Using street theatre to increase awareness of and reduce mercury pollution in the artisanal gold mining sector: a case from Zimbabwe

Metcalf, Stephen M.; Veiga, Marcello M.

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.07.004

Cited by 38 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Metcalf and Veiga (2012) suggested two thirds of the total 25 tonnes of mercury used per annum in artisanal mining in Zimbabwe is lost to tailings. The use of Hg during the refining of gold results in the volatilization of an estimated 300 tonnes of Hg directly to the atmosphere annually, and 700 tonnes are discharged via mine tailings into air, soil, and rivers, and lake (Spiegel and Veiga, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

ASGM status in West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia

Krisnayanti¹

2018

J.Degrade.Min.Land Manage.

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Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) obviously contributes to serious environmental and health issue for miners, nearby populations, and larger community when the use of mercury (Hg) occurs. Mercury amalgamation is used as a gold recovery technique by 10-12 million ASGM miners around the world and a predicted around 1000 tonnes of mercury are discharged into the environment every year as a result of poor mining practices. Exposure to mercury can cause serious health effects for future generation, and miners and their families are vulnarable group to expose with mercury vapor and methyl mercury contaminated food in ASGM areas, resulting in increase of levels of mercury in human specimens. Thus, investigating the the effects of mercury on the environment and people health are urgently necessary for developing a better solution to eliminate further mercury contamination to environment in West Nusa Tenggara (WNT) Province. A field survey had been conducted for this research in two main ASGM spots in WNT Province: Sekotong-Lombok island and Taliwang-Sumbawa island. As part of the study, an initial health survey and socio-economic of workers/miners was conducted. Volunteer participants at sampling locations across Sekotong-Lombok and TaliwangSumbawa (exposed; indirect exposed; non exposed groups) answered a questionnaire, and allowed the sampling of hair for subsequent analysis. The ore, tailing, plants and soil samples were also collected for investigating Hg concentration on the substances. The results found that the impact of ASGM on increasing economic activity leading to jobs, income and opportunities for social development is positive. However, there is risk of contamination in soil and plants environment through mining activity and high Hg concentration discovered in human body in a short time of ASGM activity. The environmental sustainability of mining can be better regulated within legalised areas. Environmental monitoring will define unacceptable risk and allow for advanced implementation of remedial measures before an uncontrollable disaster occurs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

ASGM status in West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia

Krisnayanti¹

2018

J.Degrade.Min.Land Manage.

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“…The education process must reach the miners, processors and community members in their environment, using their language and culture. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Global Mercury Project in Zimbabwe addressed the importance of retorts while entertaining 8800 people in mining communities using street theater (77). The play Romeo and Juliet was adapted for the African mining community, highlighting the dangers of mercury and the importance of using retorts.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges Associated with Using Retorts To Limit Mercury Exposure in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining: Case Studies from Mozambique, Ecuador, and Guyana

Kiefer

Drace

Seney

et al. 2015

ACS Symposium Series

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Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is recognized as the number one source of anthropogenic mercury pollution in the world. Miners use mercury to amalgamate gold, then heat the amalgam to evaporate the mercury. This process, referred to by miners as burning, releases large quantities of mercury vapor that affects the health of miners and community members. A retort is a mercury capture device that provides a simple solution to reduce human exposure to mercury vapor during the burning process. In spite of the low cost, ease of use and numerous outreach programs that have introduced miners to this technology, miners have been reluctant to use retorts. This chapter provides a review of ASGM processes involving mercury, discusses the health effects of mercury vapor, and provides case studies on retort use in Mozambique, Ecuador and Guyana. The chapter concludes with a discussion on reasons why retorts have not been widely adopted in these countries, and it provides potential solutions to address miners concerns with the use of retorts.

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“…Practices that express such consciousness were described as informing yourself, making informed decisions and thinking about one's real needs. We interpret this as the awareness that needs can also be created, as degrowth thinker Latouche (2009) for instance discussed. Guided by a mind set of "less means more", these practices support a habit of consuming less and forsaking certain behaviours/goods.…”

Section: ) or Carlsson's Concept Of Nowtopians (2015)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Living degrowth? Investigating degrowth practices through performative methods

Brossmann

Işlar

2019

Sustain Sci

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Degrowth scholarship argues for multi-scalar transformations beyond the growth-oriented economic paradigm to achieve long-term socio-ecological sustainability. While the literature on degrowth has grown substantially, little has been said about how these transformations are understood in practice. By drawing upon practice theory and using performative methods, this paper explores the ways in which degrowth scholars and practitioners experience and understand degrowth. It provides a preliminary account of living degrowth by portraying a diverse range of interrelated practices grouped in five spheres: (1) rethinking society, (2) acting political, (3) creating alternatives, (4) fostering connections, and (5) unveiling the self. Drawing upon the spheres of practices, we conceptualize living degrowth as an endeavour that aims to transform current problems into imagined futures in multiple realms. The practices of living degrowth are concerned with theoretical, political, material, economical, social and personal dimensions of world and life. This points to the importance for sustainability science to investigate and foster transformations in all domains and at all levels, reaching from the outer to the inner and vice versa.

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Using street theatre to increase awareness of and reduce mercury pollution in the artisanal gold mining sector: a case from Zimbabwe

Cited by 38 publications

References 22 publications

ASGM status in West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia

ASGM status in West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia

Challenges Associated with Using Retorts To Limit Mercury Exposure in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining: Case Studies from Mozambique, Ecuador, and Guyana

Living degrowth? Investigating degrowth practices through performative methods

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