Bolivia's Child Laborers
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- Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
- In 1936, George Orwell visited a coal mine in Grimethorpe, England. "The place is like... my own mental picture of hell," he wrote of the experience. "Most of the things one imagines in hell are there-heat, noise, confusion, darkness, foul air, and, above all, unbearably cramped space." Orwell was a lanky guy, 6'3" or 6'2", and I am too, so I was reminded of his comparison recently while crawling through a tunnel as dank and dark as a medieval sewer, nearly a mile underground in one of the oldest active mines in Latin America, the Cerro Rico in Potosí, Bolivia. The chutes were so narrow that I couldn't have turned around-or turned back-even if I'd wanted to.
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The young girl works in a cemetery to send herself to school, and says "I'm more afraid of life than death"...that broke my heart:/
lol but its true
I feel like shit now...
feelswhy some people ate usa they thing they are poor because usa
SpanishInAustralia yeah i also ate USA it tasted poorly not a good choice
Abo Bolanos are you always this hilarious? you would be good around parties
SpanishInAustralia How are they poor because of USA?
Johnny Jaruwan an exploitative foreign policy designed to lower prices of goods and services in the United State (aka the silver they are mining) by undercutting the profits of those less powerful nations and thus the workers. all of which is part of an even grander foreign policy of insuring the dominance of the United States on the rest of the world, by any means necessary aka. neoconservatism and neoliberalism
"I'm more afraid of the life than of the death" ... Damn from such a young girl it's insane!
Eh, I feel the same way actually.
I was just about to type that, truly insane coming from someone of that age
so inspiring
Well it's the truth.. dying is the easy part of life.
yes creepy eh for a young girl to say that...and with a smile...poor youth :/
Guys stop complaining about the guy eating coca leaves.
Coca leaves relieve hunger and fatigue. It's also a way to enhance physical performance. In La Paz in Boliviva, they drink coca tea more than other parts of the country because they are near the Andes. Why? To relieve off altitude sickness. They do this in Peru a lot too.
Forget it, those people have been manipulated too much by US propaganda. You cannot educate tools, they must be willing to educated themselves.
Yeah well I might aswell give them a head start.
You know what i love about vice, their ability to report on things making sure the people of the country have the most dialogue Which is what reporting is supposed to be!
Seeing stories like these then looking at lives some of the kids have here in 1st world countires. We have it so easy....
Not really. It's just a way to show the stark difference in living conditions.
Negrofluorescente Learn some history.
even in first world countries there are very poor people. Especially in the us.
"I'm more afraid of life, than death."
That is just sad.
In America kids are worried which one to choose the 16 or 32gb iPhone
ya basically in first countries like USA or Canada we have kids who hate going to school (including myself at one time) think that learning is boring and a waste of time etc. Meanwhile in every 3rd world or developing nation kids are dying just to scrounge up the money to have an education.
This is why I watch vice, they get the news out on certain things that mainstream media will never cover.
Right? Their coverage is very enlightening.
And here am I sitting with the AC on, eating chocolates...
Puts things on perspective doesn't it? You got lucky mate, use your winning ticket wisely.
Anyone can get on you just got to find a way out
Its incredible to see how much work at a young age will make a kid become an adult almost. These kids are way more intelligent than any 12,13 yr old ive ever met in the states.
How? They are not recieving eduacation like western children are. They are more mature though but so would any kid be if he or she was forced to work and live in those conditions.
Gentleman Finn ya thats exactly my point dude..read my comment again dont get so offensive
ThisNameIsntOriginal i can get your point too, i don't understand why children cant work in their free time with their will, work do make people mature
***** preety much
ZaqueHunzahua k.
They chew on coca leaves because it helps with the high altitude and the cold weather.
VICE please make more documentaries (mini-docs) like this !
Vice if you read the comments I hope you realize this is the kind of of stories we want to see and why we subscribed not the crap you have been putting out for the best part of 2013.
this is the reason i subscribed in the 1st-place,, vice is getting back to what made vice so great !! awesome video,, very sad but great,, keep'em coming vice !!
I did a tour into a Potosi Mine a few years ago and we all had to sing Happy Birthday to a miner who had been working down there for just under 2 years. It was his 13th birthday.
I think that girl summed it all up with a single sentence: "I'm more afraid of life than death."
Very good video. This is the kind of stuff I subscribe for :)
Kids in America mine Mines in Minecraft and kids in Bolivia mine real mines...
Is VICE actually back?
Haven't watched yet but I like the title!
Dude the last line of this documentary blew my mind and made me shake my head all at the same time.
"I'm more afraid of life than death." Chilling how hardened and mature these young kids have to become. Little in the way of childhood fun.
I am Bolivian, and all this is government's fault as much as the people, my country is poor and our government is not the best, it is actually stupid, so families that are poor are somehow forced to send their kids to work, sadly they don't see education as something important because their survival comes first, which if you think about it, it makes sense. Families in the country side have a lot of children because, as some of u mention before, they are not well educated about safe sex and second because sometimes men, with all their macho bullshit, force their wives, or even rape them and well some others they just like having kids. Some kids are not forced to work, some of them just like it and like helping their families, I know that because well I have ask a few. Now they are not dirty because they love it and its not that as MAjaMantras said "
If they werent so dirty, they can get a good job" it because with no education those are the only jobs the can do and the condition are not the cleanest, and sometimes they don't have fresh water in their houses, THEY DON'T LOVE WORKING ON DIRT or being dirty, seriously people just think a bit this is common sense. And well I love my country and it's true that kids should be in school and not working, but if u were in the same position as them u would not have much of a choice either.
well said!
Wow, it is very sad to hear that...
I totally agree that these children AREN'T working because they "love working on dirt" or because they "love being dirty"; they really have no choice! Bolivia is unfortunately the poorest country in South America, ranking 108 out of 186 countries on the UN Human Development Index of 2013. So these children feel the need to support their family by working! In doing so, they would be able to feel a little bit happier. This is a difficult problem to solve, and I am not even sure if there is a clear solution to it because preventing them from working will only make their living conditions worse.
Andrea Rivera I remember visiting some relative's in Bolivian in the city of Santa Cruz. Honestly looks like a very rough way of life. May the government should invest in paying employees to maintain a cleaner environment and maybe it would get a bit better.
That's because our government is more focused in wasting the taxes in expensive political campaigns instead of invest them on education
Great video. much better than toddlers telling inappropriate jokes and toddlers getting high.
"I'm more afraid or life than death" No kid deserves to think like this, it's just not normal. Kids should be kids! So sad 'bout all this, just a reminder of whats really important
And we complain that we dont have wifi somewhere
Knocked it out of the park again Vice. Keep em coming! Amazing work this year!!
Finally Vice released an educational video unlike some others.
They posted a video about a girl getting high off of chocolate, wth?! Lol
"I'm more afraid of life than death." really sums up this entire situation.
That's a powerful quote
What many people go through in third world countries is truly heartbreaking but the sad truth is that life is a bitch and I'm really heartbroken that these kids couldn't have a childhood that kids should have. Instead they were thrown into the adult world without experiencing a childhood that every kid deserves
Poor kids, nobody anywhere ever should have to grow up like that :(. This is so sad ...
"I'm more afraid of life than death.". Sad to see someone so young, live their life with that kind of mentallity towards life.
I feel like a piece of shit after I watched this video. I'm always complaining about my homework while people at my age out there are working really hard to find money for their education. What am I doing is not even half of what they have done.... I should get a life
Great job on the documentary VICE. Although I felt very sad watching it.
yaay Vice actually made a good video.
My father is the oldest of 6 brothers and sisters, he worked with my grandfather in the coffee fields in Brazil, he started working at really young age, helped my grandparents rasing my aunts and uncles, those times you used to pass your clothes to your younger brothers, they went thru hard times in life but the key is to never give up, and education is the most important thing of all, now he's a professor, teaches, math, physics, science and account, never stopped studying, recently graduated from law school, I started working at the age of 15, i pray for this kids, working builds you to be a better person , I pray they get access to education.
Animo a todos los hermanos Bolivianos, Fuerza desde Mexico.
Truly heartbreaking to see these kids not have a childhood
You guys really don't understand how backwards your ideology is saying that Child Labor shouldn't exist, banning child labor only takes away what little these people have and will just lead to starvation and death
+ditkacigar89 Are you from Bolivia ? Are YOU, Yourself...a child laborer?
+josh schnaithman He's right though. That's why we have child labor laws in America. I my self have been working since the age of 15 if I did not I wouldn't be able to pay for very important things. These kids work because they HAVE TO. Privileged people don't seem to understand the struggle.
Yes although many of these people rely on the child labour to get through their everyday lives it is still unethical and highly corrupted. Which is why it makes more sense for them to legalize child labour in order to better moderate it, this way it benefits everyone involved.
sad seeing dude do his dead brothers job, he always walks around with his head down all depressed :(
I lived in Bolivia for 2 years and specifically in Potosí for six months and it was so hard to not get depressed living there. They should make another video that includes the kids that wipe car windows to pay for their glue huffing addiction known as "cleferos", the kids whose homeless parents make them dance on the sidewalk for passers-by, or the kids that go on buses and sing for a few cents.
I'm from Spain, so I obviously speak spanish, but I can't understand SHIT of what they are saying at all! I have to read the subtitles in english! D:
Yo soy del oriente de Bolivia (la parte que nunca muestran en los documentales) y creeme que tampoco entiendo un carajo.
El español no es su lengua nativa, son indígenas.
Esteban Maldonado En realidad es muy dificil encontrar gente que no hable español como lengua madre, aun en la parte andina del pais (que es la que muestran aca). Por ejemplo, Evo Morales habla solo español. Y lo habla MAL.
You guys speak it differently from what we done in Latino American and the State. We I see videos from Spain I have trouble understanding few thing because you guys use the z alot.
AcexSensix2013 thank you
"I'm more afraid of life than death"... shivers...
poor kids, it makes you think
When you see all those whinny kids in supermalls crying because daddy didn't buy them the latest toys, and then this...this sacrificed youth....who has nothing...and that girl who fears life more than death....shivers....
thank you vie you ended the year well with this document
I always read the subtitles even though I speak Spanish.
Thanks VICE for coming to my country and showing a tough reality children have to face. I hope you could come some other time.
I'm Bolivian too. I think that we need to change, and I'm agree with you.
I think that it is absolutely wrong for a children to begin working at the age of 10-15. These children should have a fun and happy childhood, so they’re able to have a most positive outlook on life. From a psychological perspective, people remember things from their childhood their most because of the way people video time. For example, if you’re 2 years old, one year would feel like half of your life. I’m not going to go into more detail, but having a good childhood is very important to one's future in life. I think that child labour should be absolutely abolished in all countries. Even though it may not be easy to and that it’ll take a lot of time, I believe that it is eventually possible.
Thank you VICE! one of the best videos in a long time!
Shows us a huge problem to which there is no perfect answer and where black and white thinking doesn't help solving it.
I'm from bolivia its sad i give a lot of money when ever i see them
like usual, Thanks for the incredibly informative video!
Life can come so tough to a point where the words goes like "Many men, wish death"
the 13 yrear old broke my heart...I'm so sad now...
Seeing this makes me feel like I am too privileged and spoiled. I worked starting at 14 as a dishwasher but nothing to that extreme! Poor kids
this made me cry
I'm very thank full of being able to live in the united states. And hopefully if i keep my grades up and doing well i school i can do stuff like this and bring awarness to problems around the world. I love this channel because its time to show people the real world, especially my generation because sadly they are to focused on material needs and their image in society to focus on real prolems like these.
Did you keep your grades up and start bringing awareness?
And here we are, infront of the computer...
For those watching now, the bill did pass in 2014, and now the working age minimum for Bolivia is 10, not 14.
horrible... but respect to the vice guys going in there i would noit step into that mine... i am not claustrophobic, but the idea of being trapped in a mine like that gives me the scares even thinking about it
I'm so glad Vice covered a problem I know all to well during my time being raised in Bolivia.
Wow. I now feel disgusted at how ungrateful I have been for the education I have been so blessed to have received. This is truly something worthy of contemplation as we approach this new year.
I hope those kids get a good career. They deserve it.
Much respect for these workers
Kids look like they're 40 years old in the face... They are young and they look tired. SMH... Damn shame.
Who else was feeling nervous when they were going through the tunnel?
i'm so thankful for the opportunity to walk through the forest and pick wild edibles, fuck school, fuck work, fuck cars, fuck mining, fuck this. everybody's just trying to make an honest living here.
What is really sad is when the girl said she was "more afraid of life than death' she was smiling in sadness.
It breaks my heart to see videos like these. I really hope things in that country change someday, so that those young kids can have a better (and a much safer) life and a better future... Que las cosas mejoren para esos jóvenes Bolivianos, para que así tengan una vida más segura, y un mejor futuro.
and I'm sitting in my comfortable chair and eating potato chips whit cola, I am disgusted of myself, and of my luck.
Oh get over it you pansy and be grateful for what you have.
Yeah disgusted is a a word for it i felt the same as u
I bet you do ... You know this people could possibly read your ignorant comment and feel worse? Little spoiled bitch
And here I'm sitting on my 600 euro phone getting half of my study payed by the government and getting payed 8 euro an hour for an easy job. And still complaining about stupid shit. First world for the win!!
Now I feel sad for not having a job.
I love Vice, you guys rock. Keep putting out awesome shit.
Vice thats the spirit, keep these vids comin!!
damn
this reminds me of bosnia we have kids just like this its sad
THEY DON'T DESERVE THIS... 😭💔
"I'm more afraid of life than death." That seems to be the prevailing ideology here in Latin America.
Yep, it's my favorite holiday. If only people in the city took it a little more seriously.
*****
I'm actually from Mexico. I live in the second largest city in the country, Guadalajara. Yeah, even the more unfortunate celebrate the day to it's fullest. It's a day to remember the dead in a joyous, celebratory way, regardless of religious views.
Ehh... It's a mixed bag. Mexico's arguably nicest state, Yucatan, is located in the south, but some of the poorest states like Chiapas and Quintana Roo are also in the south. The entire country is a patchwork of nice and shitty. Most Mexicans in the US are from the northern states because that is where most of the cartels and everything associated with them are located, and they want to get the fuck out of there. I can't really blame them.
I hear that Ciudad Juarez has gotten a little better. I wouldn't want to check it out myself, but that's what I heard. Happy new year.
***** Actually, the city of San Pedro Sula in Honduras was ranked 2013's most "Violent (City) in the World" by the Citizen Council for Public Safety and Criminal Justice. More so when referring to statistical evidence, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela contribute more cities on that list than Mexico. However, I agree with you on the issue of legalization - it's ridiculous how much money has been wasted on the failure that is the U.S. drug war.
Unfortunately, natives from the southern states of Mexico (Oaxaca, Puebla, and Guerrero) serve as the greater portion of migrant people in America due to general lack of education and employment opportunities outside of tourism. Nevertheless, these states are rich in culture and aesthetically beautiful, especially the city of Acapulco in Guerrero. If you ever have the opportunity of visiting, definitely go.
Great documentary on child labor I didn't know it was like that in my country
for the guys who said childrens telling dirty jokes is abuse. this is real children abuse THIS and not the other videos of vice this is fucking children abuse
i guess they must be living under a rock to call kids telling dirty jokes (which is totally funny) is child abuse...
children must know there is other children working in mines soo they will study hard to not finish like the child in the mines remain complete inocentent will make a stupid generation of shameles and lazy idiots children must learn from the start life is hard and weaks and lazy ends bad
Obviously the needs are different for all of us however this documentary definitely make me realise how us the people in the MEDCs take too many things for granted.
Damn some of these kids look like grown men in their 20s already. Tough life...
Captivating and informative. Great piece.
Man... This is really depressing. I can't even believe this.
poor kids wish I can help in someway
Damn, Chicago got nothin on this .feeling some real pain watching this .
Really makes me realize how good I have it here in the US...
if only parents would have children when they could afford it then most of this would be gone
Great video to end the year. Love your videos vice hope you continue the great content next year :-)
i can't say a word.. I can't understand why this life is so ugly especially for this kids. They are so educated, rich in dignity, and respectful, they don't deserve this life. What we REALLY can do to stop this hell?!
Such a sad story :/
loved this one, thanks vice
Yes, that's sad and all, but we would still be dying from Polio and marrying our cousins if we didn't enslave most of the world. Slavery is the most important thing to economic success. In the old days they used to fight wars to get gold and stuff, but since the Brits started ruling the world (the US is just England with more resources and land) it's slavery. If you're thinking: Well, there has been slavery even before there was property, slavery back in the day was something different. All those guys saying: "Oh, those poor kids, I wish I could change their lives" - very eurocentric btw, please ask yourself if you're willing to give up everything those kids work for. They work for you so you can go to school, get an humanities degree in college and smoke weed all day
No, a truly free market could and would provide for everyone.
LL You can't say that for sure. That's just speculation. I don't know what free market has to do with what I'm saying, but ok, spread your believes if you like
LL and they say communism is utopic...
Slavery is gone, you can marry your cousin now...
TheKlaun9 polio/rickets/incest come from filthy people with filthy habits like slavery.
Indigenous Bolivians have and always lead a difficult life since the Independence of Bolivia back in 1825. As an American-Bolivian, I have lived in Bolivia for 2 years and Child Labor has been widespread and will never end unless the financial companies, gov't propose a solution yo this. These so called "ministries of labor" and other gov't corrupt orgs dont do shit in enforcing laws against erradicating CL. Corruption is widespread and the situation is getting worse by the day. The UN has to step up its efforts if it wants to achieve in eliminating CL, especially in countries like Bolivia.
I'm 66 and have had some sort of a job since 11. Farm kids start working damn near at birth, even today in America.
How many American kids work in mines?
These people have similar genetics to Snooki. Snooki is of Chilean descent. I can see the resemblance.
How about instead of american politics spending billions of dollars to try to win some stupid election, just help out countries like this who obviously need it
Nice dream, but it'll never happen. American politicians don't give two shits about these people and only about their fat paychecks.
It would be nice if there was vice over, not just subs!
Good stuff! More of it please!
Vice thanks to share whats going on in our world
All of you must acknowledge that every first world nation has had child labor as their workforce. If these nations got to where they are with assistance from cheap labor, who are they to tell other nations not to?
muchas felicidades a todos los entrevistados ,, que bueno muy lindo Hermanos saludos desde la distancia y que Dios los cuide,,
How many bosses who dont pay their workers end up dead or with broken limbs though?
Nice Doco Vice