See how the rice fields in this image are now half the size they used to be due to the mine. Farmers are selling away their family's inheritance to facilitate the illegal rape of this sacred river.
The mines have been mostly silent for the last week, perhaps in anticipation of an exploding volcano? Mount Agung isn't too far away and if the wind direction is towards us we could be in for some rather uncomfortable times.
However, today the miners returned to Tukad Petanu.
Apparently unconcerned by the smouldering volcano!
Two month ago the latest mine to appear was just a little path through the jungle
One month ago it looked like this...
And here it is today. There can be no question that it is growing fast and can't be doing the river any good. Not to mention they are damn noisy!!!
Finally, here is the new mining area from above.
One of the workers was actually waving at me here. Perhaps even unaware that he is breaking the law??!!!
Let us see what happens over the coming weeks. Should the volcano do what everyone is expecting I am hoping the workers will take a break!
I leave you with a more enjoyable view of our area from 300m, shot at dawn as the mists were still evaporating off the rice fields.
An illegal mine clearly has no place here!
Let us continue building the awareness together through the free sharing of up to date video & photography documentation which will be forged here on the Steem Block chain forever. There will be no accidental loss of this documentation!
