Latest news with #environmentalimpact
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Ghana uses drone tech, AI to catch wildcat miners
As the afternoon sun beats down on Gold Fields' sprawling Tarkwa gold mine in southwestern Ghana, three men launch a drone into the clear sky, its cameras scanning the lush 210km² tract for intruders. The drone spotted something unusual, and within 20 minutes, a 15-person team, including armed police, arrived on the scene. They discovered abandoned clothing, freshly dug trenches, and rudimentary equipment amid pools of mercury and cyanide-contaminated water. The equipment was left behind by so-called wildcat miners, who operate on the outskirts of many of the continent's official mining ventures -- putting at risk their health, the environment and the official mine operator's profits. The team confiscated seven diesel-powered water pumps and a 'chanfan' processing unit used to extract gold from riverbeds. The high-tech cat-and-mouse game is playing out with increasing frequency as record gold prices, now sitting above $3,300 per ounce, draw more unofficial activity -- intensifying sometimes deadly confrontations between corporate concessions and artisanal miners in West Africa, according to dozens of mining executives and industry experts interviewed by Reuters. "Because of the vegetation cover, if you don't have eyes in the air, you won't know something destructive is happening," explains Edwin Asare, Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine's head of protection services. "It's like you first get eyes in the sky to help you put boots on the ground.' Almost 20 illicit miners have been killed in confrontations at major mining operations across the region since late 2024, including at Newmont and AngloGold Ashanti's sites in Ghana and Guinea and Nordgold's Bissa Mine in Burkina Faso. There have been no reports of official mine staff injured. In some cases, clashes at corporate mines caused production halts of up to a month, prompting companies to press governments for more military protection. 'Boots on the ground' Sub-Saharan Africa's unofficial mining operations provide critical income for nearly 10 million people, according to a May United Nations report. In West Africa, three to five million people depend on unregulated mining, accounting for approximately 30% of its gold production, other industry data show, serving as economic lifelines in a region with few formal employment opportunities. Like 52-year old Famanson Keita in Senegal's gold-rich Kedougou region, many inhabitants grew up mining gold in their localities. With simple and traditional methods, they earned extra incomes to supplement those from farming until corporate miners arrived, relocating them from their communities and promising jobs and rapid development. "Those promises have not been fulfilled," said Keita. "Many of our young people are employed in low-level, uncontracted jobs with little pay and no stability. Small-scale farming alone cannot sustain our families." While residents have long tried to eke out a living on the margins of corporate mines, much of the illicit activity, particularly in the region's forests and large bodies of water, is now conducted with sophisticated digging and dredging equipment and funding from local cartels and foreigners, including from China. Economic pressures With rising central bank gold buying and broader geopolitical tensions potentially pushing gold to $5,000 an ounce, Sahel-focused security and mining analyst Ulf Laessing warned that more violent confrontations around mining operations could be expected in the coming months. "The more the gold price rises, the more conflicts we will see between industrial and informal miners," said Laessing, head of the Sahel programme at Germany's Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Nine wildcat miners were shot dead in January at AGA's Obuasi mine in Ghana when they cut open the fenced 110km² concession to scavenge gold, according to a source in the company who asked not to be identified. At AGA's Siguiri Mine, northeast of Guinea, hundreds of wildcat miners invaded the concession in February, prompting military intervention, according to a source familiar with the mine's operations. At least three wildcat miners were shot by guards while others were injured at Newmont's Ahafo gold mining site in northwestern Ghana in January, police said. In Mali's gold-rich Kayes region, an excavator operator at an illegal mining site in Kenieba told Reuters that operations have expanded rapidly this year, with Chinese bosses deploying more equipment to new sites as gold prices climb. Reuters could not establish who such Chinese operators were, or whether they have any links to companies or official organisations. This year, Ghanaian authorities have been ransacking dozens of informal mining sites, arresting hundreds of locals and foreigners, particularly Chinese nationals, who operate unregulated gold operations in the country's vast forests, including protected areas and bodies of water. "Because of porous borders and weak regulations, the majority of their produce is smuggled," says Marc Ummel, researcher at Swissaid, "depriving the countries of the full benefits." Ghana lost more than 229 metric tons of largely artisanal gold to smuggling between 2019 and 2023, according to Swissaid, which analysed export data within the period. Adama Soro, president of the West African Federation of Chambers of Mines, said artisanal miners also compete with large-scale miners for ore, shortening mines' lives. "We're seeing artisanal miners digging up to 100m and impacting the ore body of the big miners, so we're losing money," he said. Armed military protection Miners are resorting to unconventional methods and increased spending at the expense of investment and community projects, said the head of a mining company in Ghana heavily affected by wildcat miners. The mine spends approximately half a million dollars annually on measures, including drone surveillance to combat wildcat mining, but still experiences frequent attacks, the source said. Nordgold, Galiano Gold, B2Gold and Barrick Gold have all seen incursions recently. Ghana's major corporate miners have intensified their campaign for military protection at mining sites this year. Similar requests have been made in Burkina Faso and Mali, according to three mining executives and an industry analyst, who requested anonymity. "Ideally, we want military presence at all mining operations, but we understand the need to prioritise sites facing consistent attacks while implementing regular patrols at others," said Ahmed Dasana Nantogmah, chief operating officer of Ghana's Chamber of Mines. Industry leaders met government officials in mid-April to press their case, with discussions yielding 'positive' results, said Nantogmah. Ghana's government did not respond to requests for comment. Ghanaian authorities want miners to cover deployment costs, estimated at GH₵250,000 ($18,116) per contingent daily of under 50 personnel, said two mining executives who were part of the negotiations. Ghana's mining sector regulator, the Minerals Commission, is taking a technological leap forward, establishing an AI-powered control room to analyse data from 28 drones deployed to illegal mining hotspots. The system includes trackers on the excavators and a control system that can remotely disable excavators operating outside authorised boundaries. "This is a fight we can win with technology if we allow full deployment," says Sylvester Akpah, consultant for Ghana's mining sector regulator's drone surveillance and AI-powered project.
Washington Post
a day ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Private jets polluted more than all flights from Heathrow, study finds
Celebrities and business leaders like Taylor Swift and Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol may generate the occasional controversy with their frequent use of private jets, but capturing the full environmental impact of private aviation has remained a challenge. Now, a new report from the nonprofit International Council on Clean Transportation sheds light on which nations are driving the largest share of this planet-warming pollution — and which airports stand out.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Aerial photo exposes 'appalling' act in Aussie bush attracting a $2,500 fine
Aerial shots of a black line snaking along a bush track near a major Aussie city show the extent of a recent illegal oil dumping, with hundreds of litres of the thick, black substance left to simply saturate the ground and contaminate waterways. Townsville local Dave Dudley leads Tidy Up Townsville, a charity tirelessly trying to clean up the city. He told Yahoo News he spends most days responding to dumping calls, but last week's incident near Saunders Beach was particularly "appalling". "Someone had contacted me about the dumping out there so I went and had a look. We think the people that dumped it got bogged from all the oil on the back of the vehicle because there was so much extra weight," he told Yahoo. "It was pretty disgusting... it absolutely stank. Why would someone do that?" Footage captured by Dave shows the ground completely sodden with oil. "Some parts are just chockablock with oil and it extends from up here, at the start of this mangrove, then goes all the way down here to that mangrove," Dave can be heard saying in a video, before dipping his finger in the oil and showing it to the camera covered in a black, thick film. Dave reported the incident to Townsville council, who confirmed to Yahoo News the oil was so far-reaching it spread across council-land and private owned land. "This illegal behaviour has an impact on our environment, and ultimately it has an impact on the ratepayer," Councillor Brodie Phillips told Yahoo News. "Council officers actively patrol known illegal dumping sites and can issue fines of more than $2500." The council confirmed it had contacted the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) due to the "nature of the spill and its proximity to nearby waterways" and the department has launched an investigation. It is not known who is behind the act. DETSI are calling for the public to come forward with information on the incident and confirmed the private landowner has started to clean up the oil, with soil having to be removed from the area. "We encourage anyone with information about this incident to report it to the Pollution Hotline on 1300 130 372," a DETSI spokesperson said. 👷♂️ Tradies forced to make $100,000 clean-up after selfish act at national park 🚘 Hundreds of tyres mysteriously stacked up in family's driveway 🚨 Cops make 'extremely dangerous' find on ute tyres There continues to be a steady stream of litter and discarded items being found across Townsville, with furniture, tyres, shopping trolleys and even unopened bags of chips and drink cans often strewn across known hotspots. Tidy Up Townsville volunteers and council officers continue to patrol the area, but it seems they are fighting a losing battle. "It's just getting worse," Dave told Yahoo. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Man hit with prison time after repeatedly committing crime even after being caught — here's what happened
A man has been sentenced to 15 months in prison following nine instances of "flytipping," or illegal dumping. According to the Center for Community Progress, illegal dumping is when someone leaves waste, like trash or furniture, in an area where it doesn't belong, such as a vacant lot. As the BBC reported, Michael McDonagh brought waste into Buckinghamshire, England, nine times between September 2022 and January 2024. Even though he was caught after the eighth instance, the BBC reported that he proceeded to dump his waste again. The publication explained that the local council discovered McDonagh because they found trash that featured his personal information. McDonagh received a 15-month prison sentence, and he must also pay £2,576.12 ($3,467) in compensation to the council and £3,511.80 ($4,726) to Suez Recycling and Recovery UK Limited. While this instance happened in the U.K., illegal dumping is a worldwide issue. In Oregon, for example, someone started a forest fire while trying to cover their tracks. Trash piles in neighborhoods or along the side of the road disturb the natural beauty of the environment. Cities must pay for trash to be picked up, which can raise taxes, according to the Center for Community Progress. On top of that, the environmental impacts of illegal dumping can be devastating. Unlike landfills, illegal dumping grounds have no regulations or monitoring. That means polluted runoff has free rein to enter waterways or soak into the soil, damaging local ecosystems and making it harder for plants to grow. A study published in the journal Land Use Policy has also noted that illegal dumping sites often invite invasive species. An EPA statement highlighted the dangers of polluted water, stating, "Stormwater from dumpsites can contain chemicals that contaminate wells and surface water beyond quality standards." Should the government be able to control how we heat our homes? Definitely Only if it saves money I'm not sure No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Large piles of trash are also flammable, leading to worse fires or even spontaneous combustion, as described by Dumping can also impact animals, as piles of trash can block their paths, disturb their habitats, and make them sick or injured. With that said, there are plenty of ways you can get involved in curbing illegal dumping. If you see someone dropping trash where it doesn't belong, report it to your local waste authority. Or, if you want to help remove existing trash piles, join a local cleanup with a nonprofit or organization near you. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Science
- The Guardian
‘Yuck factor': eating insects rather than meat to help the planet is failing, study finds
Recent efforts to encourage people to eat insects are doomed to fail because of widespread public disgust at the idea, making it unlikely insects will help people switch from the environmentally ruinous habit of meat consumption, a new study has found. Farming and eating insects has been touted in recent years as a greener alternative to eating traditional meat due to the heavy environmental toll of raising livestock, which is a leading driver of deforestation, responsible for more than half of global water pollution, and may cause more than a third of all greenhouse gases that can be allowed if the world is to avoid disastrous climate change, the new research finds. Despite this, the much lighter planetary cost of breeding and eating insects such as crickets, grasshoppers and ants is unlikely to be realized because people, particularly in western countries, remain repulsed at the idea of eating them, the researchers found. Public polling in the US and Europe has found that while as many as 91% of respondents would be willing to try plant-based 'alternative meats', only about 20% would consider eating insects. As well as a cultural 'yuck' factor, there are also economic barriers, the paper found, with most companies – the exception being a few protein bar startups – deciding to focus on raising species such as black soldier flies for animal, rather than human, consumption. 'Given these challenges, it is difficult to see how insect-based foods could significantly replace traditional meat options,' the paper, published in the Nature journal npj Sustainable Agriculture, states. While many people express a desire to eat food that is raised sustainably, relatively few in western countries have embraced vegetarianism and veganism. Meanwhile, global meat consumption is expected to increase in the coming decades amid rising demand from a newly wealthy cohort in countries such as China, placing additional stresses upon the land, waterways and the climate. 'We have limited resources and we need to devote them to the most promising alternatives,' said Dustin Crummett, the co-author of the study and executive director of the Insect Institute. 'It turns out that farmed insects consistently score the lowest of any of the meat substitutes and the actual market for them is incredibly small, even in places that have a tradition of eating insects.' Crummett said that while some efforts have been made to put insects into items such as snack bars and bread, they aren't being made into products that would actually dislodge meat consumption. 'All the talk about eating insects has not made a big difference. People still have a strong adverse reaction to insects and there is no cultural history of that,' he said. 'Changing longstanding culinary traditions and deep-seated disgust reactions is hard to do from the top down. If it were easy, more people would be eating plant-based foods.' Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion Few governments have made any significant moves to curb meat consumption, despite its enormous impact upon the environment, fearing political backlash. Denmark, however, has provided a possible model of how to do this, unveiling a plan in 2023 to reduce meat eating and bolster the supply of plant-based foods. 'Plant-based foods are the future,' Jacob Jensen, Denmark's minister for food, agriculture and fisheries, said at the time. 'If we want to reduce the climate footprint within the agricultural sector, then we all have to eat more plant-based foods.' Crummett said that the Danish plan was a good starting point to craft an alternative to simply hoping that people will switch to insects. 'You have to meet people where they are,' he said. 'You need to make things easy and tasty, not just moralize and hector people. Once there are alternative products that are better based on taste, price and convenience, we will get some traction in reducing the impact of livestock.'
