Mining has become a vital part of our every day lives. Even though we might not be associated with the industry we use materials that come from mining everyday. A world without minerals would be a world without cars, trains, airplanes etc. We would not be able to do the things we have now without those important minerals. We won’t be able to live in secure buildings/structures as everything will then have to be made out of wood. This is definitely not a world we can envision today as our lives revolve around these comforts/ necessities of life. These are not the only material things we would have to go without, things such as TV’s, computers and food, yes food.

If we look at the future of mining it is evident that we cannot go without this industry and it will therefore become an ever expanding industry. As the mining industry has progressed into the twenty-first century, it is producing higher value products (products with lower costs and superior qualities) that enable continued economic development and the extensive use of conservative and advanced products and energy resources to sustain the world’s growing populace and rising markets in developing and industrialized countries. Developing countries have embraced the notion that the mining industry and their products provide the standards for measurement of nation growth. Communities welcome mining operations, recognizing their input to employment and economic growth. The industry is achieving this vision by encircling all elements of mining (exploration, development, production, processing, utilization, recycling, disposal and the associated transportation systems).

As technology keeps on expanding and people gain more knowledge and experience in this industry it will only get better from there. People have said that the mining industry wont survive the “digital age” because technology will be able to cancel out the minerals we cherish. The “digital age” only promises that people will have easier life styles compared to working from an office they will be able to do everything from the comfort of their own homes. What people don’t see is how we get to that point. We will only be able to get there through the expansion of computers and the internet amongst other things.

The mining industry will only improve with the emerging technologies by increasing productivity and reducing occupational hazards. The mining industry does, however, suffer when global economic climate seems a bit dull. If we experience recession before these new technologies arrive we will have a problem. As proven in the past the mining industry suffered during recession because of the high costs involved in the processes. With new technology these high costs will be cut.

Mining is an industry that will change yes, but it’ll never “die” as the “digital age” lurks around the corner. Everything that we use comes from this industry and this should be something people should invest in and expand on. Mining has been characterised as dangerous as an occupation and environmentally unfriendly. This has changed significantly over the years and will be non-existent in a couple of years.

Not long ago, I was discussing the challenges with assisting in developing a stable economy in Afghanistan with an acquaintance. After all, growing poppies for the opium trade doesn’t seem like such a wise idea, especially after one considered the problems that drugs have caused in South East Asia, and the rest of the world for that matter. Okay so, what is the answer, considering all the challenges there? Well, let me throw out there some thoughts and my thinking on this issue.

Okay so, here is my right-off-the-top-of-my-head solution: “Mining”

The nation of Afghanistan has huge resources for REEs (rare earth elements), iron, copper, etc, and it is in close proximity to buyers, namely; China, Pakistan, India, Middle East, etc. That’s about all they have going for them with regards to natural resources. So, why not make money mining, and really one of these days we have to get serious about that Poppy Cultivation, as those drugs are ruining other cultures, so that’s not exactly very pretty or anything we ought to pretend not to notice.

Should a Think Tank work to put together a plan on Mining, with foreign investment, mineral rights, condo style living, rules for labor so kids don’t get enslaved for Afghanistan’s economic future? I believe so, and that plan should also include; heavy equipment training, environmental sciences, etc, as well. What about the corruption issues there? Well, yes, that too is a big problem, especially if Afghanistan is to develop a free-market style economy in the future.

What about stability in the midst of corrupt government leaders, it’s not as if Afghanistan is currently the epitome of integrity when it comes to cash flows, and power right? Well, if we are looking for absolute honesty in all business dealings, well, not sure that will happen anytime soon. Non-corruption in an Arab nation-state, especially one with little infrastructure or rule of law, well, indeed, yes, that’s probably never going to happen, at least anytime soon.

In fact, on the outposts of the galaxy in Star Trek, recall that the Ferengi culture didn’t exactly work that way, and Afghanistan is definitely off the beaten path. In fact, most human civilizations, tribes, societies, don’t have non-corrupt leadership. Some would say that Afghanistan is also not self-reliance, or won’t be once the US leaves, but I ask by who’s standards, as people have lived there in the region for at least 7,500 years that we know about, isn’t it kind of arrogant for us to assume they “need” us to survive?

If we assisted with their mining efforts, then at least they’d have something to sell to the world, and sustain themselves with, and the corruption issues are critical, but you have to remember what we are dealing with too. Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Black Lung Disease occurs when a person is exposed to coal dust over an extended period of time or to extreme amounts of the dust. It irritates the sensitive tissue in the lungs and can lead to several diseases including pneumoconiosis, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Miners and ex-miners have filed industrial disease claims for the suffering which this disease has caused them.

Pneumoconiosis
There are two forms of the disease with varying levels of seriousness. Simple pneumoconiosis is not usually disabling however the complicated form of pneumoconiosis can be disabling. It can lead to medical problems including pulmonary tuberculosis or failure of the right hand side of the heart. The people most affected are over the age of 50 and worked in the coal mines before the industry slowed down in Britain. This is reflected in the profile of ex-miners who are making industrial disease claims. Smoking does not increase your chances of developing pneumoconiosis however the effects of smoking on the lungs by reducing its function can make the symptoms of pneumoconiosis worse. The symptoms of pneumoconiosis include a chronic cough and shortness of breath.

Emphysema
Emphysema is part of a range of lung conditions know as ‘Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease’. Although it is not only miners who are at risk from developing the disease, coal dust is a major factor in the onset of the emphysema. Other risk groups include smokers and some people can inherit it as they are born with a deficiency of a vital protein for lung function. Coal dust changes the balance of chemicals which regulate the contraction and expansion of the lungs during breathing and when this occurs the lungs lose their elasticity and the alveoli over-inflate. When the alveoli over-extend they get damaged and this is irreversible, the lungs are unable to transfer as much oxygen to the bloodstream and shortness of breath occurs. Industrial disease claims are filed because these breathing difficulties can make everyday life hard.

Chronic Bronchitis
Coal dust can cause irritation to the airways and this causes them to narrow and the cilia (small hairs which pass mucus along the airways) to be paralysed. When you have chronic bronchitis you suffer from long-term mucus production which can cause coughing for long periods of time. Because the cilia have been paralysed, the mucus is not shifted out of the airways. Chronic bronchitis lasts for 2 years but if the problems persist it can turn into chronic obstructive bronchitis because the lungs get damaged and obstructed. This can then develop into emphysema.

Whereas if these diseases were caused by smoking, the symptoms may ease if the sufferer were to stop, this is not possible if coal dust is the cause. Therefore, many miners and ex-miners have filed industrial disease claims against their employers because they were not protected from the effects of the coal dust on their future health. As the mining industry slows down in the UK, we will start to see fewer and fewer of these claims however whilst people are suffering, they still have the right to seek legal justice for their medicinal problems.