Sunday Ruminations, Religion versus Mining Jobs

Oleh Jack Caldwell

On a Sunday, one may be forgiven for ruminating on the role of religion in mining. The story at this link prompts new ideas on the choice between a life of impecunious devotion and financial security come from a job on a mine; here are some extracts:
A Catholic priest known for his environmental activism has been accused of inciting a violent protest against a Canadian mining project in the state of Oaxaca that led to the deaths of a small-town mayor and a municipal official…… Father Garcia, whose parish serves the region surrounding the mine, has focused much of his ministry on environmental and human rights issues. He said he tackled the mine project because of concerns about a lack of water in the region and the possible contamination of water resources from mining byproducts even though mine operators promised to bring hundreds of jobs to a region rife with unemployment.

In Guatemala this week we have seen religion, spiritual and secular, succeed in closing the Marlin Mine. In the case of Marlin the religious folk claimed some locals had metals in the blood. They blamed it on the mine. Which is strange. I have seen the water resources for the people around the mine. The water
sources are not the mine. Instead most houses seem to get water that has flowed long distances in plastic pipes from springs and wells. Considering that a great deal of the country rock is volcanic, it is reasonable to ask: is it possible the water coming from the ground, having seeped through the same
volcanics that give rise to the ore body, is contaminated. It seems reasonable to ask: is there any correlation between blood metal levels and the upgradient source of the water the affected locals are drinking? This simple investigation never seemed to enter the head of those intent on attacking the
mine. Has anybody done a proper risk assessment involving source, route, and contact? The procedures are so elementary, that even Goldcorp should have had somebody do this by now.
Which takes me back to the fundamental question that seems to be at the heart of theoretical religion: is it better for the soul to be poor and starve to death to go to heaven, or to be rich–well maybe have at least enough money from mining jobs to be able to feed one’s family? Most American religions these days seem to have shaken off the idea of the religious virtues of poverty and the benefits to going to heaven dying of hunger. Rick Warren and his cohorts in Orange County have even managed to persuade half the population that God intends for us to be very comfortable and wear Ann Klein and Tommy Bahama to church and play. As long as you cough up your ten percent, the more the merrier. I wonder what would happen if Rick Warren and his church supplanted the Roman Catholic church in Mexico and Guatemala? Would we see more mining?
To return to the priest reportedly beaten in Oaxaca. If he is so worried about the lack of water, why not lobby to get the mining company to help find and develop water resources. Surely this would be more productive than opposing mining. And if he cannot persuade the mining company to provide water in a dry land, at least let some folk work on the mine and get enough to educate their kids so the educated may return to develop water resources. I know many who were educated from money earned on the mines who are now groundwater engineers and hydrologists. Poverty and ignorance will never increase a water supply; only an educated person or persons will. Thus we must wonder if this priest was not simply intent on keeping people poor and ignorant and in thrall to him and his church–is he guilty of the venial sin of pride in liking the devotion and admiration of the poor and uneducated. It was ever thus
with too many churches.
I may well owe the Oaxaca priest an apology. Maybe he is truly seeking only to counter the rule of wicked politicians. I am told that the local priest in the area of the Marlin mine was defrocked for pedophilia many years ago–but was strangely reinstated and is now in the thrall of the drug cartels. Maybe these cartels have chosen to shut the Marlin mine pending a takeover once Goldcorp is
back in Vancouver. Manipulation of a once-defrocked priest is small potatoes in search of getting your hands on a gold mine. Bet you the Marlin Mine, once shut will be “nationalized” or taken over by local strong men who will reopen operations—all in the interest of providing jobs of course.