This year Engineering & Mining Journal (E&MJ) expanded on a successful program and readers can expect more in 2012. In addition to publishing the mining industry’s favorite trade journal, Mining Media improved several existing services and offered a few new products tied to E&MJ. Editorially, E&MJ continues to provide a wealth of information with each edition and next year the magazine will be published monthly instead of the current 10-time program. To see what E&MJ plans to cover in 2012, readers can visit the Mining Media International website (www.mining-media.com) and download the 2012 media kit. The media kit has the editorial plans for all of the Mining Media titles. If something piques your interest and your mining company is doing something noteworthy in that area, please contact me and we will consider working with the mine on a story. The calendar is a mere guideline and E&MJ will always cover important stories as they develop.

Mining is a good thing, right? Yes, of course it is. The mining industry provides the raw materials society needs to advance. The business itself creates wealth, employs millions and brings much-needed infrastructure to remote parts of the world. Overall, the industry’s track record regarding health and safety, environmental stewardship and sustainable development continues to improve. With so many mining companies doing so many great things, why is it saddled with a bad reputation?

Ollanta Humala claimed a narrow victory (52.6%:47.4%) over Keiko Fujimori in a Peruvian runoff election on June 5, 2011. The election signals a shift for Peru. In a 2006 presidential campaign, Humala lost to Alan Garcia. In the meantime, Peru reaped five years of solid economic growth. From 2005 to 2010, per capita gross income rose 82% to about $5,200. Yet, voters opt for a leftist former military commander over a conservative congresswoman, who was widely favored by business. Another Latin American country changes course, but this time the influence is different.

The world witnessed another tragedy last month when a magnitute 8.9 earthquake rocked northern Japan only to be followed by a major tsunami. Our hearts and prayers go out to our fiends in Japan that have lost so much. We also wish Godspeed to the brave individuals who opted to stay and try to contain the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. Similar to miners rushing in after a cave in or an explosion, they are knowingly risking their lives to help save others.

During January, the world watched as seasonal rains wreaked havoc in the Southern Hemisphere. Flooding in Australia displaced thousands in Queensland and damaged the infrastructure within the province. At about the same time, mud slides ravaged Brazil. Both of these regions play a significant role in the mining and steel sectors, and our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have been affected and we wish them a speedy recovery.