Location: La Rinconada, Peru
In a remote region of Peru
surging global gold demand
is leading to a rise in wildcat mining
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CARMEN INOFUENTE, ROCK SCAVENGER, SAYING:
"There have been a lot of accidents. Rocks fall on us. There have been deaths too."
The prospecting comes at a high price
Only men are allowed in the mines
Women must scavenge on the cliffs
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CARMEN INOFUENTE, ROCK SCAVENGER, SAYING:
"If it weren't for this job, I don't think I could bring up my children, because you know that in the city or any other job with a company work pays very little. It's not enough."
The gold ends up in luxury jewelry or electronics
but the prospecting is unregulated, hazardous
much of the trade is illegal
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JUAN RAMON MAMANI, MINER, SAYING:
"You only have to work four hours a day. Only four hours (...) I don't know if good luck exists, eh? But working you always find it."
The impact on health
and the environment
is stark on this glacier.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JESUS CLAVIJO, LAND RIGHTS ACTIVIST, SAYING:
"Sometimes someone dies while working. They don't care. They don't give them anything. So what type of mining are we talking about here? Enough already! Enough of letting these big fish get rich!"
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) WALTER PANTI, MINER, SAYING:
"Supposedly this is Peruvian territory. But for me it's no longer Peruvian territory, nor Bolivian for that matter. It's an area that's been forgotten entirely."
