MURPHY, CONTINUED from PAGE 22
the day, I owe my functionality to the conductive copper electri- cal wiring that allows me to turn ZY _SP L]_TʭNTLW TYOZZ] WTRS_^ charge my devices through the outlets, and keep the refrigerator running cold. Copper, in addition, can be used to generate renewable ener- gy from solar and wind sources, and is also utilized in large quan- tities in electric cars. A passion of mine is moving forward in the direction of a greener future, to which the Pebble Project near Lake Iliamna is essential; the de- mand for copper is ever-grow- ing across the globe, and Alaska, with its strict safety and envi- ronmental precautions, should be a frontrunning supplier both inside and outside the state. While controversial, Pebble has done a fantastic job overhauling their original plans to create in- creased systems of protection in regard to its surrounding eco- systems. The mine is located in the Bristol Bay watershed, where my family is from. My dad grew `[ʭ^STYRTY/TWWTYRSLX,WL^VL where the salmon run is plenti- ful. Concerns were raised; many people believe that Pebble will VTWW X`NS ZQ _SP ʭ^S _SPd ]PWd on for income, but when thor- oughly investigated by environ- mental scientists from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it was concluded that “a catastrophic failure of the tailings facility is highly unlikely.” Mining near remote villages provides jobs and reliable sourc- es of income, which is import- ant because opportunities for such work are often nonexistent or extremely rare. These jobs, assured to be given to a certain number of Alaska Natives, pro- mote a healthier atmosphere and stabler economy within the vil-
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lage communities. There is not a street in down- town Anchorage I can walk down Z] L NZʬPP ^SZ[ 4 NLY XPP_ Xd friends in without spotting a cellphone or computer. I, myself, am surely seen using my phone at one moment or another while in public. At home, my mother complains about the time I spend on my phone, as do many par- ents in the U.S. today. Our lives revolve around such electronics. They are fascinating examples of the human mind’s prowess; I can hear the voices and see the faces of family members across oceans and continents the moment I tap a button on my tablet. I can obtain a college de- gree through online school on my computer. I can board a plane, pay bills and take pictures of the breathtaking Alaskan scenery on my smartphone, among count-
less other functions. Multiple minerals that are currently being mined in Alaska are used in cell- phones and computers, such as gold and silver circuitry and cop- per to conduct electricity. Life in Alaska, as in many oth- er places, is unimaginable with- out the usage of the rich min- eral resources in our state. I am grateful to be cognizant of the impact mining has on me and my family, and to now see the pos- itive aspects of a process I once thought to be dirty and wrong. As a young Alaska Native woman, I am happy to know about the potential for good that the mines hold for the surround- ing communities. I want the best for my family, for the beautiful state of Alaska, and for the fu- ture of the world, of which the Alaskan mining industry shares a part in making happen.
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The Alaska Miner
January 2020
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