South Africa: Authorities Finally Move Against Australian Sand Mining Company

Tormin’s mining practice, which deviated significantly from the original environmental authorisation provisions of the mining license, has been in the spotlight since the mine began operations in March 2014. These include the construction of structures on the beach zone, mining directly on the beaches, and questions about a massive collapse of the sea cliffs below the mine processing plant.

We can’t run away – Beneath the Sands ERC

Sand collecting in Mekong (by Yosomono CC BY 2.0 via Flickr).

The rise in sand demand endangers the lives of children, laborers, journalists and environmental defenders.

Greed over grains of sand has a fatal human cost: As cities rise and countries urbanize, sand-related murders and other associated crimes have taken a toll on poverty-stricken communities.

In parts of the globe, where sand is extracted, criminal gangs and sand mafias control the multi-billion dollar trade, spawning violence in land-rich, developing nations. On their trail are hundreds of people — miners, journalists and environmental defenders — reported to have been killed, imprisoned or threatened…

Four questions for Eric Lambin on the sand shortage – Stanford News

"Sand Rainbow," Dredger depositing sand and water just offshore at Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast. Australia. Part of large scale beach nourishment project (by Steve Austin CC BY-ND 2.0 via Flickr).

The Stanford geographer and environmental scientist discusses the sand shortage crisis and what it means for the future of the environment.

The ongoing surge in demand for sand has made it a scarce commodity. This natural resource is commonly used in computer microchips, construction, and is an active ingredient in cosmetics. But the current supply of this material has not been able to keep up with the speed of global urbanization. Now, sand is approaching a cost of $10 a ton, while it was just under $4 a ton 31 years ago…