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IF IT'S BROKE, DON'T FIX IT
http://asbarez.com/111765/if-its-broke-dont-fix-it/
Friday, July 19th, 2013
The confluence: clean water, dirty water
BY GAREN YEGPARIAN
Of course the old saw actually goes "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
But in the topsy-turvy world that seems to be the Republic of Armenia
(RoA), the way I have this article titled seems to be the way things
are done. How else would you explain what one sees on YouTube in
this video?
The situation is this. There's a mining operation run by Ler-Ex near
a watercourse, the Geghee stream. Naturally, there's a tailings pile
("tailings" is the term for the waste, non-metal-bearing earth that is
left over from a mining operation). This pile of waste seems to have
been accumulated in what used to be the Geghee's streambed. Wisely,
the miners seem to have shunted the stream aside through a pipe to
have its water circumvent the often toxic pile of tailings (though
whether this was done legally, with government authorization is
unknown at this point). So far, so good.
The Geghee's course is such that it and the Voghjee stream join. At
this confluence, we're treated to a disturbing sight. Voghjee's waters
look normal colored, perhaps a bit turbid because the turbulent water
is churning up silt (see picture). In contrast, Geghee's waters look
opaque and are a disgusting-looking milky brown-yellow? How could
that be? These streams are draining adjoining canyons.
One of the pipes breaks
It turns out there's been an accident of some sort around the mine.
The pipe shunting Geghee's water is broken in at least four places that
activists were able to document in the video above (see pictures). Of
course, no one seems to be addressing the problem, leaving any observer
to wonder if this wasn't intended to be a cover-up. What's happening
is that part of Geghee's water is now finding its way back to its
original course, right into the tailings dump (see picture)! This
water then percolates into that waste. But it also has to escape
somewhere, right? Well, guess what, there's a pipe sticking out the
lower end of the tailings pile. Out of that pipe is flowing the now
filthy water that has an awful stench. This pipe appears to be made
of steel. "So what, of course it is!" you're probably thinking. And
you're right. Except... The pipe shunting the stream is some flimsy,
light blue colored plastic construct! No wonder it broke! This is
not the thick PVC pipe you may have seen being put in the ground in
a new housing development in the U.S.
The soaked tailings pile
This is what "mining" seems to look like in the RoA. This kind of
rapacious, reckless, "who-cares" approach to what might otherwise be
an important component of the economy is unacceptable in any country.
It will ultimately lead to a severe backlash as people start to
feel the adverse impacts on their health, ability to earn a living,
and environment.
>From the Diaspora, we must help tame this monster. The first step is,
of course, building awareness of this problem. Then we must support
the activists on the streets, the lawyers in the courtrooms, and
the legislators in the RoA parliament who are striving to remedy
this self-inflicted wound. Please follow the news to keep up with
developments about, and participate in a walkathon, scheduled for
September 22, that aims to raise awareness and funds. It is being
organized by Green Armenia, a group of concerned Armenians.
http://asbarez.com/111765/if-its-broke-dont-fix-it/
Friday, July 19th, 2013
The confluence: clean water, dirty water
BY GAREN YEGPARIAN
Of course the old saw actually goes "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
But in the topsy-turvy world that seems to be the Republic of Armenia
(RoA), the way I have this article titled seems to be the way things
are done. How else would you explain what one sees on YouTube in
this video?
The situation is this. There's a mining operation run by Ler-Ex near
a watercourse, the Geghee stream. Naturally, there's a tailings pile
("tailings" is the term for the waste, non-metal-bearing earth that is
left over from a mining operation). This pile of waste seems to have
been accumulated in what used to be the Geghee's streambed. Wisely,
the miners seem to have shunted the stream aside through a pipe to
have its water circumvent the often toxic pile of tailings (though
whether this was done legally, with government authorization is
unknown at this point). So far, so good.
The Geghee's course is such that it and the Voghjee stream join. At
this confluence, we're treated to a disturbing sight. Voghjee's waters
look normal colored, perhaps a bit turbid because the turbulent water
is churning up silt (see picture). In contrast, Geghee's waters look
opaque and are a disgusting-looking milky brown-yellow? How could
that be? These streams are draining adjoining canyons.
One of the pipes breaks
It turns out there's been an accident of some sort around the mine.
The pipe shunting Geghee's water is broken in at least four places that
activists were able to document in the video above (see pictures). Of
course, no one seems to be addressing the problem, leaving any observer
to wonder if this wasn't intended to be a cover-up. What's happening
is that part of Geghee's water is now finding its way back to its
original course, right into the tailings dump (see picture)! This
water then percolates into that waste. But it also has to escape
somewhere, right? Well, guess what, there's a pipe sticking out the
lower end of the tailings pile. Out of that pipe is flowing the now
filthy water that has an awful stench. This pipe appears to be made
of steel. "So what, of course it is!" you're probably thinking. And
you're right. Except... The pipe shunting the stream is some flimsy,
light blue colored plastic construct! No wonder it broke! This is
not the thick PVC pipe you may have seen being put in the ground in
a new housing development in the U.S.
The soaked tailings pile
This is what "mining" seems to look like in the RoA. This kind of
rapacious, reckless, "who-cares" approach to what might otherwise be
an important component of the economy is unacceptable in any country.
It will ultimately lead to a severe backlash as people start to
feel the adverse impacts on their health, ability to earn a living,
and environment.
>From the Diaspora, we must help tame this monster. The first step is,
of course, building awareness of this problem. Then we must support
the activists on the streets, the lawyers in the courtrooms, and
the legislators in the RoA parliament who are striving to remedy
this self-inflicted wound. Please follow the news to keep up with
developments about, and participate in a walkathon, scheduled for
September 22, that aims to raise awareness and funds. It is being
organized by Green Armenia, a group of concerned Armenians.