Mining CEO quits after destruction of ancient caves

 

Watch Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vAuTpBj78Y

1.Reading:

The CEO of one of the world's largest mining companies, Rio Tinto, has resigned following the destruction of two sacred Aboriginal sites. However, it will not be a speedy exit. The CEO has until March to empty his desk and head for the door. He handed in his notice after the furor created by the demolition of 46,000-year-old caves in the Juukan Gorge in Western Australia. The company was mining for high-grade iron ore. The CEO acknowledged there was no doubt the company could have made "better decisions". The ancient caves are sacred to Australia's indigenous Aboriginal communities. There is evidence to show they were used as dwellings as far back as the Old Stone Age, when humans were developing stone tools.

The blasts at the caves led to international condemnation and adversely affected Rio Tinto's reputation worldwide. The blasting took place against the wishes of the traditional owners of the site, the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people. They accused the mining giant of a blatant disregard of their culture and traditions, purely in a quest for greater profits. They said: "We cannot and will not allow this type of devastation to occur ever again." The Rio Tinto chair offered an apology. He said: "What happened at Juukan was wrong and we are determined to ensure that the destruction of a heritage site of such exceptional archaeological and cultural significance never occurs again at a Rio Tinto operation."

2. DWELLINGS: What are the pros and cons of living in these kinds of dwellings? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Pros

Cons

Caves

 

 

Igloos

 

 

Tents

 

 

Caravans

 

 

Mountain huts

 

 

Tree house

 

 

3.SACRED: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "sacred".  What is the difference between:

 sacred, scarred and scared.

4. HERITAGE: Rank these. Put the most important at the top. Give examples of each based on your own culture.

·         Archaeological sites

·         Local dialects

·         Dances

·         Stories

·         Music

·         Forests

·         Art

·         Theatre

 

5.Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1.

resigned

a.

An outbreak of public anger.

      2.

destruction

b.

Regarded with great respect and reverence by a particular religion, group, or individual.

      3.

sacred

c.

The action or process of causing so much damage to something that it no longer exists.

      4.

notice

d.

A house, apartment, cave, hut or other place where people live.

      5.

furor

e.

Voluntarily left a job or other position.

      6.

demolition

f.

A formal declaration of one's intention to stop working in or quit a job.

      7.

dwelling

g.

The action or process of being completely knocked down or destroyed.

    Paragraph 2

      8.

blast

h.

Done openly and unashamedly.

      9.

condemnation

i.

A long search for something.

      10.

adversely

j.

Pay no attention to; ignore.

      11.

blatant

k.

The expression of very strong disapproval.

      12.

disregard

l.

Unusually good; outstanding.

      13.

quest

m.

An explosion or explosive firing, especially of a bomb or dynamite.

      14.

exceptional

n.

In a way that prevents success or development; harmfully or unfavorably.

 

6.TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Rio Tinto is the world's largest mining company.     T / F
  2. The CEO had to leave his post and his office last week.     T / F
  3. The company was mining for iron ore.     T / F
  4. The caves may have been inhabited in the Old Stone Age.     T / F
  5. The indigenous people did not grant permission to the mining company.  T / F
  6. The indigenous people said the mining company just wanted profits.     T / F
  7. The company is yet to make an apology for its actions.     T / F
  8. The company said it would never do such a thing again.     T / F

7. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. resigned
  2. sacred
  3. furor
  4. acknowledged
  5. evidence
  6. condemnation
  7. blatant
  8. determined
  9. exceptional
  10. significance
  1. outstanding
  2. accepted
  3. proof
  4. shameless
  5. revered
  6. intent on
  7. quit
  8. importance
  9. uproar
  10. criticism

 8.Role play

Role  A – Ancient Sites
You think ancient sites are the most important part of heritage to protect. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of protection of these (and why): dance, forests or local dialects.

Role  B – Dance
You think dance is the most important part of heritage to protect. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of protection of these (and why): ancient sites, forests or local dialects.

Role  C – Forests
You think forests are the most important part of heritage to protect. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of protection of these (and why): dance, ancient sites or local dialects.

Role  D – Local Dialects
You think local dialects are the most important part of heritage to protect. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of protection of these (and why): dance, forests or ancient sites.

9.Discussion - Mining

  1. What do you know about mining?
  2. Do mining companies care about the environment?
  3. Do mining companies have the right to take things from the earth?
  4. What do you know about Aboriginal cultures?
  5. What do you think of the destruction of the caves?
  6. How important are 46,000-year-old sacred sites?
  7. What advice do you have for mining companies?
  8. What was life like in the Old Stone Age?
  9. Would you condemn the mining company?
  10. What do we need mining companies for?
  11. Should the wishes of the Aboriginal communities be respected?
  12. Is it immoral to put profits over the destruction of ancient sites?
  13. How confident are you the company will mine responsibly from now?
  14. What questions would you like to ask mining company CEOs?

10.Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

furor
grade
tools
exit
head
evidence
sacred
doubt

The CEO of one of the world's largest mining companies, Rio Tinto, has resigned following the destruction of two (1) _____________________ Aboriginal sites. However, it will not be a speedy (2) _____________________. The CEO has until March to empty his desk and (3) _____________________ for the door. He handed in his notice after the (4) _____________________ created by the demolition of 46,000-year-old caves in the Juukan Gorge in Western Australia. The company was mining for high-(5) _____________________ iron ore. The CEO acknowledged there was no (6) _____________________ the company could have made "better decisions". The ancient caves are sacred to Australia's indigenous Aboriginal communities. There is (7) _____________________ to show they were used as dwellings as far back as the Old Stone Age, when humans were developing stone (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

apology
operation
reputation
ensure
sacred
blatant
quest
wishes

The (9) _____________________ at the caves led to international condemnation and adversely affected Rio Tinto's (10) _____________________ worldwide. The blasting took place against the (11) _____________________ of the traditional owners of the site, the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people. They accused the mining giant of a (12) _____________________ disregard of their culture and traditions, purely in a (13) _____________________ for greater profits. They said: "We cannot and will not allow this type of devastation to occur ever again." The Rio Tinto chair offered an (14) _____________________. He said: "What happened at Juukan was wrong and we are determined to (15) _____________________ that the destruction of a heritage site of such exceptional archaeological and cultural significance never occurs again at a Rio Tinto (16) _____________________."

11.Comprehension questions

  1. How many sacred sites were destroyed?
  2. By when does the CEO have to leave the company?
  3. How old were the caves that were destroyed?
  4. What was the company mining?
  5. What does evidence show the caves were used as?
  6. What did the destruction of the caves do to the company's image?
  7. What did the traditional owners accuse the company of wanting?
  8. What did the owners say they would never allow again?
  9. What did the chair of the company offer?
  10. Where did the chair say such destruction would never occur again?


Spelling

Paragraph 1

  1. arcsed Aboriginal sites
  2. He handed in his notice after the urfor created
  3. the mioletidon of 46,000-year-old caves
  4. The CEO kocewlndgaed that
  5. niinegodus Aboriginal communities
  6. There is vedinece to show they were
  1. led to international dmcennatioon
  2. vedresaly affected
  3. a labntat disregard of their culture
  4. allow this type of nestadvotai
  5. a tearihge site
  6. cultural snfangieccii


 

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