Mongolian Herders Protest Mining Operations Disruptive of Their Livelihoods

Modernity and Tradition Side by Side in Mongolia

During the week of April 18-24, Ulaanbaatar's main gathering place, the Sukhbaatar Square was the scene to a very important protest by the Mongolian herdsmen from the country’s 21 aimags (provinces). As Mongolia transforms into a mining powerhouse, livelihoods of herders are greatly disrupted by the encroachment of economic progress across the whole country of 2.7 million people. The urban capital Ulaanbaatar (pop. 850,000) is currently in the middle of a real estate boom. The rest of the population lives scattered in the other sparsely populated aimags of this very large country.

Mongolians are proud of their nomadic heritage. Animal herding is often the only way of life and it is the traditional source of income for over half the citizens of Mongolia. The livestock (camels, horses, cashmere goats, sheep and yaks) depend on grazing grounds and water, which are growing increasingly scarce due to over use by the mining operators, who essentially fence their mine areas, after being licensed by the government.

Mining operations impede access to already scarce water resources for the millions of animals, while the grasslands are shrinking. There are concerns that the water table is also being contaminated by the mining process. The environmental damage is already a major issue.

There are increasing numbers of mining companies (over 1000 foreign companies) operating in Mongolia, that mainly come from China, Russia, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and 24 other countries to exploit Mongolia’s mining resources. Mongolia is on its way to be a mining dynamo in East Asia for its ample existing mineral resources. As Mongolia’s commodities based economic development becomes highly dependent on export revenues from mining, the price for this transformation is billed to the herdsmen that will inevitable lose their way of life. It appears they must either get used to the new ways, or be forced into oblivion. While the nation must decide what it will be like in the next 50 years, herders are on the losing side.

The issue is becoming extremely serious. In order to get their voiced heard, the herders rallied this week to stage a protest in front of the Great Khural (The Parliament) to the government. In the attached pictures, it is interesting how rural life stands side by side with global brand names like Coca Cola, Luis Vuitton, and Ermenegildo Zegna.

We are in full support of economic and social progress. Progress must be a rational process. Focusing only on economic development is unsustainable, especially if it is based on a short termist perspective of growth. Progress must be considered as an enlightened self interest that does good for all stakeholders and all echelons of the society.

Demir Yener, PhD. April 24, 2011