Denise Moreno Ramírez voices alarm over a proposed mining project in Arizona that could threaten local ecosystems and public health.
Leanna First-Arai reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- South32's planned mining operation in Arizona’s Sky Islands has sparked fear among locals about potential ecological damage and health risks.
- Despite a lack of stringent air quality standards for manganese, experts warn its extraction could result in harmful exposure, causing Parkinson’s-like symptoms.
- Conservationists and residents raise alarms about the mine's potential to exacerbate water scarcity and contamination in an already drought-prone region.
Key quote:
“Biodiversity is the foundation of a lot of our health. The western perspective has made it so that we’re very disconnected from that reality.”
— Denise Moreno Ramírez, environmental scientist and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Arizona.
Why this matters:
In the quest for these raw materials, the U.S. faces a test of values: can we mine the minerals we crave without harming communities or ecosystems? It's a balance of progress and protection, a true measure of our dedication to a greener future.
Denise Moreno Ramírez is a former Agents of Change fellow who has written about the need to protect workers and women of color from toxic chemicals.
