Illegal gold mining in Indonesia | DW Documentary
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- Опубликовано: 24 апр 2024
- Tourists flock to the Indonesian island of Lombok for its beautiful beaches. But while foreigners snorkel and surf, the islanders are extracting gold from the depths of the earth. The precious metal is then dissolved using mercury, which poisons humans and the environment.
Indonesia is the largest producer of gold in Asia. Hundreds of thousands of people live from informal gold mining. The use of mercury in the process is ubiquitous. As a result, more and more children in this island nation are being born with deformities. The film documents the lives of individuals who are affected and accompanies people who are fighting for change.
Indonesia has committed itself to phasing out the use of mercury by 2025. The film explores the question of just how realistic this plan is, given the fact that hundreds of thousands of gold miners have few feasible alternatives when it comes to earning an income. Corruption in Indonesia also interferes with the implementation of more sustainable gold mining and trading practices.
#documentary #dwdocumentary #gold
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The old saying "as mad a hatter" is from the Victorian gentlemen Top-hats. The hatter polished the hat with mercury, so they were inhaling vapours all day. Many went completely mad and died.
never knew that, nice one
7:00 Indonesian dwarf mining gold in the mountain ... makes me think if the mythologies in history are half-truths
When you see government officials refusing to comment, then you know they're involved
Facts
Some needs to pay them bribes
Thats True. My home is few kilometer away from the mining Village.
😅
always, but most of time would also involved police or military officer.
we evolved by innovation, and were killed by greed...
True
Imagine, a miner losing their mind, but carry forth the advantage of greed and steadfast work with poisons that cause death for all not just the miner. Thats why this is pernicious, its the most psychotic with a special talent for honing a talent, promoting greed, promoting business with poisons. Humans are dying and everyone in the island looks away.
What a comprehensive and informative documentary ❤❤
instead of feel-good or pity documentaries and meaningless doctor work and measurements, wich leaad to no changes anyways.....
why dont they teach indonesian gold miners how to extract gold without mercury....
The mercury-free gold extraction method uses borax in the process of gold smelting. Borax is used in the smelting process because it lowers the melting point of gold and other metals.
These corrupt officials are the ones who REALLY shouldn't be doing things like this. They should be punished.
Excellent documentary ,heartbreaking devastating topic. 😢..
I'm only 16 minutes into this documentary & made me think twice about my gold plated earrings I have... At the cost is this "precious gold" really at!?!?! Is it really worth it? NO!!! If you think otherwise, it's more than obvious what you feel towards others in poverty & beyond horrible but necessary life choices! I don't think it's worth it at all & I'm so glad I know this information now! Thank god!!! I'm going to only buy titanium steel jewelery/Steel that is used in surgeries, with 1st time piercings etc, from now on! 110%
yep, and u know all gold in indonesia is taken by USA?
Don't forget the UK that is a rich country, has looted India USD 45 Trillion or 2x of the USA's GDP.
Went in lombok 2 months ago , when yur à simple tourist there ,u never witness this , it s just a paradise island ! Thanks for show us the reality of the locals.
Interesting how much of the global gold supply (used for things such as electronics and jewelry) comes from independent mining operations.
always learn new things from DW
Underrated comment tbh
Same problem here in Ghana 🇬🇭
sorry for you 😢
So sad... Greed for gold has doomed so many poor people and their offspring.
Again another outstanding documentary! DW you are the best!
Man, I love these documentary quality.
It's amazing the amount of people who think and say so many stupid things, did the really see the documentary? Did they really understand? The solution is not easy, if they stop mining gold, another ilegal miner will do it.
Thank you
its easier to judge than to feel empathy...:(
@@darkbozo11 I feel empathy for the poisoned children, especially the disabled toddler whose father first said, "give me another job," and then concluded by saying that the important fact is that he was born ..
But he had a job as a fisherman before.
@@patrickmunneke8348 So, you must understand how challenging it is to be a small-scale fisherman there. Especially since the fish in that area have already been indicated to be contaminated.
Thanks! DW
Thanks, great documentary. I live in Indonesia. Unfortunately when there is little regulation, and what regulation exists is rarely enforced - people with very little who see a “relatively” easy way of making money and can externalise many of the risks and costs, well, there’s only one thing that is going to happen…
Great documentary 😊
Very interesting. Thank you.
Man's hunger for more yielding the reward in shape of chaos.
It's not only men who buy useless gold products.
Such a vicious cycle!
5th generation Montana kid with a deep understanding of gold mining and mercury in the 1800's. We are still paying the environmental price for it in 2024.
Gosh, I am pretty sure that we have the same problem here in RSA particularly with the Zama Zamas mining.
That's what you get for electing the corrupt ANC.
What a devastatingly depressing documentary.
I didn't watch anything produced by this propaganda agency.
@@notinterested8452 what said in this documentary is real, i have relative who works in similar job just different locations
It’s amazing that your country is so caught up in other countries issues when you should be looking in your own backyard
There s a lot of shops selling gold jewelry ,beautiful pearls to for tourists in lombok , i understand why thanks to u. This island is beautiful, sad to destroy it for tourism
who provides the mercury?
Yea just stop the supplier of it done deal
Mercury ore is available in mines around the world. It's easily accessible. The only reason it's not that easy to acquire is that china produce it cheaply and heavily regulated.
We hope
After this documentary the action will be able to protest about mercury import ....
I really love the voice over! I hope all documentaries do this. Its really annoying to read subtitles
So tourists visiting Indonesia must be cautious 😢
Right on time to download it and watch it on the plane
Yow were you going ? Don't leave us hanging like this 😂
Safe journey baby
Have safe travels
Going to Indonesia to mine the Gold 🤣🤣🤣
we're you flying on Boeing?
Great documentation on illegal mining.
We have a similar situation in Ghana - Galamsay.
Most of river bodies have been destroyed.
We are yet to see the full scale of the its effect.
Thanks for watching!
Dw is the best ❤
DW is better than Vice, 120%!!! Vice has ran out of what to make videos/documentaries about or lost their balls to go to certain areas to make videos, or they're happy with their money they make so Vice doesn't care AT ALL anymore!!! 💯 Or all of the above.
Please come to Ghana , the situation is bad
Don't wait for others and take action yourself.
terrifying
Heartbreaking. No gold is worth the health of your family. This young man must find a new way to earn money somehow. The government should step in.
OMG...😢
Always a connection to money and always the bottom rung of that ladder suffers. It’s a shame.
Let's always do alot of good ❤️
Government has to step in stop all these things. And help save their life.
An incredible 😲 and truthful documentary documentary about a darkside of Indonesia... thank you (DW) documentary channel. this problem belongs to utilizing Mercury's not legality or illegally... Then poverty is imposing human beings accepting every humbled condition, practicing it. This work is harmful for humans, the environment, livestock, and ecosystem....what a madness lifestyle 😮
It is dangerous to eat or feeding when a person is lying on back. They need advice on this.
i got it. not taxed by government is called 'illegal gold'
how dare someone dig for rocks.....MADNESS
Is there any other way to extract Gold without Mercurry ???
Cyanide method, they mentioned in the documentary. It is far safer than mercury and biodegrades. However,the cyanide method is more conducive to large scale mining. This is 1 of the challenges to convincing small scale miners to switch methods.
Thank you 🙏 @@darrienjames30
The problem with humanity is that we are too innovative. We desire to start pioneering in new technology and yet we are slow to fine tune what have created.
ITS EDUCATION, YOU CAN DO THE SAME THING WITH BORAX AND NOT POISON YOUR VILLAGE....
I'm a miner and we don't use mercury. We extract the gold manually. We pan the grind ores manually even if it takes us a day to do the process yet we can extract gold safely😡
Poor babies
Mohon warga Indonesia, khususnya yg berasal dari daerah Lombok Barat, agar membagikan link channel RUclips ini, kepada saudara-saudaranya di Lombok Barat (sekitar lokasi tambang illegal tambang emas), sehingga mereka bisa melaporkan gejala-gejala serupa, kepada Anggota DPRD setempat.
We ask Indonesian citizens, especially those from the West Lombok area, to share this RUclips channel link with their relatives in West Lombok (around the illegal gold mining location), so that they can report similar symptoms to local DPRD (house of representative) members.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to comment. We kindly ask our viewers to comment on our channel in English
so that we can answer questions and encourage dialogue.
Thank you and all the best,
The DW Documentary Team
They can be farmers or fishermen. Now that they know the devastating effect of gold mining.
Gold price all time high
I'm only 16 minutes into this documentary & made me think twice about my gold plated earrings I have...At what cost is this "precious gold" at really!?!?! Is it really worth it? NO!!! If you think otherwise, it's more than obvious what you feel towards others in poverty, others in general & beyond horrible morals & character! It's so upsetting that this is a necessary life choice for so many people! I don't think it's worth it at all & I'm so glad I know this information now! Thank you DW!!! I'm going to only buy titanium steel jewelery/Steel that is used in surgeries, with 1st time piercings etc, from now on! 110%
Of course you'll want to make sure that any jewelry material you choose going forward was ethically sourced also 👍🏻
Save this for bedtime
Poverty is so bad😢
poverty is good for business it provide cheap labor 😋
Gold is so pricy that's why temptation occurred 😢
Can't they just run the broken down sediment thru a sluice box and then pan out the gold?
apakah penggunaan merkuri juga bisa mengakibatkan mutasi genetika juga? Kami harap segera menghentikan penggunaan merkuri ini, karena sangat berbahaya dan beracun
The cost of greed is the blood of children and the death of generational families.
AI says: "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for mercury in drinking water at 2 parts per billion (ppb), or 0.002 milligrams per liter (mg/L)" >>> Now, the amount of water contaminated in Indonesia is unbearable, criminal, total destruction of the environment and of any kind of life form.
People got to eat, god speed 🖤
where do they get the mercury from? isn't it supposed to be hard to come by? If the government cracks down on the mercury source, gold mining will become too expensive.
27:00 from seram island Indonesia, cinnabar is to make merkuri, illegal cinnabar mining to ilegall gold mining. Actually there another way to make gold without mercury, legal gold mining like PT Antam and Freeport Indonesia doesn't use merkuri but its a bit expensive. Indonesia can make merkuri because has many cinnabar ore in many island.
if they were told that the mercury would poison many innocent people, would they still do it? Yes, because they need the money.
To be fair if he's using the reading from inside the tumble device, yeah it'll be huge. I'm not saying they're wrong, not at all
You know he's serious and wants to get the point across when he switches to English.
Indonesia have their own unique culture and beautiful dresses. That's a thing of the past.
We Are Waste
wow. thanks
I can never do what these miners do. Let's start with claustrophobia.
How is it illegal?
I help these poor people and children a lot by buying gold, thanks to which they can afford to eat. The only problem is the government that forces them to work so hard, there is no other job so they have no choice.
No illegal activities happen minus the politicians
All the kids suffering is devastating 😭 why is money causing the world to come to an end
👍
They should stop this work and government should help to build a safe mine.
The Area has a huge potential for tourism. Sekotong has beautiful beaches and wonderful tiny islands which are worth tourism.
i hope one day we have a "clean gov" 😂
You wont
@@annamillar4794 thats why i put "😂" on the last part of my comment.. its sarcasm emoji
Think about this next time you consider buying some gold anything.
Im indonesian and yes its such a shame to us,
if you're gonna upload documentary about gold mining in indonesia, cover the part where Freeport, american company, enslaved black skinned aboriginal tribe in west papua to mine gold for them. yes, black slavery exist and its on the far east, other side of the earth. away from western eyes and media. now west papua native formed separatist group trying to get freedom from these black slavery issues.
corrupt indonesia government is to blame
There are so many alternatives to mercury for gold mining, why isn't the government helping the people there to mine safety?
probably some illegal merchant involve with local government in providing mercury to these people.
our govt sucks
Indonesia goverment has PT Antam and Freeport Indonesia who produce gold mining legally, but the price for process gold without mercury also very expensive, mercury is more cheap from seram island. Indonesia has 17000 island, lombok island is small island rarely people notice it. Actually illegal mining is not just in Lombok island
Because it's illegal and mercury is cheapest.
there's nothing illegal going on without intuitional involvement, everyone is on cahoots the entire time.
Well, the culture of corruption is very strong in Indonesia and the people are lazy. Nuff said.
True
Nothing illegal about mining gold, it seems, since the poor people are doing it in the open to earn a living on their own. More than illegality of the gold-mining activity in Lombok, the government should intervene to secure the safety of these poor people. It should provide education, health care (particularly to the mothers and their young), and even tools (masks, proper dumping sites, etc.), as compared to the provision of condoms, syringes for the prostitutes and drug users in the western world.
DW is favour of eroupe and they started this for the atracity rights of them.
And they make asian.people to believe what they spread .
They have ugly things on thr own.face
But they wont see that
I like your thinking
the government should provide a processing center so the miners simply sell the ore, less work for them so they can mine more ore and the processing center can do it safely
Good ideas mostly but it costs money, the government can't just send education or healthcare services straight away without stimulating the local economy in some way.
Same thing here ...illegal sand mining in Ganga and Narmada ....yes,that's what it's called"illegal sand mining"....used for construction of houses with cement....if it's "illegal"...why does it go on,year after year?... I don't own gold...more of a silver person.
It is sad what some poor people have to do to survive, while those of wealth can have their bling, or drive their EV, or be able to get a new smartphone yearly or any other material things,which in due time end up in some landfill !
Earning twice as much mining than fishing doesn't seem a good reason to poison your family and community. Maybe have less/zero kids instead?
So you advocate banning procreation for the poor?
Didn't Hitler do that?
that's economics 101
don't reproduce peasant !
- Austrian Painter -
These villagers are doing all this for very little money
Is there a solution. I dont think so
I would rather see those people stay to the fishing ad on the side begin a black pearl farm. Sure it takes 30 years but it would be for the next generations
You ever been to Asia?
I know this is just one man, one family, but us there any way for us to fund his son's surgery directly? To the hospital, I mean?
I understand the environmental damage being done by Mercury however It's a glaring reality that many individuals turn to illegal gold mining out of sheer necessity, as it often represents their only viable means of income in regions plagued by poverty and lack of economic opportunity. Condemning these miners without acknowledging the systemic factors that drive them to such desperate measures is not only unjust but also perpetuates the cycle of poverty and exploitation.
When we advocate for crackdowns on illegal mining without offering viable alternatives for livelihoods, we're essentially turning a blind eye to the root causes of the issue. These miners aren't inherently criminals; they're individuals grappling with the harsh realities of a system that marginalizes and excludes them from legitimate economic opportunities.
It's crucial to condemn not just the actions of illegal mining but also the systemic injustices that force people into such precarious situations. The focus should be on addressing the underlying socio-economic factors that push individuals into illegal mining in the first place. This entails challenging the structures of inequality and advocating for policies that promote inclusive development and sustainable livelihoods.
Furthermore, those who perpetuate the narrative of illegal mining often benefit from the very system that exploits these marginalized communities. By condemning the miners without addressing the systemic issues at play, they effectively absolve themselves of responsibility and uphold a status quo that thrives on inequality and exploitation.
Ultimately, true condemnation should be directed towards the systemic injustices that trap individuals in cycles of poverty and exploitation, rather than solely targeting those who are forced to engage in illegal activities as a means of survival. It's imperative that we advocate for systemic change and work towards creating a more equitable and just society where all individuals have access to dignified livelihoods and opportunities for prosperity.
In our society, the pursuit of wealth often takes precedence over all other considerations. This relentless drive for financial gain is deeply ingrained within our economic system and collective mindset. Individuals feel compelled to prioritize monetary success above all else, as IT'S THE FRAMEWORK WE'VE CONSTRUCTED FOR OURSELVES. CONSEQUENTLY, many find themselves compelled to engage in occupations that pose significant risks to their well-being, such as mining.
Within the mining industry, this dynamic is starkly evident. Despite the inherent dangers associated with mining work, individuals are left with little choice but to undertake these perilous jobs. The promise of financial reward, albeit disproportionately distributed, outweighs the risks for many. As a result, miners often endure hazardous conditions and labor-intensive work in pursuit of a livelihood.
Yet, the benefits of this toil are seldom equitably distributed. While miners put their lives on the line, the lion's share of the wealth generated flows to a privileged few. Financial institutions, investors, and corporations profit immensely from the extraction and trade of precious resources like gold. This concentration of wealth exacerbates existing disparities, widening the gap between the affluent minority and the laboring majority.
Our current economic system perpetuates a cycle where the pursuit of profit trumps all other considerations, leading to exploitation and inequality. Addressing this systemic issue requires a fundamental shift in societal values and structures, prioritizing equitable distribution of resources and fair labor practices. Only through collective action and advocacy can we hope to create a more just and sustainable economic paradigm.
The relentless pursuit of profit frequently compels individuals to engage in precarious and often exploitative labor, such as mining, where risks to health and safety abound. Despite the peril, only a select few enjoy the lion's share of the rewards, perpetuating deep-seated disparities within our economic systems. These disparities underscore broader systemic inequalities that plague our societies, presenting formidable challenges to rectify. Addressing these entrenched issues demands multifaceted approaches, encompassing systemic reforms like the implementation of fair labor practices and wealth redistribution measures.
However, achieving meaningful change also necessitates a fundamental shift in societal values towards principles of equity and sustainability. Recognizing the intrinsic worth of every individual and the imperative to safeguard the well-being of both people and the planet is paramount. Yet, navigating this terrain is complex, devoid of easy solutions. It requires concerted efforts to raise awareness and advocate for transformative policies and practices. Only through collective action and persistent advocacy can we hope to effectuate positive change, ushering in a more just and sustainable future for all.
Too long, Mr. AI.
the American Red Cross ⛑️ Red Crescent . all men indonesia 🇮🇩
Maybe this channel could make a documentary highlighting the worlds largest corporations and the damage they do to the environment, lets be honest, thats where most of the pollution comes from.
legal gold mining is bs
True
Governments around the world can’t fix the problem, which is poverty, but you need new industries and education to fix poverty which we have new industries in the highest education known to mankind why are these places poor government. poor government is the problem
This is a mercury documentary with gold in the title for clickbait.
pesugihan nyata, dengan tumbal anak-istri, tetangga, dan lingkungan 🤣
Thanks a lot for taking the time to comment. We kindly ask our viewers to comment on our channel in English
so that we can answer questions and encourage dialogue.
Thank you and all the best,
The DW Documentary Team
FUCK! Not going to Lombok or Bali anymore. But the Fathurrahman dude seems like a good dude. Fuck capitalism.
#MercuryToxicWalmart And Gold Selling. GoodBye.
Mercury Poisoning WHY he is not taking proper protection 😢😢😢😢
Its asia kid, obviously you have never been there lol. Get out and travel more.😊
Kata pemerintah hilirisasi, istilah untuk menutupi kerusakan lingkungan, padahal tambang di kuasai oligarki 😢😢
ini dampak ga ada pabrik pengolahan emas yang aman dan efisien, sudah ada metode ekstraksi emas tanpa merkuri yang jauh lebih aman. justru kebalik butuh hilirisasi agar hal2 kyk gini lebih terekspos dan ada pembangunan tambahan untuk lapangan kerja, dan lagi biar dinas lingkungannya lebih keekspos pekerjaannya dikerjakan atau ada unsur kkn
hati2 ama berita asing. selidiki, ada apa tujuan dibaliknya. mereka cuma bisanya expose bikin polrmik. padahal urusan begini ada tata cara pengelolaan limbah, atau ada juga cara baru yg mengolah emas tanpa merkuri. tapi mereka gak kasih tau, malah ekspos dramatisir berita
@@gregtriplex5878 otak idiot, perampokan hutan dan tambang mana mungkin di buka oligarkhi, masyarakat adat pemilik tanah tetap kere
Smelter emas untuk memproses emas secara legal baru jadi di Gresik. Untuk memproses tanpa merkuri biayanya juga lumayan kalau untuk penambang perorangan.
@@gregtriplex5878 kan ada udah di implementasi belum, kritik itu kita terima untuk menjadi lebih baik bukan bilang 'dramatisir dll'
When poor people do mining ,its illegal
When rich company do it,its legal!😂
This world is not so fair for poor people at all!😢
The big corporations are doing more or less the same.
I recently read a report from LEPEMAWIL regarding environmental impact by Freeport McMoRan Inc in Mimika, West Irian.
So mercury present in palm oil which is imported to india
Why would you put mercury on palm oil?