The line of thinking of a capitalist is that all things have their own value. All that has value must be exhausted for progress and economic gain. However, this entails a drastic effect to the environment. When a capitalist looks all what is in the environment, there is money. Gold. Fuel. Actually everything is capable of pecuniary estimation. If these things will not be exploited, there would be no progress. However, it would mean that the environment must be compromised.
Extreme Environmentalists are trying to counter this mindset of capitalists. They think that financial gain means destruction of the environment. They offer as alternative tourism as an income generating mechanism. There is no need to destroy nature because there are other means in achieving economic prosperity.
Both are in the extreme ends. Instead of choosing one or provoking the escalation of the tension arising from the conflict between the preservation of the environment and economic growth, there must be a balance. There is a possibility of harmonizing these extremes.
Well, this post is not enough to elaborate how this harmonization can be done. We can limit our discussion to the present issue on mining.
The Philippines is a rich depositary of mines and precious gems. however, if we subscribe to the capitalists' view, this would entail the destruction of the forests which will lead to catastrophic effects like excessive flooding and land slides resulting to death of a multitude, and the perennial issue on global warming. However, if we subscribe to environmentalists' view, then these minerals would only be useless. What would the state do to the richness of this land?
Mining in itself is not bad. The natural consequence of which is the destruction of the environment. Well, this is bad. The government must formulate mining policies that will cater both mindsets. Balance is always the answer but how.
Well, this may only be a sort of an introduction for future write-up for an extensive research on this matter.
-RWN
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