howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
12 October 2010
18:0574684we have all been hypnotised by the plight of the above and the incredible mental strength they have shown throughout their ordeal.
from midnight tonight the news channels will be live at the shaft to see them appear one by one.
that in itself could be a good reason for staying up, an even better one is that it has transpired that their wives and families will be waiting for them. the problem is that some of the miners have more than one wife and family, only come to light in recent times.
the sight of a fiery south american woman greeting her bigamist or just lecherous husband should be better than anything that jeremy kyle can throw up.
12 October 2010
20:437472212 October 2010
22:5374751Howard, I've got live coverage running on another tab here:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10318089howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
13 October 2010
08:5874773what a great way to start the day, 6 safe and well above ground already.
how this will affect them mentally in the long term is an inponderable though.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
13 October 2010
10:0174778It's great news to see the Chilean miners being brought back safely to the surface
, to think that in the not to distant past trapped miners had to be abandoned to their fate as it was impossible to rescue them.
13 October 2010
10:0374780How do they all look so clean shaven?
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
13 October 2010
10:4974788Maybe they had a shave Mel
, sorry just could not resist that one.
Great news, I was suprised they looked so well as if they had only been trapped a few hours and not for weeks.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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13 October 2010
18:1474843My point exactly Jan and yes i did wonder who would diss me after my quip
13 October 2010
18:1874844I thought it was amazing and touching to see those miners coming up. We watched 7, 8 and 9 arrive. It was worth it to see the light in the eyes of the families. It is proof positive that there can be good news and even better that next time something like this happens (God forbid!) there will be more experience and equipment in place. Although from what I heard today, there will be questions asked about how the mine got into the state that resulted in disaster. One pundit said very circumspectly that it was possible that not quite as much maintenance had been done as should have been.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
13 October 2010
18:2874848Diana, it so happens that in many countries, such as in South Africa and the Ucraine and China, mines are so neglected, when it comes to safety measures (which are very expensive), or so exploited, that to continue using them inevitably leads to continuous structural collapses of earth within the shafts.
It often comes down to minimum wages being about - say 50 pence anhour - and the minerals being sold at world-market prices. The same mines in Britain and Europe would have been closed down long ago, 1) for safety reasons, 2) because it would not pay off to have them operating with miners receiving an average western wage!
That's what it all comes down to, Diana, crude reality!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
13 October 2010
19:0874870the fact of the matter is that mines in remote areas are staffed by itinerant people who move around trying to scratch a living.
i note that one of the miners dragged to the surface today lived with his family in a camper van, the one foriegner(bolivian) had his family hitch lifts and walk for weeks to reach the site.
someone said to me when all this kicked off, would the mining company and chilean government gone to all this expense of rescuing them had it not hit the world stage.?
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
13 October 2010
19:0874871This mine, like many other privately owned mine's worldwide, has no second means of egress. If it had, they would not have been trapped for so long. No deep mine should be allowed to operate without this basic safety measure.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
13 October 2010
19:3774883Yes Howard, Itinerants, just like my two granddads and thousands of others who descended on Kent looking to find jobs as miners to feed their families. Us kids were dragged up. Hopefully all 33 miners will be safely brought to the surface.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
13 October 2010
19:407488419 safe now gary, i hope that they get the right support when the media leave them alone and they are left with their thoughts.
i don't think that i have ever witnessed an event where the news channels have left everything else and just given live coverage to something.
for a change it is a happy event.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
14 October 2010
06:5674949good news the chillian miners are all out and safe,well done the chillian rescue partys.
Guest 667- Registered: 6 Apr 2008
- Posts: 919
14 October 2010
07:2874951It is great news that they are all out and back up and with their families again. I just wonder though when the media have all gone home and things settle down, will they get the medical support that I would think they will need. I know they were taken to hospital as they came back up one by one but I just wonder if the counselling will be there for them and the long term medical help.
Good news for once though, well done the rescue team.
14 October 2010
08:5374956It really is a fantastic result - I have to admire the almost faultless planning and preparation that went into the rescue - a real lesson in planning and recovery. The media interest will probably ensure that the miners continue to receive the best care - and one or two of them seem properly assertive and fiery!! Good on them! More power to them!!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
14 October 2010
09:2274958Good news and great to see.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
14 October 2010
09:4474964it seems that skin disease may be the biggest physical problem, caused by the humidity.
most also seem to need dental work done.
in some ways they are fitter than when they went down, they have had no alcohol or junk food for 2 months.
14 October 2010
17:2475009Perhaps the Chilean mine rescuers could come over hear and rescue the Dover District Council and there development partners from the deep hole they have got themselves into!!!
"If I get it right nobody remembers, if I get it wrong nobody forgets"