Misima environment issues
Misima Mine operates at one of the central mountain of the small island, with mine pits and waste dumps located at the headway of creeks and rivers that most of the islands populations rely on for freshwater resources. The mine has disturbed an estimated 1/3 of the island, with creeks and rivers along the south side of the island devastated by sediments and pollutants from the mine.
Some creeks have been almost completely covered in sediments and are littered with industrial rubbish from the mine. Metallic grinding balls from the mine’s mill lie on the surface of the sediments. Creeks no longer flow into the sea, and those that were reported prior to the mine started as never drying up are now doing so.
One river has dried up completely after 9 bores were used to pump water to the mine for its use. Communities reliant on this water source remain uncompensated for the loss and destruction of the river, and are now finding it difficult to meet all their freshwater needs. This poses an enormous threat for the communities on the tiny island, and for those on outlying islands who also rely on trading with Misima for their food and other needs. These small islands are extremely vulnerable environments, and the subsistence livelihood of communities is delicately balanced. The mine’s impacts on their ability get fresh water, grow gardens and utilise the fishery resources of their rivers and oceans is devastating, and these people have no where else to go.
Women are particularly badly affected by the loss of healthy creeks, as the lack of fresh water nearby the village makes daily chores more strenuous and time consuming. Many still wash, do their dishes and laundry in barely trickling rivers which flow straight from the mine’s waste dump and mine pits.
Some creeks have been almost completely covered in sediments and are littered with industrial rubbish from the mine. Metallic grinding balls from the mine’s mill lie on the surface of the sediments. Creeks no longer flow into the sea, and those that were reported prior to the mine started as never drying up are now doing so.
One river has dried up completely after 9 bores were used to pump water to the mine for its use. Communities reliant on this water source remain uncompensated for the loss and destruction of the river, and are now finding it difficult to meet all their freshwater needs. This poses an enormous threat for the communities on the tiny island, and for those on outlying islands who also rely on trading with Misima for their food and other needs. These small islands are extremely vulnerable environments, and the subsistence livelihood of communities is delicately balanced. The mine’s impacts on their ability get fresh water, grow gardens and utilise the fishery resources of their rivers and oceans is devastating, and these people have no where else to go.
Women are particularly badly affected by the loss of healthy creeks, as the lack of fresh water nearby the village makes daily chores more strenuous and time consuming. Many still wash, do their dishes and laundry in barely trickling rivers which flow straight from the mine’s waste dump and mine pits.
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