The Devil's Miner is a documentary that delves into the use of Child Labor in Bolivia. The film takes us on a journey into the lives of 14 year-old Basilio and his 12 year-old brother Bernardino as they work in a silver mine. The children worked at an altitude of 15,000 feet and chewed coca leaves and chocolate bars to combat the headaches and fatigue they suffered from. Bolivia is in a real struggle to curb child labor but they lack the education that is needed. Children are all too often put in a position to become the providers for the family as is the case with Basilio who lost his father at a young age. Many miners believe child labor should not happen, but many families cannot do without the labor their children can provide. Others think that labor is a way to teach responsibility to children, no matter what their age.
On the heels of the above documentary was another film I found on YouTube also about Bolivia and child labor. This mini-film is about the nearly 4,000 children work in the Cerro Rico mines of Bolivia. Sadly, those who are not injured or buried alive often develop lung diseases. Miners here have a life expectancy of just 39 years-old. This is a horrible statistic. Click Here to see the film.
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