From Scotia to Brookwood, fatal US underground coal mine explosions ignited in intake air courses

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, conducted a study of past mine explosions to identify the ignition locations and ignition sources responsible for the most severe explosion events resulting in death. Since the Scotia disaster of 1976, many fatalities from underground coal mine explosions have been linked to nonpermissible electrical equipment ignition sources located in intake air courses. With few exceptions, explosion protected equipment is generally not required in intake air courses of gassy underground coal mines in the US. Cigarette lighters were another prevalent ignition source for fatal explosions ignited in intake air courses. Several mine rescue/ recovery teams have encountered electrical ignition hazards. The study provides evidence that intake air courses of gassy underground coal mines fit the description of certain Hazardous (classified) locations described in the US National Electrical Code\uc2\uae. Class I Division 2 or Zone 2 explosion protection tech\uc2\uacniques may be used to design intake air equipment so that it does not present an ignition source under normal operation, before mine power is shut down in emergency situations. Nonpermissible circuits in intake air courses that are likely to remain energized during emergencies, e.g. battery powered equipment, should be protected by more stringent Class I Division 1, Zone 1, or Zone 0 techniques, to protect rescue/recovery personnel

‘Mirror, Mirror on the Wall’:A Reflection on Engaged Just Transformations Research under Turkey’s Authoritarian Populist Regime

Sustainability transformations call for self-reflection and repositioning researchers’roles in knowledge co-production. While we were investigating the transformationsand resistance to fossil fuel rush in Yeni Foça, Turkey, between 2016 and 2019, ourlives as engaged and situated researchers, our institutions as leading public researchuniversities, and our country – where we conduct research, co-produce knowledgeand put it to use for environmental and social justice – transformed drastically. Wehave witnessed ‘the dark side of transformation’ that took its toll on the environ-mental justice movements we cooperate with, on the public universities we work inand the academics we ally with, and finally, on the political landscape of the countryin which we live, work and play (and which more and more frequently – unfortunately– we leave). In this chapter, we want to turn the tables and reflect on transformationsbased on our experiences and take-homes from Yeni Foça and Boğaziçi Universityin Turkey, both under intense attack from the authoritarian neoliberalism of theErdoğan regime. This reflection, hopefully, will provide some food for thought forother researchers in other places also struggling against the clenched fists of populist,conservative authoritarianism unleashed onto their socio-natures while they try toco-produce knowledge with EJ resistance movements

‘Mirror, Mirror on the Wall’:A Reflection on Engaged Just Transformations Research under Turkey’s Authoritarian Populist Regime

Sustainability transformations call for self-reflection and repositioning researchers’roles in knowledge co-production. While we were investigating the transformationsand resistance to fossil fuel rush in Yeni Foça, Turkey, between 2016 and 2019, ourlives as engaged and situated researchers, our institutions as leading public researchuniversities, and our country – where we conduct research, co-produce knowledgeand put it to use for environmental and social justice – transformed drastically. Wehave witnessed ‘the dark side of transformation’ that took its toll on the environ-mental justice movements we cooperate with, on the public universities we work inand the academics we ally with, and finally, on the political landscape of the countryin which we live, work and play (and which more and more frequently – unfortunately– we leave). In this chapter, we want to turn the tables and reflect on transformationsbased on our experiences and take-homes from Yeni Foça and Boğaziçi Universityin Turkey, both under intense attack from the authoritarian neoliberalism of theErdoğan regime. This reflection, hopefully, will provide some food for thought forother researchers in other places also struggling against the clenched fists of populist,conservative authoritarianism unleashed onto their socio-natures while they try toco-produce knowledge with EJ resistance movements