Mongolia;s Economy Stirs Problems in the Environment and Changes in Daily Life

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/14/world/asia/oyu-tolgoi-mine-in-khanbogd-is-transforming-mongolia.html?_r=0



Mongolia has the fastest growing economy in the world thanks to its vast gold and copper reserves. As more mines rise from the harsh conditions in the gobi deserts, the desert environment changes for the worst. tHere used to be herders herding their sheep and other cattle in the steppes of the gold desert because of the plants close to the surface and the vast oasis. Now, because of the vast government helped mining projects less and less nutrients are allowing the herders to find food for their cattle to feed them. It's also creating a change modern society in the outskirts of the desert which is confining the herders to where they can bring their cattle to graze. It just goes to show that with modernization comes changes that can be worse the environment. In my opinion, this situation is good and bad. It's good that the mining projects are creating jobs and bringing the population necessities of the modern era like 24 hour electricity and clean water. It's also good because a healthy and stable economy would be good for our unstable global economy. The bad part is that the mines create serious problems for the environment and problems for the future of the country: like what happens if the copper and gold reserves run out? Their economy would be hurt severely which have an impact on the global economy. This situation is similar to when the U.S. was over fishing in the northeast. The shortage in fish brought a financial breakdown not just to the states economy, but to America's global economy. People were laid off, families were starved because of the shortage due to population growth sales of major providers went down. It was a mess.