Oh absolutely, and the stuff going on out in China right now will scar generations in numerous ways.
But in the UK at least, coal mining and even big/heavy industry is mostly historical now. Coal mines, ship yards, even a lot of the bigger factories and nearly all the mills are now very quiet. A few still around, but not many.
It's why Fred Dibnah was so popular in his later years: walking, talking history.
Extra bonus video: here he is at age 50 scaling a chimney... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R3-YwDZrzg . Made my palms a bit sweaty just watching it. Amazing that he didn't even use a harness.
I met Fred on numerous occasions before he died, his sons are members of the forum I run. Fred was a great storyteller, it was chance he was picked up by the BBC and over time he developed into a great TV orator of the British Victorian age.
So much of our society is built upon those now seemingly antiquated inventions - old Fred had a way of explaining it and making it interesting with his enthusiasm. Like some many who's history he documented he was taken too young.
But in the UK at least, coal mining and even big/heavy industry is mostly historical now. Coal mines, ship yards, even a lot of the bigger factories and nearly all the mills are now very quiet. A few still around, but not many.
It's why Fred Dibnah was so popular in his later years: walking, talking history.