Robots Cheaper Than Humans

The main argument for sulfide and uranium mining in Michigan is that it will “create jobs.” From a micro perspective this may be sort of true. By allowing companies to set up shop in Michigan, we could create some jobs – perhaps as many as 75 – but at what cost?

Too many people, including some in our state government, are blighted by tunnel vision.  We need to be able to get out of the tunnel and look at every aspect of this potential “opportunity.”

Did you know that while mining may create some short-term jobs, one of the companies interested in doing sulfide mining in the UP use robots for most of their sites around the world.

How many jobs would they actually create, not to mention what would the educational requirements be for these jobs? The fact is new technology has been developed in the mining industry to decrease man power and mining companies are opting for robots. Robots that can only be operated by highly skilled technicians who do not come from and may not even have to be in Michigan.

One mining company, Rio Tinto, has already started using robots in its mines throughout the world.  Rio Tinto is looking at putting the same robots in Michigan along the priceless Menominee River that feeds into Lake Michigan.

A few of the “sci-fi becomes reality” snippets from the June 2009 Rio Tinto Review:

• The giant and driverless Komatsu 930E-4 electric truck which hauls 285 tons of ore in a single load. These trucks go to “school” to learn the terrain.
• A remote jackhammer crushes rock faster and better than usual with the Perth operator a quarter of a continent away
• Operators now load trains (which are also driverless) remotely

The reason for the robotics in mining is simple; it cuts the bottom line for companies.  According to John McGagh, Rio Tinto’s head of innovation, “ in challenging [economic] times, mine automation makes better economic sense than ever.” By using the robots they can employ far fewer people.  There will be some jobs but as McGagh explains those who get them will need advanced degrees.. ‘the miner’ of the future may well be metropolitan based, with a higher degree in mechatronics, supercomputing or artificial intelligence.”

Is sacrificing our health and that of our children worth the risks of such short term and short sighted economic gain?

Mining limits proposed, opposed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – Great Lakes Echo

LANSING, Mich. –Environmental groups in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have proposed a mining initiative to protect the state’s water supply.

But lawmakers representing the U.P. are opposing a ballot measure by environmental groups like the Save Our Water Committee and Save the Wild UP, arguing that sulfide mining would generate jobs.

The initiative claims sulfide and uranium mining threatens water in the Great Lakes basin. Supporters say they do not want to ban mining they just want stricter regulations.

The Great Lakes supply 80 percent of North America’s drinking water, and sulfide mining could harm such sources by draining acid and contaminating the supply for decades, industry critics argue. If passed by voters in November 2010, it would also apply to future mining in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

Read More At Great Lakes Echo

Letter to Jason Allen and “Lawmakers Oppose Anti-Mining Ballot Plan”

Note: Maura Campbell sent this letter in the form of an email to State Senator Jason Allen in response to this recent Associated Press article.  He was made aware that this letter would be shared publicly via social media when it was sent. The formal media response from the campaign will come from our passionate and eloquent MiWater team members in the UP.

Hi Jason,

Although I am generally in agreement with you on many issues, my R is green these days and I look forward to taking our case to the people to add more protections to MI’s existing sulfide mining law to protect our greatest natural resource — fresh water.

As you know a passion for water and our natural resources is not a partisan issue. It crosses all sorts of boundaries.

We promise to be informed, eloquent, passionate and fierce in our David vs. Goliath fight for Michigan and Great Lakes water and a better future for our state.

I was not surprised that all the UP Democrats lined up against our effort (the sulfide mining interests and misguided UP union leaders have been very persuasive) but I was hoping you would have waited a bit before choosing sides.

We hired John Pirich and others to make sure that we crafted a very sound law that is

• Legal and will stand up in court
• Effective by raising the bar to protect our most valuable resource: water
• Can win the hearts, minds and votes of all those in Michigan who know there is No Pure Michigan Without Pure Water.

We have engaged National Petition Management to help us gather the signatures so that we will get this on the ballot. And we will do everything possible to garner the signatures and votes needed in the Mitten, where the signatures and votes are, to win. 

A few things…

1. We do not ban sulfide or uranium mining.
2. Currently there are no regulations in Michigan pertaining to uranium mining — this measure takes the common sense approach of requiring rules be put in place before such mining can occur
3. The jobs and economic arguments are mired in the old economy. The mining companies have been holding out false promises of jobs. This is not the traditional mining of the UP. Very few jobs will go to UP folks. Rio Tinto, owner of Kennecott which is pushing the Eagle Mine project near Big Bay, is leading the way toward using robots not people in its mines.

As you know manufacturing jobs and mining jobs are not coming back in any great numbers. Both industries will continue to move toward automation and robotics. Increasingly MI’s economy is growing in the areas of tourism, green jobs and entrepreneurship. Mining is by its nature extractive and temporary. It goes away.

The Mackinac Center seems to want it both ways — Russ Harding blasts us and David Littman makes our case by showing where the economy is going and where the job growth will be.

Hint: it’s not in mining.

We look forward to working with many in and near your district including Governor Milliken in making a very strong and well thought out case.

Many Republicans are increasingly aware that our party cannot, and must not be mired in the past. I have the feeling I am not the only Michigan or Great Lakes Republican sporting a green R these days.

I guess we both are living proof that politics makes for strange bedfellows.

There is a long way to go before November 2010 — we plan to use that time wisely to make our case.

Respectfully,

Maura Campbell 
A determined David in this fight for pure water

Detroit park honors former Gov. Milliken | The Detroit News

Our Honorary Chairman Gov. William Milliken was honored yesterday in downtown Detroit at a dedication ceremony for the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor. The park is situated on the Detroit River and features a harbor with 52 boat slips, a wetlands area, and access to the RiverWalk. The park is a fitting honor for a man who worked to protect Michigan’s natural resources during his 3 terms as governor.  The event was attended by MiWater’s Duncan and Maura Campbell.

“For far too long the politics of division have played too large a role in southeast Michigan and throughout the state,” former Gov. William Milliken said. “Division by race, division by economic status, division by geography have all been exploited and continue to be exploited by some for their own short-term political gain. But in pursuing their own narrow personal interests, they have held Michigan back.” - Gov. William Milliken, MiWater Honorary Chairman

Gov. Milliken’s comments remind us that we are all in this together, and should not let the Straits of Mackinac prevent us from being one Pure Michigan.  We are not fighting for only the UP, but for the common interest of Pure Water for all of Michigan, and the entire Great Lakes Basin. After the event, Duncan Campbell presented Gov. Milliken with a MiWater.org water bottle as a “thank you” for his help with the initiative. Read more at detnews.com.