The damaging and false “tragedy of the commons” narrative has been especially successful, unfortunately, when it comes to artisanal and small-scale mining, as demonstrated by Michael Blain’s letter (“Artisanal mining confusion”, November 20).
Artisanal and small-scale mining is not an inherently crude, dangerous or criminal activity. It is often a traditional and continual form of material collection necessary to meet human needs.
Illegal, criminal and dangerous mining can be at any scale and degree of technological sophistication. I would argue that a large-scale mine that does not have local free and prior informed consent is crude and dangerous, even if it is “legal”.
If there is an argument that mining for material needs is inherently criminal, the same argument must hold true that being a human who is reliant on Earth materials is inherently criminal, which is outlandish (pun intended).
We all rely on the material world — let’s stop stigmatising the poor, and those (increasingly limited) who don’t fit within junior/major structures that are dominant in (and come from within) the Western world.
Cassia Johnson
PhD student, University of Exeter Camborne School of Mines
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.