The Devil's Miner

The Devil's Miner is a documentary made in 2005 that follows a fourteen year old boy named Basilio and his younger brother Bernardino. and their work in the silver mines of Cerro Rico, Potosí, Bolivia.

This article by the BBC is an excellent read if you want to learn more.

There are a few central issues that this film brings out:

• Religion, namely the paradoxical worship of the devil and God.

     and

• Child Labor

Cerro Rico, Potosí, Bolivia

Religion, Worship of Tío

The miners of Cerro Rico have a unique perspective when it comes to protection inside the mines. While most of the miners claim to be Catholic, inside the mine they worship Tío, a devil-looking god, they say is the god of the underworld. Here is what he looks like:

The miners claim that Christ's protection cannot reach into the mines, because that is where Tío is in control.

The mines are extremely dangerous. Health risks include death by explosions, collapse, or inhalation of poisonous gas. Many miners will suffer silicosis, caused by daily inhalation of dust and debris.  The live expectancy of a miner is forty years old.

The miners have a belief that Tío is in control of the explosions and accidents that may happen in the mines. For this reason, they offer him sacrifices of coca leaves, tobacco, and alcohol. On certain occasions they will sacrifice a lamb and splatter its blood on the entrance of the mine for Tío's consumption. But before I leave this question of what they sacrifice, I want to ask: Why do they sacrifice alcohol, tobacco, and coca leaves? The movie does not explicit state why. Is it because this is what Tío values most, or is it what the miners value most? Is it plentiful and disposable? The only question I can answer is regarding their take on the coca leaf.

Miners highly value the coca leaf. They chew it every day before entering the mines. It is an appetite suppressant, and according to the article above, "helps filter some of the dust." This seems more psychological than anything.

Child Labor

In the case of Basilio and Bernardino, their father died, and their mother is unable to provide enough to support both of them. Basilio works full time in the mines, and goes to school. Bernardino works only sometimes in the mines, but he doesn't like it that much because he fears Tío. In this NPR interview, it explains that children under the age of 14 are legally able to work in Bolivia. In fact, there are many proponents of the legal working age being lowered to 6. One great point that is made is the same benefits would be available to both adult workers, but still one has to question the morality of the issue. In the United States and much of the Western world, child labor has all but been eliminated. However, when you consider the extreme poverty of many these families in Potosí, you kind of begin to understand the reality of the situation. These kids feel the responsibility to work to help their family.