Eating The Crust

Mines + climate change Action vs extraction Uncomfortable truth

- Stephanie Carlisle, Nicholas Pevzner

Mining areas destroy the land but will continue to expand as long as there is money to be made

Extraction sustains our society. We dig and carve the landscape to construct the physical infrastructure of our towns and cities, but rarely pause to think about the origin of the gravel, concrete, steel, aluminium and plastic that comprise the built environment.

We rely on oil, gas and coal to power the technology in our lives, but are disconnected from the landscapes that must be exploited to yield that energy. We rely on rare earth metals to manufacture lifesaving medical devices, batteries and electronics without considering the political consequences of mine leachate on drinking water. The act of transforming raw materials into useful products is the foundation of economic development. Without extraction, urbanisation is not possible.

The products and profits of extraction are all around us, but the process remains out of sight and far away. A vast system of railroads, canals, pipelines and ever-larger oceangoing vessels connects a global network of extraction and consumption.