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A Reader's Reaction to A Meal Tinged With Sadness and Thanks

July 6, 2012 | NYT | by Jeff of Anchorage, AK

You are perpetuating the myth that the Pebble mine prospect is a choice between environmental preservation or environmental destruction. There is a third possibility—responsible resource development. I challenge you to consider this issue more carefully.

1. Be honest. We are incredibly dependent on the products of mining. Consider the computer you used to write your blog, the plane you took to Alaska, the rod you used to catch fish, not to mention the skyscrapers and subways back home in New York! Mining is required to sustain our modern lifestyles.
2. Dig deeper. The so-called “debate” over Pebble has been fueled largely by deceptive anti-Pebble campaigns. I encourage you to investigate the rigorous permitting process for American mines. We can’t keep depending on poorly-regulated artisanal and other mining in developing countries for our resources.
3. Seek the truth. Casting judgment on Pebble is premature at this point. They have not even come out with a mine plan yet. Once the plan is out, we can carefully and critically review it, basing our analysis on sound science and reason.

Mining has an environmental cost—great or small—depending on how it’s done. Before we pounce on Pebble, let’s see what they have planned and then decide. Mining is an industry we all love to demonize, yet unless we choose to live in a very different way, we’d better figure out how to work WITH mining companies—in a way that sustains our mineral needs but protects our environment.