Mining for precious metals like gold and silver presents El Salvador with a seemingly difficult dilemma. How do you choose between generating wealth and employment through mineral exploitation or protecting the environment in the interests of humanity?
By its nature, mining forces a choice between two distinct and opposing things: gold or life. In El Salvador they aren’t compatible. It is important to be clear about this, because some people are confused or hide the truth to promote their own interests. Those who defend mining claim it will support development, create thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars in export revenue. But they deliberately hide the fact that the jobs and wealth are a poisoned chalice.
Trees have to be felled, hillsides destroyed, water polluted and crops abandoned. They also hide the fact that, once the mine’s resources have been exhausted, the country will be left with a destroyed and polluted environment, making conditions very difficult for human, animal and plant life.
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