Transforming matters: sustaining gold lifeways in artisanal and small-scale mining

Growth strategies in mining regions promote gold extraction basedonindustrial mining, associating Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) with persistent informality. Against this background, we consider how to approach transformations to sustainability in ASGM. Acknowledging how problematic this topic is for sustainability debates,given howASGM is associated with a host of environmental and social problems,we argue that a justice lens demands we confront such challenges within the global politics of sustainability. This leads us to review advances inthe study of ASGM, linked to debates on extractivism, resource materialities, and informality. We use the notion of gold lifeways to capture how the matter of mining shapes different worlds of extraction. We argue that consideration of the potential for transformations to sustainability needs to be grounded within the realities of ASGM. This necessitates giving value to miners’ knowledge(s), perspectives and interests, while recognising the plurality of mining futures. Nevertheless, we conclude that between the immediacy of precarious work and the structural barriers to change in ASGM, the challenges for transformation cannot be underestimated.NWOGlobal Challenges (FSW

Assessment of scientific gaps related to the effective environmental management of deep-seabed mining

A comprehensive understanding of the deep-sea environment and mining’s likely impacts is necessary to assess whether and under what conditions deep-seabed mining operations comply with the International Seabed Authority’s obligations to prevent ‘serious harm’ and ensure the ‘effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects’ in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. A synthesis of the peer-reviewed literature and consultations with deep-seabed mining stakeholders revealed that, despite an increase in deep-sea research, there are few categories of publicly available scientific knowledge comprehensive enough to enable evidence-based decision-making regarding environmental management, including whether to proceed with mining in regions where exploration contracts have been granted by the International Seabed Authority. Further information on deep-sea environmental baselines and mining impacts is critical for this emerging industry. Closing the scientific gaps related to deep-seabed mining is a monumental task that is essential to fulfilling the overarching obligation to prevent serious harm and ensure effective protection, and will require clear direction, substantial resources, and robust coordination and collaboration. Based on the information gathered, we propose a potential high-level road map of activities that could stimulate a much-needed discussion on the steps that should be taken to close key scientific gaps before any exploitation is considered. These steps include the definition of environmental goals and objectives, the establishment of an international research agenda to generate new deep-sea environmental, biological, and ecological information, and the synthesis of data that already exist

The fall of Hoima, an H6 chondrite from Uganda

The Hoima meteorite fell on March 30, 2003, in the Hoima district near Butema, Uganda. According to its mineralogy, texture, and mineral chemical characteristics, Hoima is classified as a brecciated H6 ordinary chondrite of shock stage S2 and weathering grade W0. After the meteorites Maziba, Soroti, Awere, and Mbale, Hoima represents the fifth meteorite recorded from Uganda.The Meteoritics & Planetary Science archives are made available by the Meteoritical Society and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform February 202

Gold matters: visualizing mining worlds

This book uses text and photographs to highlight a transdisciplinary research project (2018-2022) about artisanal and small-scale gold mining that involved transdisciplinary collaboration between academics, artists, and gold miners. With the title Exploring Transformations to Sustainability in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining: Trans-regional and Multi-Actor Perspectives, or Gold Matters for short, the project examined whether and how societal transformations towards sustainable mining futures are possible in artisanal and small-scale gold mining. It brought together a multi-national team to conduct research in Brazil, Suriname, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry, and Uganda. NWOGlobal Challenges (FSW

World Ocean Assessment II, Chapter 02, Approach to the assessment

KEYNOTE POINTS 1. The purpose of the second World Ocean Assessment is to update the first World Ocean Assessment by providing an understanding of changes that have occurred in the global ocean since 2010 and associated trends. 2. The Assessment also provides an overview of understanding of some aspects not fully covered in the first Assessment, such as inputs of anthropogenic noise, marine hydrates, cumulative effects, marine spatial planning and management approaches. 3. The Assessment follows a modified approach to the drivers-pressures-state-impact- response framework, supported through a series of workshops aimed at identifying region-specific information and input for the Assessment, a peer-review process and a process of review by States.Versión del edito