| believe in yourself 45455 16.03.2010 18:10 |
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| GratefulFan 16.03.2010 18:35 |
Women used to be considered bad luck underground back in the day. I live in a big mining town and many strong people paved the way back in the 70's when it working that job as a woman meant working under terrible psychological stress with harassment as a fact of every day life. |
| LoosingMyBeat 16.03.2010 19:55 |
NoMoreMrNiceGuy wrote: What are you mining for (at)? Sweden doesn't have coal mines (not really sure if that's true) but North of Sweden has many mines for minerals and metals like sinc, copper, lead, silver and even gold and uranium. I read that Sweden is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) producers of these metals in Europe and Kiruna is well known for it's iron ore. Looking at your clothes, I think you're doing 'clean' work. Not the real digging, maybe maintenance or inspection. Am I right? And how deep do you have to go for this? My father worked as a coal miner many years ago and crawld through shafts at ~800 meters deep. Isn't it scarry or at least unconfortable? Also, I never saw it as a job for women. Not that I think you (women) are not competent. It's more that I never heard or read anything about women doing this work. How are your fingernails? I'm mining for iron ore. In fact we have the best quality iron ore in the world with a 72% iron content, this is very rare and considered high quality. We have recently passed the 1500 meter mark, and we're going even deeper. Our mine is the biggest underground iron ore mine in the world with 400 km of passable road. I work in hydraulics maintenance, maintaining hydraulic systems in LHD:s, tunnelboring- and tunnel reinforcement machines. I do have a rather dirty job, but someones got to do it! [img=/images/smiley/msn/teeth_smile.gif][/img] My fingernails, by the way, are short and clean :D I've been a miner for 4 yrs now and sadly during this time we have lost two co-workers age 21 and 27 to massive rock fall-out, ofcourse this is a risky job and the psychological stress can sometimes get the best of you but it has it's positive sides aswell. We are at the moment 20 women working amongst 800 men, more and more young women seem to seek the proper education for this type of work. I've always thought that you have to be damn stubborn to survive as a young girl in such a male dominated work place, and I guess I am. I've always seen it as a challenge and that's what makes my job interesting to me. Here's a link to the company I work for, about the mine and our upcoming moving of our city! http://www.lkabframtid.com/ (there is an UK flag up in the right corner) |
| believe in yourself 45455 17.03.2010 08:59 |
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| LoosingMyBeat 17.03.2010 11:55 |
NoMoreMrNiceGuy wrote: LKAB is a state-company, isn't it? The re-location of houses, people, etc must be a giant task. A lot of emotions and different interests. Probably also a lot of resistance. But doesn't the financial crisis have any impact? Since the car industry and other industries don't demant as much iron as before. And how is living in Kiruna? The must be a lot of space and nature outside the city, but is isn't it isolated from the rest of the world and if the iron mining is the main issue and source of income, doesn't that make the city very 'industrial' and boring? (and cold) LKAB is a state-company, thats right. Kiruna is an industrial city, almost everyone in the area get bread on the table because of the mine and everything related to it. In fact Kiruna would probably not excist without it. Kiruna was built in late 1890 to early 1900 when they opened the mine, before this the land was uninhabited apart from our aboriginal lappish people. The mine is located about 2 km from the center of Kiruna, it is very much industrial and I remember wiping the balcony of my old apartment once a week to get rid of the stone dust! At times being close to such a magnificent industrial landmark can be breathtaking, at other times it's hideous and problematic. Of course it is being debated from left to right about the issue of moving the city but in the end it all comes down to keep on producing iron and the survival of our city. If we dont move the city (ever wich way) the mine is going to close down and we'll all be out of jobs. I mean, the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi won't be employing 25 000 ppl anyday soon! Living in Kiruna is quiet and eventless, often too quiet and we are very much isolated from the rest of the world. We do have a domestic airport and that is a life saver. It's also bloody freezing here, January/February this year had a steady temperature of - 25 C and 3 weeks ago we had four days when the temperature was down to between -38 C and -43 C... Thank god for the internet!!! I'm glad to say that this morning the sun was shining and water was dripping from my roof. Yay! I am born and raised here, guess I'll always love Kiruna, to say that I'll live here the rest of my life.... well you never know what the future holds... This is me rambling on and on about my city, feel free to stop me. |
| LoosingMyBeat 17.03.2010 12:09 |
..oh, the financial crisis did affect us, most of the miners stayed at home for 8 weeks last summer (I did not though) and LKAB went out officially with the sad news that 350 ppl had to be laid of from the company... It was troubled times but we were very lucky to stay on through the worst of the crisis with positive results (thanks to landing the chinese steel industry as a buyer of our product) and not a single man was fired. |
| believe in yourself 45455 17.03.2010 17:32 |
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| LoosingMyBeat 17.03.2010 18:28 |
Is there a chance that eventualy Kiruna and Malmberget will be relocated completely, or just parts? And will they be rebuild in the original style with the same infrastructure and buildings fascilities or are there bigger plans. The idea is of course very fascinating. The ore, atleast what we know about it today, is 2 km deep and lies in an angle and runs throughout the middle of the city (1,5 km wide). Don't know if this makes any sense but in reality it means that the deeper we go, more and more parts of the city gets affected. Right outside the mine, on the city side of it, there's a big hole where there used to be a road and parking lots. This hole gets bigger everyday and eventually (approx. 2032) it will have eaten the whole city center. The infrastructure of our city will be completely relocated, so will the railways. As for the buildings I think some will be demolished to make way for new houses and those with a cultural value will be moved in parts or as a whole. Our church will be taken apart and put back in another location while our city hall (a brick building 50x50 m) will be moved (if ever possible) as a whole! I don't think the cities will be relocated completely, just moved outside the avalanche zone. On the other hand there will be many environmental issues. The mining sure brings a lot of pollution and also the landscape will be effected drastically. There must be many protest from that corner. Ofcourse this is a problem, and hard to say what Kiruna will look like in 30 years... a big hole with fences and houses around it? According to swedish law, when a mine or quarry is finished in production or moving their quarrying they have to have money put aside to restore the lanscape and environment. Let's just hope that this is what preserves our beautiful environment. Because the deeper you go, the better the ore. But if you go that deep can it still cause deformations? I have no idea, I understand your question and it seems logical that if you take rocks 3 km under the surface it won't cause deformations as much as doing the same a hundred meters from the surface. I will ask someone who knows better than me. "I mean, the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi won't be employing 25 000 ppl anyday soon! " I understand that the city very much depends on the mines, but I don't see this connection. In what way depends the hotel on the mining? Well, the famous Icehotel is located 20 km from Kiruna and tourism is the second single biggest employer after the mine, but I cant imagine that it employs even 10 % of what the mine does. A local joke maybe... Sorry! "guess I'll always love Kiruna" Also after the relocation? Yeah well, Kiruna for me is my family and my roots. Don't think it matters at all where it's located. "and not a single man was fired. " That must have been a big relief. 350 of 800 is a very big part. Would those be the miners or facilitators and overhead? It's a very big risk if the whole economics of a big area depents one employer. Especially in these times The company as a whole employs about 3000 ppl, only 800 works underground in Kiruna. We have a big refining plant behind the mine where 500 ppl is working. I guess these cut downs only would concern miners and plant workers. We are very happy that this did not bacome a fact. Thanks for your questions, this is very relevant to me and I'm happy to share what I know. |
| believe in yourself 45455 18.03.2010 14:12 |
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| LoosingMyBeat 18.03.2010 15:14 |
NoMoreMrNiceGuy wrote: "Thanks for your questions, this is very relevant to me and I'm happy to share what I know." You're welcome, It's really interesting what's going on. I'm in the middle of a training now, can't make it long this time. For the younger citizens, like you, the whole project must be very exciting and with a lot of opportunities, maybe even better chances then now. For the elderly the thought of moving might bring them a lot of stress. The formation of parks as a 'compensation' is something intersting as well. Isn't the ground on the surface to much poluted? And can plants grow there? Would you eat the vegatables that grow there or let your children play there? And those holes, can't they be filled with water and become lakes? Have to stop now, sorry -------------------------------------------------------------- What are you training? (for?) The subject of moving the city is IMO stressful for the lot of us, especially for those who own properties in the landslide zone. I know as a fact that some people has quit making payments on their houses to the bank (just paying the cost of interest) in hope that LKAB will buy them out. Where this will lead I'm not sure of but it can't be good. It's all in such an early stage at this time. For the elderly this can be a huge problem, often mortgage free and owning their houses to their full value, being bought out and moved to another location can not be benifitial, economically nor emotionally. At this time all property development in Kiruna has ceased, not knowing where the new city will be or if the land will rupture further. No one wants to invest money in commerce- or real estate not knowing if it have to be demolished or moved in five or ten years time. Regarding the parks: I myself would not eat anything that grew on former mining territory, though the only thing that grows in Kiruna is potatoes due to the arctic climate (and even these are very small)! I haven't thought too much about pollution, LKAB states that the pollution caused by their mining and refining is slim to none. Hard to say if that's true or not but I don't think I would have a problem with letting my future kids play there, I played alot as a kid in similar evironments. Well, actually, you gave me something to think about. :D There are a lot of closed down mines in Kiruna, four mines off the top of my head... 1. Tuolluvaara mine, now is fenced in and not accessible. 2. Luossavaara mine, is now a ski slope in full activity from November to April. (This mine is a ten minute walk north from the city center.) 3. Nukkutus quarry, is now water filled and home to salmon trouts. There is possibility to buy a fishing permit to this lake and the fish is eatable. 4. Viscaria mine, copper ore mine that now houses wind power stations. The deformation holes caused by Kirunavaara (the mine I work in) can't be filled with water cause we are working below the holes and filling them with water would lead to flooding the tunnels. In fact, one of the lakes closest to the mine had to be drain when we started tunneling towards the northern part of the ore, known as the lake ore. Even if the lake is dry this is the most wet area in the mine, water dripping from the tunnel ceiling and pouring down the walls. It's on top of this area the first park will be located btw. Maybe I too should go do some training of some sort, this is getting close to a thesis at this point! [img=/images/smiley/msn/teeth_smile.gif][/img] Cheers! |
| believe in yourself 45455 18.03.2010 18:41 |
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| believe in yourself 45455 18.03.2010 18:41 |
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| LoosingMyBeat 19.03.2010 09:42 |
NoMoreMrNiceGuy wrote: I work as a teacher on a school for disabled children (autism, ADHD, social problems, etc). I switched to another school last year and I have to follow an introduction program for new employees to get some more knowledge of the organisation, to get in touch with other new employees, etc This is amazing! I truly admire people who chooses this type of job. The world really need more people who is willing to help those with disabilities, especially children. I'm in awe, hat's off to you. |
| believe in yourself 45455 19.03.2010 13:04 |
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| Treasure Moment 19.03.2010 13:12 |
sweden is the land of cold robotic people |
| LoosingMyBeat 19.03.2010 14:02 |
NoMoreMrNiceGuy wrote: No one wants to invest money in commerce- or real estate not knowing if it have to be demolished or moved in five or ten years time. Very understandable. Houses and ground becomes worthles for the private sector. Buying the owners out by LKAB or the state is is probably the very last option (I'm sure they have a money reserve for that alreday ). Probably they will wait as long as possible until the owners are under the highest pressure and have no choice anymore. Also the prices will at their lowes then and LKAB can make a very low final offer. Also the new to build houses will have a higher price so the buyers need a higher mortgage, which they maybe can not afford, etc... Regarding the parks: I myself would not eat anything that grew on former mining territory, But you're breathing the dusty air every day. Isn't that a health risk? I don't think I would have a problem with letting my future kids play there, I played alot as a kid in similar evironments. Well, actually, you gave me something to think about. :D I didn't want to scare you. Since 1900 several generation grew up there, probably without any problems. But I don't think I would eat the salmon trout or swim in the water. I'm in awe, hat's off to you. Helmet off, in your case [img=/images/smiley/msn/teeth_smile.gif][/img] . Well thanks. As I said, my father was a coal miner for some years and later a bricklayer. In my youth I decided that I would never choose an occupation that would cause rough hands. So hats off to you as well! :) It is definitely a health risk working in the mine, don't really know what to say. I guess I'm trying not to think about it too much. My grand father died at the age of 62 due to epilepsy, caused by welding fumes in the mine and two years ago I lost a very close friend when 30 m2 of solid rock fell out of the tunnel ceiling down on his truck, crushing it into pieces. Losing him really knocked me off my feet and for some time I was thinking about leaving. It's difficult to explain why I'm still here and why I'm willing to take the risk. The original plan was to work here for a couple of years and then try something else, well now four years has passed and I'm still here. I would not eat the salmon trout from the old quarry or eat something growing on mining land, though I know people who do. Only time can tell if it can cause health issues, 100 years is not a long time and you really can't tell anything about the consequenses the mining will have further on. You are totally right. I would love to hear more about your job, can't think of a more noble thing than to work with disabled children. Saw a documentary a few weeks back about a orphanage for mentally and physically disabled children in Bulgaria, where they litterally left the children to rot in their beds. The children with autism was left sitting in a room without any stimulation, just rocking back and forth. This docu broke my heart to pieces, and to think that people go to Bulgaria for vacation to lead a hedonistic life for a couple of weeks not knowing what is going on just around the corner just makes me sick. |
| LoosingMyBeat 19.03.2010 14:04 |
Treasure Moment wrote: sweden is the land of cold robotic people What does this even mean? |
| Treasure Moment 19.03.2010 14:12 |
LoosingMyBeat wrote:Treasure Moment wrote: sweden is the land of cold robotic peopleWhat does this even mean? it means most of them are incapable of showing emotion, walking around like cold zombies, shallow, stupid, dont know whats going on in the world or even care etc. Im not saying all but a lot. They are the kind of people who walk by someone who is laying on the ground or someone getting beaten up, minding their own buisness and being fake polite and then talking shit about the same person behind closed doors. |
| LoosingMyBeat 19.03.2010 14:31 |
I'm starting to see a pattern here. I don't agree with you. Useless post. |
| Treasure Moment 19.03.2010 14:39 |
LoosingMyBeat wrote:Treasure Moment wrote:I'm starting to see a pattern here. I don't agree with you.LoosingMyBeat wrote:it means most of them are incapable of showing emotion, walking around like cold zombies, shallow, stupid, dont know whats going on in the world or even care etc. Im not saying all but a lot. They are the kind of people who walk by someone who is laying on the ground or someone getting beaten up, minding their own buisness and being fake polite and then talking shit about the same person behind closed doors.Treasure Moment wrote: sweden is the land of cold robotic peopleWhat does this even mean? once again it doesnt matter what you think as this is how it is, its a fact. |
| LoosingMyBeat 19.03.2010 14:40 |
You just made me laugh so hard! End of discussion. Useless post. |
| Treasure Moment 19.03.2010 14:46 |
LoosingMyBeat wrote:you KNOW that what i said about sweden is true, im not making things up, i tell it like it is.Treasure Moment wrote:You just made me laugh so hard! End of discussion.LoosingMyBeat wrote:once again it doesnt matter what you think as this is how it is, its a fact.Treasure Moment wrote:I'm starting to see a pattern here. I don't agree with you.LoosingMyBeat wrote:it means most of them are incapable of showing emotion, walking around like cold zombies, shallow, stupid, dont know whats going on in the world or even care etc. Im not saying all but a lot. They are the kind of people who walk by someone who is laying on the ground or someone getting beaten up, minding their own buisness and being fake polite and then talking shit about the same person behind closed doors.Treasure Moment wrote: sweden is the land of cold robotic peopleWhat does this even mean? |
| believe in yourself 45455 19.03.2010 20:28 |
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| LoosingMyBeat 20.03.2010 01:24 |
Double post |
| Micrówave 22.03.2010 00:38 |
Treasure Moment wrote: sweden is the land of cold robotic people I like cheeseburgers. FACT. |