RE: and tens of thousands current job losses? Gee, if you believe Raven will create jobs in today's and projected coal market, you must believe in miracles.
Google coal mine job losses and the FACTS re lost jobs and mine closures, thousands of job losse argue loudly that this is not the time to invest in a coal mine. Australia, like Canada, jumped on the export to China bandwagon and is now closing mines and predicting thousands of lost jobs. Here in BC Walter Energy just cut 250 jobs when it closed two mines. More are expected. Let's not forget the massive job losses due to coal mine deaths at Pike River coal mine in Australia at with CEC Stephen Ellis was mine manager and others that have been attributed to lack of government oversight and companies putting meeting production goals ahead of miner safety. Pike River was accused in a Royal Commission for exhibitting a corporate mentality by ignoring countless reports of methane and other health hazaards just days before the methane explosion killed 29 men. This mine is now in receivership.
So if there is recovery as promised by CEO Tapics, highly experienced and desperate unemployed former mine employees will be standing in line for available jobs. The themes that emerge from scrolling thru websites is closed mines, job losses, rising production, financial, and transportation costs, competition from developing countries near China, transition from coal to less costly forms of energy. This could not be a better time to bail out and invest in a growth commodity.
. A theme rarely mentioned is the thousands of lost obs that cannot survive a coal mine zone and the economic hardship on those whose houses cannot sell because of contaminated water and air. Those of us who oppose Raven advocate community sustainability on all levels: quality of life that depends on clean air and water, economic sustainability in sectors that rely on clean air and water such as tourism, retirement, shellfish growing. To reduce opposition to "environmentalists who don't care about jobs" is a cheap shot. And if supporters disagree, then they should ask themselves, "Would I want to live next to a coal mine or three?" "Would my children want to raise their families next door to a coal mine?" and "Would I visit a coal mine sector on my next vacation?"