Andy Forrest, welcome to Earthtalk.

 – G’day Breeonezlet, pleasure to be here…

Ok. Mr Forrest, as you know, this interview is likely to be reaching planets that are not entirely familiar with your profession. Can you describe a typical working day?

– Umm, yes. Yes, Breeonezlet, I can describe such a day. I tend to wear leeesure denims, nice shirts that are untucked, and I’m in charge of my very own mining company. We dig up iron ore – a vital resource. We keep the world turning.

 An important job, is it, back there on Earth?

– For me, mining is my life, my passion…kinda almost a religion.

Mr Forrest, how do your people feel about this ‘mining religion’?

– Look, at the end of the day, my people are very content, moving forwards.

 Mr Forrest, we understand that your area of Earth was populated by ‘traditional owners’ for around 90,000 of your Earth years. Can you describe your joy in sharing the bounty of the ‘mining religion’ with other ‘traditional owners’?

– Umm…well…My family have a long history in Western Australia, going as far back as the NINETEENTH CENTURY, Breeonezlet…quite frankly, we, umm…

Mr Forrest, you’re obviously a bright and numerate man, how does that compare to 350 centuries? 

– Well, the point is, the point is really…

 Mr Forrest, thank you. We’d better leave it there for now. Best wishes with your ‘mining religion’ job and we appreciate your time.

Well, viewers, that was Mr Forrest, one of Earth’s leading ‘miners’.  As we saw, he seemed reluctant to put his income source into perspective – this trait also has been a theme of this series on ‘Earth: roles, incomes and the future’.