Looking Ahead - Mining and the Environment: From Ore to Metal - page 843

Another new frontier being posited as a source of minerals is the deep sea. It has long
been known that high-grade nodules containing metals such as manganese are present on
the sea-bed in various parts of the world. Similarly high-grade deposits of base metals are
associated with sub-sea volcanic activity in many parts of the ocean. Technologies for eco-
nomic extraction of such minerals are only in the conceptual or prototype stages. However,
if commodity prices continue to rise, the possibility of deep sea mining may improve.
Mining outside the Earth remains, for the foreseeable future, the domain of science i c-
tion. The i nancial disincentives that apply to Antarctica appear minor compared to those
that would apply to even our nearest celestial neighbour.
Based on the above considerations, the factors that have led to increased mining in pre-
viously non-mining countries are likely to continue and to intensify in the future.

Another new frontier being
posited as a source of minerals is
the deep sea.

22.2 TRENDS IN ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICE

End to Paternalism

Until quite recently, mining companies believed without question that what was good
for them must also be good for the communities in which they operated. Opposition
tended to be dismissed as uninformed, or the work of a small minority of trouble-makers.
Companies and governments co-operated in land acquisition and in many cases, land was
acquired compulsorily, sometimes forcibly. This situation has changed signii cantly over
the past two or three decades. Now, in most countries mining companies have to negoti-
ate land acquisition with landholders, and there are recent examples of projects remaining
undeveloped because proponents were unable to acquire the necessary land. Previously,
the only approvals needed for a new mining development were from the appropriate
government(s). Now, equally important is the consent of the local community. Although
it is still possible in some countries to develop a mine without local consent, few companies
and none of the major mining companies, would be foolish enough to do so.
There is another type of paternalism, which could be termed 'environmental paternal-
ism', which is common among expatriate staff of some mining companies and their con-
sultants. Typically, this is the attitude that 'best practice' is Australian (or American or
Canadian) and that anything else is inferior. The worst aspect of environmental paternal-
ism, apart from the implied insult to local practitioners, is that local knowledge and expe-
rience are ignored, to the detriment of the project.
Although NGOs have long criticized the real or perceived paternalism shown by mining
companies, many NGOs have been similarly paternalistic. Of course, as discussed in previ-
ous chapters, there is a broad spectrum of NGOs and therefore an equally broad spectrum
of attitudes and views. There are many, mainly community-based NGOs, that are well
informed and enjoy strong community support. On the other hand, some of the most well-
known international NGOs are as paternalistic as the most paternalistic mining company.
Again, this attitude can best be summarized as 'We know what's best for you'. Rarely, it
appears, do international NGOs spend sufi cient time in local communities that would ena-
ble them to speak on behalf of these communities, and yet this is what they do. Frequently,
one cannot help getting the impression that they will embrace the cause of a disaffected party
without investigating the source of disaffection, or the views of the community at large.
There are few signs that NGO paternalism is diminishing. However, there are signs of a
growing anti-NGO backlash which seeks to hold NGOs accountable for their public state-
ments. To the extent that this anti-NGO trend is effective, paternalism is likely to diminish.

Until quite recently, mining
companies believed without
question that what was good
for them must also be good for
the communities in which they
operated.

Environmental paternalism is
the attitude that 'best practice'
is Australian (or American or
Canadian) and that anything else
is inferior.

There are signs of a growing anti-
NGO backlash which seeks to
hold NGOs accountable for their
public statements.