A Bitter Harvest: A Bitter Harvest: Mining in Developing Mining in Developing

CountriesCountries-Kathy Robinson-Kathy Robinson

Laura GowLaura GowGGS-12GGS-12

Mrs AliphatMrs Aliphat

Welcome….Welcome….

Business development is a natural Business development is a natural progression these days. However, progression these days. However, this development is causing people, this development is causing people, and the environment to suffer.and the environment to suffer.

This is the case in Indonesia. Small This is the case in Indonesia. Small scale and large scale mines alike are scale and large scale mines alike are destroying the country’s farmland, destroying the country’s farmland, and women’s roles in society.and women’s roles in society.

Indonesia’s Issue…..Indonesia’s Issue…..

Right now there are hundreds of women on the street Right now there are hundreds of women on the street selling themselves for money. There are women walking selling themselves for money. There are women walking for miles and miles to arrive at the only decent farmland for miles and miles to arrive at the only decent farmland available for their crops. What is this all for?....available for their crops. What is this all for?....Mining development is continuing to affect the people of Mining development is continuing to affect the people of Indonesia. The continuous expansion of large mining Indonesia. The continuous expansion of large mining industries, as well as many illegal small scale mines, is industries, as well as many illegal small scale mines, is causing a lot of grief for those trying to make a living off causing a lot of grief for those trying to make a living off of the land, as well as those who unable to work due to of the land, as well as those who unable to work due to their age. People as young as 40 years old have been their age. People as young as 40 years old have been deemed too old to work. Much of the good fertile land deemed too old to work. Much of the good fertile land mainly used for crops has been turned into corporate mainly used for crops has been turned into corporate golf courses, mining facilities, etc. golf courses, mining facilities, etc.

Indonesia’s IssueIndonesia’s Issue

• Although this has Although this has added many job added many job opportunities for opportunities for young men, over 75% young men, over 75% of the workers are of the workers are coming in from coming in from outside the country.outside the country.

• Those who are Those who are employed by the employed by the company are usually company are usually between the ages of between the ages of 15 and 40.15 and 40.

Women’s Role In Mining…

• The role of women in small-scale mining is changing. Nowadays women can be seen in most levels, but limited in number.

• The most common way in which women participate in the mining companies is by cooking for the workers and acting as a “mother or doctor” to the younger workers.

• Those women who do not work for the mines, either resort to prostitution for money, or become contract wives. That is that they act as wives to foreign miners for the term of their contract. After that, in most cases, the miners return home to their original wives, and usually end up leaving the Indonesian women worse off than they were in the beginning (alone with children/debt).

Ecomomic Development…Ecomomic Development…

The development of The development of these companies are these companies are generating a massive generating a massive amount of income, amount of income, however, for the however, for the unemployed citizens unemployed citizens who rely on the land who rely on the land and crops for their and crops for their income, this is income, this is devastating. devastating.

If this is to continue, If this is to continue, many of the people of many of the people of Indonesia will have Indonesia will have nothing to live off of.nothing to live off of.

The surrounding The surrounding environment…environment…

This is Joe…..This is Joe…..

This was his This was his home…home…

The surrounding The surrounding environment… environment…

This is Joe’s new This is Joe’s new home…..home…..

……because of because of this….this….

The surrounding environment…The surrounding environment…

It is obvious that people are not the only ones It is obvious that people are not the only ones affected by this change.affected by this change.

Habitats are being destroyed and animals Habitats are being destroyed and animals displaced. This could cause a large problem in displaced. This could cause a large problem in the ecosystem as far as food chains, and the ecosystem as far as food chains, and resources.resources.

Thoughts…Thoughts…

Unless something is done to change Unless something is done to change the expanding industries, the people of the expanding industries, the people of Indonesia will not be able to continue Indonesia will not be able to continue to live in these conditions.to live in these conditions.

Companies should be able to negotiate Companies should be able to negotiate with the people as to what land is to be with the people as to what land is to be left for agriculture, and what can be left for agriculture, and what can be wasted to the benefits of the company.wasted to the benefits of the company.

Works Cited…Works Cited…

http://www.iied.org/mmsd/mmsd_pdfhttp://www.iied.org/mmsd/mmsd_pdfs/asm_indonesia.pdfs/asm_indonesia.pdf

http://www.minesandcommunities.orhttp://www.minesandcommunities.org/Action/press36.htmg/Action/press36.htm

http://www.infomine.com/countries/inhttp://www.infomine.com/countries/indonesia.aspdonesia.asp