What a difference in mine safety. US v. SA. shameful. just shameful.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

Idaho GOPers keep working, South Africans close their mine to see what went wrong, and to prevent it.

from the New York Times:

One day after a freak accident stranded 3,200 gold miners more than a mile beneath the earth, South African officials said today that they had closed the huge Elandsrand mine for up to six weeks to determine the cause of the mishap.

The mine’s owner, Harmony Gold, had lifted all but about 600 of the miners to safety by late today afternoon, using an undamaged auxiliary elevator in a ventilation shaft. One miner fell while awaiting rescue and was carried out on a stretcher, but no one else had been injured, a Harmony spokeswoman, Amelia Soares, said in an interview.

Rescuers had said that they would free the remaining miners by midday, but that deadline passed with hundreds still underground, and it appeared unlikely that the last workers would reach the surface until late today.


you can read more here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/world/africa/05safrica.html?hp


South Africa has a bizarre, strange, and bloody history. But, they managed a cultural revolution greater than almost any other nation, and they did it without retributions, mass murder, massive disorder, or major bloodshed. They now are working, blacks and whites, together, quite a bit better than anyone had expected. Sure, there are many problems, and structural difficulties, but, so far, you have to admire what they did to put their nation on track.
Here is another example of how they have changed. They actually care about the 3200 men and women stuck underground, AND they want to prevent it.

Did you see such comments from that hairy-assed GOP sponsor of mine safety? ha.

I am not suggesting that SA is out of the woods, for it is not. But, they are working for the common good.

[jdlh8894]

1. Please explain to me

The difference between an electrcial problem with an elevator and an explosion that would kill all miners involved. This was just a situation that MAYBE could have been avoided. I just don't see where the "common good" comes into play.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. the fact that they are closing the mind for 6 weeks to investigate.

our friend in idaho began operations, with a similar collapse the roof, every last bit of coal is mine, technique.

they want to prevent it from recurring. In Idaho, he is threatening workers to speed up production or else.

[jdlh8894]

3. What does Idaho have to do with SA?

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. There is a HUGE difference between a problem with an elevator and a mine collapse

While alarming, the South Africa incident is hardly on par with a mine roof caving in.

I don't think you drawing this parallel is valid, but you are entitled to your opinion.

[jdlh8894]

5. #9 Farmington, WV 1968

Please do not EVER forget these people.A friend of mine had the task of sending out more than 1000 cubic yds of concrete to seal the mine.
He still thinks about those souls that are still buried within those WV Hills.

[NorthernSpy]

6. well, for one thing, Cosatu and the NUM are very strong; it's not like here...

... where unions are marginalized. The NUM shop stewards went right down into the mine along with the rescue workers, and they'll be there til the last man's out.

Here, most mines aren't organized, I don't think.