An Impressive Rescue: Chilean Miners

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  • Thread starter Thread starter nismaratwork
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the rescue of 33 miners trapped underground in Chile, exploring various aspects of the event including the rescue operations, the miners' experiences, media coverage, and the implications for the miners' futures. The conversation includes personal reflections, technical details about the rescue process, and societal observations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express admiration for the rescue efforts, noting the impressive nature of the operation.
  • Concerns are raised about the physical condition of the miners, with reports of weight loss due to training for the rescue capsule.
  • There is speculation about the psychological and emotional impact of the miners' experience, including what they will do after being rescued.
  • Participants discuss the media coverage of the event, with some finding it excessive and questioning its motivations.
  • Some express skepticism about the justification of the costs associated with the rescue, while others argue that human life cannot be quantified in economic terms.
  • There are humorous remarks about the miners' potential post-rescue activities, including a joking reference to a multi-million dollar movie deal.
  • Comments reflect on the role of politicians and the media in leveraging the situation for their own purposes.
  • One participant notes the competition among miners regarding who would be rescued last, suggesting a strategic element to the order of rescue.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of admiration for the rescue and skepticism about the media and political aspects surrounding the event. There is no clear consensus on the justification of the costs of the rescue or the implications for the miners' futures, indicating ongoing disagreement and varied perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions touch on the emotional and psychological aspects of the miners' experience, as well as the societal implications of the rescue operation, but these remain speculative and subjective without definitive conclusions.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in rescue operations, media studies, psychological impacts of traumatic events, and societal responses to crises may find this discussion relevant.

Science news on Phys.org
Some of these guys were too big to fit into the recovery chamber, so they've been on a rigorous training program to lose weight. At least one miner has lost almost thirty pounds.
 
... the ultimate high-motivation weight-loss program.
 
Ivan Seeking said:
... the ultimate high-motivation weight-loss program.

Yeah... I think I'd rather do Slim-Fast.

Can you imagine what it must smell like down there by now?
 
nismaratwork said:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/10/08/chile.trapped.miners/index.html?hpt=T2

It's pretty damned impressive...

From the link: :rolleyes:
Before anyone can be rescued, the hole must be widened so that the rescue capsule -- dubbed the Phoenix -- can land cleanly inside the tunnel without getting hung up on obstructions, Golborne said. To accomplish that, explosives will be lowered to the miners for use in widening the shaft, said Golborne, who expressed little concern that the subterranean pyrotechnics would pose any danger to the men.
 
berkeman said:
From the link: :rolleyes:

I've never been happier that I don't mine.
 
nismaratwork said:
I've never been happier that I don't mine.

Yeah, maybe Mr. Golborne should volunteer to descend with the explosives, and set the charges himself...
 
Copiapo, Chile (CNN) -- A rescue drill has pierced the roof of an underground mine in Chile where 33 men have been trapped since August 5.

Chile's mining minister had said Friday afternoon that they hoped to reach the miners within a day.

"Hopefully before that," Mining Minister Laurence Golborne told reporters about the time when a rescue drill is expected to pierce the roof of the mine. At the time he spoke, it was 40 meters (about 130 feet) away. "Maybe tomorrow morning, early Saturday. We have to wait and see."
. . . .
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/10/09/chile.trapped.miners/index.html

Hopefully all goes well today, and the miners will be back with their families this evening!
 
berkeman said:
Yeah, maybe Mr. Golborne should volunteer to descend with the explosives, and set the charges himself...

I guess those under the ground are much better trained in using explosives than he is.
 
  • #10
Once the miners are rescued and reunited with their families what are going to do next? I doubt many of them will want to come back to mining. They still have to put food on the table. I hope it all works out for them.
 
  • #11
Looks like we're going to see them coming to the surface tonight here. The first miner is getting into the capsule now.
 
  • #12
Wow, they showed a little kid, likely the first miner's son...oh the look on his face was so moving. Pure hope and joy.
 
  • #13
The first miner has reached the surface! I timed the ascent of the rescue capsule, it took about 15:45.
 
  • #14
Fantastic to watch, that made my day :approve:!
 
  • #15
Yay! 32 to go.
 
  • #16
what said:
Once the miners are rescued and reunited with their families what are going to do next?

Spaghetti dinner?

I doubt many of them will want to come back to mining. They still have to put food on the table.

If U.S. miners are indication, nearly all of them will.
 
  • #17
mugaliens said:
Spaghetti dinner?

I'm guessing a shower first :D
 
  • #18
Apparently there was some competition to see who got to go last! At first it seemed a noble gesture, but slowly it leaked out that this may be more a matter of strategy: The last person out will go down as the person who spent the most time trapped in a mine. The bosses up top decided it would be the crew foreman.
 
  • #19
what said:
Once the miners are rescued and reunited with their families what are going to do next? I doubt many of them will want to come back to mining. They still have to put food on the table. I hope it all works out for them.

They're going to Disneyland!

Actually, that will come after the multi-million dollar movie deal. Once they get out, they are likely set for life.
 
  • #20
Ivan Seeking said:
They're going to Disneyland!

Actually, that will come after the multi-million dollar movie deal. Once they get out, they are likely set for life.

Yeah, no kidding. The coverage of the rescue is just ridicules. There is more than a 1000 journalists at the scene; there are NASA astronauts and experts, even the Chile and Bolivian presidents are there to greet the miners. The whole world is hooked and watching intently.

It's fair to say now they're going to get into all sorts of book, magazine, and movie deals, and travel all of the world to give talks.
 
  • #21
I agree coverage is ridiculous, still - it is impressive.
 
  • #22
This coverage is insane... very good rescue, but I'm surprised. I wonder if the networks would interrupt the live feeds for a nuclear war or the like. :-p
 
  • #23
Well it seems that the coverage is decreasing exponentially.
 
  • #24
dlgoff said:
Well it seems that the coverage is decreasing exponentially.

I feel kinda bad for the guy who's, like, 27th. He'll come out, blinking in the sun. There'll be a few guys in orange jump suits operating the capsule, they immediately turn their attention to send it back down...the odd lama wanders by...
 
  • #25
Space underwear, anyone?

http://www.space.com/news/japanese-space-underwear-trapped-chilean-miners-101013.html

In an effort to lend a hand to rescue teams on the ground, Japan's space agency sent some "space underwear," candies and other Japanese sweets to the 33 trapped miners in Chile, according to news reports.

In late September, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency sent five sets of space underwear for each miner, as well as mint candies and other treats, according to the Associated Press.
 
  • #26
I had been thinking of few things:

- Can the cost of saving those miners be justified
- I believe relatives were literally living on the site which is also bit interesting
- Politicians took really good advantage of this accident
- Media also brought great focus to this event; making it something similar to World Cup
 
  • #27
Chi Chi Chi,
le le le!

Yay, they're all out!
 
Last edited:
  • #28
- Can the cost of saving those miners be justified
Are you really going to put a price on these peoples lives? I'd like to see you say that if your father was down there. Have a bit of heart.
But no, I'm sure that an economic analysis would show it unjustifiable to save them.

- I believe relatives were literally living on the site which is also bit interesting
A bit overkill, but they obviously care (that or they've been getting loads of free stuff by staying there).

- Politicians took really good advantage of this accident
Nothing new there, got to try and make themselves look good somehow.

- Media also brought great focus to this event; making it something similar to World Cup
I found this to be far more interesting (I can't stand football).

And before anyone says anything, they're all out so I don't feel bad about making smart a** remarks.
 
  • #29
jarednjames said:
- Can the cost of saving those miners be justified
Are you really going to put a price on these peoples lives? I'd like to see you say that if your father was down there. Have a bit of heart.
But no, I'm sure that an economic analysis would show it unjustifiable to save them.

- I believe relatives were literally living on the site which is also bit interesting
A bit overkill, but they obviously care (that or they've been getting loads of free stuff by staying there).

- Politicians took really good advantage of this accident
Nothing new there, got to try and make themselves look good somehow.

- Media also brought great focus to this event; making it something similar to World Cup
I found this to be far more interesting (I can't stand football).

And before anyone says anything, they're all out so I don't feel bad about making smart a** remarks.

I'm happy they're out, too.

I think there's a tendency for some people to shoot down good news, take a cynical view. But sometimes it's ok to simply enjoy good news. I think this is a great story, I'm happy for the miners and their families.
 
  • #30
rootX said:
- Can the cost of saving those miners be justified

What is the cost, and who is paying for it? We need facts before we can even start a discussion like that
 

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