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We watched as the miners trapped in the depths of the South American mountains were rescued. One by one each man was pulled to safety. Everyone cried, laughed, and hugged these men as heroes. Many people began questioning the mining industry—is it safe? What are the risks involved for the miners? How safe is the mining industry in the rest of world? For many global miners’ families, these questions haunt them daily especially those gem miners in the Hong Kong gold mines. Here the dangers of mining the beautiful, precious gold is a daily occurrence. Many of these miners face the same angst, reserve, and even fear when they are lowered deep in to the bowels of the earth. Will the last glimpse of day light be my last is always on the minds of these gem miners.
However dangerous these jobs might be, some countries have to offer alternative jobs and commodities that they can trade in order to bring export business into the country. Those Chilean miners need that job, despite its dangers, and those who work in the Hong Kong mines need to work to feed their families. In a country of millions, jobs are hard to come by even if it means digging up gold nuggets so the American’s can make tacori engagement rings.
As a global community, we need to be more aware of the working conditions of those who work daily in the mines especially those working the gold mines in China’s Hong Kong. While we the consumers may not pay much attention to how he or she got the white, yellow,or rose gold bracelet many lives have been put in harm’s way for the trinket worn in many pieces of jewelry. Ignoring the dangers of the mines shows a contempt for the lives of those who work in the mines of Hong Kong. This does not mean that you should not buy jewelry with gold because this will hurt the incomes of those working in the mines. You should put more effort into buying your gold from jewelry companies who practice safe mining. Companies should care more about the lives of their employees especially their miners than the sale of gold jewelry. When you buy from companies that prize miner safety, then you are actively helping to prevent another mining disaster.