Beaconsfield mine

Beaconsfield miners consider future :

"Mine administrator Michael Ryan said the company would have preferred to retain all employees, but the $1.9 million per month cost of keeping a full workforce and continuing mine maintenance made it impossible."

This mine is not safe and other mines around the world are not safe. That we had the survival of Todd and Brant is astounding, but their story is both about them and bringing a human face to this situation of miners which has existed since the turn of the last century. Where other jobs have changed and have had improved conditions, miners are still suffering from the same lifethreatening prospects as the men at the beginning of the 1900s. Mining has almost stood still in terms of conditions and yet there have been massive technological breakthroughs. Todd and Brant were spared for whatever reason and their humanity reminds us that they were THAT close and that each man who mines is always THAT close. They can't reopen the mine until the safety checks are complete. The miners are not stupid, nor are they incoherent, nor are they incompetent and ill advised in their decision making capacities. The miners need to be dealt with honestly and then they will capably make their own decisions with regard to their futures. Beaconsfield is appropriately named. Their ability to shed light as a community is and has been demonstrably clear.