Lithium discovery in US volcano could be biggest deposit ever found
Lithium discovery in US volcano could be biggest deposit ever found
Lithium discovery in US volcano could be biggest deposit ever found::Find could point to new ways to prospect for material in high demand for batteries.
Cute, they seem to completely gloss over the fact that the review of the site's environmental impact was rushed, the fact that it'll likely be disrupting several native habitats, including at least one species that doesn't exist elsewhere, the fact that it'll apparently be destroying places that are important to the culture and religions of the surrounding tribal groups (apparently thacker pass is sacred as a massacre against native Americans was committed there, and that they were not consulted before it was approved like they were supposed to), or any of the other issues with it.
We need lithium, but considering how bad of a reputation resource extraction companies have, could we not gloss over the fact that, once again, a mining company is about to bulldoze a lot of land with ecological, cultural, and religious importance in the name of green capitalism? At least force them to mine underground instead of gouging yet another scar into the face of the earth with an open pit mine.
You gotta choose. Dig messy holes at home, make friends with china, or rapacious exploitation of developing nations.
Which one do you like best?
I’m not advocating for a bunch of nasty mines in my backyard. I’m just pointing out that “not mining” is a choice that is pretty ugly also.
Ensure that the indigenous groups that have claim to the area are entitled at least 50% ownership and profit. Provide them priority on training and jobs. Give them a stake in the entire operation.
You forgot the best option! Forcing Mexico to become the 51st State
Seawater extraction is starting to ramp up. We may not have to make that choice at all.
It's going to be mined somewhere. Acting like American land is too sacred to be mined for lithium while mining has equally bad if not worse effects on other places is basically NIMBYism for resource extraction. And while BANANAs might be effective in urban development, I don't think too many people and especially not developed worlders want the effects of that if the philosophy is applied to mining lithium.
There's a fair chance we would mine it more responsibly than if somebody else mines it elsewhere.
The thing about open pit mining vs. Underground is, when you are faced with options on how to solve a problem it's very rare that safe, fast, inexpensive, and practical are all in the same choice.
Pick two:
When has any of that ever stopped them?