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Fire Into Ice: Charles Fipke and the Great Diamond Hunt
Book reviews / Resources Policy 26 (2000) 181–188
international emission trading aiming at economic efficiency. Since the consequence of global warming may be immense, global participation, with no free-riders, is the key to maximize the benefit from the emission reductions efforts. Emission trading can be an effective tool to meet future emissions targets in a cost-effective way on a global scale. The authors in this book cover the mechanisms for emissions trading of various pollution commodities in different geographical markets. They address many key issues and concerns to address our curiosity on how to coordinate actions within a framework of different economic and political backgrounds, industrial structures, through energy commodity taxes/subsidies. The book consists of four major parts: introduction to the market, a case study, lessons learned, and suggestions to internationalize emission trading in compliance with the Kyoto Mechanisms. In the lessons learned section, the possibility of an expanded emissions market is examined. The Germany based case study introduces insights about the effectiveness of economic instruments and their impact on efficiency. In general, this book helps the reader understand the ideas underlying the “pollution for sale” concept and how the emissions market may look in the 21st century. It is explained that the two key groups of players will be buyers, who anticipate reducing future losses through current transactions, and sellers who wish to collect their revenue with lower transactions costs. Governments’ role is to find how to facilitate mechanisms that promote efficiency. Part V and Part VI provide insights on how to design international sulfur and carbon emission trading. Many proponents of energy taxation may not be satisfied with the authors’ arguments that emission trading can take the place of energy/environmental taxes. Although the introduction contains a brief comparison of the two approaches-taxation and trading-overall coverage of this key debate is disappointingly thin. The volume suggests that the driving forces are limited emission permits, enforcement of environmental laws, and access to information to promote market efficiency. On the other hand it argues that uncertainties, lagging technology, and market concentration are obstacles. As offset markets grow beyond the speed of demand growth, distortions affecting market efficiency can be generated. The role of public sector, in the beginning, is important, because the emission market is initiated by strong enforcement and guidance from the public sector. The weight of public sector input will increasingly diminish as the market becomes mature. Therefore, the authors argue that government’s role should not exceed the optimal level of legal intervention. This will eventually allow the market to mature with low transaction charges. This book predicts that the new millennium will see
183
a new niche market develop dealing with “pollution for sale.” This book helps us understand how existing emission trading works and identifies barriers/limits and potentials. It is valuable reading for understanding emissions trading, and helps the reader visualize trading as a useful tool to control greenhouse gases. Hyo-Sun Kim Senior Economist, Korea Gas Corporation Seoul, South Korea 15 August 2000 PII: S 0 3 0 1 - 4 2 0 7 ( 0 0 ) 0 0 0 2 8 - 3
Fire Into Ice: Charles Fipke and the Great Diamond Hunt Vernon Frolick; Raincoast Books, Vancouver, 1999, pp. 354, hardcover, ISBN 1-55192-232-0 In 1999 Canada’s first diamond mine, the Ekati Mine in the Northwest Territories, produced 2.5 million carats of diamonds worth over US$400 million making it the 4th richest producing diamond mine in the world. The reader is led to believe that the book Fire into Ice: Charles Fipke and the Great Diamond Hunt provides a history to this great discovery, however, upon reading the book one finds that the history of the discovery of what became the Ekati Mine is a regrettably small part of the publication. Indeed 75% of the book is dedicated to presenting the historical background of Charles Fipke and his career as an exploration geologist and only the remaining 25% covers his work that led to the discovery of the Lac de Gras diamond area of Canada. Although readers who expect a detailed accounting of the trials and tribulations of the discovery, promotion and development of the Lac de Gras area of Canada and of the Ekati Mine may be disappointed in the book there can be little doubt that Fire into Ice: Charles Fipke and the Great Diamond Hunt will appeal to a rather broad audience who would like to live vicariously with a dedicated exploration geologist who explored for, worked on and visited some of the world’s largest mineral deposits, in remote areas of southern Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Along the way he had several brushes with death from disease, wild animals and hostile peoples, demonstrated a generally fearless approach to life and encountered many individuals with similar great experiences and tales. All of
184
Book reviews / Resources Policy 26 (2000) 181–188
this is relatively well woven into the overall story of Fipke’s life to date. Fire into Ice: Charles Fipke and the Great Diamond Hunt is broken into 6 major parts based on specific time periods of Fipke’s life and work. The story begins with “The Hole in Time: Papua New Guinea (1970–1972)” that covers Fipke’s work in Papua New Guinea, at the OK Tedi Mine, and on the Vogelkop (Bird’s Head) peninsula of the Province of Irian Jaya, Indonesia. This particular section provides an accurate and sobering account of what it was like to work in this, one of the most remote and unexplored areas on earth, in the 1970’s This is followed by “A Generous Land: Australia (1972)” that briefly relates Fipke’s work near Cairns, Australia and his visit to the famous “Lightening Ridge” opal area and to the world famous Broken Hill area of Australia. Following the initial 2 introductory periods there is a rather lengthy narrative, entitled “The Sixth Element: Alberta British Columbia (1947–1969)”, that relates the Fipke family’s background and his boyhood activities: a section that adds little to the book, only marginally to any understanding of Fipke the man and, as presented, serves primarily to break the continuity of the presentation. The story of Fipke the exploration geologist continues with “Pluto’s Regime: South Africa (1973–1974)” and “The Fire Down Below: South America (1975–1977)”. The former is an interesting travelogue of experiences in southern Africa and the latter of Fipke’s short period of work for Cominco in Brazil that provides an interesting insight into an all to common manner of exploration management. If there is a unifying theme between these two sections it is with respect to Fipke’s increased knowledge of diamond occurrences in each of these areas. The central theme of the book is captured in the final section of the book entitled “Pangaea’s Children: Canada Northwest Territories (1977–1997)” which, although it covers the largest portion of Fipke’s career, (20 out of 27 years) as an exploration geologist is less than 25% of the book. Although limited in detail, the concluding section does provide an interesting overview of the trials and tribulations that are associated with funding and pursuing the discovery and development of a commercial mine. Although technically deficient this section of the book provide an interesting insight into the nature of the exploration business and is certainly a section that any exploration geologist, based on their own personal experience, would identify with. A particularly troubling aspect of Fire into Ice: Charles Fipke and the Great Diamond Hunt is that although major emphasis is placed on Fipke’s interest and deep appreciation for indigenous peoples and their culture one is struck by the fact that most of this interest would appear to be derived from an all to common desire
simply to see “strange people” and to trade for “indigenous trinkets”. Although the above is perhaps somewhat unfair, descriptions of his contacts and experiences with indigenous peoples in Papua New Guinea and Africa substantiate rather than refute the conclusion. The reader will find the book somewhat difficult to read due to the “flashback” nature of the presentation and the fact that a book of 354 pages has over 60 chapters. Additionally, the book could have benefited from closer editing, particularly of the technical portions, to eliminate such errors as “…Chuck had them begin with 90 135 kilometers (rather than kilograms) of the sample….” and such inconsistency as (underlining added) “…are left concentrated in the 5–10 grain sample that’s left behind…” (p. 238) versus “…Chucks techniques were so refined that he could isolate a few grams of targeted elements…” (p. 329). Finally, upon reading one has to wonder if the title “Fire into Ice” wasn’t somehow really supposed to be “Fire Under the Ice” the term used at the end of Chapter 50? Overall, the book Fire into Ice: Charles Fipke and the Great Diamond Hunt is an interesting life history (to date) of an exploration geologist who managed to accomplish what every exploration geologist dreams of i.e. finding the “Big One”. The book also highlights the dogged determination and the level of personal sacrifice, by both the exploration geologist and their families, that is often required to be successful in the exploration field. Although most individuals in the exploration field may find that the book promises far more than it delivers there is no doubt that for those people interested in the nature of exploration, from the perspective of someone who has “been there and done that”, the book is an excellent and entertaining read. Allen Clark East-West Center Honolulu, Hawaii, USA 15 August 2000 PII: S 0 3 0 1 - 4 2 0 7 ( 0 0 ) 0 0 0 2 9 - 5
The Ostrich Factor: Our Population Myopia Garrett Hardin; Oxford University Press, New York, 1999, pp. 168, Price US$22.00, hardcover, ISBN 0-19512274-7 Garett Hardin’s book, The Ostrich Factor: Our Population Myopia, begins with a description of the mythical
international emission trading aiming at economic efficiency. Since the consequence of global warming may be immense, global participation, with no free-riders, is the key to maximize the benefit from the emission reductions efforts. Emission trading can be an effective tool to meet future emissions targets in a cost-effective way on a global scale. The authors in this book cover the mechanisms for emissions trading of various pollution commodities in different geographical markets. They address many key issues and concerns to address our curiosity on how to coordinate actions within a framework of different economic and political backgrounds, industrial structures, through energy commodity taxes/subsidies. The book consists of four major parts: introduction to the market, a case study, lessons learned, and suggestions to internationalize emission trading in compliance with the Kyoto Mechanisms. In the lessons learned section, the possibility of an expanded emissions market is examined. The Germany based case study introduces insights about the effectiveness of economic instruments and their impact on efficiency. In general, this book helps the reader understand the ideas underlying the “pollution for sale” concept and how the emissions market may look in the 21st century. It is explained that the two key groups of players will be buyers, who anticipate reducing future losses through current transactions, and sellers who wish to collect their revenue with lower transactions costs. Governments’ role is to find how to facilitate mechanisms that promote efficiency. Part V and Part VI provide insights on how to design international sulfur and carbon emission trading. Many proponents of energy taxation may not be satisfied with the authors’ arguments that emission trading can take the place of energy/environmental taxes. Although the introduction contains a brief comparison of the two approaches-taxation and trading-overall coverage of this key debate is disappointingly thin. The volume suggests that the driving forces are limited emission permits, enforcement of environmental laws, and access to information to promote market efficiency. On the other hand it argues that uncertainties, lagging technology, and market concentration are obstacles. As offset markets grow beyond the speed of demand growth, distortions affecting market efficiency can be generated. The role of public sector, in the beginning, is important, because the emission market is initiated by strong enforcement and guidance from the public sector. The weight of public sector input will increasingly diminish as the market becomes mature. Therefore, the authors argue that government’s role should not exceed the optimal level of legal intervention. This will eventually allow the market to mature with low transaction charges. This book predicts that the new millennium will see
183
a new niche market develop dealing with “pollution for sale.” This book helps us understand how existing emission trading works and identifies barriers/limits and potentials. It is valuable reading for understanding emissions trading, and helps the reader visualize trading as a useful tool to control greenhouse gases. Hyo-Sun Kim Senior Economist, Korea Gas Corporation Seoul, South Korea 15 August 2000 PII: S 0 3 0 1 - 4 2 0 7 ( 0 0 ) 0 0 0 2 8 - 3
Fire Into Ice: Charles Fipke and the Great Diamond Hunt Vernon Frolick; Raincoast Books, Vancouver, 1999, pp. 354, hardcover, ISBN 1-55192-232-0 In 1999 Canada’s first diamond mine, the Ekati Mine in the Northwest Territories, produced 2.5 million carats of diamonds worth over US$400 million making it the 4th richest producing diamond mine in the world. The reader is led to believe that the book Fire into Ice: Charles Fipke and the Great Diamond Hunt provides a history to this great discovery, however, upon reading the book one finds that the history of the discovery of what became the Ekati Mine is a regrettably small part of the publication. Indeed 75% of the book is dedicated to presenting the historical background of Charles Fipke and his career as an exploration geologist and only the remaining 25% covers his work that led to the discovery of the Lac de Gras diamond area of Canada. Although readers who expect a detailed accounting of the trials and tribulations of the discovery, promotion and development of the Lac de Gras area of Canada and of the Ekati Mine may be disappointed in the book there can be little doubt that Fire into Ice: Charles Fipke and the Great Diamond Hunt will appeal to a rather broad audience who would like to live vicariously with a dedicated exploration geologist who explored for, worked on and visited some of the world’s largest mineral deposits, in remote areas of southern Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Along the way he had several brushes with death from disease, wild animals and hostile peoples, demonstrated a generally fearless approach to life and encountered many individuals with similar great experiences and tales. All of
184
Book reviews / Resources Policy 26 (2000) 181–188
this is relatively well woven into the overall story of Fipke’s life to date. Fire into Ice: Charles Fipke and the Great Diamond Hunt is broken into 6 major parts based on specific time periods of Fipke’s life and work. The story begins with “The Hole in Time: Papua New Guinea (1970–1972)” that covers Fipke’s work in Papua New Guinea, at the OK Tedi Mine, and on the Vogelkop (Bird’s Head) peninsula of the Province of Irian Jaya, Indonesia. This particular section provides an accurate and sobering account of what it was like to work in this, one of the most remote and unexplored areas on earth, in the 1970’s This is followed by “A Generous Land: Australia (1972)” that briefly relates Fipke’s work near Cairns, Australia and his visit to the famous “Lightening Ridge” opal area and to the world famous Broken Hill area of Australia. Following the initial 2 introductory periods there is a rather lengthy narrative, entitled “The Sixth Element: Alberta British Columbia (1947–1969)”, that relates the Fipke family’s background and his boyhood activities: a section that adds little to the book, only marginally to any understanding of Fipke the man and, as presented, serves primarily to break the continuity of the presentation. The story of Fipke the exploration geologist continues with “Pluto’s Regime: South Africa (1973–1974)” and “The Fire Down Below: South America (1975–1977)”. The former is an interesting travelogue of experiences in southern Africa and the latter of Fipke’s short period of work for Cominco in Brazil that provides an interesting insight into an all to common manner of exploration management. If there is a unifying theme between these two sections it is with respect to Fipke’s increased knowledge of diamond occurrences in each of these areas. The central theme of the book is captured in the final section of the book entitled “Pangaea’s Children: Canada Northwest Territories (1977–1997)” which, although it covers the largest portion of Fipke’s career, (20 out of 27 years) as an exploration geologist is less than 25% of the book. Although limited in detail, the concluding section does provide an interesting overview of the trials and tribulations that are associated with funding and pursuing the discovery and development of a commercial mine. Although technically deficient this section of the book provide an interesting insight into the nature of the exploration business and is certainly a section that any exploration geologist, based on their own personal experience, would identify with. A particularly troubling aspect of Fire into Ice: Charles Fipke and the Great Diamond Hunt is that although major emphasis is placed on Fipke’s interest and deep appreciation for indigenous peoples and their culture one is struck by the fact that most of this interest would appear to be derived from an all to common desire
simply to see “strange people” and to trade for “indigenous trinkets”. Although the above is perhaps somewhat unfair, descriptions of his contacts and experiences with indigenous peoples in Papua New Guinea and Africa substantiate rather than refute the conclusion. The reader will find the book somewhat difficult to read due to the “flashback” nature of the presentation and the fact that a book of 354 pages has over 60 chapters. Additionally, the book could have benefited from closer editing, particularly of the technical portions, to eliminate such errors as “…Chuck had them begin with 90 135 kilometers (rather than kilograms) of the sample….” and such inconsistency as (underlining added) “…are left concentrated in the 5–10 grain sample that’s left behind…” (p. 238) versus “…Chucks techniques were so refined that he could isolate a few grams of targeted elements…” (p. 329). Finally, upon reading one has to wonder if the title “Fire into Ice” wasn’t somehow really supposed to be “Fire Under the Ice” the term used at the end of Chapter 50? Overall, the book Fire into Ice: Charles Fipke and the Great Diamond Hunt is an interesting life history (to date) of an exploration geologist who managed to accomplish what every exploration geologist dreams of i.e. finding the “Big One”. The book also highlights the dogged determination and the level of personal sacrifice, by both the exploration geologist and their families, that is often required to be successful in the exploration field. Although most individuals in the exploration field may find that the book promises far more than it delivers there is no doubt that for those people interested in the nature of exploration, from the perspective of someone who has “been there and done that”, the book is an excellent and entertaining read. Allen Clark East-West Center Honolulu, Hawaii, USA 15 August 2000 PII: S 0 3 0 1 - 4 2 0 7 ( 0 0 ) 0 0 0 2 9 - 5
The Ostrich Factor: Our Population Myopia Garrett Hardin; Oxford University Press, New York, 1999, pp. 168, Price US$22.00, hardcover, ISBN 0-19512274-7 Garett Hardin’s book, The Ostrich Factor: Our Population Myopia, begins with a description of the mythical