jenny_wildcat (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jenny_wildcat) wrote2007-08-07 01:19 pm
jenny_wildcat) wrote2007-08-07 01:19 pm
Entry tags:
Think About It
We interrupt tomfoolery and geekdom to bring something slightly more serious (cut because I am long-winded when it comes to discussing heated opinion).
If you haven't heard, yesterday a mine collapsed in Huntington, Utah (south of Price - east-central area of the state), trapping six miners. They're thinking a 4.0 earthquake caused the collapse and it'll probably be three days before they can get the miners out. If the miners survived the initial collapse, they're saying that there's enough air and water that they can wait out the time.
First of all, I sincerely hope that these guys are okay and that the rescue workers can get to them safely as well.
Second of all, the president of the company that owns the mine, Robert Murray, held a press conference earlier today. I've been listening to the radio all day and hearing about it and people are upset because Mr. Murray pointed out what a valuable resource coal is to the economy and to people who want to have indoor electricity (if you have a computer plugged into the wall at your home or work and are reading this right now, I'd say that you qualify). Coal is an inexpensive way to generate electricity, so people who have lower incomes can afford to heat and cool their homes, cook meals, have lighting, etc. And it's better that the country produce coal and other energy sources at home than having to import it from other countries.
Like I said, people are upset because this might not be the best time to bring something like this up. But, the problem with that argument is that it's not Mr. Murray or the company that's doing it. It's politicians and media and Sierra Club nits that are going to do that and Mr. Murray beat them to the punch (in all fairness - the media had started raising the question if we should still be coal mining to keep people safe [I guess that was their "look good" reason]). I haven't found a link to any audio or transcript of the press conference, but I'm still looking - I've only heard bits and clips during radio news coverage
It happens every time there's a disaster: calls and petition to stop mining and/or other industries because it's harmful and dangerous, not just to the people that work in the mines, but to the Peruvian spotted tree worm or some other crap like that and we should quit and let people in third world countriesslave away for the elite developed nation produce the exact same products for the United States, but at a much higher cost and security risk.
As a daughter of a Utah rancher who's heard this same BS from environmental wackos time and again, when I heard Mr. Murray say that in his press conference, I wanted to send him cookies with a note proclaiming "Damn Straight!"
It's about time someone on the side of the farmer and the miner spoke up first before people came out and attacked our industries for being evil land profiteers or whatever they say about us. In all honesty, the media and their leftist buddies were already coming out against mining because of this disaster and they weren't getting bitchsmacked for their insensitivity (com to think of it, neither is anybody who's saying the construction work, war or global warming fairies caused the bridge collapse in Minneapolis). But once someone connected with the industry tries to stick up for himself, his employees and their families, everyone's political correctness alarms start their womanly whining and we have to "play nice," which means laying down so Earth Liberation Front terrorists can come and burn down warehouses and haystacks without getting caught.
I know my flist probably doesn't care about this and I know I'm straying into political territory with this, but it's happening in my home state and in mining, which is an industry that has had the same misinformation problems with "scientists" (I use the term loosely) that my family's livelihood has also had to deal with for a long time. I just want to applaud Mr. Murray publicly because what he did took guts and it's appreciated more than the mainstream media will probably report.
I honestly hope and pray that these miners are okay and that they'll be rescued soon. My thoughts also go out to their families and friends and I hope that they'll pull through during this time.
ETA: I found a video clip of the press conference with the part I'm talking about. Beating the wackos to the punch! Heck Yes! Just to put this context, the question Mr. Murray had been asked was something along the lines of "Why are these mines open?" which basically boils down to "What the hell are you doing in this business anyway, you evil corporate giant mogul that steals lunch money from kindy-gartners?" (okay, I added that last part).
And I found a photo that, if I was any good with PhotoShop, I could manipulate to make it look like he guy was flipping the media off, which, like Captain Jack Sparrow shooting the undead monkey, doesn't do much for the rest of the world, but it makes me feel better.
First of all, I sincerely hope that these guys are okay and that the rescue workers can get to them safely as well.
Second of all, the president of the company that owns the mine, Robert Murray, held a press conference earlier today. I've been listening to the radio all day and hearing about it and people are upset because Mr. Murray pointed out what a valuable resource coal is to the economy and to people who want to have indoor electricity (if you have a computer plugged into the wall at your home or work and are reading this right now, I'd say that you qualify). Coal is an inexpensive way to generate electricity, so people who have lower incomes can afford to heat and cool their homes, cook meals, have lighting, etc. And it's better that the country produce coal and other energy sources at home than having to import it from other countries.
Like I said, people are upset because this might not be the best time to bring something like this up. But, the problem with that argument is that it's not Mr. Murray or the company that's doing it. It's politicians and media and Sierra Club nits that are going to do that and Mr. Murray beat them to the punch (in all fairness - the media had started raising the question if we should still be coal mining to keep people safe [I guess that was their "look good" reason]). I haven't found a link to any audio or transcript of the press conference, but I'm still looking - I've only heard bits and clips during radio news coverage
It happens every time there's a disaster: calls and petition to stop mining and/or other industries because it's harmful and dangerous, not just to the people that work in the mines, but to the Peruvian spotted tree worm or some other crap like that and we should quit and let people in third world countries
As a daughter of a Utah rancher who's heard this same BS from environmental wackos time and again, when I heard Mr. Murray say that in his press conference, I wanted to send him cookies with a note proclaiming "Damn Straight!"
It's about time someone on the side of the farmer and the miner spoke up first before people came out and attacked our industries for being evil land profiteers or whatever they say about us. In all honesty, the media and their leftist buddies were already coming out against mining because of this disaster and they weren't getting bitchsmacked for their insensitivity (com to think of it, neither is anybody who's saying the construction work, war or global warming fairies caused the bridge collapse in Minneapolis). But once someone connected with the industry tries to stick up for himself, his employees and their families, everyone's political correctness alarms start their womanly whining and we have to "play nice," which means laying down so Earth Liberation Front terrorists can come and burn down warehouses and haystacks without getting caught.
I know my flist probably doesn't care about this and I know I'm straying into political territory with this, but it's happening in my home state and in mining, which is an industry that has had the same misinformation problems with "scientists" (I use the term loosely) that my family's livelihood has also had to deal with for a long time. I just want to applaud Mr. Murray publicly because what he did took guts and it's appreciated more than the mainstream media will probably report.
I honestly hope and pray that these miners are okay and that they'll be rescued soon. My thoughts also go out to their families and friends and I hope that they'll pull through during this time.
ETA: I found a video clip of the press conference with the part I'm talking about. Beating the wackos to the punch! Heck Yes! Just to put this context, the question Mr. Murray had been asked was something along the lines of "Why are these mines open?" which basically boils down to "What the hell are you doing in this business anyway, you evil corporate giant mogul that steals lunch money from kindy-gartners?" (okay, I added that last part).
And I found a photo that, if I was any good with PhotoShop, I could manipulate to make it look like he guy was flipping the media off, which, like Captain Jack Sparrow shooting the undead monkey, doesn't do much for the rest of the world, but it makes me feel better.