Chilean Miners trapped, may not be free for four months

[Red Commissar]

I was looking through some articles here and there, and one that caught my eye was the situation around the Chilean miners who were found to be alive after 17 days after the San Jose Mine, near Copiapó, Chile, collapsed.

There are 33 miners trapped 2,257ft underground. They were able to get a message out to the outside after a rescue probe reached their level.

What are they, and the public told? Keep your spirits up. It might take four months to get you out.

It seems to be once again the poor mining standards around the world that is exposing these workers to even more danger (the mine had numerous violations that the government never followed up on), and then when the inevitable happens, they act surprised and shocked.

Of course while these guys get stuck down there, the mine owners are free on the outside, wasting the money they've got on the backs of the miners. The most we will see is the usual shuffling in "regulatory" boards but the issues will still continue.

[Demogorgon]

It is pretty shocking. I dread to think what kind of psychological state the miners will be in by the time they are free. Of course the only thing that will come of this in the long run after the handwringing is some cosmetic reforms to safety regulations that will probably be routinely ignored anyway.

[leftace53]

People are expendable to capitalists, mines will never be "up to par" unless it effects their profits positively. There can be many regulations around it but the government is too addicted by any economic boosts recieved through sub par mines to care about the well being of the people.
I can't imagine being a miner stuck in a mine, and hearing someone tell me that i'm stuck down there for 4 months.

[Red Commissar]

I can't imagine being a miner stuck in a mine, and hearing someone tell me that i'm stuck down there for 4 months.

I know they've made contact with them and are planning to send down supplies... but I'm not sure if anyone's actually told them that they're going to be stuck for a long time in the mine shelter.

[Aesop]

I do have a feeling that if it was a oil well that deep, it would not take as long as four months to extract it.

[Tavarisch_Mike]

"4 months"? On the news yesterday they said 7 months! And they havnt told the brave miners yet, because they have to make some sort of check on theire menthal-stability first, wich i think is understandable.

[Adi Shankara]

There are 33 miners trapped 2,257ft underground. They were able to get a message out to the outside after a rescue probe reached their level.

in the time it took me to write this, 33 people died of Hunger. I feel their plight, but I don't see what makes this especially important. maybe to distract us from what else is going on in Latin America to make us feel good?

[Volcanicity]

in the time it took me to write this, 33 people died of Hunger. I feel their plight, but I don't see what makes this especially important. maybe to distract us from what else is going on in Latin America to make us feel good?
33 exploited workers trapped underground for 4 months I think thats pretty important.

[Adi Shankara]

33 exploited workers trapped underground for 4 months I think thats pretty important.

Compared to the number of people who die of hunger everyday? okay, you're the boss. :rolleyes:

[Volcanicity]

Compared to the number of people who die of hunger everyday? okay, you're the boss. :rolleyes:
A profession where workers can be killed,injured or trapped underground doesnt exactly scream "health and safety" does it?The exploitation of workers obviously means nothing to you.I didnt realise we were in a competition to find out who suffers the most.

[rednordman]

This is one of the most absurd things I have heard in ages. Its very ironic how they are all heard singing the national anthem, as a probe is sent down.

The thing that strikes me most is exacly how little empathy there has been for these miners. People seem to be taking the assumed duration to get them out very casually. Sure, sending food down is a good thing, but more importantly, where the hell is their 'waste' going to go?...And to think that everyone is content for the miners to live in these conditions for up to seven months. I think I would rather die.

All this while the bosses get to live free and ordinary lives, and get paid twice as much. If it was them who was down there, it DEFINITLY would not take that long.

[Volcanicity]

This is greedy capitalist bosses at their worst.The sanitation issues have been completely ignored,they really think that because they are alive and well now,then they still will be in 4 months time!I saw on TV that the bosses are thinking of giving them rations like they do with astronauts. what the hell!

[Tavarisch_Mike]

Ive also tought on the sanitary thing, wich makes me wonder if it has been said how much space do they have, can they stand straight up ore even walk/crawl for some meters? Still the biggest threat are the menthal one, how the miners will cop with being captured and very isolated for so long time.

[Volcanicity]

I saw on TV that they are going to be given boardgames and a video camera to stop them being bored.what a joke!

[Tavarisch_Mike]

I saw on TV that they are going to be given boardgames and a video camera to stop them being bored.what a joke!

Actually its not as messed up as it might sound. The monotonous of doing nothing can very easy make people crazy and hopeless, by giving them this items that can keep theire minds busy, might be enough for them to endure the whole thing.

[Volcanicity]

Actually its not as messed up as it might sound. The monotonous of doing nothing can very easy make people crazy and hopeless, by giving them this items that can keep theire minds busy, might be enough for them to endure the whole thing.
As long as they keep sending a variety of things on a regular basis.otherwise they will get bored very quick.

[welshexile1963]

as an ex-miner myself I feel for these guy's having been trapped once underground for just 10 hours as a 17yr old lad, but the main thing is keeping them alive and getting them out alive no matter how long it takes.

[The Red Next Door]

If it was rich people, it would only take just a week.

[Volcanicity]

I bet the video camera that has been sent down to the miners is owned by their bosses,who will then cash in by selling the rights to a TV station at the highest price.

[ckaihatsu]

(Hmmmmmm, this is arguably distracting people's attention away from events currently unfolding in Bolivia....)

[Red Commissar]

(Hmmmmmm, this is arguably distracting people's attention away from events currently unfolding in Bolivia....)

Then make a thread about it. We can focus on more than one topic.

[ckaihatsu]

Then make a thread about it. We can focus on more than one topic.


Yeah, here it is:


The Limits of Reforms in Bolivia

http://www.revleft.com/vb/limits-reforms-bolivia-t139971/index.html