize van Eeden in research titled: “Whose environment? Whose nature?” presented at the International Conference on Humankind held in Kruger National Park last year, .
Because they were afraid that underground water in the Wonderfontein catchment might endanger the lives of mineworkers the mining industry decided to pump out surplus water and this process destroyed local water resources. Sinkholes appeared and the flow of springs decreased, but for decades this was denied by…
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Tags: Mining · Pollution · Agriculture · Uranium