gold mining in the Philippines

Summary

In the Camarin Nor Peninsula, Philippines, over 200,000 small-scale gold miners risk their lives, including their children's, to mine gold using compressor mining. This dangerous method involves breathing through a thin plastic tube while submerged 30 feet underwater, exposing them to contaminated air, high-pressure risks, and dirty water. Despite the health hazards, local authorities turn a blind eye to illegal mining to prevent pushing families into starvation, trapping child miners in a cycle of poverty and peril.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Camarin Nor Peninsula in the Philippines is known as Asia's Gold Coast.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Over 200,000 people are involved in small-scale gold mining in the area.
• 🌐 The gold produced is exported worldwide through the black market.
• 💸 Poverty and hunger drive people to engage in dangerous gold mining practices.
• 👶 Children are often used in mining due to their smaller size and less damaged lungs.
• 💨 Compressor mining involves breathing pressurized air through a thin plastic tube.
• 🚫 The process poses immediate life-threatening risks, including engine failure or collapse.
• 🤧 Poor air quality from compressor engines can lead to long-term health issues.
• 🌡️ Underwater pressure can cause gas bubbles to form, potentially blocking blood supply to the brain and lungs.
• 🦠 The water quality is poor, exposing miners to bacteria and parasites.
• 🏭 The mayor turns a blind eye to illegal mining to avoid forcing families into further hunger.

Q & A

What is the Camarin Nor Peninsula known for?

The Camarin Nor Peninsula in the eastern Philippines is known as Asia's Gold Coast due to its gold mining activities.

How many people work as small-scale gold miners in the Philippines?

Over 200,000 people work as small-scale gold miners in the Philippines.

What is the primary motivation for people to engage in small-scale gold mining?

People engage in small-scale gold mining due to poverty and hunger, driven by the need to produce gold for the black market.

What is compressor mining?

Compressor mining is a method where pressurized air is pumped into the miner's lungs through a thin plastic tube, allowing them to breathe underwater.

Why are children often used in compressor mining?

Children are often used in compressor mining because their lungs have not been damaged by fumes, making them more capable of handling the polluted air.

What are the immediate life-threatening dangers posed by compressor mining?

Immediate life-threatening dangers include engine failure, shaft collapse, and the risk of the breathing tube getting trapped or broken.

What are the long-term health risks associated with compressor mining?

Long-term health risks include poor air quality due to diesel fumes and other pollutants, the physical effects of pressure underwater, and exposure to bacteria and parasites in the water.

How does the poor quality of air affect the divers?

The air sucked through the tube may be mixed with diesel fumes, carbon monoxide, and other pollutants, which can lead to respiratory and other health issues.

What are the effects of diving at depth on the body?

Underwater, the body is under a lot of pressure, which can cause gas bubbles to form in the bloodstream, potentially blocking blood supply to the brain or lungs.

Why does the mayor feel the need to turn a blind eye to illegal mining?

The mayor turns a blind eye to illegal mining to avoid forcing families further into hunger, as it provides a source of income despite the risks.

What is the vicious cycle that child miners like Gerald are trapped in?

Child miners are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty and danger, where they must continue mining to survive despite the health and safety risks.