Saturday photo

Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park in New Taipei City, Taiwan

I had a chance to see the breathtaking view shown in this Saturday's featured photo, which was taken from the Gold Museum at Jinguashi Eco-Park in Ruifang, New Taipei City. The Eco-Park was a mining site. In front of the Museum, after emerging from the Benshan Fifth Tunnels, one can have a sweeping view of the mountain town with the East China Sea in the background.  

A big part of the town used to be a mining site, which was closed after its service years have been reached.  Upon the closure of the mining business, the town that used to be a rich community was plunged to poverty, and became a "ghost town".  The mining site was

The Gold Eco-Park or Gold Museum could be
a place for cozy stroll, not just for tourists
but for the locals as well.

then re-opened into a "Gold Ecological Park" in 2004.  It was then renamed "Gold Museum" after the renaming of the former Taipei County to "New Taipei City" in 2010.

I was very much interested in visiting the Park as I wanted to see how "abandoned" mines could be converted to Eco-Parks - tourists destination - that could fetch sustained income for the community even after the surge of income when the Mines were still operational dies down.  This is because I strongly believe that, if responsible mining is observed, the mine sites could be maintained and kept safe for the community while operational, and then restored to their original beauty after the mine site's service years.  If converted to museum, or even laboratory for aspiring mining engineers, they may provide opportunities for education about the interesting science of mining and mineral processing.  This could even heighten people's awareness and discipline in how we could use the gifts of nature, and take care of it, give back to it by restoring its former beauty, and even enhancing it, making it resistant to even the harshest parts of the cycle of natural renewal.

Yes, I strongly believe that there is, indeed, such thing as RESPONSIBLE MINING.  There are sophisticated technologies that allow for this, that make this possible and achievable.  What we need to establish is INSPIRED AND INSPIRING but FIRM LEADERSHIP in making sure that policies are strictly observed... and, in fact, happily observed because of people's love for nature and country, which can be inspired by an inspiring leadership rather than a hysterically threatening one.

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