I have to disagree about “the ugliest blot on a landscape is a city” (now that I’m here in NYC). A city is actually quite a beautiful thing, an impressive part of the landscape, especially at night. Up closer, however, there’s enough to dislike about NYC (a fair bit of graffiti, and rubbish on the roads and footpaths, for instance).

But so are factories, roads etc.

By far the ugliest blot on a landscape is a city.

Tough one to find an answer to.

I like beautiful natural scenery.

But I also enjoy riding a steel framed bike on tar seal and concrete, and communicating via the internet on my pc. That means somewhere, someone has to dig stuff out of the ground to make things with (iron, gold, copper, etc).

I instinctively dislike the idea of mining in a beautiful area of native forest.

But at the same time, some mining will have to be done somewhere.

I’d prefer if we could minimize the impact, and fix up the mess.

I’ve seen some beautifully landscaped/restored old quarries – maybe that’s one answer.

What would be a shame if some company came in, raped the land, sent the mined goodies overseas, and left a poisoned scar on the landscape. That would be akin to mindless vandalism.

What’s your point?