Having listened to and viewed the public debate around possible lithium mining in the Jadar Valley (western Serbia), including specialist reports which point to potentially catastrophic ecological risks to God’s creation: the environment, nature, subterranean waters, rivers and fields, and primarily the lives of people and children, it is my considered position that no study, no guarantee and no amount of money can justify such a risk-laden ‘investment.’
What is of long term benefit for Serbia, should be the focus. I believe there may be opportunity for investment in projects less invasive and dangerous to the ecology and environment of Serbia. Serbia is rich with forests, springs and subterranean waters, the number of which is diminishing across the planet, because of pollution and excessive exploitation.
Australia is a continent with an abundance of natural resources, with some 350 active mines and is the major lithium extractor in the world. However, Australia is sparsely populated, and the majority of mines are located on unpopulated desert terrain. However, despite adherence to universally binding ecological standards, pollution remains an issue. The question at hand is: “How great is the risk for a territorially small country such as Serbia?” Be it known, that one of the first responsibilities (commandments) which man received from God when placed in the Garden of Eden was not only to enjoy its fruitful abundance, but to care for the garden. “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Genesis 2;15.)
Therefore, the natural environment was gifted to us for reasonable use and similarly for protection from poor lordship and excessive exploitation – abuse. Mindful of bitter experience resulting from contemporary Euro-Atlantic ‘messianism’, it’s ‘well-wishers’ and ‘humanists’ and likewise the geological reports and horrific experiences across the globe with this form of exploitation, I believe that Serbia should not allow it’s environment to be endangered, nor to become somebody’s mining colony, or much worse, to be reduced to a waste depository.
+Metropolitan Siluan
