Here is the Elko Daily Free Press editorial response to the National Geographic and New York Times articles. Last week I had called the Free Press and asked if they had seen the article and might be printing a response.

One of my complaints about the NG article was that it felt the mine in Indonesia created job-envy there. I feel those who don't currently work at the mine itself will still find greater ecconomic opportunties. As those with the mine jobs start to have more money than time, others will begin to find ways to meet those needs- ie- to produce more food, etc. and the overall economy will begin to expand. "A high tide lifts all boats"! Perhaps National Geographic feels they should just continue in their same ecconomic state until we find a way to create equal paying jobs for all??

http://elkodaily.com/articles/2009/01/08/opinion/editorial/doc49650b8a5a555958671415.txt

National Geographic January 2009 Gold Article

This article below just came out regarding the impact gold mining on the environment and people/societies. The Elko area isn't mentioned in particular, but Newmont is (go to page 5 of the article to skip to it). Although no one in my family is employed in mining related work (thus I consider myself more-less impartial), I felt the article was very negatively slanted (which in my opinon many many articles in National Geographic are elitist).

Read it and let me know what you think the pro/cons are for the mining industry over all, as well as for Elko in particular.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/featurehub

The New York Times Article on Battle Mountain, NV

My brother, David (in Indiana) sent me this link regarding the town of Battle Mountain, about 60 miles from here. The link is below. I felt the NY Times did a pretty nice job on the article and explaining the boom/bust cycle for gold mining. At least it didn't denigrate the mining industry, as the January issue of National Geographic did.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/us/02nevada.html?no_interstitial

What do YOU think of both the article's tone and Battle Mountain?