Pope calls for radical change in mining, cites destruction of local communities
July 17, 2015
Pope Francis called for “a radical paradigm change” in the attitudes and operations of the mining industry, in a message to a Vatican conference on the effects of mining.
The conference, sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, focused on the complaints of residents in the areas where mining operations take place. Especially in poor societies, observed Cardinal Peter Turkson, the president of the Pontifical Council, mining is frequently accompanied by damage to the environment and to the surrounding society, unfair exploitation of workers, corruption, intimidation of opponents, and human-rights violations. “Many of us are aware of this harrowing cry from those areas where mineral extraction is carried out,” the cardinal said.
In his message to the conference, Pope Francis developed the same theme, listing the troubles that are too often associated with mining:
A cry for lost land; a cry for the extraction of wealth from land that paradoxically does not produce wealth for the local populations who remain poor; a cry of pain in reaction to violence, threats and corruption; a cry of indignation and for help for the violations of human rights, blatantly or discreetly trampled with regard to the health of populations, working conditions, and at times the slavery and human trafficking that feeds the tragic phenomenon of prostitution; a cry of sadness and impotence for the contamination of the water, the air and the land; a cry of incomprehension for the absence for inclusive processes or support from the civil, local and national authorities, which have the fundamental duty to promote the common good.
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Further information:
- Justice and Peace speaks out for communities affected by mining (VIS)
- The Pope writes to participants in the meeting “United with God, we hear a cry” on the effects of mining (VIS)
- Pope Francis says mining sector needs radical paradigm shift (Vatican Radio)
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Posted by: JDeFauw -
Jul. 19, 2015 8:17 PM ET USA
Many consumers (including myself) are willing to pay a little more if they know that corporations are acting ethically (example: goods that are labeled "fair trade"). It's difficult to see how consumers can vote with their dollars to support ethical mining. There is a lot to be disturbed about in the global economy. I wish I knew the solutions.
