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Posted by Enviroadmin
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Wednesday, 02 November 2011 13:38 |
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 In 2006 it was reported that mercury emissions in South Africa were second only to China, contributing more than 10% of global mercury emissions. This was reportedly mainly from coal combustion (releasing the mercury that occurs naturally in coal) and gold mining. Some doubt exists about the validity of these figures, and a more detailed national study is reuired to clarify this.
The nature and extent of mercury pollution and its impacts in South Africa have not been extensively studied. Most studies have been in reaction to emergency incidents relating to mercury. The effluent spill into the Mngcewni River in KwaZulu-Natal during the late 1990's is one example. As a result of that pollution, it was recommended that consumption of fish by local communities be significantly reduced.
In South Africa, the SAMA, South African Mercury Assessment Programme was started to investigate sources of mercury pollution but is this happening quick enough?
Are they getting the funding they need to properly assess just how much South African's are being exposed to Mercury?
Do we stand by and wait for another acid mine drainage sage to be exposed before authorities start getting serious about Mercury in our air, water and soils?
People who have been exposed to mercury exhibit neurotoxic effects. Debilitating diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimers etc have all been linked to mercury poisoning. Mercury is particularly problematic in children and developing foetuses. If you breathed in mercury, ate food containing mercury or drank water containing mercury you'd never know it, it's tasteless and odourless.
It's a silent, nasty, slow killer.
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Posted by Dr Andrew Venter (CEO of Wildlands Conservation Trust)
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Thursday, 20 October 2011 10:12 |
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 EXXARO’s announcement that they intend “selling” their Mineral Sands operation to a new Australian based joint venture, New Tronox, has thrown new light on their Fairbreeze agenda. In 2009, they indicated that they were suspending their Fairbreeze mining expansion plans due to the global recession. Last year, in a amazing about turn they initiated a new application process, for a significantly larger and more risky operation. In doing this they are attempting to cut every corner in the approvals process, determinedly doing everything in their power to avoid having to do a full EIA for their proposed operation. This, despite the fact that this operation will irreversibly change and scar the landscape forever.
In justifying this renewed energy and enthusiasm for the Fairbreeze expansion, EXXARO have been outspoken about wanting to extend the life of their local operations by 12 years so that they could save “1 000” jobs, continue to underwrite local development, stimulate South Africa’s economic development and many more similar platitudes. These are all contradictory, as two years ago they were not worried about any of these issues. Rather their primary concern was their shareholders bottom line!
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Posted by Enviroadmin
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Tuesday, 04 October 2011 08:59 |
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 The world-famous hot springs of the city of Bath may be threatened by fracking, the controversial technique for exploiting underground supplies of shale gas, the British government was told.
Bath and North East Somerset Council sounded the alarm to ministers about licences to use the technique, which involves fracturing rock formations by pumping in liquids at high pressure, that have been granted to two companies prospecting for gas in the Mendip Hills to the south of the city.
The licences have been granted by the Department for Environment to both Eden Energy and UK Methane, and they are now in the process of applying to Mendip District Council for planning permission to begin test drilling.
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Posted by Enviroadmin
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Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:57 |
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 Philip du Bruin & Miningmx | Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:32
Source: MiningMX
THE Special Court of Appeal (SCA) has in two separate judgments curtailed the powers of the Minister of Mineral Resources in relation to the granting of mining rights in municipal areas.
The rulings confirmed the power of local authorities to regulate zoning for mining.
Judges L. Harms, T. Cloete, J. Shongwe, N. Wallis and C. Plasket found unanimously that where municipal land was concerned, the relevant municipality had the final say in terms of the Land Use Planning Ordinance (LUPO), and not the minister by extension of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA).
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Posted by Enviroadmin
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Monday, 26 September 2011 13:50 |
 Article Source: Natural News
The natural gas industry and its advocates claim that hydraulic fracturing, the modern technique for extracting natural gas, also known as "fracking," is beneficial to the interests of American energy independence.
However, a simple report recently issued by KARK 4 News in Little Rock, Ark., suggests that fracking operations, which involve pumping large amounts of water and chemicals deep underground, may be responsible for triggering the mysterious earthquakes that have been striking in unusual locations across the nation in recent months.
One of at least 14 US states where fracking operations are currently active, Arkansas, is not exactly the most seismically active region in the US. Though the state sits near the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ), a fault that is considered to have the highest earthquake risk outside the West Coast, the area typically only experiences a few small shakes in an average month, with larger ones occurring on an even more sporadic basis.
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Posted by Enviroadmin
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Wednesday, 21 September 2011 15:51 |
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 Mining Companies, Unscrupulous Developers and their Consultants steam roll communities all over South Africa on an almost daily basis. Mining Companies and their Consultants for one often fail to adhere the law to which they so dearly subscribe and preach and will often arrive at a community meeting saying "They have a right to mine your land" according to the law, but FAIL miserably to let you know that you have rights too, lots of them, and it is this misinformation or lack of information that often results in communities falling prey to these companies.
Property Developers equally employ Environmental Consultants that use many methods of bypassing or side-stepping the law often submitting false or misleading information in their reports. More often than not the consultant is loyal to the developer who is paying the bill and will continually rely on the public not having enough information to fight them (He who pays the piper calls the tune). This leaves communities scrambling for help and assistance and spending hundreds of hours away from their families reading through legislation, setting up web sites and mustering support for their causes.
The Mining Community of South Africa has one law that they use as gospel to plunder South Africa namely the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development act or MPRDA as it is otherwise known. They take this one law as their ticket to go wherever they like, to intimidate whoever they like, to bully whoever they like and to stick their drills into whoever's property they like. But what rights do you as a landowner and citizen of South Africa have on your side?
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Posted by Enviroadmin
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Wednesday, 07 September 2011 09:33 |
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 A map giving an overview of the current mineral prospecting situation facing the historical town of Magaliesburg situated on the doorstep of the Cradle of Humankind.
Map is constructed using factual information from actual applications lodged with the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) Gauteng.
For full size Map click Read More.
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Posted by Enviroadmin
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Friday, 02 September 2011 09:54 |
 The Mapungubwe Action Group has dismissed an agreement signed between government and mines. It has suggested the agreement was just a paper that has been written on.
The Environmental Affairs Department, South African National Parks (SanParks) and Coal of Africa signed an agreement regulating mining activity near Mapungubwe on Thursday.
The group is a coalition of civil society organisations that has challenged the authorisation of mining licenses in the heritage site area. Read the full story here
Source: EyeWitNess News
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Posted by Enviroadmin
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Wednesday, 31 August 2011 20:11 |
 A joint report by WISE and SOMO - Excerpt: Uranium mining operations have high impacts on environment and society, and can lead to deterioration of health of workers and communities. Uranium mining activities are increasing in Africa, where mining is not always strictly regulated and controlled. Mitigation of negative impacts from uranium mines by national governments and international mining companies can have a positive effect on society and environment. This report assesses what mitigation measures governments and industry are taking in Namibia, South Africa, and the Central African Republic. Practices are compared with Canada and Australia, where regulation is more strict.
Uranium, a natural resource which is used for nuclear energy production, is extracted from the earth in uranium mines located in various countries worldwide. Nearly twenty per cent of the world's mined uranium is produced in Africa, and this percentage is expected to increase in the future. As uranium mining is associated with various negative externalities such as environmental pollution and deterioration of health, intensified uranium production in Africa can lead to a wide variety of hazards. Preventing and managing the multiple hazards is a complicated task which requires specific knowledge, efforts, and financial means available in all responsible stakeholders. It can be questioned if all of these factors are available in the African states which are allowing uranium mining operations on their land. For the full report click Read More.
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Posted by Enviroadmin
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Monday, 29 August 2011 17:45 |
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 South Africa is reported to have some of the toughest environmental legislation in the world but when it comes to putting your money where your mouth is, our environmental laws appear to be failing us faster than anything. One of the biggest challenges facing South Africa's natural environments is the Mining Industry governed and coaxed by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and together they appear to be side-stepping just about any environmental law they wish.
Numerous communities around South Africa have fallen prey to mining companies rocking up with applications for prospecting licenses and for most communities and environments this does not end well. The mining companies follow a process set by the DMR and stipulated by the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) but continually use every tactic possible to get as few people to know about their application as possible and the DMR seems to happily allow this to occur.
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