By Jessica Hopper
Rock Center
Samba Diarra, 15, journeyed 200 miles to live in a plastic hut alone and work in an artisanal gold mine in Mali. The teen came to the mine to help support his five younger brothers and sisters.
“The main reason I left home is to help my parents and sending them money is my main goal,” Diarra said.
Diarra’s parents can’t afford to send him to school because he has to support his younger siblings. He is one of at least 20,000 children working in Mali’s artisanal mines.
Mali is Africa’s third largest gold producer. Artisanal mines rely on heavy human labor and little mechanization. People throughout West Africa are flocking to work in the primitive pits.
“Globally, we’ve seen an increase with the number of artisanal gold miners because of the rise of gold prices, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to better living conditions,” said Juliane Kippenberg who helped author a Human Rights Watch report on Mali’s mines.
The skyrocketing price of gold has led to a rush on the precious metal in the United States and throughout the world, but some of the mining that’s helping feed the world’s craving involves child labor and a dangerous process involving mercury.
Approximately 100,000 to 200,000 people in Mali are working in artisanal mines, according to the Human Rights Watch report. Kippenberg told NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel that 20 to 30 percent of the workforce in African artisanal mines is child labor.
The report entitled, “A Poisonous Mix: Child Labor, Mercury and Artisanal Gold Mining in Mali,” details abysmal working conditions.
“There couldn’t be a bigger contrast between the situation of a 7-year-old or a 14, 15-year-old working day in and day out in the very harsh conditions of these mines and the beautiful world of jewelry somewhere in Switzerland or the U.S. or elsewhere,” Kippenberg said.
The children working in the mines, some as young as six years old, help dig shafts with pickaxes, lift and carry heavy bags of ore and pan the gold with an amalgamation process involving mercury.
“Not only is it hard work and then you’re tired from it, but it is hard work that everyday gives you pain: headaches, back pain, joint aches and it will create long-term spinal injury for some of these children who are carrying very heavy loads and they are very small,” Kippenberg said.
Diarra spent his first day pulling up gold ore that was mined by men working deep underground. At the end of his first day, he was paid with a bag of dirt. Gold is currently trading at around $1742 an ounce.
“After I wash and refine it, I’ll get paid for the gold that might be inside,” he said.
Some children working in the mines never get paid. Those who do, get just a few dollars a week.
Diarra still has dreams of a life away from the mines.
“I would like to study if I have the opportunity, I would also like to be a footballer,” he said.
Kippenberg said that it will be hard for Diarra to leave the mines.
“The sad news is that he is not going to be able to realize his dreams. In almost all of these situations where children come here to work by themselves, they are terribly exploited and will probably end up working in artisanal gold mines for the rest of their lives or for very long periods, making, eking, out a living,” Kippenberg said.
Malian law actually bans child labor in artisanal mines, but the law is not heavily enforced. One miner told Rock Center that he simply can’t afford the fees to send his children to school so instead they work with him.
Diata Lissoko, the traditional leader of one of the mines said, “With this kind of physical labor, life is short.”
Lissoko said that just two days prior to Rock Center’s visit, a young man had suffocated deep in the mine.
“It was 30, 40 meters deep. When you descend a mine that deep, there is no oxygen down there, so if you breathe in the gas, you are killed immediately,” Lissoko said.
Others are dying slowly from toxic mercury vapors. To speed up the refining process, workers are mixing mercury with the crushed ore. The mercury adheres to the gold flakes. Then the mixture is burned. Those vapors are the most toxic. Women and children often are in charge of panning the gold and often use the mercury in their backyards in the middle of their villages.
“Working with mercury in a residential area is a particularly bad practice because it affects so many people,” said Kippenberg of Human Rights Watch. “They will be exposed to mercury poisoning. Just to give you an idea, it’s not something that happens very quickly, but people will begin to have coordination problems, memory problems in high doses. It can lead to kidney failure, heart problems and it can even kill people.”
Approximately 12 percent of the world’s gold is born from the grueling process of artisanal mining, Kippenberg said.
“It’s not the majority of the gold, but at the same time, it’s a significant proportion,” Kippenberg said.
The gold is sold to middlemen and eventually ends up in places like Dubai and Switzerland where it is melted and mixed with gold from large scale mines before it’s turned into jewelry worn throughout the world.
“Even if it is a long, long supply train, at the end of the day, it is the gold from these artisanal mines in Mali and other parts of the world that is exported and then goes to the world’s markets and is turned into jewelry,” Kippenberg said. “So, yes, there is a direct link between the people who wear the jewelry and buy it and the refiners, the big international companies who trade the gold globally and those who work in these mines, the depths of these shafts, who risk their lives in doing so.”
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So why are we so concerned what happens in Mali ??? I'm 65 years old and never heard of Mali... However.... The federal government in the USA closes BLM roads leading to Registered Gold Claims in America everyday. At a time in America when making dollar becomes more difficult we should open our BLM roads to allow american citizens to prospect for gold. I would be happy to go into Gold country and bring back a bag of dirt to pan out at home, maybe make a few dollars worth of Gold. But then I am sure that the Federal Government would rather me just be dead rather than wealthy. The Federal Government in America points fingers at other countries for child labor, while hiding the fact they are allowing the citizens of America to starve and live without housing... The Obama's, Gingriches, The 1% dont give a crap about me, and the 99% want everything given to them free because they feel entitled, But people like me who are willing to work hard at a Gold claim cannot..
While I understand your frustration with closing the BLM roads, I hope you sit back and reflect that as a human being, I care about the plight of children in Mali. I don't think it'll change in my lifetime, but that doesn't mean it's ok.
Have you ever heard of Timbuktu? No it's not a myth. It's a real city in Mali. It's fame grew throughout the 12th century as a gold hotspot. Since then, it and the entire country of Mali has been exploited for its gold. It, like the rest of the African continent, was colonized by capitalist European governments. It's just an early example of how "1%-ers" in history never gave a crap about hard working people and the land that was rightfully theirs along with the gold in it.
Newt is an elitist who places little or no value, other than low level servitude, for the vast majority of the population.
His arrogance is overwhelmingly sickening, his ideology medieval and class oriented, and his thoughts often disturbing.
I have no doubt that his ideal form of governance is a complete monarchy with himself upon the throne.
To all who think that Newt is the answer to America's political problems, may God help you all!
excuse me, liberal leftist whackos, what does one corporation exploiting child labor in africa have to do with the thousands of legit corporations around the world who try to earn revenue in an equitable, fair way? wake up, liberal whackos? ever heard of the trickle down effect? capitalism drives creation, drives innovation; drives inspiration. capitalism needs a middle class that can afford to buy the goods; you liberals btich about capitalism, but you never have an alternative, only alternative any of you liberals ever had is to follow cuba and castro. instead of creating wealth, you want everybody to be poor and miserable.
We are the middle class. what toy been smoking forthe last few years ?
They could make a lot more money digging up dirt over here...On Gingritch, Romney, et all.
Its a funny situation where the goverments of the poorer countries want to export as much or all they can not bothering that their own people starve back home as this goverments are corrupt and more worried about their own pockets and Swiss bank accounts rather then the welfare of their people
A government exists solely for the people -things like defense, public safety- but a corporation exists solely for money, it's a fact, corporations are created for profit. When you run a government like a corporation you get horrific consequences like the ones described in the article.
*shrug* I have to work too, what's the point?
All the States with repub governors are trying to repeal child labor laws, a week ago they all got together to try to figure out how to do that very thing, They are also trying to figure out how to change the language so they will appeal to the 99%er's, all of em attended a seminar for that one, dummies the lot of em. The only way to stop them fools is to vote them out of office, or recall em, starting with Ohio, then Wisconsin.
Right you are .Kasich will be history.its too bad we cant recall the idiot.I am a buckeye !
We are alll very lucky. Take a moment to say "Thank you, my life could always be worse."
I live in a metropolitan area within a few hours of Appalacia. The poor there are way worse off than those in urban areas near me and they depend more on the gov't for food, shelter and healthcare while they vote Republican and claim the lazy minorities are the real problem. Or the minorities who aren't lazy are stealing their jobs.
It's a sad state of affairs when people can't see past race and party lines to unite in the fight against poverty.
These kids are eating into the profits. Maybe they should get a half a bag of dirt. After all there are other things in that dirt they can sell besides gold dust. There could be stuff in there they can eat. People in some countries eat mud pies. The problem in the U.S. is people have it too good. We should all be eating mud pies made from the dirt we can scrap from the shoes of John Boehner. LOL. As if there was any dirt on his shoes. We're all too busy thinking of our own self interest and not that of multi-national corporations, after all they are people too. If these shiftless kids were paid in actual money they'd just waste it foolishly on stuff like food and clothing, which would only serve to employ other forms of life like farmers. If the elite wealthy people are allowed to keep all the money they would spend it more wisely, like buying a lamborghini for example, which would in turn keep well paid mechanics employed and thus raising the standard of living. Long live the tea party!!!
aha: well paid mechanics: you mean the TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT!!!!! The stupid liberal whackos still cant figure out the trickle down effect.
The bigger issue is the politics of Africa. Rebels dont know what they are rebelling against, but they hack off limbs, and control towns, and intimidate, and steal and maim and kill. how many wars has america entered into to try to make better lives for people, and the leftist whackos that complain about the United statess being invaders, are the same leftist whackos that complain when the united states buys goods from countries where workers are exploited. puts the republicans that you bitch about, in a no-win situation. workers that are no exploited need a democracy in their government. you liberals say we cant force democracy on other countries. well then how do you prevent worker exploitation???????
and for this reason, we should not be involved in any conflicts in Africa..Africa is a lost cause...and only the people of Africa can help themselves...too bad..
Oh, they know. The truth is, you don't know what they are rebelling against.
I do not CARE about Africa or WHAT they REBELLING against...I am tired of my Country getting involved in All of these conflicts....I don't care about Africa when my own country is drowning...there is no reason we should care about what's going on in country that is corrupt and that is as evil as Africa, they have always done horrible things to their people, what I care about is cleaning up ALL of the morons in my Country and making sure American children will not have too suffer the same fate as children in Africa....I do not care what happens in Africa...Charity begin at home
The one percenters would love to be able to pay the 99ers with dirt.
Newt made his 100 million off the back of the tax payers of this great country, and he has foolish people backing him, can't wait until they wake up and smell the money trail..boy are they going to be surprised...Newt is a true drug dealer his drug of choice is tax payer dollars and whores...
Here is the sad part, as a Black American, I found out that the majority (70+%) of all Gold and diamonds come out of Africa, but Africans are dirt poor...If they had any kind of smarts, they SHUT OFF the supply to the WORLD, like the friggin arabs always do with oil, to force changes and prices.
But then again, the majority of the world does not give a rat's A$$ for africans at all...but GOD forbid one child from europe even sew ONE shoe in a factory, then 'people' are up in arms about child abuse/labor, etc etc
the African leaders and rebels are the blame for the sorry state of Africa...this is one area of the world that we should stay out of....the situation in Africa is caused by corrupt leaders..that when other nations step in to help the leaders have threaten the ad visors and they have to leave...No nation can step into Africa and tell these people how to run their country..and it would be foolish for us too step in and tell a dictator how to run their country...these are not reasonable people, they are very unreasonable and have very little tolerance they want the U.S aid, but they refuse to do whats right, their leaders are criminals
Capatlism is what made this country the most powerful nation on the earth: technology, largest GDP, most wealth. The socialism that is creeping in is what will be the ruin of the US. Increasing taxes and paying for people who collect years of well-fare is not what got this country to be GREAT. Instead, it was people having the freedoms to start a business, an idea, and run with it. Creating a new service, product, or technology, which then created more jobs either at his/her's company, or inadvertantly...this spiral effect is what created prosperity and growth in the marketplace.
you can bet your arse the owners are republican !
Or right wingers.
Not true, the owners of the Gold mines are the Dictators of the country or the Rebel leaders..before you make comments..get your facts
Diamonds mines and Gold mines are usually operated by Rebels
I'm sure Gingrich would love to hear this!. These are "the poorest children in the poorest neighborhoods" defying "stupid child labor laws". Look how well it's working! Talk about learning work ethics. These kids are a shining example of his brilliant ideas!
Can I slap him now?
Question?? If those tailings(bag of dirt) are producing 2oz of gold per ton, how much is the child being paid? Like Paul Harvey says "Now for the rest of the Story".
He is being paid $60/day or per bag of dirt.
Guess I'm the only one who caught that one?
Perhaps if Diarra's parents didn't have a bunch of kids that they can't feed, Diarra wouldn't be forced to work in a gold mine to support them. . . Perhaps they could afford to feed him and send him to school. Or, at least, perhaps he could work less near his own home and still manage to get at least some education. Just a thought.
Don't send food. Send condoms.
Good point..
It's well known, that children cause slave wages and toxic working conditions..
There's a place for you on the Gingrich economic team !!! Good luck !!!
K1200RS, condoms is actually an item that African Relief Agencies accept for donations. They are consistently trying to teach safe sex practices to people who have no formal education in rural parts of Africa, in a culture that historically has not focused on safe sex practices.
@K1200: You're an idiot. Try learning to READ before commenting. Start by READING the article - especially the part I quoted above which pretty clearly stated that this kid's parents sent HIM to work because they can't support their OTHER kids.
"The love of money is the root of all evil"; this is describing those who take what does not belong to them, then try to make themselves the victims, all along, they're the perpetrators.
This is not what the Bible says. Your taking scripture out of context to make a point is more 'EVIL' than the love of money!
God will repay; vengance belongs to Him.
Well I wonder what people think these boys should be doing??
This is their reality! At least he is not standing around with an idol mind, vandalizing, or running drugs for some gang. What a child does will stick with them for the rest of their life. They will always be hard works, which can't be said for a lot of first world kids!
These boys will not be couch potatoes, or addicted to some video game shooting make believe people, therefore becoming resilient to shooting later they will find a real gun to shoot someone they are angry with.
God Bless These Boys!!!!!
They'll be shooting, killing and maiming people on their video games but when it comes time to "man up" and do their "stint" in the military they'll still be in mom's basement playing their "BRAVE" video games...
Meaning, our lazy, over protected and coddled kids who managed to make it through high school to be eligible to join.
What should these boys be doing?? Are you high?? Mentally deficient??? A teapublican???
They should be in school.
K1200RS:
I'm sure, by now, you've gone to Western Union and sent each of them $100 so their families can eat while they go to school... Right?
Oh! Well, I guess you need to hang onto YOUR money! It's all the Republicans fault... Ooops! I meant, Bush's fault... Sorry...
By the way, they don't have "Republicans" or Bush over there... Just corruption!
Bright - not too bright. You have got to be kidding.
This is an all or nothing decision for you, either work the mines or a couch potato? How about these boys, if they must work the mines pay them a fair wage but adults much less children should not be in those mines. Better yet how about letting then be children and go to school.
Glad you are not my parents. Just another exploitation of the poor by the greedy.
K1200 seems to have missed that this is in AFRICA - not Connecticut.
This is a good example for those Lazzie People who doesnt appriciate what they have here in US
This could happen to uis any time! be thankful before it s too late
Where do people get the idea that Government (Mosses) owes you something or cares about you or anything else. Government is a parasite it milks the system . along with the people who work in it . ( I use the word WORK losely ) Thomas Jefferson said and I quote " Lending Institutions are more dangerous then a standing army In the USA you have to make it on your OWN " USA gives you Life, Liberty,and the Pursuit of Happiness not a job,a house,a car a welfare check or food stamps. Only commie socialist want that The first Amendment allows you two things # 1 To do great things # 2 allows you to put your foot in your mouth. So allow me to put my foot in my mouth. And if you lose the second Amendment you"ll lose the first Being politicalty correct teels me you are a commie socialist With my foot in my mouth I can still say god bless (or what ever you believe in ) AMERICA. If it weren't for the USA the rest of the world would still be dwelling in caves, in the dark and swinging from trees for transportation. Dizzy Caruso Not black, Not White, Not Hispanic, Not Oriental, or Indian Just an AMERICAN
Where do you get the idea that you are capable of putting together a coherent statement?
With the passage of the Levin/McCain S 1867 along with 1031 and 1032 THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT bill on Tuesday 12/2/2011....THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.....America is HEADED in the wrong direction!!!!