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(Soil Pollution Report) Millennial wealth around the world under threat |
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by Nataly Montesinos Canales | 14-04-2022 00:26
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Millennial wealth around the world under threat The Amazon is recognized as the largest tropical forest and river system in the world. It is home to 10% of the planet's biodiversity and extends through the territories of 9 Latin American countries. It is home to more than 47 million people, including 410 indigenous groups. Due to its extension and environmental characteristics, this region is fundamental for climate regulation, the water cycle and the environmental and economic prosperity of the area. Therefore, its protection and conservation is vital for the global ecosystem. Along with deforestation and river pollution, soil contamination represents one of the greatest threats to the diverse Amazonian ecosystems. This pollution is due, among other things, to the unsustainable extraction of minerals such as gold, whose impact on the Amazon's water sources and forests has increased due to the greater demand for this precious metal. Among these practices, the use of mercury to separate and extract gold is common, but given its negative impact on the environment and human health, it is considered illegal in many places. According to a report by the World Resources Institute and the Amazonian Socio-Environmental Information Network (RAISG), illegal miners have invaded 370 indigenous territories, where any type of mining is illegal. In addition, clandestine operations are contaminating almost 20% of Amazonian villages with mercury. Hair and blood samples, taken with the consent of some inhabitants of the Colombian Amazon, register mercury levels in the blood up to 150 times higher than acceptable levels, according to the World Health Organization. This high concentration of the metal in the body has effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems. All these problems have set off alarm bells in several countries in the region and it is in this context that the Amazon Regional Alliance for the reduction of the impacts of gold mining was created. It began in Colombia, but now governmental and civil society entities from Brazil, Peru, Bolivia and French Guiana are also participating. Together, they seek to generate spaces for collaboration and knowledge to generate actions to prevent, reduce and recover from the impacts of gold mining on the rivers, inhabitants, animals and plants of the Amazon. |
 
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4 Comments
The pictures are very meaningful!
Posted 02-08-2022 02:57
Hello Nataly, this is your mentor Chelwoon.
It is unfortunate to know that the indigenous people have no defense against the danger of the work you have mentioned. When a person is exposed to heavy metal substances such as mercury, it is very difficult to return to the original state of health, as it can be easily accumulated inside the human body, at the same time, it is also not easily excreted. Furthermore, it represents one of the causes of cancer and birth defects. This will affect not only the ecosystem around the river but also the indigenous people living near it which will last for a very long time.
Hopefully, more awareness will be gathered so that people in other countries can also be encouraged to address Amazon??s protection needs.
Thank you for the article!
Regards,
Chelwoon
Posted 15-04-2022 00:44
Hello Nataly!
Illegal alluvial gold mining in the Amazon is one of the issues that has always interested and concerned me, as this problem has been going on in our country and neighboring countries for many, many years. Unfortunately, there has not been much progress in reducing this polluting activity that is responsible for the prevailing deforestation, water pollution, and soil pollution in the Peruvian Amazon. And I have always wondered why? Why does our government pay so much attention to large-scale mining and is always monitoring it to make sure it complies with environmental regulations —which I am not saying is wrong, as this is something the government should be applauded for— but forgets the illegal alluvial gold mining in the Amazon, which is destroying valuable ecosystems, protected areas, and indigenous lands where important culture is preserved and endangered species live?
From my point of view, illegal mining is the one that should receive more attention from the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Energy and Mines, and the environmental control entities such as OEFA (the Environmental Evaluation and Control Agency), since it generates more environmental damage than formal mining.
I have been thinking and researching about this and it seems that the absence of environmental justice that has prevailed in our country for decades is one of the main reasons why not much is being done to mitigate the problem of illegal mining in the Amazon. The poorest and most excluded sectors such as those in the Amazon are always the most forgotten and affected.
Another reason could be corruption and fear, since much of the illegal mining is led by mafias that bribe authorities and kill those who raise their voice in protest against these activities.
It is really unfortunate that this is currently happening in our country and in many others, but at least now there are organizations that spread and raise awareness about this serious problem.
Posted 14-04-2022 10:32
Hello Nataly, this is your mentor Joon.
There is a famous documentary made by Korean Broadcasting System which is well known among Koreans. I watched the documentary when I was attending to primary school and I still remember the scene people standing near the stream close to the gold mine with mercury to separate impurity from pure gold. Though it might be a way of living for such people, I heard the narration that it is contributing very badly on environment both on soil and water. The apparent threats are shown on the medical results of those living near the region, and therefore need to be stopped.
Well read your article, and let's keep up!
Best,
Joon
Posted 14-04-2022 01:52