But it was the issue of mercury and uranium which made mining an international issue. There has been a massive move to privatise state mining companies in Africa and in parts of Latin America, Bolivia, Peru and Brazil. In Brazil, a dynamic alliance between workers, left wing political parties and indigenous people prevented the privatisation of CBRD which is still one of the world's five biggest mining companies. Over the years the main demands of the workers in Meghwal has been to get payment on the basis of money per tonne, maintainance of safety standards, drinking water and shelter provision and permanency of the casual workers. The question of whether the mine workers like to work under such conditions is irrelevant because they have no alternative.
Mining is their only means of subsistence.
Talk of putting a stop to mining and Harlal gets furious. I have been working in mines for over 25 years and will perhaps continue mining for the rest of my life. The hue and cry against mining can't stop it from happening. Mine workers like Harlal see an international conspiracy against mining and mine workers. The environmentalists are mostly sponsored by the multinational foreign companies.