Colombian Emeralds

MUZO, BOYACA DEPARTMENT, COLOMBIA - AUGUST 2010: A child guaquero (traditional surface miner) working in the washing area, where the owners of the mine throw the discarded washed rocks. There are many children working there, as the local population is very poor and hungry. Although aid is available for children in the region from several NGOs, including a Spanish one called Fundacion Telefonica, social context and the current crisis in the emerald industry makes this the only way for many to survive in the area. The guaqueria trade (traditional surface mining) is in crisis. Since Colombia's highest court awarded the largest emerald mining concession in the region to a foreign company, job opportunities have been limited for guaqueros. Only once a day, the company gives away discarded washed rubble to the guaqueros for them to go through in search of remaining emeralds. It is the most anticipated moment of the day, hundreds of people come along for this every day. Fighting and violence is becoming common, so the men and women are being separated in shifts. Muzo is the heart emerald country in Colombia. The emeralds are known worldwide for their quality and purity. But behind the beauty of the spell of the emerald is a dark story of violence, war and the systematic violation of human rights that has turned this corner of Colombia into a pit of despair. Hundreds of people flock to Muzo in search of their own El Dorado, only to discover a very different reality from their dream of riches. Poverty, violence and hunger usually end up being part of the daily lives of all those that have come to these mountains following their dreams, in search of emeralds. (Photo by Alvaro Ybarra Zavala/Getty Images Reportage)
MUZO, BOYACA DEPARTMENT, COLOMBIA - AUGUST 2010: A child guaquero (traditional surface miner) working in the washing area, where the owners of the mine throw the discarded washed rocks. There are many children working there, as the local population is very poor and hungry. Although aid is available for children in the region from several NGOs, including a Spanish one called Fundacion Telefonica, social context and the current crisis in the emerald industry makes this the only way for many to survive in the area. The guaqueria trade (traditional surface mining) is in crisis. Since Colombia's highest court awarded the largest emerald mining concession in the region to a foreign company, job opportunities have been limited for guaqueros. Only once a day, the company gives away discarded washed rubble to the guaqueros for them to go through in search of remaining emeralds. It is the most anticipated moment of the day, hundreds of people come along for this every day. Fighting and violence is becoming common, so the men and women are being separated in shifts. Muzo is the heart emerald country in Colombia. The emeralds are known worldwide for their quality and purity. But behind the beauty of the spell of the emerald is a dark story of violence, war and the systematic violation of human rights that has turned this corner of Colombia into a pit of despair. Hundreds of people flock to Muzo in search of their own El Dorado, only to discover a very different reality from their dream of riches. Poverty, violence and hunger usually end up being part of the daily lives of all those that have come to these mountains following their dreams, in search of emeralds. (Photo by Alvaro Ybarra Zavala/Getty Images Reportage)
Colombian Emeralds
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Crédits :
Alvaro Ybarra Zavala / Contributeur
Editorial - n° :
500449470
Collection :
Reportage Archive
Date de création :
20 août 2010
Date de chargement :
Type de licence :
Infos autorisations :
Autorisation non disponible. Plus d'infos
Source :
Reportage Archive
Référence :
595579461AZ016_emerald
Taille max. de fichier :
5000 x 3327 px (42,33 x 28,17 cm) - 300 dpi - 8 MB