The Pros And Cons Of Coal Mining

The Industrial Revolution pioneered a new age of technology, making coal the primary source of power for the developing world. Coal is a combustible fossil fuel that is extracted by surface and underground mining mainly located in the United States, China, and Australia. The coal mining industry is thought of as a crucial part in the world’s job economy. And that without it we would not advance as a society due to coal mining originally driving advancements in the world.Despite allowing some of the greatest technological achievements in human history the continued use of coal will destroy the world which we have made such great advancements in due to its pollution. It is detrimental to the world and its inhabitants that we shift away from coal …show more content…
A large part of the coal mining problem is that it destroys and pollutes ecosystems. A majority of coal mining is done by strip mining, which “destroys landscapes, forests and wildlife habitats” by practically scraping the top of the earth clean without any regard to what harm is being done to the environment (Green Peace). Coal mining also contaminates and depletes a large amount of water. When mining deeper for more coal, miners are required to pump out ground water subsequently lowering the overall groundwater level, which in more rural areas causes the people to have to dig deeper for water (Green Peace). Also during the coal mining process the miners have to wash away all the unwanted materials which ends up polluting the local water supply or eventually running off into the ocean full of contaminates that do nothing but hurt whatever marinelife happens to be unlucky enough to be caught in the way of our lack of care for the world. Coal mining also leaves vast areas uninhabitable due the abandoned coal mines which just sit there wasting space in our ever growing world. These abandoned mines give rise to coal fires, which “occur in both abandoned coal mines and coal waste piles. Internationally, thousands of underground coal fires are burning now. Global coal fire emissions are estimated to include 40 tons of mercury going into the atmosphere annually, …show more content…
Others even after hearing this will still argue that an end to coal mining will lead to downfall in our economy. Although this may be true, jobs will still be available for clean energy workers as opposed to the toxic spewing coal mining industry. If you care about the lives of your children or your children’s children then you must protest against coal energy, for if we do not change our ways then the future generations to come will not have a earth as we know it