A 60-day state of emergency has been declared in four provinces of Cajamarca state, following violent protests against a gold-and-copper mining project which is part-owned by a US company.
Skilled workers are being invited to a seminar on Thursday in Dublin, with the WA Jobs Minister saying that they’ll take people back on the plane with them if possible.
CHILEAN AUTHORITIES HAVE released video footage of the 33 miners trapped in a mine for three weeks.
The miners sang the national anthem, joked with one another, and recorded messages for their families above them.
The video helped to relieve the fears of those waiting above ground when it was shown to them last night.
The miners recorded the following video for their friends and families waiting for their rescue:
Some of the miners give a tour of the makeshift refuge the 33 are crammed into:
We’ve organized everything really well down here,” one of the miners said, pointing to a corner reserved for medical supplies.
This is where we entertain ourselves, where we have a meeting every day, where we make plans. This is where we pray.
Authorities have warned the miners that it could take up to four months to rescue them, as they must drill a tunnel 688m deep, and wide enough for the men to pass through.
Families have been asked to stay positive in their communications to the miners, and Chilean authorities have asked NASA for advice on how best to keep the men in good mental health through their time in the mine.
Former astronaut Jerry Linenger, who was trapped on board the Mir space station for three months, said the most important thing was to be completely honest with the miners about the time involved in the rescue.
The family of one of the trapped men said it will sue the company which owns the mine, alleging the company was negligent in re-opening the mine after it was closed in 2007 following an accident. Chile’s mining service is also named on the lawsuit.
This ITN video contains English translations of some of the messages:
THE FAMILIES OF TRAPPED chilean miners have been asked to keep their letters to the trapped men optimistic, and not to dwell on the length of time a rescue may take.
On Sunday, the 33 men passed a message from their refuge to the surface saying they were safe and well, despite being trapped below ground for 17 days after a tunnel collapse at the main entrance on 5 August.
Competitive games have been ruled out as a means of keeping the men occupied while the rescue attempt rolls on, as psychologists say it’s important for the group to function as one unit.
Chile’s health minister Jaime Manalich said yesterday that it was important to keep the men informed of the rescue process and the weeks it may take, but experts have asked the families of the miners to stay upbeat in their communications.
Microphones allowing doctors and psychologists to speak to the men and keep them in stable conditions will be passed into the mine.
The men said they have been surviving on mouthfuls of tuna and milk since their confinement.
Rescuers began passing packages containing food, water, and medical supplies down to the trapped men yesterday, and plan to start including letters from relatives in the survival packages.
Lilianett Ramirez, wife of one of the miners, said yesterday:
Can you imagine? After 30 years of marriage we will start sending each other love letters again.
MORE THAN THREE-quarters of people would support the government looking into the prospect of a four-day work week, according to a new survey.
This means doing the same job for the same salary, but over four days rather than five.
There have been calls for this idea to be explored already and the Four Day Week Ireland campaign today released details on its public attitude survey conducted last month.
Two out of three respondents said a four-day work week is “realistic and achievable” in the medium term.
67% of employers said they support the idea and 46% said it would be “feasible” to trial in their workplace.
“The four-day week, with no loss of pay, offers the potential of a genuinely better future for workers and employers alike,” said Joe O’Connor, director of campaigning with Fórsa trade union.
What may once have seemed like a radical concept is now, for many, a reasonable and rational ambition. The Covid-19 pandemic has further disrupted societal and workplace norms, while illustrating the potential for very different models of work.
So today we’re asking: Would you support a four-day work week?
Breezy this morning; otherwise, clearing
Max: 14 °C
Min: 11 °C
Mostly sunny
Max: 16 °C
Min: 8 °C
