Hi Andrew,
Thank you for your gracious response. Your points are well taken. The
discussion you heard by Heiko Bleher is a valuable source of information
because he knows the region and its aquatic wildlife.
I agree regarding the loss of fish; they are irreplaceable once they are
gone. (Reminds me of the sad story of the blue pike that once inhabited
Lake Erie. See http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/greatlakesfish/bluepike.html)
But again, it all comes back to the government, does it not? There must be
a will to preserve that which cannot be replaced.
Thanks again.
Neil
REPLY TO:
> Hi Neil,
>
> I sat through a talk by Heiko Bleher at an ANGFA conference a few years
> back in Canberra where he spoke about the mine's effects on the Ok Tedi
> and other (Mamberamo?) rivers - if half of what he said was true, then
> the area would be in a sorry state now. Once the fish are gone, they
> will not come back. The record of the Indonesian government on a wide
> range of economically intangible matters is not very good. Freeport has
> to assume at least joint responsibility for what has happened there.
>
> Best regards, Andrew
>
> Neil D. Anderson wrote:
>
>> The New York Times is well known for its anti-business, anti-American
>> slant. Before you believe everything you read there, do a little
>> investigation of your own. Check out
>> http://www.fcx.com/envir/wtsd/2004/reclam2.htm to see what Freeport is
>> doing to reclaim tailings areas all in cooperation with the
>> Indonesian government, I might add.
>>
>> No one can restore land that has been mined or forests that have been
>> cut to their original pristine state. However as we all know, trees
>> grow back, and mined land becomes beautiful and useful again once it
>> has been properly restored. It is up to the Indonesian government to
>> protect areas that it wants to preserve as pristine and untouched by
>> making them into national parklands. In other words, don9t blame the
>> mining company that employs local people, lifts them out of poverty,
>> and attempts to work within an environmentally sound set of
>> guidelines. Encourage the Indonesian government to recognize the
>> importance of preserving its beautiful lands, natural fauna, and
>> diverse wildlife through legislation.
>>
>
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Neil D. Anderson
408 North Keene-Way Drive
Nicholasville, KY 40356
E-mail: neila452 at adelphia.net
3Never despair at the mercy of God2
>> -- Isidore of Seville (7th c)
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