While there are mostly advantages in using this as a fuel, it might be an ecologic disaster to strip-mine the tundra. The Tibet - Qinghai Plateau is between 3 and 4,000 m above sea level and the climate is harsh. Areas that have been strip mined will recover slowly and the little soil that was there and allowed the tundra to grow will be removed, leaving only rocks and sands behind. It might take centuries to recover and will make life for the nomadic herders and the indigenous animals (many of them endangered) difficult if not impossible.
cocking a meal? Something tells me you're using one of those first generation MacBook pros...
Bringing a netbook is great for blogs and photos and e-mail, etc but I would not do any banking over it. Get an account that offers phone banking and transfer money that way. IDD charges are not that high and your phone is more secure if you don't want to go to great length securing your computer.
Living on Earth may be expensive, but it includes an annual free trip around the Sun.