3A-Mining

3 A-**//__MINING__//** = =

Between May 2000 and August 2006,nearly 150,000 square kilometers of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed. A large percentage of deforestation can be linked to mining. Mining strips the forest of its natural minerals and deposits, disrupting the biodiversity in the forest. Although some companies push towards some attempt to fix their mistakes, much of the ecosystem is lost and the water and soil is then contaminated which would harm the animals as well.

= __Why mine in the Amazon rainforest?__ =

Brazil's mines include iron, manganese, nickel, tin, bauxite, beryllium, copper, lead, tungsten, zinc and gold. Other mining exports include silver, emeralds and diamonds

Vale is one of the worlds largest iron mining companies that makes millions off of the "fruits" of brazil. "Tito Martins, a Vale executive director, says the company envisions Carajás as the most sustainable major industrial development ever in the Amazon region, with perhaps enough iron and other materials to continue feeding the world's big steel companies for three centuries or more"(bloomberg bussiness week) If regulations aren't set in stone there will be more companies with the same views and oppinions as Vale will raid the amazon and strip it down till there is no more for it to offer.

= Life in the amazon = Mining affects every aspect of the rainforest, especially its inhabitants. Many fish from the amazon river are poisoned from the chemical and diseases brought by outsiders mining. Fish are a main food source for many animals. For many birds, jaguars, snakes etc. Once this food chain is interrupted the whole eco system goes out of wack and many species start dieing down. Not only are we hurting our animals but we are hurting fellow humans as well. There are indigiounous tribes that still reside in the forest and that live on the trees me cut down and the fish we poison. Everything is connected; a fragile circle of life that we are destroying,.



= __//**Stop mining**//__ = There are organizations that work to attempt to stop deforestation in its tracks. The best way to help is to get informed on local companies that partake in the destruction of our rainforests and possibly boycott their products or services. You can also donate money to many charites in honor of the forest. One person can make a difference.

[|www.amazonrescue.org] (like them on facebook)

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