The planned interventions in the American economy reverse decades of hands-off approach to private enterprise. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/10/05/trump-white-house-deals-midterms/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #us #donaldtrump #pharmaceuticals #medicine #ai #mining #energy
Anke
boosted
His memories are hazy, but for 95-year-old Hidetada Yoshida, the decadeslong pain in his right arm serves as a reminder of his experience mining for ores including uranium during the closing days of World War II. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/22/japan/95-year-old-speaks-of-wartime-uranium-mining-fukushima/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #wwii #fukushima #nuclearweapons #atomicbombings #mining
mkb
and 2 others
boosted
Today in Labor History September 2, 1921: The Battle of Blair Mountain ended on this date in 1921, with the U.S. government bombing striking coal miners by plane, the second time the U.S. government used planes to bomb its own citizens (the first was in the racist Tulsa riots, earlier that year). The Battle of Blair Mountain was one of the largest civil uprisings in U.S. history and the largest armed insurrection since the Civil War. The uprising lasted 5 days and involved 10,000-15,000 coal miners confronting an army of scabs and police. The battle came as mine owners tried to crush attempts by coal miners to unionize the southwestern West Virginia coalfields. From the late 1800s, mine owners forced workers to live in company towns, where rent was deducted from their wages and they were paid in scrip, which was accepted only at the overpriced company stores and was worthless everywhere else. The work was very dangerous and safety equipment and precautions were minimal. The mine owners had a long tradition of using private detectives and goons to spy on workers, infiltrate their meetings, rough them up, and block any attempts to unionize. The battle began after Sheriff Sid Hatfield (an ally of the miners and hero from the Battle of Matewan) was assassinated by Baldwin-Felts agents. Much of the region was still under martial law as a result of the Battle of Matewan. Miners began to leave the mountains armed and ready for battle. Mother Jones tried to dissuade them from marching into Logan and Mingo Counties, fearing a bloodbath. Many accused her of losing her nerve. The miners ignored her and a battle ensued between miners and cops, private detectives, scabs and eventually the U.S. military.
You can read my complete article on the Battles of Blair Mountain & Matewan here: https://michaeldunnauthor.com/2024/04/14/the-battle-of-blair-mountain/
#workingclass #LaborHistory #coal #mining #strike #union #blairmountain #westvirginia #matewan #police #policebrutality #massacre #policemurder #Riot #motherjones
Today in Labor History September 2, 1921: The Battle of Blair Mountain ended on this date in 1921, with the U.S. government bombing striking coal miners by plane, the second time the U.S. government used planes to bomb its own citizens (the first was in the racist Tulsa riots, earlier that year). The Battle of Blair Mountain was one of the largest civil uprisings in U.S. history and the largest armed insurrection since the Civil War. The uprising lasted 5 days and involved 10,000-15,000 coal miners confronting an army of scabs and police. The battle came as mine owners tried to crush attempts by coal miners to unionize the southwestern West Virginia coalfields. From the late 1800s, mine owners forced workers to live in company towns, where rent was deducted from their wages and they were paid in scrip, which was accepted only at the overpriced company stores and was worthless everywhere else. The work was very dangerous and safety equipment and precautions were minimal. The mine owners had a long tradition of using private detectives and goons to spy on workers, infiltrate their meetings, rough them up, and block any attempts to unionize. The battle began after Sheriff Sid Hatfield (an ally of the miners and hero from the Battle of Matewan) was assassinated by Baldwin-Felts agents. Much of the region was still under martial law as a result of the Battle of Matewan. Miners began to leave the mountains armed and ready for battle. Mother Jones tried to dissuade them from marching into Logan and Mingo Counties, fearing a bloodbath. Many accused her of losing her nerve. The miners ignored her and a battle ensued between miners and cops, private detectives, scabs and eventually the U.S. military.
You can read my complete article on the Battles of Blair Mountain & Matewan here: https://michaeldunnauthor.com/2024/04/14/the-battle-of-blair-mountain/
#workingclass #LaborHistory #coal #mining #strike #union #blairmountain #westvirginia #matewan #police #policebrutality #massacre #policemurder #Riot #motherjones
Michael Bacon
and 1 other
boosted
Today in Labor History August 25, 1921, the Battle of Blair Mountain began in Logan County, West Virginia. It was the largest armed insurrection since the Civil War, and the largest labor uprising in U.S. history. 10,000-15,000 coal miners battled 3,000 cops, private cops and vigilantes, who were backed by the coal bosses. Up to 100 miners died in the fighting, along with 10-30 Baldwin-Felts detectives and three national guards. Nearly 1,000 people were arrested. One million rounds were fired. And the government bombed striking coal miners by air, using homemade bombs and poison gas left over from World War I. This was the second time the government had used planes to bomb its own citizens within the U.S. (the first was against African American during the Tulsa pogrom, earlier that same year).
The Battle of Matewan had occurred just a year before. Baldwin-Felt private police tried to arrest Sheriff Sid Hatfield, who supported the miners, using a bogus arrest warrant. Unbeknownst to the detectives, armed miners had surrounded them. No one knows who shot first, but when the smoke had cleared, there were seven dead detectives, including Albert and Lee Felts, and four dead townspeople, including the mayor. On August 1, 1921, surviving members of Baldwin-Felts assassinated Hatfield in broad daylight, on the steps of Welch County courthouse, as his wife watched in horror. As news of his death spread, miners began arming themselves and threatened to march to the anti-union stronghold of Logan County to overthrow Sheriff Dan Chaffin, the coal company tyrant who murdered miners with impunity. Fearing a bloodbath, Mother Jones tried to dissuade them from marching. Many accused her of losing her nerve. The march led to all-out war, as the authorities sent in police, private cops, and deputized vigilantes to battle the miners.
You can read my full article on the battle and its historical roots here: https://michaeldunnauthor.com/2024/04/14/the-battle-of-blair-mountain/
#workingclass #LaborHistory#BlairMountain #mining #coal #westvirginia #matewan #police #vigilantes #racism #tulsa #motherjones
Today in Labor History August 25, 1921, the Battle of Blair Mountain began in Logan County, West Virginia. It was the largest armed insurrection since the Civil War, and the largest labor uprising in U.S. history. 10,000-15,000 coal miners battled 3,000 cops, private cops and vigilantes, who were backed by the coal bosses. Up to 100 miners died in the fighting, along with 10-30 Baldwin-Felts detectives and three national guards. Nearly 1,000 people were arrested. One million rounds were fired. And the government bombed striking coal miners by air, using homemade bombs and poison gas left over from World War I. This was the second time the government had used planes to bomb its own citizens within the U.S. (the first was against African American during the Tulsa pogrom, earlier that same year).
The Battle of Matewan had occurred just a year before. Baldwin-Felt private police tried to arrest Sheriff Sid Hatfield, who supported the miners, using a bogus arrest warrant. Unbeknownst to the detectives, armed miners had surrounded them. No one knows who shot first, but when the smoke had cleared, there were seven dead detectives, including Albert and Lee Felts, and four dead townspeople, including the mayor. On August 1, 1921, surviving members of Baldwin-Felts assassinated Hatfield in broad daylight, on the steps of Welch County courthouse, as his wife watched in horror. As news of his death spread, miners began arming themselves and threatened to march to the anti-union stronghold of Logan County to overthrow Sheriff Dan Chaffin, the coal company tyrant who murdered miners with impunity. Fearing a bloodbath, Mother Jones tried to dissuade them from marching. Many accused her of losing her nerve. The march led to all-out war, as the authorities sent in police, private cops, and deputized vigilantes to battle the miners.
You can read my full article on the battle and its historical roots here: https://michaeldunnauthor.com/2024/04/14/the-battle-of-blair-mountain/
#workingclass #LaborHistory#BlairMountain #mining #coal #westvirginia #matewan #police #vigilantes #racism #tulsa #motherjones
Alex Akselrod
boosted
Today in Labor History August 21, 1920: Ongoing violence by coal operators and their paid goons in the southern coalfields of West Virginia led to a three-hour gun battle between striking miners and guards that left six dead. 500 Federal troops were sent in not only to quell the fighting, but to ensure that scabs were able to get to and from the mines. A General Strike was threatened if the troops did not cease their strikebreaking activities. This was just 3 months after the Matewan Massacre, in which the miners drove out the seemingly invincible Baldwin-Felts private police force, with the help of their ally, Sheriff Sid Hatfield. 1 year later, Sheriff Hatfield was gunned down on the steps of the courthouse by surviving members of the Baldwin-Felts Agency. News spread and miners began arming themselves, leading to the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest armed insurrection since the Civil War and the largest labor uprising in U.S. history. Over 100 people were killed in the 5-day battle, including 3 army soldiers and up to 20 Baldwin-Felts detectives. Nearly 1,000 people were arrested. 1 million rounds were fired. And the government dropped bombs from aircraft on the miners, only the second time in history that the government bombed its own citizens (the first being the pogrom against African American residents of Tulsa, during the so-called Tulsa Riots).
The Battle of Blair Mountain is depicted in Storming Heaven (Denise Giardina, 1987), Blair Mountain (Jonathan Lynn, 2006), and Carla Rising (Topper Sherwood, 2015). And the Matewan Massacre is brilliantly portrayed in John Sayles’s film, “Matewan.”
Read my history of the Battle of Blair Mountain here: https://michaeldunnauthor.com/2024/04/14/the-battle-of-blair-mountain/
#workingclass #LaborHistory #mining #strike #union #westvirginia #matewan#BattleOfBlairMountain #uprising #civilwar#GeneralStrike #tulsa #massacre #racism #books #fiction #film #writer #author #novel @bookstadon
Today in Labor History August 21, 1920: Ongoing violence by coal operators and their paid goons in the southern coalfields of West Virginia led to a three-hour gun battle between striking miners and guards that left six dead. 500 Federal troops were sent in not only to quell the fighting, but to ensure that scabs were able to get to and from the mines. A General Strike was threatened if the troops did not cease their strikebreaking activities. This was just 3 months after the Matewan Massacre, in which the miners drove out the seemingly invincible Baldwin-Felts private police force, with the help of their ally, Sheriff Sid Hatfield. 1 year later, Sheriff Hatfield was gunned down on the steps of the courthouse by surviving members of the Baldwin-Felts Agency. News spread and miners began arming themselves, leading to the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest armed insurrection since the Civil War and the largest labor uprising in U.S. history. Over 100 people were killed in the 5-day battle, including 3 army soldiers and up to 20 Baldwin-Felts detectives. Nearly 1,000 people were arrested. 1 million rounds were fired. And the government dropped bombs from aircraft on the miners, only the second time in history that the government bombed its own citizens (the first being the pogrom against African American residents of Tulsa, during the so-called Tulsa Riots).
The Battle of Blair Mountain is depicted in Storming Heaven (Denise Giardina, 1987), Blair Mountain (Jonathan Lynn, 2006), and Carla Rising (Topper Sherwood, 2015). And the Matewan Massacre is brilliantly portrayed in John Sayles’s film, “Matewan.”
Read my history of the Battle of Blair Mountain here: https://michaeldunnauthor.com/2024/04/14/the-battle-of-blair-mountain/
#workingclass #LaborHistory #mining #strike #union #westvirginia #matewan#BattleOfBlairMountain #uprising #civilwar#GeneralStrike #tulsa #massacre #racism #books #fiction #film #writer #author #novel @bookstadon
Japan is pacing efforts to find new sources of critical minerals and leading the surge in urban mining. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/21/japan/science-health/urban-mining-critical-minerals/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sciencehealth #rareearth #mining #waste #recycling #minerals #metals #environmentministry #internationalenergyagency #nationalinstituteformaterialsscience #japan #china
Hopes of striking gold or unearthing precious stones keep artisanal mining alive in Mozambique, at the cost of the health of its land and people. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/2025/08/20/sustainability/mozambique-illegal-miners/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #environment #sustainability #mozambique #africa #mining #gold #pollution #rivers #environment
The Trump administration has announced that it will increase scrutiny on a range of goods from China as it pursues the president's trade goals and continues fighting alleged forced labor in Xinjiang. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/08/20/markets/us-china-steel-lithium-forced-labor/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #china #lithium #mining #steel #forcedlabor
Indonesia faces an uphill task in encouraging villagers to move away from small-scale illegal gold mining toward less-destructive ways of making money, such farming. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/2025/08/19/sustainability/indonesia-gold-miners-farming/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #environment #sustainability #indonesia #mining #gold #pollution #agriculture
A new bill in South Africa to legalize informal mining is seen as key to protecting and creating jobs as the nation moves away from planet-heating coal and toward renewables. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/08/19/markets/south-africa-miners-critical-minerals/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #southafrica #mining #coal
In the rebel-controlled Congolese town of Rubaya, laborers produce 15% of the world's coltan ore, a mineral that is pivotal in the production of mobile phones, computers, aerospace components and gas turbines. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/14/world/congo-cobalt-mine-tech-m23-rebels/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #africa #congo #cobalt #tech #electricvehicles #batteries #mining #africa
Lithium prices and stocks spiked after battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. halted operations at a mine in China, spurring speculation Beijing might move to suspend other projects. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/08/11/markets/lithium-market-cat-mines/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #catl #batteries #electricvehicles #china #catl #mining