Prompt –
Finish the story begins with: “The only residents remaining in the small town of Miners Hill are spirits.”
The only residents remaining in the small town of Miner’s Hill are spirits. Here the children are born with a decree of early death. Mining has poisoned the air, food and even water of the region.
The mining company started its operations in 1960s. The insignificant hamlet grew into a small town by mid 70s. The first spate of deformed babies was born in 1979 followed by a surge of persons diagnosed with leukemia in early 80s.
People protested without respite till the apex court took suo-moto cognizance of a report published in an environmental journal. Unfortunately the case was transferred to a bench with different set of judges and awaits a decision.
The elderly succumbed to ill-effects of radiation and the children failed to live up to their teens. The few able bodied slowly dribbled out of the town. Today, the malignant spirits of the yellow cake reign over all life in the region.
Words < 150
Yarnspinnerr 
Well done YS! I like the twist with poisoning! Thank you for writing for the MFtS challenge. See you next time? I hope so! Be well… ^..^
Thank you.
🙂
This is excellent! Albeit, chilling!
Truly chilling.
Thanks for the read.
The sad thing is that for many is this close to/or a true story. Powerful.
There is a list of ghost towns due to environmental degradation from mines across the globe.
Thank you.
Good writing – the wheels of justice turn so slowly until there is no-one left to benefit from their decisions.
You are so right.
Thank you.
A poignant tale of how Economics takes precedence ( mostly, if not always) over environment and long term health hazards.
In India decades earlier, there had been the Bhopal Gas tragedy created by the erstwhile US company Union Carbide ( which has now morphed into DOW Chemicals!) which has led to hundreds of thousands of people getting effected over decades. But in the twentieth century, which Multi-national company bothered about people dying in the third world, which was viewed as a dumping and testing ground for dangerous, untried chemicals…….. Mercifully, this mindset to some extent has now changed.
So how could we usher in Conscious Capitalism in the world today?
Shakti
Green industry is still not economically feasible ,,,,, hence the large scale industrialization of far and south eastern countries. Conscious capitalism is an ideal marketing strategy that sounds very nice ……..
Thanks for the interest.
A very different and hard hitting take. Kudos!
I found myself riveted to this story as I read it. A wonderful example of art imitating life. Well done.
Thank you. 🙂
This sounds scarily realistic! An interesting take on the prompt. Well done. 🙂
It is based on real experience.
Thank you.
This could have been pulled from the headlines of any current newspaper.
…maybe it was. Chilling.
It is a real story that that has been playing out for many decades…..
Thank for the read.
There is one town where they lit a fire purposely in a coal mine I think to exhaust it, … but the plan failed and the fire has been raging for years underground. Maybe ten people still live there… (found it):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia,_Pennsylvania
Thanks for the link, Jules …… I did not know about Centralia.
This episode of MFS reminds me of a cynicism …….. ‘ the meek shall inherit the earth but not the mining rights.
Mining was the original hazardous occupation that finds mention in the work of ancient physicians. No wonder it has left many places in globe desolate.
I include a few links that may interest you ……..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_by_country
http://www.globalresearch.ca/americas-secret-fukushima-is-poisoning-the-bread-basket-of-the-world/5338136
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_seam_fire
Thank you for the links… I will look into them this weekend.
This is one example of the many man-made problems we have come across so far. The effects of others, although not that fatal at the time, are beginning to be seen (children with genetic disorders, rise in cancer cases etc.). You’ve captured it well. It’s quite sad what we humans are capable of…
Thank you for the interest. You are so right.
Responsible and green industry is still a goal that seems quite unachievable. 🙂
The selfish money grabbers live for momentary profit regardless of the consequences. You draw a remarkably realistic picture here YS ~ Scary ~ Nice work ~
Thank you. 🙂
This real story touched my heart.
It is a pathetic state of affairs.
Thank you.
Really sad, Yarnspinnerr. What makes it even sadder is that it happens. A lot of ground has been poisoned through ignorance or greed. Well done. — Suzanne
and it is found in all corners of the globe.
Thank you.
Well written… A morbidly true happening.
Thank you friend.
A very powerful story from that prompt, YS. What a gem!
Thank you.