Mining is harmful to nearby communities because it creates air, noise and water pollution. Since the creation of the gold mine, Na Nong Bong has dealt with cyanide in their water from the cyanide solution used by the mine and sulfur in the air. Cyanide is a deadly chemical and it can be lethal if large amounts. According to the villagers, the sulfur is a by-product of arsenic from the gold mine being burned. These chemicals and other pollutants are making the water undrinkable and farmland unable to be used to grow crops.
The community has sued the mining company for these harmful pollutants being released and they won the cases, but the mining company filed bankruptcy, so they cannot compensate the villagers for the problems they've caused.
For the learning center, the village is trying to get more traffic on its website by starting a campaign and there will be a huge festival in January that they want to sell scarves and get donations at for the learning center.
