On the same day that 8000 farmers, environmentalists, the Country Women’s Association and others took part in Australia's biggest rally against coal seam gas (CSG) mining, the NSW mining industry launched a website to “dispel myths” about the industry.
Website creator the Minerals Council of NSW includes the state's biggest mining companies: Anglo American, BHP Billiton, Barrick Gold, Peabody, Rio Tinto, Shenhua and Xstrata.
The website's timing reveals the industry is reeling from the broad alliance growing in opposition to the impacts and dangers of mining and CSG.
The main arguments on the mining website are scrutinised below.
Claim: Mining operations account for just 0.1% of NSW land, compared with 76% for agriculture.
The real issue is the impact of this use on the land, environment and community. A similar argument is made by some climate deniers, who say that since carbon dioxide makes up a tiny fraction (about 0.04%) of our atmosphere, it can’t possibly have the devastating effect that climate scientists have demonstrated it does.
In terms of impact on land, mining is significant.
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Green Left Weekly
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