Resource Extraction Leaves Something Behind: Environmental Justice and Mining

Environmental justice is concerned with the health and wellbeing of individuals, groups and communities in regards to toxic environments. Within this framework, it has long been noted that oil, timber and minerals are extracted in ways that can devastate local ecosystems and destroy traditional cultures and livelihoods. Resource extraction is thus not socially and environmentally neutral but has a number of potential ramifications directly related to ecological wellbeing and human health. The aim of this paper is to explore the social injuries associated with the mining industry, especially as this pertains to vulnerable population groups. As the title indicates, a key concern is what resource extraction leaves behind and how this impacts upon local areas now and into the future.