Mining

 

The activities of mining and extraction of minerals and especially petroleum crude oil has gone on now for more than half a century. Crude oil  and gas production has helped in no doubt to solve the energy problems of man and his society at large. But when in the bid to solve a problem, you create several recurring problems, then it is expected and mandatory we go back to the drawing board and analyze our options.

Imbalances in weather patterns and atmospheric conditions are problems which have come about as a result of the quest to solve our energy needs. The continued production and consumption of fossil fuels is gradually destroying the environment, and it’s time to say it plainly as it is. We can’t go on pretending that we do not actually know the crude sources of the pollution and degradation we are currently experiencing in the environment. 

If we continue to mine crude oil, refine and flare petroleum gas, even when it is glaring that these activities are polluting the air that we breathe on a daily basis; the carbon emissions from gas flaring are being trapped daily in the atmosphere and the earth’s surface temperatures are increasing by the minute, then I must say here, that our consciences as regards our environment and public health have been seared as it were, with a ‘hot iron!’ 

Furthermore, coastal areas in indigenous areas where oil drilling is at its peak,   are still loosing their natural ecosystems to oil spills, and these oil companies have blatantly refused to take ownership of the damage done and assume the responsibility of taking charge and cleaning up the mess they have and continue to create on a regular basis. 

We can’t continue to monitor and applaud the number of oil barrels produced especially in oil producing nations. We seem to be delighted at the fact that oil production has increased especially here in Africa, when we should be more interested in cutting down carbon emissions and reducing drastically our carbon footprint at all costs. 

There are cleaner and greener ways to generate energy namely: the sun, the wind, geo thermal power, hydroelectric power, biofuels and biomass. If we invested in these instead of crude oil, and employed all these consistently on a regular basis then, we are sure to be able to attain a carbon free  economy and society in the long run. It may not happen overnight but we can be rest assured that the process has started in earnest.

We have talked enough and we have deliberated enough on the issue of global warming and climate change. It’s time to take action by implementing those strategies and plans from meetings and conferences. Oil companies and oil producing nations can’t continue to make money and enrich themselves at the expense of public and environmental health, nature in general without wanting to assume and take responsibility for damages done to natural ecosystems that are vital and essential for sustainability of lives on earth. 

These institutions should be held accountable and understand that they have a huge role to play in ensuring that natural ecosystems are restored and be intentional in their approach to this effect.