waste. The harsh chemicals used to remove the gold and copper from the rock generates vast amounts of waste water. The mining waste contains dissolved metals, mercury, cadmium, selenium, sulphuric acid, all toxic to humans and the ecosystem. An estimated 700,000 tons of mine’s waste a day is dumped into the rivers, forests and wetlands. Much of the waste has acid leaching material, and has been accumulating in the surrounding area. While the company argues they are neutralizing the acid, a consulting company in 2004 reported that there was still an excess of acid-generating material. The sediment levels in the water show toxicity to a functioning ecosystem. This mining waste led to a massive ecological disaster in the area. Virtually 90 square miles of wetlands were buried in mine waste, suffocating trees and killing virtually everything else. Much of the waste has been drawn into the coastal estuary by the river, extending the damage down river to coastal lands. As the people of Papua protested these mining practices, Freeport responded by stepping up contributions to the military. What began as environmental violations, negatively impacting indigenous peoples, turned into a military human rights nightmare. Freeport argues that they were merely trying to provide a safe working environment for their employees, but military intervention turned the area into a military zone with unexplained killings, arbitrary detentions, and whole host of other human rights violations. Its purpose was always to protect the company from local protesters who could hinder their profitable but destructive practices. Technology Industry In the new millennium, the fastest growing manufacturing industry has been Apple with the development of it’s I pads, iPhones and other technological devices. With much manufacturing in China, environmental and working conditions to produce these devices at a rate
waste. The harsh chemicals used to remove the gold and copper from the rock generates vast amounts of waste water. The mining waste contains dissolved metals, mercury, cadmium, selenium, sulphuric acid, all toxic to humans and the ecosystem. An estimated 700,000 tons of mine’s waste a day is dumped into the rivers, forests and wetlands. Much of the waste has acid leaching material, and has been accumulating in the surrounding area. While the company argues they are neutralizing the acid, a consulting company in 2004 reported that there was still an excess of acid-generating material. The sediment levels in the water show toxicity to a functioning ecosystem. This mining waste led to a massive ecological disaster in the area. Virtually 90 square miles of wetlands were buried in mine waste, suffocating trees and killing virtually everything else. Much of the waste has been drawn into the coastal estuary by the river, extending the damage down river to coastal lands. As the people of Papua protested these mining practices, Freeport responded by stepping up contributions to the military. What began as environmental violations, negatively impacting indigenous peoples, turned into a military human rights nightmare. Freeport argues that they were merely trying to provide a safe working environment for their employees, but military intervention turned the area into a military zone with unexplained killings, arbitrary detentions, and whole host of other human rights violations. Its purpose was always to protect the company from local protesters who could hinder their profitable but destructive practices. Technology Industry In the new millennium, the fastest growing manufacturing industry has been Apple with the development of it’s I pads, iPhones and other technological devices. With much manufacturing in China, environmental and working conditions to produce these devices at a rate
Book-Chapter-Transnational-Corporations.docx