Jessica Otey/ April 17, 2008/ 8:32 pm/ Labor Problems
Bolivia is known for the silver that can be found in the top of the Andes Mountains. Unfortunately, in order to obtain this silver about 20,000 men and 1,000 children have to risk their lives each day in a run down mine called Potosi.
As of right now the mine does not have any lighting other than the lights attached to the workers’ helmets. The mine is also 15,000 feet above sea level and because of this there is very little ventilation. Workers have to struggle at times to breathe. In addition, there is only one exit within the mine so if it were to ever collapse all of the workers would be trapped with no way out.
Potosi is actually nicknamed “The Mountain that Eats Men.” It is estimated that about eight million men have died in the mine since it was opened in 1545. Even with the large number of deaths nothing is being done to improve the safety of the mine.
One reason that nothing has not done anything to improve the working conditions, is that Bolivia does not require its mines to be inspected. The government does however provide guidelines and seminars to promote better working conditions. Of course with no way of enforcing these standards they don’t have a huge impact.
It’s really sad that these miners have to risk their lives everyday in order to earn very little in return. It seems crazy that the government would not force these mining companies to meet some minimum safety standards.
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=4582403&page=1
1 comment:
This is so sad, especially that children are involved. We've seen what devastation it does in America when only 8 men are trapped in an unkempt mine, let alone thousands of children. I hope to the world that this government shapes up and realizes this is one place they need to make regulations.
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