Wishes Yet to Be Made

Where Do We Go From Here Series

All transcendence has disappeared. The natural world has been liquidated and substituted for an artificial one. After surveying consumerism and its sequel the landfill - the price of production became of paramount interest.  In the Blue Mountains of Australia, I began to shoot the geographic and social devastation of the mine and the ghost towns left in their wake.  The project continued on to New Zealand where Newmont, a Colorado-based conglomerate, had an exploration license on the majority of the Coromandel Peninsula.

A direct threat to sacred landscapes, historical infrastructures, natural landmarks and the topography, the environmental impacts of mining are large-scale. Although the multinational mining corporations insist that the technologies in place ensure environmentally friendly practices, evidence proves otherwise.  One of the most contentious aspects of the mining industry is the threat it poses on the public health. The deposition and leaching of toxic constituents through air emissions contaminate surface and ground water.  Chemical such as arsenic and nitrogen compounds adversely affect the water supply. Fear of the aforementioned has triggered violent conflicts between communities and mining corporations. The stakes are high - affecting everything from local livelihood to the solvency of national governments.

Sam Heydt 2014

Glossary

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