An Ethical interrogation of coal mining activities and its implications on women’s health and the environment in South Africa.
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Date
2022
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Abstract
Coal mining is one of the earliest forms of economic activity that is still practised today in the
majority of African countries, including South Africa. Because it also offers employment
opportunities to a large number of individuals, its contribution to the growth of the economy is
unparalleled. In spite of the debates around climate change, global patterns of coal consumption
have not changed over the past few years. In fact, it has been observed that coal is not even close
to being in decline. Coal is recognised as one of the most utilised resources in the world. Even
though coal mining helps substantially to economic development, its positive impact on economic
growth appears to have outweighed the adverse effects it has on local communities and the
environment.Although debates and discussions have been conducted on coal mining in South Africa, most
scholars have not written about how coal mining affects women’s health and the environment from
an ethical perspective. This study aims to ethically interrogate coal mining activities and their
implications on women’s health and the environment in South Africa. The study highlights the
contribution of coal mining activities towards environmental pollution and how it has affected
women’s health. Furthermore, coal mining activities have resulted in the displacement of local
communities, violence and a violation of human rights. It is through this backdrop that this study,
through the lens of ecofeminism and intersectionality, argues that coal mining companies and
government in South Africa reconsider their approaches to mining and prioritize women’s health
and the environment.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.